I was curious if some would share their remedies for blisters one might get while out on a long hike. I know there is moleskin and things like that, but are there any other tricks to doctoring one up when you have to continue the hike?
Xman
Blisters on the trail
system
#2
To prevent blisters from happening I have found that putting vaseline on my feet really helps. I’ve heard duct tape works and after you pop the blister I use the bunion cushions that are donut shaped so that I have some cushion around the cut.
3Putt
system
#3
prevetion is the key to the blister thing. if your feet are getting hot maybe take a break and let the dogs air out, change your socks midway through the day. i never tried this but what if you bring a pr of extra insoles to replace into your footwear, when the 1st start to heat up take a break and put in the extras. maybe this will change the friction point some…just my 3cents worth of useless info…i did the mid state trail in 2001 and i had blisters under my toe nails and blisters under blisters, ran out of t3 w/ codine and had to call a friend to come get me… i couldnt stand the pain no longer. 1 blister was the size of 2silver dollars on bottom of foot, no lie… peace out , nitewalker
nitewalker
system
#4
If prevention doesn’t work and you get a blister First clean the area real well. Then using a sterile pin lance the blister and drain. Disinfect the area with bacterial ointment or alcohol and bandage with gauze and duct tape. I have a problem getting duct tape to stay on all day because my feet sweat so I use a product called hypoflex that I “borrowed” from a hospital when I was visiting. I have not been able to find it in stores but the stuff is very sticky and is designed to flex with the movement of you foot. It also breathes which is a big advantage over duct tape. You need to be able to get air at the blister in order to help it heal. Take off your shoes when you take a break and air out the feet really well a couple of times a day. Be careful. If it gets real red and puffy it could be infected which can lead to some serious problems.
Big B
system
#6
you can get a small bottle of Tincture of Benzoin from a pharmacy. it dries over the blister like a second layer of skin. It’s sticky at first, so when i used it I also carried baby powder with me to add afterward.
sometimes I carry a small bottle of iodine with me to treat the blister first, but generally all I do is cover it with duct tape, and that works amazingly well. I’ll just leave the tape on for two or three days until it heals.
0101
system
#8
Yes, lance the blister first and then suck out the fluid. Swallowing it will build up an acquired immunity and you will never have another blister for the rest of your life.
Nimblefoot
system
#10
I found that everyone has their own way of preventing and curing blisters. I for one, listened to others and tried their tactics. Still, at one point in my thru hike last year had over ten on each feet. It wasn’t until Damascus when my feet completely healed and callused over. I tried two pairs of socks, changing socks, shoes, ect…anyway, maybe it was just me. Luckily, they didn’t hurt too bad.
My recommendation is to listen to other’s ideas and give it a try. Whether it’s popping them and covering them with superglue, ducktape, second skin, or whatever. Because if you can’t get rid of them, well, at least you were like me and did what you could. A bad blister day on the trail is still better than good day at work.
Grinds
system
#12
At the first moment that you think a blister may be coming on, stop & fix it. Right then. Even if it is raining, snowing or there’s nowhere to sit, you can prevent a bigger problem by tackling it immediately. People (including myself) tend to convince themselves that it is not that bad & can wait until the next shelter or lunch break. That is a big mistake. Once your skin starts to delaminate, it takes about 2 weeks to completely heal. You can still walk on it, but it is more susceptible to damage until it has healed up.
Blisters are caused by rubbing, which happens because the shoe-sock combination you are using does not fit properly. Usually the footwear is too large, and I find the best way to take up extra space in the toebox is with plastic newspaper bags. They are free, they don’t break down when you sweat, are remarkable resilient and they are easy to size (tear off a bit more/less).
The other advice I give is to ignore anecdotal evidence when someone says that X brand or type of footwear didn’t give them blisters. That type of statement is essentially worthless, because what the person is really saying is: they didn’t get blisters with X size of Y brand/model of shoe, in combination with x size of y brand of sock, while carrying ## lbs of gear and having their own stride. You don’t have their feet, so their solution may not work for you.
Boots & socks are a system, and you need to find what works best for you. The hardest part is having the guts to change after you spent $150 on your boots & $15 per pair of socks. Locking yourself into your footwear because you feel you have a financial commitment is foolish. You are walking all the time on the trail, and you will feel every step if you are in pain.
30-30
system
#13
As Nitewalker says, the single best thing you can do for blisters is to try to fix the problem before the blister actually develops. That means taking a foot repair break as soon as you notice that familiar rubbing/hotspot feeling. A hotspot will go away overnight. A blister will be a constant companion for days. Plus blisters ooze and are tough to bandage because everything either sticks too well to the sore spot as it heals, or doesn’t stick at all because of the moisture when it’s new.
I’ve found that paper tape can do a aewsome job of preventing blisters. It’s also good once the blister is dry and starting to heal.
Paper tape feels incredibly flimsy and seems like it won’t even stick when you first use it, but it sticks really well if you press it on firmly. I use two layers and prefer it to any other tape I’ve tried. (it seems like I’ve tried most tapes out there.)
The first advantage of paper tape is that it is extremely thin and doesn’t add bulk. The second is that you can tear it very easily, so you can shape it over curved areas (like heels and toes) just by tearing it lengthwise and then overlapping the torn edges to fit your foot. Third, it breathes very well.
The biggest problem with duct tape is that it doesn’t breathe, the second is that it’s so thick. Whenever I’ve tried it, which is a lot, it starts moving as I walk because moisture build up below the tape. Then it folds or rolls up on the edges and can cause more blisters. It’s OK in a pinch, but I’ve never had good luck with it and have to change it constantly whenever I’ve been stuck using it.
Chipper
system
#14
take your shoes off several times a day, and rotate your socks frequently, wash the socks so you have a clean pair just about every day. If you feel a hot spot don’t wait take the shoe off and check it out and deal with it before it turns into a blister. Change your shoes, don’t wait till they fall apart, when it feels like the support is gone usually about 500 mi replace them, try to stick with the same shoe, most people I saw with foot problems changed shoes and then their problems started.
This worked for me I thru-hiked in 05 and never got a blister. Hope this helps Draggin
Draggin
system
#15
seems like to me, “wet feet” was the biggest factor in causing blisters for us…paw-ee and i didn’t have any problem this year with blisters (drier season), and FEW on our thru in '03 (it was VERY wet that year!)…so, yes, try to get into dry socks throughout the day if you can…take breaks to air out your feet…AND (we think this is really important), wear BREATHABLE running shoes that dry quickly!..also i’ve read that blisters are associated with not having enough callous buildup on your feet which may be due to athlete’s foot-type fungus (i think the fungus “eats” callous thereby causing more tender skin)…so if you regularly treat your feet with some kind of spray or foot powder (even BEFORE your hike),and do regular shake-down hikes to toughen your feet,you will be better protected against blisters, i think…
maw-ee
system
#16
HYPOFLEX order on line or from pharmacy
currently holding my fingernail on (despite freq washing)
flexes, not damaged by water.
Also hoding 4x4 dressing on leg wound same size (compression drsg over all) And skin problem on feet.
Heah, IGL OUCH! on duct tape:(
emmer