Hiking and backpacking are wonderful outdoor adventures, providing a time to see nature up close and personal. However, wearing the wrong shoes can make even the simplest trip a miserable nightmare. Although outdoor adventures often bring challenges of climate and insects, blisters are by far the worst annoyance. Worst of all, many people will hike or backpack for miles before they develop a blister. The result is trying to fix the problem so you can return but without being prepared. As you can imagine, this makes for a painful experience.
The best option is to avoid getting blisters in the first place by good preparation. The good news – you can travel in some of the toughest terrain without ever breaking the skin. How – simply follow these tips:
•Boot Fit – Probably the most important thing you can do is make sure you purchase quality boots that fit. For this, work with a qualified and reputable outfitter that can provide suggestions specific to your feet, the type of hiking or backpacking you do, distance, terrain, and so on. Once you get your new boots home, put them on, and walk around in them for several days. You will be able to tell if they are rubbing on a particular area of the foot or causing pain in the arch. If you have any problems, return them for a different pair, going through this same exercise.
•Breaking in the Boots – Before you take your new boots out on a hike, you need to break them in. For this, you need to remember that this takes time and can be a little uncomfortable. Therefore, prior to heading out for a weeklong backpacking trip, take several short hikes that accumulate 40 to 60 miles. With this, your new boots will be softer as they begin to conform to your foot.
•Wicking Socks – Underneath your wool or wool and nylon blend socks, you want to wear wicking socks made of nylon or polypropylene. These socks are much softer on the skin than wool is and help keep sweat and other forms of moisture away from the feet. When hiking or backpacking, you always want to avoid wearing cotton socks that absorb moisture, a great encourager of blisters.
•Packing and Distance – Remember that the more you walk, specifically in a single day, the more stress you place on your feet, which means the greater possibility of blisters developing. Additionally, the heavier your backpack, the more work your feet do. Therefore, cut back a little on the mileage and keep your pack light.
•Pay Attention – While the above are all important when avoiding blisters, the key is that when you start to feel the boot, shoe, socks, pebble, dirt, or anything rubbing on your feet, stop walking. Remove your shoe, identify the problem, and take the appropriate action. If you have a pebble or dirt in your boot, dump it out. If the boot, shoe, or sock has begun to rub, you can do two things. First, use an Army knife or something similar to work on the boot to stretch it. Second, always take moleskin with you to place over the area being affected.