Northwest Hiking

For hardcore hikers, blisters are a fact of life.  Even the best shoes may not prevent a blister when you are hiking 20 miles a day.  When you aren’t prepared to prevent and treat a blister, that’s when you’ll find yourself in pain on the side of the trail.  Here are some tips to keep you walking, even when a blister does develop:

1. Carry bandages.  The gel-like bandages specifically designed for blisters work well on the trail.  To keep them in place, use a first-aid (aka surgical) tape over the bandage to prevent slipping.
2. Buy shoes that fit.  Loose shoes are a sure way to get nasty blisters.  Heat and moisture are the number one causes of blisters.  If you are spending $100 on hiking shoes, you definitely want to make sure they fit well and are comfortable, too.
3. If you do get blisters, treat them immediately.  Take off your shoes and let your feet fully dry.  Remove debris from your sock and shoe and cover the forming blister with surgical tape (first-aid tape), moleskin, or a band-aid.  Many blisters also fill with fluid which needs to be drained.  Use a sterile needle or sewing pin to pierce the skin at the base area of the blister.  Let the fluid drain, then leave the skin covering the area intact and cover with moleskin. You can also cool off your feet in a lake or stream, but remember that they should be completely dry before putting your shows back on, or the moisture will only aggravate the problem.

Remember to always be careful of forming blisters.  Deep blisters should not be punctured in any situation.  Rather, cover them with moleskin and maker sure friction and rubbing is reduced around the affected site.  Blisters don’t have to be a part of your hiking experience.  Remember to take proper steps to prevent and treat blisters, and you’ll be a much happier hiker!