8 Ways to Prevent Hikers Feet – Important Hiking Tips
Hikers feet are one of the most common injuries on any trail. Hikers must take good care of their feet not only to prevent blisters, inflammation, or a damaged ligament but also to ensure that you can continue your hike at all! That’s why every hiker needs to be familiar with different methods on how they can protect their feet against moisture, blisters, and other negative conditions.
What most beginners don’t know is that there are a lot of other tools and tricks that we can use to take care of our feet, but we don’t. There are also other aspects as buying guides to essential gears to keep feet from harm while out in the wilderness that you have to consider before hitting the trails.
To ensure a long-lasting and reliable experience for hikers, we gathered a few tips on how to properly treat your feet while hiking.
In this article, you will find a list of 8 different tricks that hikers should use when they are on the trail! The list includes advice from experienced hiking guides as well as from professional hikers that have been forced to stop because of foot problems.
How Important is it to Prevent Hikers Feet?
Hiker’s feet are when a hiker gets a skin inflammation on the feet or even a cut. The most common area for hikers to get these inflammations is on the bottom of the foot where the skin meets with the shoes. This is called a friction point and it can get worse when hikers get wet feet. If water gets trapped between the shoe and your skin, it can create an ideal environment for bacteria to grow and this could potentially lead to inflammation or even blisters.
When you get inflammations on your feet, it can be excruciating to get them treated. The only remedy is normally acetaminophen or ibuprofen which act as painkilling medicines. You won’t be able to hike or do anything strenuous when you get inflammations on your feet. Hence following the below tips can help you to stay safe and protected.
Furthermore, hikers that get inflammations end up having to carry extra weight on their backs which can slow down the whole group. An injured toe or foot can break your entire hiking trip which means that following these instructions is crucial for everyone.
8 Ways to Protect from Hikers Feet
Find the Right Shoe
This is extremely important and before you get on the trail, it is recommended that you visit your local sports shop and get fitted for a new pair of shoes. Wearing the wrong shoe will put a lot of strain on your feet and it will make it a lot more difficult for you to hike. This is because the wrong shoe can cause too much friction which can result in inflammations.
Wear the Right Socks
Here, you must invest in a good pair of socks. Don’t go for cotton socks because they will make your feet sweaty and moist which can lead to inflammation or blisters. Invest in a good pair of hiking-specific socks that are made out of wool or nylon material. You should also wear two pairs of socks if the trail is known for hikers getting inflammations on their feet; this is because one pair of socks will absorb the moisture whereas the outer layer will protect your feet from getting wet.
Wear Moleskin on Your Big Toe
When you are wearing a new pair of shoes, it is common to get inflammations on your big toe where your skin meets with the shoe. That’s why it is important to put moleskin on this area before you get on the trail. Moleskin will prevent your skin from getting irritated and it is a perfect way to protect against inflammation or blisters.
Break in Your Shoes
Crucial step! If you don’t want inflammations on your feet, then make sure that you break in your shoes before you get on the trail. At least wear your shoes around the house for 5 to 6 days before you go hiking in them. This is very important because it will make sure that you are protected against inflammations or blisters.
Apply Antiperspirant to Your Feet
Salts, minerals, and other nutrients seep out of your body through your feet and this is why you should apply an antiperspirant before you go hiking. The antiperspirant will dry out the moisture and keep your feet safe from inflammations or blisters.
Treat Blisters Right Away
If you spot a blister, then it is recommended that you treat it as quickly as possible to get it to heal faster. It is important that you drain the liquid out of the blister and then cover it with a bandage or moleskin. You should also avoid wearing your shoes for another day so that your feet can heal.
Keep Your Feet Clean
It’s crucial to keep your feet clean when you are on the trail because this will prevent inflammations and blisters. Make sure that you dry your feet properly after you get them wet. During the hike, do not walk through puddles of water because water has the potential to lead to inflammations on your feet.
Air Your Feet
Once you get back to the camp, have a look at your feet and check if they are irritated or inflamed. If there are red spots on your skin, then do not hesitate to air your feet because otherwise, the inflammations could become worse.
Foot Care Gear to Protect Your Hiking Feet
This is a great adhesive bandage that will protect your feet against inflammations or blisters. The adhesive bandage is shaped like a horseshoe and it covers the area where you are most likely to get inflammations. The bandage is made out of soft plastic and it will cover the injury without sticking to your skin.
These are ideal to protect your big toe against inflammations. It is made out of super-duty plastic and it protects both your skin and the top part of your shoe.
Having a pair of good hiking shoes is crucial to protecting yourself against inflammations. The best thing about having a good pair of shoes is that it can prevent you from getting inflammations. If you want to protect yourself against blisters, then ensure that your shoes are moisture-wicking and have ample ventilation.
This is a must to be included in your foot care gear. This is because it will help you drain the liquid from a blister to prevent inflammations. It’s also recommended that you have anti-biotic ointment and some sterile wipes to clean the area around your blister.
FAQs Related to How You Can Protect Your Hiking Feet
Treating Foot Injuries
When it comes to hiking, everyone is at risk for foot injuries. Make sure you are properly prepared for anything that could happen when you are out in the woods. Preventing your feet from getting hurt is much easier than trying to deal with an injury once it happens. To be safe, if you plan on visiting the trails around your area you need to be prepared for any situation. A few simple steps will help ensure that you stay safe and healthy when hiking.
How you can treat foot injuries is important. First, you should always have a plan B in place if anything happens to your feet while hiking. The best way is to have someone with you when you go hiking. In a situation where this is not possible, make sure you have a fully charged cell phone.
If an injury does happen, the first thing you need to do is take a deep breath and relax. In case the injury was caused by a cut, it may not be as bad as it first seems. Treat the injury by cleaning it and then bandaging it.
If there is any chance the cut could get infected, make sure you get to a doctor as soon as possible.
Why Do I Get Inflammations On My Feet?
There are many different reasons why you may develop inflammations on your feet. One of them is unclean feet.
What Can I Do to Prevent Inflammations On My Feet?
It is key that you wear the right socks, shoes. Also, treat your blisters as soon as you get them.
Does Wearing Cotton Socks Cause Inflammations?
Yes, because cotton socks absorb all of the moisture and this will lead to inflammations.
Where Can I Get Moleskin?
Moleskin is available in most drugstores.
How Do You Drain a Blister?
It is recommended that you use a needle to drain the fluid out of your blister. You can also cover it with moleskin and then take some bandages.
Conclusion
As you can see, there are several different things that you can do to protect your hiking feet when you go hiking. By following the above tips, you will be able to minimize the risk of your feet getting inflammations.
Read here to find out how to fight leeches when camping.
