7 Ways to Avoid Prevent Blisters

Stay hydrated - if you are not sweating, the salt on your body will begin to irritate your skin.

Shoes - You want room to wiggle, but not enough that your foot slops around. You have heard it all before, break in your shoes before hiking/climbing.

Socks - Select socks that fit your foot without being too tight or too loose. Stay away from tube socks as they don't fit close enough to the foot. Try to use a sock that wicks.

Stay Dry - Using powder along with the right sock can really help. Use foot powder, talcum powder, or cornstarch to stay dry. (Try Gold Bond or Dr. Scholls foot powder.)

Lubricant - Many distance walkers use lubricants on their feet. This is very common for marathon walking. Body Glide is a a good option.

Blister Blocks, Second Skin and Spyroflex - If you have specific places that are prone to blisters you might try applying one of these prior to your walk. Note: most of the products listed here can be found at your local drug store. Look in the foot care, and shoe care areas, if they are not located with first aid products.

Wrapping and Taping - Wrapping toes with moleskin or taping feet with athletic tape (or duct tape) is also a common practice. If you wrap your feet it is important that the tape is applied smoothly (no wrinkles) and not too tight. Ultra walkers might tape their entire foot, but most walkers only need to tape up hot spots.


How to pop a blister

The Three Types of Natural Socks

Cotton - A lightweight, moisture absorbing fiber. No other fabric offers the comfort and feel of nature's own fibre. It's breathable, washable and biodegradable too. Generally though 100% cotton is not recommended as a sock material for walking. Cotton absorbs sweat, dries slowly, providing no insulation when wet and this may lead to discomfort and blisters. However, cotton is extremely comfortable and when combined with wool or other wicking and insulating fibres, cotton blends can be a great choice for light walking in summer. In my personal experience, don't wear cotton unless you can change into a clean pair that night. It also feels really gross when put them on after trying to wash them on the trail.

Silk - A very smooth, soft and moisture absorbing fibre. It boasts a high tensile strength and acts as a natural thermal retainer that does not conduct heat. Although comfortable and lightweight it lacks durability and is mostly used in liner socks for it’s wicking ability. I really like silk for sleeping at night in the summer. It isn't that warm, and if you stick your foot out in your sleep, is helps stop mosquitoes.

Wool - The original, easy care fibre. Each wool fibre is made up of millions of "coiled springs," that stretch in use, but coil back to their original positions. It features inherent qualities such as warmth when wet, cushioning, shape recovery (resiliency) and it breathes with your body. It can be knit in various weights to provide increasing levels of insulation for every temperature. Wool yarn, when knit into a thicker sock, tends to be bulky and lofty. Air becomes entrapped and it becomes an ideal insulator. Wool socks also keep feet drier because wool absorbs as much as 30% of its own weight before it begins to feel damp.

Unfortunately, wool can take a long time to dry and it can be scratchy/uncomfortable next to your skin (many new wool options, including merino, do not have this problem). It can also wear out quickly if not reinforced with other materials. Wool blends (combinations of wool and synthetic materials) are extremely popular because they address many of these problems. Merino wool is hands down the best. In case you have been holding back because you don't believe it is worth the money, buy a pair and try them. You can wear it all day, slosh it around in a stream, dry it out, and it feels clean going on in the morning. Yeah, it is that good.

How to Pop a Blister

4 Types of Socks Explained

Naturally, the socks that you wear when you are backpacking, hiking, or simply wandering around the outdoors are at least as important as your shoes. Since manufactures know that socks are important, they have flooded the market with so many options that it is hard to keep them straight sometimes. Here they are broken down into the main categories.


Liners - Sock liners are thin, lightweight wicking socks designed to be worn right next to your skin. These liners wick sweat away from the surface of your foot to keep you dry and more comfortable, some will also provide added warmth should you need to bolster outer socks. Liners also limit the amount of abrasion between your outer sock and your skin. They are purpose designed to be worn under other socks, as well as being suitable to wear on their own. It is very important to remember that liner socks are going to allow your foot more room to slosh in your hiking boot, so don't try them for the first time when you are 40 miles out with 80 lbs on your back.

