Avoiding Blisters when Hiking

It is a fallacy to believe that getting blisters whilst hiking is inevitable. In fact, blisters are quite easy to avoid if you follow the two golden rules of testing and choosing the most appropriate footwear and by taking some simple precautions.

Boots, Shoes And Socks

All three of these items are likely to be the biggest cause of blisters when out hiking if you don’t choose them wisely. And, with many people now opting to buy hiking boots or shoes via the internet these days, in other words without having tried them on first, this can be one of the main causes of blisters and other foot conditions. The fact is that your footwear is the single most important item of your clothing apparel given that it will be your feet which bear the brunt of the stresses and strains that come with hiking as an activity. Therefore, even if it costs a little more, you should really visit an outdoor store where you can seek professional advice from staff who are often outdoor enthusiasts themselves who will be able to answer any questions and also you’ll be able to tell them the kind of hiking you will be mostly doing so that they can suggest a selection of boots or shoes as well as socks that are likely to be most suitable for you. Additionally, unlike buying sight unseen from the internet or a catalogue, you’ll also be given the opportunity to try on a selection of footwear first before deciding on which ones to buy. The key is that the boots or shoes should feel completely comfortable worn with the correct socks whose material should be thick. Because of that, you’ll probably find that you may need to buy a boot or shoe size which could be half a size to a size greater than what your everyday shoe size would be. Thick socks are important for a number of reasons:

• They provide extra padding for your feet
• They reduce the friction between your feet and the boots themselves
• They wick away the sweat

And it’s all three factors here that are crucial when it comes to the prevention of blisters.

Breaking Your Boots In First

One you’ve decided on a combination of boots and socks, you need to break them in first. Don’t simply assume that because they felt comfortable when you tried them on in the store that you’re now prepared to tackle a 10 mile hike straight away in new boots. Break them in on shorter walks, even if that’s initially just a 5 minute walk each day to the shops. You’ll soon get to know what combination of socks and the way you lace up your boots feels most comfortable and it’s only by knowing this that you’ll be prepared for when you actually venture out on a proper hike. Additionally, the more you wear them for everyday use initially, the quicker the boots will mould to accommodate the shape of your feet.

Keeping Your Feet Aired And Dry

No matter what boots you buy, it’s inevitable that with the walking you’re doing as well as the thick socks which are designed to protect your feet, they will get sweaty and hot so whenever you take a rest during your walk, it’s important to remove your boots and socks and give your feet a chance to dry off and cool down. In fact, carrying a small flannel or hand towel or some wet wipes will help with this and, ideally, you should bring at least one additional pair of socks with you. It shouldn’t be too heavy a burden on what you’re carrying to pack 3 or 4 pairs of thick socks which you can use throughout the day’s hike and it’s the changing out of sweaty socks and putting fresh dry ones on as well as airing your feet that is one of the best methods of preventing blisters from occurring.

Recognise Foot Irritation At The Earliest Opportunity

Before blisters even get a chance to form, you’ll almost certainly recognise some kind of minor irritation that your feet are experiencing. As soon as you feel that, stop and remove your boots and socks. It may well be that a piece of grit has got into your boot or sock or your feet are sweating that much that you need to dry them off and change into a fresh pair of socks. Many hikers suffer from blisters because of their sheer determination to cover a certain amount of ground before their next rest stop. However, they’re not doing themselves any favours by adopting that mentality as by the time they reach their next scheduled rest stop, it may be too late and the blisters will have formed already.

Therefore, by using your own common sense when it comes to buying boots and socks that feel comfortable as opposed to choosing them solely on the basis of style as well as understanding how and why blisters form and by taking preventative action first, you should always be able to enjoy your hikes without suffering from the discomfort of blisters.