Athletic shoes or hiking boots are a must-pack item if you are planning a trip to the Denver, Colorado area, and a must-have item if you live here. There are just too many trails and hikes you’ll want to take that require good footwear! However, shoes that cause blisters can include even these roomy, sturdy, and supportive styles if they are not laced properly.
You may think you only get those painful bubbles on your skin from shoes that are too tight and rub against hot spots on your feet. Think again! While pointy-toe flats and tight cowboy boots can definitely be a problem, loose shoes can also cause foot sores when your feet slide around too much in them.
If the lacing works loose during your hike, the back of your foot can start to slide up and down against the heel counter—a sure recipe for a painful blister. Using the lace-lock technique to keep your shoes snugly tied on the trail can help stop heel blisters. It’s what those extra little back holes are for at the top of your athletic shoes. This video that shows how this lacing technique keeps knots and bows tight—and your feet snugly in your shoes:
There are other things you can do to reduce friction from your shoes, too. Your heel bone can move too much when your calf muscles and Achilles tendon are too tight, but a good stretching program can reduce that movement. There are also products you can purchase that hold your sock and shoe firmly in place at your heel. Taping and using bandages or protective donut-hole pads can also help.
If you have a huge blister, or one that has popped and looks as if it may be infected, call Rocky Mountain Foot & Ankle Center in Wheat Ridge, Golden, Evergreen, or Granby, CO to come in for treatment. We can safely drain it and prescribe antibiotics to head off a more serious problem. Just call (303) 423-2520 or request an appointment through our contact page. Happy hiking!
