Tips To Avoid Blisters

Preparation

The more you walk the harder the skin becomes on your foot and the occurrence of blisters are less likely. If you are planning a longer walk it is a good idea to train in advance on shorter distances in the walking shoes/boots you are going to wear on the trip. This will help you prepare for your walk as well as harden the skin on your feet in preparation.

Unnecessary friction

Avoid any unnecessary friction inside your shoe as this is what creates blisters, such as small stones and pieces of gravel or twigs getting stuck and rubbing against your feet. This is sure to cause your skin to react, most likely in the shape of blisters, so stop and empty your shoe as soon as you notice it.

Boots and socks

You should make sure that your walking shoes or boots fit nicely, both in length and width, and feel comfortable. This is much more important than how the boots look, or whether they are trendy. In addition, your choice of socks is very important in the prevention of blisters. While many people choose soft wool socks these can be impractical on longer walks as they get moist from sweat and water (unless your boots are waterproof) and cause friction onto the skin. You can solve this by wearing a thin pair of socks underneath in a material that dries quicker than wool.

If you do find yourself with a blister after all the best thing to do is to do nothing. Give your feet a rest and they will disappear faster.