You don't need to be an 'investor' to invest in Singletrack: 6 days left: 95% of target - Find out more
I'm on a fitness rehab programme which means that at the moment I have to walk 5-8km per day at a fairly fast pace. I'm doing the walks in either a pair of trainers or walking boots, depending on the conditions.
Whichever footwear and whatever socks I wear, I seem to get blisters persistently in 2 particular places on my right (smaller) foot - one on top of the second last toe (the one before the little toe!) and one on the outside of my big toe.
I think these are from rubbing of the sock where it gets trapped or squashed between the shoe upper and my foot but no amount of adjusting/care with sock type, shoe lacing/trying different socks etc seems to make much difference.
To add to my frustration, it seems random. I've just gone a week with no blisters or discomfort only for a blister to appear during today's 5km walk - wearing a socks and trainer combo I've worn before without an issue!
This is both extremely annoying and limiting! My only defence seems to be wearing large cushioned plasters which only delay the healing process and feel pretty uncomfortable when walking.
What do those here who do a lot of walking/running do to prevent blisters and/or treat them when they do occur? Any advice/suggestions gratefully received.
I wear two very thin pairs of socks, coolmax walking sock liners. Reduces friction which leads to blisters. I walk a lot.
As above, two pairs of socks, inner pair some kind of synthetic rather than cotton, which retains sweat and softens the skin.
You can also get thinner blister prevention tape for the 'hotspots' or maybe even use vaseline to reduce friction further.
I used to do a lot of running and found that if I went for a walk (rather than a run) in my running shoes, I would get blisters!
Compeed are great but could get expensive if you use them all the time.
shoes dont fit?
Injinji toe socks?
Two things.
If still a problem after all this time points to a shoe problem ie not enough space in the toe box. On top of the toe shouldn't be happening.
Decent socks that stay dry, ie no cotton, and a second thin pair if still needed.
If it was happening to me, I'd just wrap surgical tape around the affected toes
Gel toe caps? Not that I've used them or want to, Amazon recommened them to colleague at work yesterday.
The following works for me to eliminate blisters:
Wear good quality walking/running socks. Throw them away once they show wear. Go thicker than you think you need.
I need a bit of space in walking/running shoes and go half or a full size up, depending on brand.
I use blister shiield (type of foot talc), mostly as a extra precaution these days, especially in hot weather.
By far the biggest factor in eliminating blisters for me has simply been the skin on my feet toughening up over time, just through walking/running and suffering through the blisters. Surgical spirit is supposed to help with this, but didn’t make much difference for me.
A good pair of heat moldable footbeds solved by blister problems.
Really comfortable and seem to stop your foot moving around in your boots.
Compeed do a sort of giant lip balm that you rub on the areas prone to blisters. Works for me.
Wet shoes or socks are the biggest culprit and you need to let the blisters heal properly.
It sounds mad but i found on a very long walk (2500km) that I got blisters on my toes after I had trimmed my toenails short. When the nails were long everything was fine but as soon as I cut them back neatly the blisters returned.
Where on Earth did you walk 2500km?!
I wear two very thin pairs of socks, coolmax walking sock liners. Reduces friction which leads to blisters. I walk a lot.
As above, two pairs of socks, inner pair some kind of synthetic rather than cotton, which retains sweat and softens the skin.
You can also get thinner blister prevention tape for the ‘hotspots’ or maybe even use vaseline to reduce friction further.
Could anyone who uses the 'two socks method' please link me to anything you use and/or would recommend? There's a lot of stuff out there and I'd really appreciate some real use advice.
Cheers
You could try 1000 miles socks, they are double layer, and some people swear by them. I tried them years ago when I was really struggling, and still got blisters....but I think that was due to soft skin and not giving them time to heal.
I use mainly these (or previous variants of them) but if you google search for coolmax lycra liner sock you will get other options from elsewhere. I think being the same material type they are all much the same but you can't go wrong with the bridgedale ones. I use two pair of liners in warmer weather and in cold weather just one pair of liners and a normal pair of walking socks over them.
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/bridgedale-mens-coolmax-liner-socks-large-2-pair-pack-p100530