Footcare Tips For Hikers and Campers

Footcare Tips for Hikers and Campers

Are you a keen hiker or camper? Now that summer is *finally* here (we hope to stay, even for just a few weeks!), it’s the ideal time to get out and about into the great outdoors.

For August’s blog, we’re sharing essential footcare tips for hikers and campers to keep your feet in great condition while you’re enjoying all that fresh air.

Basic footcare tips for hikers

The cornerstone of foot care for long distance hikers is proper footwear. It may sound obvious, but good, supportive footwear that is right for the job is key. Seeking advice from a specialist outdoor footwear shop will be really helpful. From walking sandals to heavy duty leather boots, there is a real variety of styles out there. For walking on the flat in warm, dry conditions, walking sandals may be ideal. But for more rugged terrain or bad weather, then a full boot that is supportive round the ankle and waterproof will be best for the job.

Beyond footwear, socks play a critical role in hiking foot care. Good, thick natural fibre socks, such as those made of bamboo, wool or cotton are great, as they will help to keep the feet warm or cool, depending on conditions. They will also help to wick moisture away from the skin as your feet sweat. Liner socks are also really great for adding another layer, protecting the skin from friction.

On a long walk, I’m never without blister plasters, such as Compeed. A pack of these doesn’t take up much room in a bag, and if applied as soon as you feel any burning or potential blister forming, they take all the sting out of it. Sometimes, if you know you are prone to blistering in a certain point on your feet, applying a blister plaster before you start walking can help in hiking blister prevention.

Footcare tips for happy campers

Camping can be so much fun for all the family. But keeping things clean, including your feet, can be a challenge in our climate!

If you’re lucky enough to be on a campsite with a shower block, then a good pair of flip flops or sliders for wearing in the showers/changing rooms is really helpful. Shower room floors can get quite muddy as people walk in and out, so your feet can end up filthy again as soon as you step out of the shower! Wearing something on your feet will also protect you against picking up infections such as verrucae from shared bathing areas.

If you’re out and about in water, then a pair of good waterproof boots will really protect your feet. Paddling in rivers, lakes and the sea can mean stepping on sharp stones and potentially hidden objects. Water shoes will protect feet from cuts and grazes, as well as taking some of the discomfort out of walking over pebbles!

Antiseptic wipes are always a good thing to keep to hand, as well as a good first aid kit for dressing any cuts or scrapes on your feet.

Now all we need is some decent weather to last for us all to enjoy some hiking and camping!

If you need any more advice on footcare, or help patching up and summer feet mishaps, then contact us here.

For more helpful information on footwear, read this article from Go Outdoors.