Avoiding Blisters

I rarely, if ever, get blisters, even without "liner" socks. I attribute this to:

• A lightweight pack (Consider that the skin on my feet absorbs 20-40 pounds less stress per step compared to if I carried a more traditional load.)
• Good-fitting shoes
• Tough feet after running and hiking tens of thousands of miles over the years Hydropel, a silicone-based balm that I apply to the bottom of my feet if I expect them to be wet for a prolonged period of time, e.g. because of rainstorms, consecutive fords, wet grass/overgrowth, or extreme heat, etc. The Hyropel strengthens the dermal layer, thus preventing my feet from becoming over-hydrated, which is when they prune up, get soft, and are prone to blistering; then, when they dry out, they are prone to cracking. It is important to apply Hydropel before your feet get wet, ideally in the morning after they have dried out during the night; its effectiveness is more limited once your feet get wet.