How To Prevent Those Blisters Before They Start
Ideally it's much better to just avoid getting a blister in the first place and it's harder to deal with them then to avoid getting them.
Do you remember your last blister you got hiking? Mine was well before the halfway point on our first day of a 4 day backpacking trip. The pain, the searing pain with every step! I've learned a lot about blisters since that day. And when you're on the top of a mountain, surrounded by nothing but nature and a few other hikers, money really doesn't mean anything to anyone. The old fashioned barter system works best and that's how I discovered that duct tape can work really well even for blisters.
Ideally it's much better to just avoid getting a blister in the first place and it's harder to deal with them then to avoid getting them.
This advice comes from years of experience with tried and true real life practice.
Before you head out on a hiking trip make sure your boots are broken in and fit your feet well. Hiking in new or almost new boots is an almost guarantee for a blister.
Wear good hiking socks. If you want to avoid blisters then invest in the best you can afford. You can even wear a thin liner sock to wick away moisture under a thicker hiking sock for more blister free insurance.
If you feel any pain or discomfort at all while you're wearing your hiking boots then stop. Check out your feet and cover the area that is starting to cause pain with some type of protection. This could be a piece of moleskin, a padded band aid or a piece of duct tape. Cover the area well before putting your socks and boots back on.
If you don't heed this advice and do what I did and suffer through until getting to base camp chances are you're already blistered. If it's a bad one, that is large and looks pretty full it might be a good idea to drain it.
To drain a blister simply and slowly cut a small line along the bottom edge of the blister with a clean sharp edge (knife, blade etc., something from your first aid kit). Let the blister drain completely and then cover the area with an antibacterial spray, lotion or ointment. Seal up the area with a band aid and then consider using a bit of padding taped on top to help protect the area from further discomfort once you put your hiking boots back on.
Anther way to prevent blisters and one that I swear by is to cover the area most vulnerable to blisters before you head out. In my case it's my heels. I use those round cosmetic pads you can find in bulk at any dollar store and tape one onto my heel using some medical tape or duct tape to keep it in place. I've never had a blister using this method and my feet thank me after every hike!
If you get a blister you need to know how to treat it but if you follow this advice you should be able to avoid getting them and keep your feet blister free.
Happy Hiking!
About The Author:Leanne Arnott invites you to read more articles about taking your family camping or going on a family hiking trip at http://www.family-camping-and-hiking.com. You can add your submissions on many topics and subscribe to our monthly ezine.
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