Fact: I get blisters. They show up in various spots, but generally speaking they are on the edge of my heel or on my toes. They’ve just always been a part of my life.

My method of dealing with them has typically been to grin and bear it. Perhaps I will take some ibuprofen. But then I started taking longer and longer hikes. On our signature annual hike, the blisters on my feet were epic − borderline embarrassing. I didn’t mind too much, in part because what you will endure when you are in awe of your surroundings and enjoying the backcountry is impressive. But they did hurt, so I shared with my friends what was happening to my feet. Julie, of course, had a solution. After all, she has master’s-level athletic training. She instructed me to leave the blisters alone and in the morning, she would tape them up.

While I was apprehensive of this technique and the first ten steps felt awkward, the extra padding on my feet was a game changer. Amazing. Julie oversaw my foot care regimen for the rest of that first trip, and I was forever grateful.

Upon returning home, I began researching online what the experts suggested regarding blister care. Most suggestions, including the Mayo Clinic website, suggest leaving them alone if you can tolerate the pain. If you want or need to pop them, use a sterilized needle and try to keep the skin intact as a protectant for a couple of days. I can follow this only to a certain degree while dirt bagging it at 11,000 ft. for multiple days. 

I next reached out to a friend who has spent extensive time in the backcountry in the Bridger-Teton area recreating and volunteering with search and rescue. His anti-blister advice was simple: toe socks. His personal preference and strong recommendation was Injinji Toesocks.

As friction is the most common culprit behind blisters, the individual toe compartments help to separate toes and reduce skin-on-skin situations which lead to hot spots and blisters. I was pleased to learn that a local sporting goods store carried the exact socks recommended by my friend so of course I went shopping.

My new socks felt a little weird at first, oddly reminiscent of the feeling of walking with taped up blisters. However, much like that experience, it took only a few steps to get used to the feeling. To my surprise and relief, the socks helped with 90% of my blister challenges. By creating extra space between toes, I also noticed that my feet could breathe a little more.

While toesocks do not make my blisters disappear altogether, they make a huge difference. It took me awhile, but I seem to have my blister regimen dialed in. All I need is a little Foot Guide Anti Blister Stick, moleskin in a couple of spots, and a trusty pair of Injinji Toesocks.