Hiking is one of the most enjoyable outdoor activities that one can take on. Not only does hiking serve as excellent exercise, it happens to be perfect for anyone who is looking to spend more time outdoors. The problem that many people have with hiking, however, is that they often run into blisters at one point or another. Blisters can not only make a hike far more uncomfortable than it might be otherwise, but provide the perfect breeding ground for what could potentially become a dangerous infection. Fortunately, there are a variety of things that one can do in order to keep blisters at bay. The following are just a few tips to help you prevent blisters when hiking, all of which are more than worth taking into consideration.
1. Wear the Right Socks
One of the main reasons why people end up with blisters on their feet has to do with the socks that they wear. A thin, flimsy pair of socks will do nothing to keep blisters from occurring, and should be avoided at all costs. Ideally, you should wear wool socks that are designed specifically to be worn while hiking, which tend to be on the thick side while still offering plenty of breathability; Smart Wool socks are a popular option. The sooner you start wearing the right socks, the easier it'll be for you to keep blisters from interfering with your hikes.
2. Get the Right Footwear
While socks are certainly important, there's no getting around the fact that you're not going to be able to avoic blisters unless you've got the right footwear. Finding the right footwear for hiking doesn't have to be difficult, as the popular ""hiking boot"" is exactly what you need in order to be happy with your hike. Hiking boots offer soles that are supported by sturdy rubber, and can make all the difference in the world when it comes to preventing blisters. If you can only afford to shell out money for one type of apparel for hiking, it should be your boots. Fortunately, a high-quality pair of hiking boots can typically be purchase for around $100, which means even those who are on a budget can usually purchase boots.
3. Take Breaks
It's no secret that blisters can occur out of nowhere, although most hiking-related blisters happen because people don't take the right amount of breaks. Taking breaks while hiking will help to ease the stress on your feet, and can make all the difference in the world in terms of keeping blisters from forming. Ideally, you should take a 15 minute break for every hour that you hike. Doing so will not only help you to prevent blisters mephisto air relax sandals, but will also allow you to enjoy the hike even more than you would otherwise. After all, hiking is all about taking in the area around you, and shouldn't be nearly as stressful as most people make it out to be. The more often you can take a break, the less likely it is that you'll suffer from blisters.
4. Give Early Blisters Proper Attention
No matter what you do to prevent blisters while hiking, there is still a chance that you'll run into an issue at some point. Fortunately, you can keep blisters from getting worse if you pay close attention to them early on in the process. Giving blisters proper attention doesn't have to be difficult at all, so long as you don't wait when they appear. Promptly cover them with a bandage, and use an antibiotic ointment if they are beginning to open up. You should also rest your foot as much as possible if a blister is forming, which will help it to heal faster.
5. Identify Triggers
The more you hike, the more likely it is that you'll learn to identify things that trigger blisters. You can get a lot of mileage out of learning what causes issues for you, as doing so will allow you to make changes in your hiking style and can help to prevent blisters from forming in the future. Mindfulness is a huge part of hiking, and should never be taken for granted. Over time you'll be able to streamline your hiking techniques to avoid blisters completely.
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