Monday, November 21, 2011

Tips on how to prevent blisters

By Alexander Preston


Hikers can be vulnerable to suffering from sores owing to constant exposure to extreme weather. Add on to this the rough ground they're walking on and even the incorrect choice of shoes and the stage is set for blisters to happen. A blister can develop anywhere on the foot, on the ball, heel and on the side or tops of your toes.So what exactly causes blisters to appear and in what way can you prevent them?

What can cause blisters to transpire?

Heat and moisture are ideal circumstances for your socks getting stuck to your feet. This can cause friction between your feet and your socks and when movement happens fluid can start to build up between the individual layers of skin. This happens as your body will try to protect the area where the friction is happening.

Here are a few things that can lead to the introduction of blisters while you are out hiking:

Dampness: dampness can be a major factor in causing blisters and can be caused either by sweating or it can come from outside your boots if they are not waterproof.

Heat: The main cause of hot feet is often the weather, but warmth may also result in friction when dirt or gravel ends up in your footwear.

Fungus: pre-existing conditions such as athletes foot.

Allergies: some allergic reactions are known to prime the foot for developing blisters

How can you stop blisters

The good news is that there are a number of preventative actions that you may take to drop your likelihood of getting a blister. Here are a few:

The first place to look your hiking boots. Choosing the best hiking shoes to match the shape of your feet as well as the places you will be trekking will contribute greatly to having comfortable feet during your hike. They are going to be made out of watertight materials that are breathable, thus making sure your feet are protected from dampness by means of sweat and wet weather.

The best hiking shoes provide protection for your feet and act as shock absorbers while you are out trekking. They will also keep sand and gravel out utilizing gusseted tongs.

Layering up on socks is another option. The most effective hiking socks will absorb moisture and keep your feet dry

Adding another pair of socks on top can also be effective. This second pair can cut down the friction between your feet and your boots.

Take the thickness of your socks into account when choosing your hiking boots as you may need to purchase one size larger than usual due to the extra padding. On the flip side, if your boots are not tight enough and let you to wiggle your feet around inside then this is very likely to give you a blister because of the friction that this causes.

Other techniques hikers are known to make use of include wrapping wrapping tape around their feet and changing their socks regularly.

Lastly, it is highly advisable to break your new boots in for a while before doing any serious hiking in them.




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