Lightweight walking/backpacking socks - Designed for warm conditions and easier walking/light footwear, lightweight walking socks stress wicking performance and comfort over warmth. These socks are thicker, warmer and more durable than liners alone. They also provide more cushioning. But they are relatively thin so that you can stay comfortable on warm weather trips. Because most lightweight walking socks are made from wicking materials, they can be worn with or without liner socks. Usually are thicker on the bottom allowing for extra padding, and thinner on the top and sides to allow breathing.

Midweight walking/backpacking socks - These socks are designed to provide reliable cushioning and insulation in moderate to cold conditions and are also better suited to heavy weight boots and trekking. They tend to be thicker and warmer than lightweight walking socks. Many models have extra padding built into high-impact areas like the heel and the ball of the foot for maximum comfort. These socks can also be worn with liners to improve wicking, comfort and warmth.

Mountaineering socks - Mountaineering socks are generally the thickest, warmest and most cushioned socks available. They are designed for long trips, tough terrain and cold temperatures. Usually, mountaineering socks are too thick and warm for basic backpacking journeys in moderate/warm conditions. Again liner socks maybe appropriate for foot management (wicking, blister protection etc.)


So remember, to thick of socks=blisters; to thin of socks=blisters. Try them out before you go out.




Related Posts:
The Three Types of Natural Socks
How to tie your hiking boots
Your flag on the summit of your choosen state: Free of charge

How to pop a blister

It is true, popping a blister is usually not a good idea. The whole reason your body forms a blister is to protect part of your body that is being irritated. However, there are times when a blister is going to prevent you from doing what has to be done, so you should know how to properly pop them.

Usually this is done by a doctor because most blisters that require drainage are caused by something more serious like burns, crippling sunburns, or other complications. But, if you have a small blister that you just can’t stand anymore, you can get rid of that blister by following these simple steps:

1) Find a pin and drop it in a small bit of rubbing alcohol to sterilize it.
2) Puncture the blister in two separate places, and push lightly on the blister with the blunt side of the pin to push the fluid out.
3) Wash the blister with soap and water, applying antibiotic cream, and covering it with gauze.
4) Let the blister heal. Don’t tamper with it unless you really want an infection.

How to tie your hiking boots
7 Ways to Avoid Prevent Blisters

4 things to remember about protein

Prime the pump The amino acids in proteins create the enzymes that regulate metabolism. Without them, your body can't produce energy. You need plenty of protein (12 to 20 percent of daily calories) so your body doesn't start to break down muscle tissue.

Shop the deli Animal products contain complete proteins–that is, entire sets of the nine essential amino acids your body needs. Pack foods like beef jerky, hard salami, powdered milk, and Romano and cheddar cheeses, all of which provide more essential amino acids by themselves than plant sources such as peanuts and soy.

Combine and conquer Not a fan of meat or dairy? Use combinations of plant proteins to diversify your amino acid intake. Add almonds, peanuts, and walnuts to trail mix. Cook a one-pot dinner with beans, rice, and corn. Spread peanut butter on a wheat tortilla. The general rule: mix legumes (peas or dried beans) with nuts or grains.

Fortify Hiking at altitude diminishes appetite even as your protein needs increase. Try frequent, small portions of chicken and beef soup. You can raise your amino acid intake by adding 2 ounces of whey-based protein powder to your water or electrolyte drink.

How to find a highpoint

I get asked this quite often, and it is a really valid question. To an outsider, someone who doesn't spend most of their free time dreaming of walking up a hill, it is probably a little confusing to imagine how I randomly find the highest point in each of the 50 states. Sure you could drive to the biggest hill, but that doesn't necessarily mean its the highest peak. What if there is another peak that doesn't look as tall but starts at a higher elevation? What if the states highpoint is under some building?


In reality, finding a highpoint is really simple. Believe it or not, there are whole groups of people who go around and climb these peaks, we call ourselves...HIGHPOINTERS! Incredible name, huh? There is even a club for us. State highpoints are shown on most state maps. Some of them are difficult peaks, others are not much more than a mole hill. At every state highpoint there is a marker put out by the US Geographical Service.

This is what shows you when you are standing on the highpoint. They are usually put in a rock, so there might be a little pile of dirt off to the side that is a few inches higher, but you get the idea.

