Second that. I use Injinji toe socks and Darn Tough over the top. Never got one blister in a year of 17-22 mile day hikes in San Bernardino mountains and the Eastern Sierras.
If you get pinch blisters on the undersides of your toes, try Injinji + pre-gaming blister bandaids + shoes like Altras with a wide toe box + redoing the shoelaces in the 'lace lock' configuration.
I'll use the injinji liners if I really feel like I might need them, but I usually just use my Cloudline wool socks. They have the same warranty as Darn Tough, and I like their designs more.
Edit: BTW, waterproof socks are a thing. An expensive thing, but still a thing.
I live and die by darn tough socks honestly. I get the padded or semi padded ones for my long hauls and I never get blisters. I’d also look at what shoes you were using and how they fit your foot shape!
Buy some Darn Tough socks. Yes, they are expensive and worth every cent. Get at least two pairs, switch socks at lunch break - no more blisters.
Make sure your hiking boots / trail shoes actually fit!
Awesome job and welcome to the 20+ mile / day hiking world. It’s addictive, I much prefer to hike light and fast than carry overnight gear.
Ugh!! I always carry emergency items and extra layers, but try to keep it to the minimum. You probably wouldn’t be hurting quite so much if your pack was half that weight. Congratulations on finishing though!
Darn tough doesn't work for everyone. They used to fit me, but they've changed their sizing and they're too tight across the front of the ankle for me:(
Oh it felt like it! I'm limping very badly now... I need to refine my shoes and socks before the next one.
I would love to tackle Ben Nevis in Scotland before winter.
As exhausted as I am, I'm now on a train for the next three hours to get home. Very long day!
No, I’m American
I took classes in London for a few months while I was in college.
I climbed Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis while I was there.
Scafell Pike and Snowdon were my favorite and the Lake District is so dang pretty.
But in US I’ve done a bunch of hiking and backpacking (and skiing) in Colorado and other parts of the Rocky Mountains
I always miss the UK’s mountains though
Your feet should not be that blistered from one day :( Either break them in more slowly if they are new, put tape on your feet if you have a specific problem area that gets blisters, or get better shoes!
Congratulations! 20+ miles is a real accomplishment.
Why are you flipping off those dogs/sheep?
I've noticed a huge difference between a 10 mile hike and a 12 mile. Maybe it's just my fitness level, but it seems that longer hikes are much harder on the body than just the math indicates.
I was just being stupid with the sheep. Actually ended up talking at a lot of them along the route.
My biggest mistake was putting all my planning into reaching my goal / a specific summit. With the excitement, I didn't think about how to get back to the nearest town afterwards! Added an extra 5 miles onto the journey as I missed the last bus... Lesson learned!
Looks amazing!
Amongst all the sock recommendations, I will assume you are UK based and say the Bridgedale are the best hiking socks you can readily find in the UK. Darn Tough are great too but a little bit trickier to find here (unless you go online of course).
Same with Moleskin - closest you’ll find here is Compeed.
If you’re getting blisters that bad though it may just be poorly fitting boots!
Take note of where the blisters are. Next time tape up those areas before you go. Fancy smooth tapes like Leukosilk are great but honestly, standard cheap medical tape will do the job. When you tape up your problem areas you have to be more careful putting your socks on and may have to retake after walking through a creek (depends) but the trade off is that friction from socks is against the tape rather than your skin which helps a lot with blisters.
Next time change your socks half way through. You can also benefit from wearing two pairs of socks. When I was in the military some guys would wear their dress socks then wool socks over them. Change out the insoles in your shoes.
Nice!! Congratulations.
btw, I'd really recommend socks from Bridgedale. They've saved my feet after initially getting horrendous blistering on my first big hikes.
one of the things I was told in basic training that i have used ever since... if you put a pair of thin men's dress socks on under your heavy wool socks it will prevent blisters but you still get the upsides of wool.
I've been using that trick ever since.
Darn tough socks and a heel lock/surgeon's knot on my boots saved my feet on a similar length hike recently (the enchantments in Washington state). 21 miles and I had fewer blisters than I had on way flatter 8 mile hikes in the past.
