How to deal with blisters / chafing on walking-intensive trips?

How to deal with blisters / chafing on walking-intensive trips? - A Man and Woman Having Conversation while Walking Up on Stairs

Some kinds of trips involve lots of walking: trekking and hitchhiking come to mind and I personally fall into the latter category.

If you're walking in hot humid conditions or are still breaking in new footwear you can subject yourself to some kinds of "injuries" you might not otherwise get at home because of long distances or climates unlike you're used to.

So if you develop blisters or chafing partway through a long walking trip, how best to continue on without too many or too long breaks?

I'm currently on day three of a convalescence and would much prefer to keep hitchhiking but I don't want to aggravate my blisters and chafing, especially if doing so might involve infections or other complications.

One of my blisters after three days of healing
One of my blisters after three days of healing.






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How to deal with blisters / chafing on walking-intensive trips? - Man in Black and White Jacket Standing on Brown Wooden Staircase



How do you walk long distances with blisters?

Blisters
  • Wear comfortable, good-fitting, worn-in boots or shoes - especially on long walks.
  • Wear good walking socks in the right size - wearing two pairs of socks can help prevent rubbing.
  • Immediately remove anything from your socks or boots which causes irritation.


  • How do you treat walking blisters?

    To treat a blister, dermatologists recommend the following:
  • Cover the blister. Loosely cover the blister with a bandage. ...
  • Use padding. To protect blisters in pressure areas, such as the bottom of your feet, use padding. ...
  • Avoid popping or draining a blister, as this could lead to infection. ...
  • Keep the area clean and covered.


  • Why do I get blisters when I walk?

    The friction causes the top layers of our skin to separate from the layers underneath, creating a pocket that fills with fluid. The formation of blisters is exacerbated by the sweat we produce when we're active.

    Should you cover a blister or let it breathe?

    If a blister has burst, don't peel off the dead skin on top of the blister. Allow the fluid inside to drain and wash it with mild soap and water. Cover the blister and the area around it with a dry, sterile dressing to protect it from infection until it heals.



    How To Avoid Blisters While Hiking | Lessons From Thousands Of Miles On The Trail




    Sources: Stack Exchange - This article follows the attribution requirements of Stack Exchange and is licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0.

    Images: RODNAE Productions, Tim Samuel, Vlada Karpovich, George Pak