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September 11, 2008
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Did I hike too far too soon in my new boots?
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Trek Pro Boot (courtesy, Scarpa)
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I have a new pair of Scarpa Trek Pro hiking boots and wore them for a week inside
for up to four hours. They seemed great, so I went out in the bush for 2.5 hours
and ended up with huge blisters on my heels. Was I too hasty or ambitious in my
first outing? And what is the best way to treat blisters?
— Alison
Victoria, Australia
Do you have a question of your own?
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 Yikes! Blisters are no fun.
I have to admit, we don’t have the Scarpa Trek Pro in the United States. They look like a
moderately hefty boot: all-leather one-piece uppers, fabric (Cambrelle) lining,
and a Vibram sole. So it’s possible you were a bit hasty in taking them out for a
two-hour-plus hike without trying some shorter walks to expedite break-in. I’m
assuming they fit well. You don’t want boots to be sloppy in the heel, but
neither do you want them real tight and creating pressure points.
So what to do? Check your sock combination, for starters. I always suggest a
light liner of Coolmax or other material, with a mid-weight wool sock such as the
SmartWool Light Hiker
(US$15). So try that, and once you heal try some shorter walks (less than an
hour). If you’re still getting hot spots, you may need to find a bootsmith who
can re-shape the heel area a little, creating more space. But that probably
should be seen as a last resort.
Your other alternative is to simply do what you can to prevent blisters, using
Moleskin or a similar product to create a layer over the skin that can absorb the
friction. That stuff works well, but these days I hate to use it as boots today
fit better and usually don’t require heroic measures to prevent blisters.
As for blister treatment, avoidance is the best cure. If I do blister, I prefer
draining the blister with a sterile needle, then building up an area around the
blister with adhesive tape or other products that help keep the boot away from
the affected area. Keep in mind, though, that breaking the skin over a blister
can lead to an infection. Products such as Spenco Second Skin also help protect
and cool the blistered area.
Otherwise, wait a week and they heal right up!
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