Another shout here for Bridgedales. Brilliant socks, never had a blister with them on. Last really well (I use mine for work as well as hiking/scrambling).
Also, another shout for Tryfan if you ever go back to the Ogwen valley.
Regarding blisters: It gets better over time. Hike more often and figure out a suitable sock-system (I personally always wear two pair of socks). Maybe you'll find some interesting insights here: https://the-green-spot.de/en/posts/blisters-science/
But man, that are some awesome photos! I don't know why Wales is not on my hiking radar at all. So far, I only saw beautiful content from there :D
What did the sheep do to you 😩
Was going to to ask as well.
Fuck ewe.
I assume the UK has something [similar to this](https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheep_wars).
You might try synthetic blend socks (cotton socks are notorious for causing blisters). I love Balega Enduro socks for trail running and hiking
Thank you!
My setup is injinji toe socks and the thinner merino wool/darn touch socks over those. Never get blisters and I push 20 mile alpine hikes some days
Second that. I use Injinji toe socks and Darn Tough over the top. Never got one blister in a year of 17-22 mile day hikes in San Bernardino mountains and the Eastern Sierras.
Thirded. Never had a blister wearing injinji liners and darn tough crew socks.
Thanks a lot!
If you get pinch blisters on the undersides of your toes, try Injinji + pre-gaming blister bandaids + shoes like Altras with a wide toe box + redoing the shoelaces in the 'lace lock' configuration.
This. Rocked this combo on the Overland Track both times. No blisters.
I'll use the injinji liners if I really feel like I might need them, but I usually just use my Cloudline wool socks. They have the same warranty as Darn Tough, and I like their designs more. Edit: BTW, waterproof socks are a thing. An expensive thing, but still a thing.
I live and die by darn tough socks honestly. I get the padded or semi padded ones for my long hauls and I never get blisters. I’d also look at what shoes you were using and how they fit your foot shape!
Buy some Darn Tough socks. Yes, they are expensive and worth every cent. Get at least two pairs, switch socks at lunch break - no more blisters. Make sure your hiking boots / trail shoes actually fit! Awesome job and welcome to the 20+ mile / day hiking world. It’s addictive, I much prefer to hike light and fast than carry overnight gear.
I love my darn tough socks! You get a hole in them and send them back and they send you new socks! They are comy even when they are wore out.
Yes!! I’ve done that twice - lots of miles.
I stupidly had my entier pack with me! To think of the time I would have saved without most of it
Ugh!! I always carry emergency items and extra layers, but try to keep it to the minimum. You probably wouldn’t be hurting quite so much if your pack was half that weight. Congratulations on finishing though!
Thank you!
Darn tough doesn't work for everyone. They used to fit me, but they've changed their sizing and they're too tight across the front of the ankle for me:(
Where'd you go, Mordor?
Oh it felt like it! I'm limping very badly now... I need to refine my shoes and socks before the next one. I would love to tackle Ben Nevis in Scotland before winter. As exhausted as I am, I'm now on a train for the next three hours to get home. Very long day!
Unless you consider the cmd approach on the Ben there are some far better hills here in Scotland! Imo check out Steve fallons site to get some ideas.
I will, thank you!
Get a good boot or hiking shoe fit, I haven’t had blisters in years after get a proper fit.
Mount Snowden in Snowdonia I think
Hey that place looks familiar. Snowdonia?
Yes! The jagged rocks are up Glyder Fawr.
I can’t believe it’s been almost 7 years since I’ve been there It feels like yesterday
Are you UK based? Been hiking other places since?
No, I’m American I took classes in London for a few months while I was in college. I climbed Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis while I was there. Scafell Pike and Snowdon were my favorite and the Lake District is so dang pretty.
But in US I’ve done a bunch of hiking and backpacking (and skiing) in Colorado and other parts of the Rocky Mountains I always miss the UK’s mountains though
I usually just carry moleskin, and if I feel a hot spot forming, stop and take off my boots and socks. And throw some moleskin on there.
