It's often the little things that you stumble across which seem to make the most difference and the subject of this review is definitely one of those. It's not especially cheap, you won't need a lot of it and so your investment will last quite a long time and it's definitely not something that's going to add bling to your bike or have your training friends gasping in envy.

So, just what is this apparently insignificant little thing that we have discovered? The answer is a foot cream called Zuku Foot Conditioner (www.zuku.com) which comes in either a handy little 75ml tube or a box of ten sachets - both cost £9.99. We were sent the tube, and that's probably the better option for triathletes who plan to use it on a regular basis as the sachets seem to be a bit 'one-shot' whereas the tube has lasted us for many weeks of use.

The product claims that it can help keep your feet healthier and in better condition and it sets out to achieve this through a blend of emollients that are rapidly absorbed to make your feet feel more supple and responsive. Add to this the fact that the cream contains an anti-microbial which should help to keep those 'dogs' smelling sweeter and it's a promise that looks worth investigating. And who better to test it out on than the long-suffering wife, who not only spends hours in a pool training, but even more hours standing in there teaching others how not to drown. Her feet normally have cracks in them that make the Grand Canyon look like a minor scratch...

Zuku's claims that it is non-greasy and that it is rapidly absorbed are both easily validated. Most foot care products look like a major oil slick accident after a couple of weeks use but the matt black Zuku tube is as clean as the day it came, while the rate at which it vanishes into the cratered landscape of her soles is, indeed, rapid. It also has to be said that after a couple of months use - the blurb says you'll get 40 applications from the tube but I guess we spead our butter a bit more thinly - it's proven pretty effective at keeping the cracks at bay. As to whether they smell any better, it's pretty hard to eliminate a decade and more of chlorine infusions!

Any claims as to performance improvements from using the product need to be taken in a relative sense: running on cracked and sore feet is pretty much bound to be a nastier experience than running on feet that aren't! Eliminating, or at least reducing, those cracks and helping to kill off any nasties that might be festering there also has to be a good thing and if you feel more comfortable running as a result of looking after your 'plates' then we guess that you easily could say that your performance has improved as a result.

Tri247 says: Zuku's Foot Conditioner isn't a wonder drug or some fantastic ergogenic aid but, as part of a regular programme of body maintenance, it certainly seems to deliver on its promise to help looking after your feet. And, given that's where triathletes do at least two thirds of their work, keeping them healthy and happy can't be a bad thing.

As a Christmas bonus, the kind folk at Zuku are offering to reward the first ten people to respond to this review with a free pack of ten sachets worth £9.99. You'll need to send an email with your name and address to tryfootconditioner@zuku.com to see if you're one of the lucky ones.