Blister prevention tips for hikers

Heat and dampness are prime circumstances for your socks becoming stuck to your feet. This can produce friction between your feet and your socks and when movement is introduced fluid can start to build up between the layers of skin. This will happen as your body implements a natural defence against the friction to protect the affected region.

Here is a list of things that could cause blisters to develop:

Wetness: dampness can be a major factor in giving you blisters and can be caused either by perspiration or it can come from outside your boots if they are not waterproof.

Heat: The most common source of heat is the climate, but warmth can also increase with extra friction that could be caused by dirt and gravel that has made its way into your footwear.

Fungus: you could already possess a fungal condition that you didn't know of which under certain hiking conditions can easily end up resulting in blisters.

Allergies: burns and allergies can also trigger a blister

The good news is that there are plenty of things you can do to drop your risk of getting a blister. Here are a few:

The first place to look your hiking boots. Making sure you pick the best hiking shoes to match the shape of your feet as well as the type of hike you are going on will go a long way to ensuring foot comfort whilst on your hike. They ll be made from waterproof materials that are breathable, thus protecting your feet from wetness by means of sweat and wet weather.

The best hiking shoes provide protection for your feet and provide cushioning while you are out trekking. They will also have gusseted tongs to keep one's shoes free from sand and gravel.

You can also try layering up on your socks. The most effective hiking socks will absorb moisture and keep your feet dry

Adding another pair of socks on top can also be effective. This combo can help to relieve some of the friction that comes with wearing only one pair.

You will need to consider the thickness of your socks when determining your hiking boots as you may need to buy one size bigger than usual due to the extra padding. On the flip side, if you have too much wiggle room inside your boots then this is very prone to give you a blister due to the resulting friction.

Other solutions walkers are known to make use of include wrapping their feet in athletic tape and changing their socks regularly.

As a final point, it is highly recommended to break your new boots in a month or so before taking them out on their first hike.