Blisters are one of the more common foot ailments that can affect people when out hiking or walking, especially over rugged terrain. Taking the time to properly care for your feet will save you a lot of misery when on a long hike or if you're just taking a short walk. Proper care of your feet is a necessity. You won't go very far if you don't.
1. If you feel a blister starting, take off your hiking boots or shoes and give your feet a chance to cool down and dry out.
2. Treat any areas where you feel a blister starting by covering them with moleskin, a band-aid or duct tape to prevent further chances of blistering.
3. Put on clean, dry socks. You need to carry an extra pair with you. Wet feet will blister quickly.
4. Empty any sand, dirt or rocks from your hiking boots or shoes on a regular basis.
5. Reduce the swelling in your feet that occurs during hiking or walking by stopping to rest your feet at regular intervals.
Remember to take care of your feet and they’ll take care of you!
Got blisters?
Staying above the water line!
Riverwalker
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12 comments:
I always go up at least a 1/2 size to a size when I pick out my hiking boots. Then a pair of socks, wearing the inside pair with seams to outside helped as well. Those very thin wicking type of socks really do help.
I don't hike so much anymore (old dude syndrome), but these steps, along with taking those occasional rests and dunking my feet in the pila when I could helped a bunch.
Don't start off doing a major hike, build up to it. Get your feet and boots used to regular use.
Also.....have boots that fit PROPERLY!!
Great tips. I think I do what Anon 4:54 does: I wear two pairs of socks on each foot. I wear a normal pair of crew socks next to my skin, and a heavier wool hiking boot sock outside of that.
I still always bring plenty of moleskin, just in case.
Uhm, that would be two socks on each foot...
Excellent advice. Reminds me of the old saying, "No foot no horse."
I used to be an avid hiker when I was younger...(sigh).
To: anonymous 4:54
Buy mine a little bigger also as feet tend to swell when hiking. It also leaves room to wear more than one sock. Taking a short break seems to help the most.
Thanks anon.
RW
To: idahobob
Proper fit is one of the best things to remember before you ever start out on a hike or a walk. Improperly fitted boots or shoes can cause a lot of problems. Best to get them "broke in" ahead of time.
Thanks idahobob.
RW
To: Chief Instructor
Unless the weather is fairly cold, I don't normally wear two socks on each foot. I opt to carry an extra pair instead.
Thanks Chief Instructor.
RW
To: Sharon
Great little saying! I'm an "older dude" but still like to get out and hike and walk around different areas when possible.
Thanks.
RW
Two hints: 1)Get out and walk every day for a few weeks in the same shoes/boots you intend to use for a longer hike. It isn't so much breaking in the bots as it is discoverine problems in time to fix them. 2)Price or reputation alone does not determine quality in boots. Take your time selecting them; wear them for 10-20 minutes walking around in the store. Go alone to pick out boots so you aren't being rushed by someone. Then when you buy them take a few weeks to check them out. You should be able to walk 4 miles over uneven ground and wear them all day without problems. If the boots pass all tests and you really like them, go back immediately and buy a second identical pair.
If you're getting blisters between your toes, try the Injinji toe socks that folks wear with sandals or FiveFinger shoes. They really prevent toe blisters. They do take up a little extra space side-to-side, so they work best if you have a little extra width in the toe box of your boots.
To: anonymous 5:56 and 9:25
Thanks for some more great tips to avoid blisters!
RW
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