Before going on a hike, along with the excitement of exploring nature and being surrounded by beautiful sceneries, is the worry of whether or not you might develop blisters. Blisters are a lot of pain, and they’re the worst kind because they are hard to ignore. Anyone who has had blisters knows that they are throbbing all the time, screaming for attention.

Collecting from various sources of  best hiking boots reviews and expert hikers, this article lays out the essential steps to help you prevent blisters.

Step 1: Choose boots that fit

Preventing is always better than treating. Choosing a pair of boots that fit is the crucial first step in avoiding blisters, as well as protecting your feet in general. Bigger or smaller boots inevitably cause discomfort-- such as slipping heals, cramped toes-- or even feet deformities-- such as developing bunions.

Here, it is important to remember that sizes vary mildly across brands. A lot of people have been asking for the best hiking boots for women or men, but the answer is: there are no definitive answers. According to many experts, the only way to find the ideal pair of boots is to put in the time and the effort to try out different brands to see what fit. The harder you look, the more likely that you will find them.

For this reason, many experts suggest sticking consistently to one brand that has worked for you in order to save the time and money of trying new things. But hey, what is life without challenges? And if you are one who lives for adventures, why not?

Step 2: Understand the causes

Blisters are caused by three main factors: heat, moisture, and friction. If you eliminate either of the conditions, you prevent the blisters.

While they might be annoying, blisters are actually your body’s defense mechanism against external damages. When feet get wet, the skin becomes soft and vulnerable. When rubbed against a surface and under intense heat, feet develop blisters to protect the damaged tissue caused by the excessive friction.

The reason that friction occurs is because your feet are put under overwhelming pressure-- either because your boots are too small, or that you lace a bit too tight, or that your feet have some peculiarities that need additional aids like customized insoles. With that said, understanding your feet is important because without such understanding, even the best hiking boots of all time cannot help.

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Step 3: Prep your feet

Some people find it useful to put foot powder prior to putting on socks. Since powder absorbs moisture, it reduces the friction that could possibly be caused under highly moist conditions. With less moisture, the skin on feet becomes less vulnerable to damages. Such foot powder can be messy to put on, but they add extra precaution.

Many people think that as long as they’ve got the best waterproof hiking boots, they will be saved from the trouble of sweaty feet. The fact is that, the more waterproof the boots, the less breathable they are. Gore Tex prevents water from getting into your feet, but your feet produce water of their own by perspiration. Given this circumstance, powder comes into play by absorbing any perspiration there might be firsthand, offering protection from the inside while Gore Tex does its job on the outside.

Step 4: Choose the right socks

The one thing that all professional hikers agree on is that wool or synthetic socks do a much better job in releasing sweat than cotton. Cotton socks are renowned to be air-tight, which retains all of the moisture your feet produce.

The socks should also fit your feet perfectly. Big socks create wrinkles, which create the conditions for friction, while small socks slip away from your heels. Plus, small socks are tight, which increases the heat, which causes blisters. Choosing the most comfortable hiking boots among hundreds is hard enough. You don’t need more trouble on your plate.

Step 5: Double layer

Some people like to wear two layers of socks, others do not. Let’s consider each of the options to see what fits best for you.

Double layer means wearing two pairs of socks, one underneath the others. While some people find it useful to have an extra layer of protection, others feel it unnecessarily adding to the friction and heat. Due to the soaring popularity of many modern models, the best lightweight hiking boots reduce the need for wearing extra socks by keeping feet cooler and more dry. Still, some people stick to the tradition by wearing a thin liner that facilitates the evaporation of sweat.

Again, different things turn out differently for different people. You will never know until you try.

Step 6: Bring additional socks

Hiking on long journeys is arduous, and any expert hikers would tell you to cut any unnecessary pound there is. Bringing a pair of socks, however, is not one of such practices because socks weigh almost nothing. And, they are useful. Especially on long-distance treks, your feet get sweaty every now and then, and it’s a good idea to change out of the wet pair and into the dry one. Meanwhile, you should air dry the wet pair by hanging it on your backpack where there is the most sun. Do not fold the socks because then, it is harder to dry.

Step 7: Take breaks

Every now and then, stop for five minutes to let your feet rest, and your boots too. Even the best rated hiking boots need careful preservation. For some hikers, they bring along a pair of flip flops to slip on while drying their socks, as well as giving their feet the time to breathe. Now is also the time to check if your feet have any signs of hot spots, which are the precursors for blisters.

Step 8: Tape immediately after you feel a hot spot

Professional hikers avoid blisters by listening and paying close attention to their feet. The best hiking boots for men are often sturdy and big, in addition to the thick layers of sock, which makes it easy to lose connection with your feet. For this reason, it is essential that you stopped immediately after feeling a tingly burn or something slightly hot in your feet, and put on athletic tape to prevent it from developing into a blister.

Among others, Moleskin is considered to offer the best protection because it is durable and sticks aggressively to the blister. But the next step discusses other products that could possibly be used.

Step 9: Different methods to tape blisters

Moleskin, Leukotape and Wuru Wool are three among the popular ones. Paper surgeon’s tape, kinetic tape, cloth or even duct tape also get the job done.

Simply tape these products once you discover the blisters (you can double tape or tape donut-style to offer extra protection), and then you’re good to go.

Further Reading: Discover the Best Hiking Boots for Every Trail

Above are nine steps to ensure you enjoy our trek blister-free or, at least, blister-tolerable. Remember, top rated hiking boots are not enough in protecting your feet-- they need the help of manual yet effective tools as listed above as well. We hope that you’ve gained some insight from the article, and please share if you feel that it might help saving some more feet!