Why Your Hiking Socks Blister You and How to Fix It

Blisters are not caused by boots. They are caused by moisture plus friction, and your socks sit exactly at that intersection. Most hikers blame the shoe and never change the one thing touching their skin.

Fix the sock and you fix most of the problem.

• Cotton holds three times its weight in water and rubs raw within an hour
• Merino wicks moisture and keeps its shape even when soaked
• A liner sock under a cushioned sock moves friction between the two layers
• Toe socks stop the toe-on-toe rubbing that round toes cause

Bring two pairs and swap at lunch. Dry socks at the halfway mark rescue more feet than any amount of tape applied too late.