When I was new to hiking I used to get a ton of blisters but then I learned that you’re supposed to get good hiking shoes and Marino wool socks. So I did that and I pretty much stopped getting blisters from day hiking. But whenever I continued hiking for two three or more days I still kept getting blisters. So I kept doing some research and refining my setup and now I’m happy to say that for the past 3 years I haven’t gotten a single Blister. I’ll explain how I managed to do that and how you can replicate it for yourself.
1. Socks That Help Prevent Blisters
‘In my opinion the most important thing for avoiding blisters is getting Marino wool socks Marino wool specifically because it has some of the best moisture wicking properties of any material used in hiking socks which means that they’ll keep your feet dry even if you’re being active while hiking. But not just any Marino wool socks because from my own experience the cheaper Marino wool socks are usually made from worse quality Marino wool that doesn’t have as good moisture waking properties and will cause more blister.
They’re also usually made from a fabric that’s too stretchy so they move around your feet more than they’re supposed to and they also aren’t as durable so they’ll get holes pretty easily ideally your Marino wool hiking socks should have a fabric composition. When you put on good quality Marino wool socks they’ll usually feel a bit stiffer and tighter and they won’t move around your feet as much. So they won’t cause any rubbing they also usually have more padding around the toes and the heel where blisters are most likely to form.
2. Finding the Right Hiking Shoes
I would advise against buying hiking shoes online unless you’ve already tried them on before in a physical shoe store. That’s because your hiking shoes should feel perfect on your feet the first time you try them on there should be plenty of room in the toe box nothing should feel tight and overall they should feel very comfortable without you needing to break them in if you feel like you need to break them in they’re probably not the right shoe for your individual feet.
3. Handling Wet Conditions
In the past 3 years the only time when I’ve gotten close to getting a blister is when I was hiking full day in rain. As I remember a bit over 30 km in completely drenched shoes so even if you have the most dialed in setup you’ll still probably get blisters when you’re hiking in rain for extended periods of time. That’s because when your skin and the fabric of the sock gets wet they cause much more friction one thing that. I haven’t tried personally myself is waterproof hiking socks because I live in a somewhat dry climate I’ll probably test them someday myself but right now I cannot tell you whether they’re good or not but from what I’ve been reading most people tend to say that waterproof hiking socks cause fewer blisters when you’re hiking in very wet conditions.
4. Managing Moisture and Ventilation
Regardless of this another thing to consider is the ventilation within the shoe because if there’s more humidity inside of the shoe you’re more likely to get blisters to combat this. Whenever I take a break I usually take off my shoes and my socks and let them air out a bit. And I also prefer to choose breathable hiking shoes instead of water resistant ones and the last thing regarding humidity is that you should always carry at least two pair of hiking socks and switch to new ones every night or when your first pair of hiking socks becomes too wet. This will allow your feet to recover a bit and reduce the chances of blister formation.
5. The Importance of Clean Socks
One thing that a lot of people overlook especially through hikers is the cleanliness of the sock that’s because when you’ve been hiking with the same pair of hiking socks for more than 2 days the fabric soaks up all of the sweat the fabric becomes more rigid and less flexible and it causes more abrasion against your skin. So make it Habit to always wash your spare pair of hiking socks whenever you pass a stream or somewhere else at least once every two days.
6. Quick Action on Hot Spots
You probably already know this but you should always tape your feet as soon as you develop any sour spots because the time that it takes from a sour poot to develop into a blister is very quick one thing that I like to do especially when hiking in wet conditions is first applying Luco tape as you would normally but over it I will apply another layer of duct tape which will keep everything in place.
7. Experimenting with Double Layers
And lastly I wanted to say that this setup works for me personally but it might not work perfectly for you because each of our feet is built differently one other thing that you could do if all of this doesn’t work for you and you’re still getting some blisters is wearing two pairs of hiking socks essentially the main idea with this is that you’re wearing another pair of liner socks underneath your regular socks that are more thin and tightly fitting around your feet this way most of the rubbing would happen between both layers of hiking socks instead of the fabric and your skin.
Final Thoughts
Blisters can be one of the most frustrating parts of hiking, but with the right preparation, they can be easily avoided. By choosing high-quality Merino wool socks, investing in well-fitted shoes, and managing moisture and cleanliness, you can significantly reduce the risk of blisters. Additionally, taking action when you notice hot spots and experimenting with double layers or tape can help prevent blisters before they become a bigger issue. Remember, what works for one person may not work for everyone, so it’s important to find what suits your feet best. With these tips and a little trial and error, you can enjoy blister-free hiking adventures.
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