It is crucial that we keep our feet happy and prevent blisters when we are hiking.  Here are some simple tips that will help you keep your feet and you happy on the trails.

I used to play lots of sports in high school and college, including ultimate Frisbee. I remember our team captain always stressing the importance of keeping our feet dry and having extra pairs of socks. At the time I thought he was a little strange about it, but now I realize he knew what he was talking about. It is so important to keep our feet happy and blister free in order to enjoy activities, such as hiking.

What Causes Blisters?

Blisters on your feet are caused by two main things – friction and moisture. Friction is just your feet rubbing against the inside of your shoe as you spend all day hiking. It could lead to blisters if your shoe is too tight in certain areas or rubs spots wrong.

It is also possible that debris will get inside of your shoes while hiking and then that will rub on your feet.

Moisture will not in itself cause blisters, but it will cause the skin on your feet to become soft and sensitive. That will simply make it easier for blisters to form.

6 Tips To Prevent Blisters When Hiking

Break in your boots or shoes beforehand

New shoes that you haven’t worn could quickly lead to the formation of blisters. Break them in by wearing them around the house or just for a few days as casual shoes. Then work up to wear them for short hikes before you wear them on longer hikes.

Get Shoes That Have Room In The Toes

One avid hiker recommends finding shoes that have room in the toes. You want a shoe that will give your toes room to move because if you are hiking all day your feet will swell. The extra room means that your toes will be comfortable and not feel cramped and begin rubbing the shoe to form blisters.

Wear Good Socks

My feet are so much happier when I am wearing nice socks that are actually designed for hiking. Outdoor companies make a wide variety of socks for all different purposes, including hiking.

Good socks help my feet to feel comfortable and happy when I am hiking. That in turn helps me to feel that I can hike farther, and enjoy myself more.

Quality sock these days will even help to remove moisture from your feet. One thing that will lead to the formation of blisters are super sweaty or wet feet.

Bring Extra Socks

It is always a good idea to bring along extra pairs of socks when hiking. That way if something happens and your socks get soaking wet or such, you can just stop and change into nice, dry socks, which will keep your feet happy.

Pay Attention To Your Feet

As you are hiking pay attention to how your feet are feeling. If you begin to notice a certain spot that is hurting when walking take a look at it. The next time you take a break, take off your shoes and socks and see how it looks. If it looks red you can always treat it with a bandage, tape, or something else such as moleskin.

Remove Loose Debris From Your Shoes

If you are hiking for a all day or for a long time then you should be sure to empty out your shoes when you take a break. A day of hiking will lead to small debris and rocks somehow getting inside of your shoes. If you leave them in your shoes, they will slowly grind away on your feet and could lead to blisters. It is best to empty your shoes out during the day to prevent this from happening.