Hikers can be prone to suffering from blisters as a consequence of constant exposure to the elements. Add on to this the tough ground they are hiking over and possibly the wrong pick of hiking shoes and the conditions are right for a blister to appear. Sores can crop up anywhere on the foot, on the ball, heel and on the side or top of your toes.So what exactly causes blisters to appear and how can you lower the risk of getting them?
What can cause blisters to transpire?
Warmth and moisture are ideal conditions for your socks becoming stuck to your feet. This causes rubbing between your socks and your feet and when movement happens it can cause buildup of fluid between the layers of skin. This will happen as your body attempts to protect the area where the friction is developing.
Here are a few things that can lead to the introduction of blisters while out hiking:
Dampness: dampness can be a major factor in giving you blisters and can be a result of either sweating or from water seeping into your boots.
Heat: The leading cause of hot feet can often be the weather, but heat can also be a result of friction when dirt or gravel ends up in your shoe.
Fungus: you could already possess a fungal condition that you didn't know of which when out hiking can flourish and cause blisters.
Allergies: some allergies are known to make your feet susceptible to developing blisters
How can you reduce the risk of blisters
The good news is that there are a number of preventative actions that you may take to drop your risk of getting a blister. Here are a few:
The first place to look your hiking boots. Picking out the best hiking shoes to match your feet as well as the type of hike you are embarking on will go a long way to ensuring foot comfort whilst on your hike. They will be made out of watertight materials that are breathable, thus making sure your feet are protected from moisture in the form of sweat and rain.
The best hiking shoes will also be a good fit for your feet and cushion you as you traverse the terrain. They will also have gusseted tongs to keep one's shoes free from sand and gravel.
Layering up on socks is another option. The best hiking socks will keep your feet dry by attracting moisture
You can also add a second pair of socks on top. This second pair can help to reduce the friction between your feet and your boots.
Take the thickness of your socks into account when choosing your hiking boots as they will sometimes cause you to need to go up a size due to the extra padding. On the flip side, if you have too much wiggle room inside your boots then this can result in a blister due to the resulting friction.
Additional approaches hikers can be known to make use of include wrapping wrapping tape around their feet and bringing spare pairs of socks.
Lastly, you should always look to break your new boots in for a while before taking them out on their first hike.
What can cause blisters to transpire?
Warmth and moisture are ideal conditions for your socks becoming stuck to your feet. This causes rubbing between your socks and your feet and when movement happens it can cause buildup of fluid between the layers of skin. This will happen as your body attempts to protect the area where the friction is developing.
Here are a few things that can lead to the introduction of blisters while out hiking:
Dampness: dampness can be a major factor in giving you blisters and can be a result of either sweating or from water seeping into your boots.
Heat: The leading cause of hot feet can often be the weather, but heat can also be a result of friction when dirt or gravel ends up in your shoe.
Fungus: you could already possess a fungal condition that you didn't know of which when out hiking can flourish and cause blisters.
Allergies: some allergies are known to make your feet susceptible to developing blisters
How can you reduce the risk of blisters
The good news is that there are a number of preventative actions that you may take to drop your risk of getting a blister. Here are a few:
The first place to look your hiking boots. Picking out the best hiking shoes to match your feet as well as the type of hike you are embarking on will go a long way to ensuring foot comfort whilst on your hike. They will be made out of watertight materials that are breathable, thus making sure your feet are protected from moisture in the form of sweat and rain.
The best hiking shoes will also be a good fit for your feet and cushion you as you traverse the terrain. They will also have gusseted tongs to keep one's shoes free from sand and gravel.
Layering up on socks is another option. The best hiking socks will keep your feet dry by attracting moisture
You can also add a second pair of socks on top. This second pair can help to reduce the friction between your feet and your boots.
Take the thickness of your socks into account when choosing your hiking boots as they will sometimes cause you to need to go up a size due to the extra padding. On the flip side, if you have too much wiggle room inside your boots then this can result in a blister due to the resulting friction.
Additional approaches hikers can be known to make use of include wrapping wrapping tape around their feet and bringing spare pairs of socks.
Lastly, you should always look to break your new boots in for a while before taking them out on their first hike.
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