Before the dawn of GPS, getting to these highpoints could be very confusing. Cities are not built around highpoints, so they are almost always in the middle of nowhere. For example, Mount Arvon, the highest point in my home state of Michigan, is deep within logging country. When we tried to get there, we ended up having to walk through a cedar swamp because we couldn't find our road. Today, all you have to do is type the coordinates into your GPS, and it will take you right to the trail head.


For a great site for highpoint GPS coordinates, check this out. Click on the peak name, and they will be listed in both degrees and decimal format. Of course, one missed entered number may drive you to the wrong side of the country, so what I do is find the highpoint on an actual map, and then double check to make sure the GPS is driving me in the right direction.


I strongly suggest using a GPS, since it makes your travels really efficient, and allows you to enjoy the scenery instead to checking every street sign to make sure you don't miss your turn.

Protecting Tents

Remember when tents used to be something that you saved up for while before you could purchase one? I think that the first tent that I bought cost just under $100,it was a total piece of junk, and it was to be expected for such a "low" price.

Now, you can practically go to your local grocery store and pick up a decent tent for under $30 no problem. Kids today have no idea how good they have it.

Should you, however, pay the money to get a higher end tent, you will expect to have it for a little while. With this in mind, I thought I would let you on a little secret: UV light is a tents worst enemy. Well, maybe grizzly bears are the worst, but UV is a close second. Sunlight breaks down the tents seams and fabric, causing it to loose its ability to keep you dry.

There are two solutions. Quit sleeping in, or spray on a UV protection spray. This spray is available at most outdoor stores, and makes a big difference when you are operating out of a base camp, and your tent stays up for days at a time.

Stop your feathers from getting away

Ever wake up choking like mad and feeling like you just inhaled a whole duck? Believe me, it is not fun. This feeling is most likely from one of two problems. A leak in your down sleeping bag, or a duck in your tent. I can help you with problem number one; you are on your own for the second.

Pulling feathers out of your bag when they start to poke out can be lots of fun. You can hold them in your hand, give them a puff of air, and giggle like a school girl. The trouble is if you do this a few hundred thousand times, you will be sleeping in a nylon sack. Not really worth it.

If you do start to see a feather poke out, the recommend set of steps is to 1) poke it back in with your finger, and 2) massage your sleeping bag so the hole closes itself. This also help loft your down, resulting in better heat retention.

How to tie your hiking boots

We are getting a little back to basics on this one, but as anyone who has ever had a blister will tell you, it is actually pretty important. Compare your shoes to tires on a car, how they are attached makes a big difference.

You may know this, but it is worth repeating, when you walk a lot, your feet will swell The trick is to have shoes tied in a manner that will allow your feet to swell, but at the same time are snug enough to prevent your foot from slopping around and causing blisters.

1) Pull your laces tight enough around your foot that you can feel the sides of the shoe, but still allow some wiggle room.

2) At the ankle, where your boot will have either eyelets or quick lace loops, do a single overhand knot (the knot that you start with when tying shoes normally) between each eyelet. This will keep the snugness of the laces around your ankle from averaging out with laces around your foot.

3) Finally, it's important to not tighten the top tie too much. This will allow your foot to vent, and not build up sweat. If sweat builds up, your foot will still find a way to blister.

4 Types of Socks Explained

Your flag on the summit of your choosen state: Free of charge

Survive Outside: The bowline

Life leads us in many different directions, and we often end up doing things that we would never expect. With this in mind, I feel that it's my duty as an accident prone outdoors man to help train as many of you as I can, in the event I end up stranded and need you to rescue me. Fair enough?

One of the most important things for you to know when peering down the frozen crevasse at me is how to tie a bowline. I would do it myself when you lower your "Mark rescue rope" down to me, but both of my arms are broken from my 25' belly flop.

A bowline is arguably the most important knot in rescue. It allows you to make a loop in a rope that can be slipped over my torso that will not tighten and squeeze my delicate body. All you would have to do then pull me up to safety. Just think, you can then tell everyone you saved arguably the most influential man to ever live.

Rather than demonstrate how bad I am at giving directions, I will let you look at a two second animation here. See, it is that simple. Call your boss, tell them you can't come in tomorrow, and practice until you know it cold. My life might depend on it.