How to deal with blisters.

I’m sure if you’ve been hiking for many years now, then you’ve definitely had a blister or two from hiking. Or if you’re new to hiking and are not sure how to prepare properly, then unfortunately you may have encountered these annoying blisters already. Blisters can cause a lot of discomfort and quite possibly even to the point where you have to call the trip off early and turn around if it’s unbearable.

Most commonly caused from ill fitting shoes/boots…and/or socks. Old worn down boots may be causing extra rubbing on spots you may not notice if you’re not checking out the wear and tear on them. The more worn in they become, the more likely they are to start falling apart, which may cause blisters. Specifically on the inside heel of the shoe where the seam holds it together. Overtime this can become worn out and cause rubbing from a hard/exposed spot from under the soft lining. I recommend you always check your shoes/boots before and after each hike to know the condition they are currently in. Just like any other shoe, after a certain amount of miles, the shoe must be retired. As it’s gone through all it was meant to last for. On the opposite spectrum, brand new shoes/boots need to be broken in and can cause blisters if you wear them for the first time on a long trip. The new ones may rub/contact a new spot on your foot, which can cause blisters and also the shoe just may not be a perfect fit. It is hard to gauge completely when at the store trying them on. Once you have them home, you then should walk your neighborhood to really feel them out, during a shorter duration than a hiking trip. At this point you will be able to assess them for potential “hot spots” and decide whether you should be good to go. Also pay attention to how wide or narrow your feet are and purchase footwear based on this. Otherwise the shoe/boot may be cutting into your foot or just too loose and rubbing all over. As for socks. There are a few things which may cause blisters. One is if they are too big and slide around causing a constant rubbing on the heel or achilles area. Or if they bunch up at the front of the boot and create rubbing on your toes. Another is the material of the sock. Cotton tends to cause the most rubbing and worst blisters. Wool and moisture wicking are your best options. The more you sweat and the more the sock rubs, the worse the blister could get. The worst combination would be cotton socks which are a size too big. I prefer to buy SmartWool Hiking Socks found at REI stores or www.REI.com.

How to take care of them?

Always carry Vaseline and moleskin with you! If you know you may end up with blisters during your hike. Then be precautious and later some Vaseline on the spots you suspect to have them. You may also opt to put some moleskin on around a potential area or a current blister to prevent extra rubbing. For EXTRA caution, you can slap moleskin on around the suspected area and put vaseline in the center on the exposed “potential blister” skin area. If you haven’t taken any precautionary measures and find yourself feeling hot spot(s) coming on. Then find a place to sit down and put vaseline on the area. Repeat as many times as necessary. If this doesn’t help or the blister worsens, then slap some moleskin on in addition to the vaseline. Just make sure the Vaseline doesn’t disrupt the adhesiveness.

Take home message;

• Have proper fitting shoes/boots.

• Have good wool/moisture wicking socks.

• Bring Vaseline/moleskin.

• Know when you feel hot spots (early stages of a blister) to take care of the immediately.

Shoot me a message if you have any questions on any of this!

As always pack it in and pack it out!

Tag me @likes.to.hike