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Ever finished a hike limping, feet on fire, wishing you’d stopped just once to check your feet?
I have. More times than I care to admit
And every single time, I felt the hotspot coming. But I told myself, “I’ll stop at the next break. It’s just 20 minutes away…”
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Here’s the hard truth:
Hotspots don’t wait for your next break.
Ignoring them means days of pain, not just a few minutes of discomfort.
Smart hikers listen to their bodies… early.
Today’s pain saving rule:
👉 If it rubs, I stop. Right away. Not later.
Right away. Not later.
⏱ At the very first sign of a hotspot:
🩹 Tape or pad the irritated area
🌬️ Let your feet dry and cool down
🎒 Check your lacing, insoles, or debris in the shoe
🧦 If necessary swap your socks
Stopping for 60 seconds now (or maybe a little more) beats limping for the next 3 days.
And it’s not just your feet…
Chafing shoulders.
Tight calves.
A pack digging into your lower back.
Your body talks when you’re out on the track.
Smart hikers listen. Early.
Lapping up the views at the end of a long day… blister free.
🧰 Action Steps: Build Your Micro Blister Kit (Weighs <100g):
✅ Leukotape
✅ Alcohol wipes
✅ Blister pads
✅ Spare socks
👣 Toughness doesn’t mean pushing through pain.
It means knowing when to stop and fixing problems before they grow.
✅ Take Action
Before your next trip:
Build your blister kit
Commit to stopping the moment you feel any warning signs.
You’ll walk further, feel better and actually enjoy camp at the end of the day.
What’s your #1 trail pain or blister fix?
Reply to this email I’d love to feature some of your tips in a newsletter or video.
And if you want more, check out the video I did a while ago on Blisters, their causes and their treatments.
Bottom line:
🚫 Don’t push through foot pain
⏱ Stop instantly at the first sign of rubbing
🧰 Build a tiny blister kit today
🧠 Prevention beats pain every time
THAT’S ALL FOR THIS WEEK
Thanks for reading Mowser’s Musings. I hope this helps you hike further and happier.
Until next week, keep exploring.
Mowser
Discover more. Hike further.
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P.P.S. Our first Multi-Day Hiking Blueprint cohort is wrapping up. Want in on the next one? Join the waiting list here - spots are limited!
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