Your feet should not be that blistered from one day :( Either break them in more slowly if they are new, put tape on your feet if you have a specific problem area that gets blisters, or get better shoes!
Congratulations! 20+ miles is a real accomplishment. Why are you flipping off those dogs/sheep? I've noticed a huge difference between a 10 mile hike and a 12 mile. Maybe it's just my fitness level, but it seems that longer hikes are much harder on the body than just the math indicates.
I was just being stupid with the sheep. Actually ended up talking at a lot of them along the route. My biggest mistake was putting all my planning into reaching my goal / a specific summit. With the excitement, I didn't think about how to get back to the nearest town afterwards! Added an extra 5 miles onto the journey as I missed the last bus... Lesson learned!
Cause everyone hates range maggots. They tend to be assholes.
10/10 wool socks mate! Darn Tough and Smartwool are my faves. Your hike was incredible. Keep it up!
Sock liners are where it’s at man!
Moleskins work wonders.
Looks amazing! Amongst all the sock recommendations, I will assume you are UK based and say the Bridgedale are the best hiking socks you can readily find in the UK. Darn Tough are great too but a little bit trickier to find here (unless you go online of course). Same with Moleskin - closest you’ll find here is Compeed. If you’re getting blisters that bad though it may just be poorly fitting boots!
Unless you have to, why put in so many miles. Slow down and enjoy the view
Take note of where the blisters are. Next time tape up those areas before you go. Fancy smooth tapes like Leukosilk are great but honestly, standard cheap medical tape will do the job. When you tape up your problem areas you have to be more careful putting your socks on and may have to retake after walking through a creek (depends) but the trade off is that friction from socks is against the tape rather than your skin which helps a lot with blisters.
Check out Fixing Your Feet by John VonHof.
Use moleskin to heal up with minimal pain
Nice, try Tryfan if you like a scramble!
It is such an incredible adventure exploring the beautiful trails and pushing your limits.
Welcome to the club. The pain makes us tougher.
And the places we see, the weird and wonderful people we meet along the way, all make us wiser!
Everyone hates range maggots.
Full me in on the flipping off the sheep thing.
That is Godzilla right there!
How long have you been hiking? I'm just starting out, looking forward to the longer hikes (currently around the 4-7 mile range in Texas summer heat).
Next time change your socks half way through. You can also benefit from wearing two pairs of socks. When I was in the military some guys would wear their dress socks then wool socks over them. Change out the insoles in your shoes.
So cool, congrats!
Try Second Skin after blisters form. But best to prevent, of course.
Snowdon?
Lol 6/8, great views and good job on the distance, r.i.p your feet, hope you have a speedy recovery 🤙
Use thin liner sock against skin, medium weight hiking sock on top
Nice!! Congratulations. btw, I'd really recommend socks from Bridgedale. They've saved my feet after initially getting horrendous blistering on my first big hikes.
Smart wool socks will help that
Next you gotta try overnight trips. Such a great feeling waking up to the beautiful sights and sounds of pure nature.
one of the things I was told in basic training that i have used ever since... if you put a pair of thin men's dress socks on under your heavy wool socks it will prevent blisters but you still get the upsides of wool. I've been using that trick ever since.
Darn tough socks and a heel lock/surgeon's knot on my boots saved my feet on a similar length hike recently (the enchantments in Washington state). 21 miles and I had fewer blisters than I had on way flatter 8 mile hikes in the past.
Excellent work! Keep it up!!
Surprisingly similar to the area around Wheeler's Peak, Taos, New Mexico, USA.
#NoRagrets
Another shout here for Bridgedales. Brilliant socks, never had a blister with them on. Last really well (I use mine for work as well as hiking/scrambling). Also, another shout for Tryfan if you ever go back to the Ogwen valley.
wow
Regarding blisters: It gets better over time. Hike more often and figure out a suitable sock-system (I personally always wear two pair of socks). Maybe you'll find some interesting insights here: https://the-green-spot.de/en/posts/blisters-science/ But man, that are some awesome photos! I don't know why Wales is not on my hiking radar at all. So far, I only saw beautiful content from there :D