Yes, there are ways to toughen your feet and to prevent most blisters.
We'll review the top ways to prevent blisters both before and during your walk.
Tip 1: The Right Shoes to Prevent Blisters
A common source of blisters are your shoes themselves. Everybody has feet of different shapes and sizes, no one shoe will be right for everyone. Getting the right size and shape of shoe can help prevent blisters.
Cause: New Shoes: Taking new shoes out for a long walk. Any pair of shoes may give you a blister in its first few wearings, before your feet and the shoe have grown accustomed to each other.
Solution: Take it slow and short with new pairs of shoes, even the same brand and model. Build up your mileage and speed.
Cause: Cramped Shoes: With a crramped toe box, toes rub against sides or end of shoes. This can even lead to blackened toenails or losing the toenails after a long walk.
Solution: Your walking shoes should have a finger's width of length between the end of your toe and the end of your shoes to allow your feet to expand while walking.
Select shoes of the proper width for your foot so that toes have enough room.
Cause: Rough Edges: Seams and the edge of the insole rubbing against foot.
Solution:Change styles of shoes or insoles, but generally the solution will be in lubricating or covering the area that is getting rubbed.
See our Walking Shoe Guide for tips on getting properly fitted for your walking shoes.
Next page: Toughen Your Feet to Prevent Blisters
