Treating your blisters properly will help keep you happy on the trail.  These simple tips will teach you what to do if you get blisters when you go hiking.  

This post, part II on how to keep your feet happy, will show you how to treat blisters.  Part I was about preventing blisters.  Unfortunately, when we go hiking things are not always perfect. Some days are cloudy and rainy rather than sunny. Or we may develop blisters on our feet on day one of a multi-day backpacking trip. Treating blisters is an essential skill for a hiker to have because you never know when you may get a blister.

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 gets inside of your shoes while hiking and then that will rub on your feet.  Some people wear gaiters to prevent dirt, rocks, and debris from getting into their shoes.  Some examples are below.  I’ve used the OR ones and liked them a lot.

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 as the friction then rubs your feet.

A Step-By-Step Guide To Treating Blisters

Based on some research and my personal experience I feel it is best to pop blisters and then treat them while you are out on the trail or at the end of the day. If you don’t pop them they will most likely pop on their own while you are hiking. It is better to pop them in a controlled manner and then treat the area.

Step 1 – Pop And Drain The Blister

The ideal way to do this is to sterilize a needle over a flame and then pop the bottom of the blister to drain out the fluid.  If you are on the side of the trail this can be hard, but try and use a flame from a lighter or such.  Sterilizing the needle will keep any bacteria from getting in your skin and causing an infection.

After you have popped the blister, gently massage the liquid out of the blister by pushing down from the top towards the opening at the bottom. Once all the liquid is removed gently dry off the blister.

Step 2 – Let The Blister Air Out As Long As Possible

After you have popped the blister you should let the blister and your feet air out.

This is important to help let the blister and your skin heal itself. I know that this can be difficult during the middle of a hike, but you should take as much time as you can. Then at the end of the day at camp be sure to air out your feet by removing your shoes.

Step 3 – Apply Ointment

After the liquid has been removed, apply an antibiotic ointment to prevent infection.

Step 4 – Wrap The Blister With A Bandaid, Moleskin, Or Similar

Once you have done steps one to three and it is time to hit the trail again, you should cover the blister in something. Apply a bandaid, moleskin, or something similar. The point of this is still to protect the skin, prevent another blister from forming, and allow the skin to heal itself.  Remember though, at the end of the day you should let your feet air out so your skin can heal itself.