No Products in the Cart
Blisters are a common complaint of walkers and runners. If you have just started walking or running, switched your shoes, or started doing longer workouts, you may get blisters on your feet and toes.
A blister is a fluid-filled sac caused by friction (or by heat from a burn). Walkers and runners dread them, but there are ways to prevent most foot blisters. You can eliminate sources of rubbing in your shoes, toughen and protect your skin, keep your feet cool and dry, and be alert for hot spots that will turn into blisters if not treated.
Find the Right Shoes to Prevent Blisters
Your shoes are often the source of your blisters. You get a blister due to friction where your toes, heels, and the sole of your foot rub against the shoe. Everybody has feet of different shapes and sizes, and there is no single shoe that will be right for everyone. Getting the right size and shape of the shoe can help prevent blisters.
New Shoes
If you take new shoes out for a long walk or run, you may get a blister as it rubs different areas than the last pair of shoes. Any shoes can give you a blister in their first few wearings before your feet have grown accustomed to them.
Solution: Most importantly, get a shoe that fits well so your heel isn't slipping and your toes are not rubbing against the front of the shoe. Take it slow and only go on short walks or runs with new pairs of shoes, even if they are the same brand and model you have been wearing. Build up your mileage and speed in each pair of shoes.
Cramped Shoes
With a cramped toe box, your 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.
Feet Sliding Around in Shoes
If your shoes are too loose and your feet slide forward and back within the shoe with each step, you are adding extra blister-causing friction. You may also get a black toenail.
Solution: You want your feet to have enough room to expand when you walk, but not enough to slide around. Wear a thicker sock to take up some of the extra space. Learn how to lace your shoes to keep your heel in the heel cup with each step rather than sliding forward. If you still seem to have too much space, buy shoes that fit better.
Rough Edges in Your Shoes or Insoles
The seams and the edge of the insole can rub against your foot or toes.
Solution: You can change styles of shoes or insoles. Some shoes are designed to be seamless inside. You can also try heat-molded insoles (available at some running stores) that will cradle your feet just right. If you can't avoid rough spots, lubricate or cover the area that is getting rubbed.
Prevent Blisters by Toughening Your Feet
A newbie is called a tenderfoot for good reasons. Your soft, pink feet will have fewer problems with blisters if your skin gets a little tougher.
Prevent Blisters by Wearing the Right Socks
Forget the cotton socks—stick with synthetics. Cotton retains your foot sweat, which then softens your skin and leaves it more prone to breaking with friction, which produces blisters.
Prevent Blisters by Lubricating Your Feet
Friction—the rubbing motion between the foot, sock, and shoe—creates heat and tearing forces, which make the skin prone to blisters. If you reduce the friction, you reduce the blisters. One way to reduce friction is by lubricating your feet so they slide rather than rub.
Here are some products to try:
Prevent Blisters by Keeping Your Feet Dry
Keeping your feet dry starts with wicking socks, but you can also use other strategies, such as these two products:
Cover the Problem Spots on Your Feet
If you have a spot that is prone to blistering or have developed a hot spot while you are out walking and running, covering it can help protect it. There are several options, including sports tape, moleskin, gel bandages, paper tape, and special patches. In a pinch, you might even put duct tape to work.
The drawback of covering the area is that often these bandages and pads don't stay where you've put them, especially as you continue walking or running. You may have to try various kinds to find the one that sticks best for you. As always, prevention is the best solution for a blister.
Stop and Readjust When You Feel a Hot Spot
You will often feel a hot spot developing that can turn into a blister. While you may want to keep going, the best thing to do is stop immediately and use these ideas.
If you are carrying a blister kit, place a blister bandage or other cover over the spot, or create a protective doughnut around it. You can find take-along kits online or at sports stores. Or, make up your own with the cover-ups you prefer (such as gel bandages or moleskin), antiseptic wipes, athletic tape, small scissors, and a miniature container of lubricant.
Readjust your socks and shoes to try to eliminate places where your socks may have become bunched up. If your socks are damp, change to a dry pair if you can. While it's best to just end your walk or run when you get a hot spot, these tactics might keep a blister from developing if you have to keep going. If a blister has developed, cover it rather than draining it unless it is at risk of rupture.
A Word From Verywell
Don't let blisters stop you in your tracks. Take the time before your long workouts to lubricate and protect your feet. Monitor how your feet feel and don't ignore any signs of hot spots. Switch to the shoes and socks that will best help you stay blister-free.
