Use Cheap Paper Surgical Tape to Prevent Running and Hiking Blisters
Distance runners and hikers have a variety of ways to deal with blisters , but new research from Stanford suggests cheap paper surgical tape may be the best method.
A study published in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found that paper tape reduced blisters in marathon runners by 40 percent. The study involved 128 ultramarathon runners who completed a 155-mile six-speed ultramarathon in 2014. Researchers randomly selected a foot for each runner and then taped tape on the blistering areas. In the end, 98 of the 128 runners did not blister under the belt. 81 of these 128 did receive blisters in untaped areas.
This is also not quite rocket science. The paper tape is thin and smooth, which reduces friction against what is underneath, and thus reduces the likelihood of blistering. Granted, this study is relatively small by and large, but given the fact that paper surgical tape is extremely cheap , it’s worth trying it yourself. All you have to do is tape the blistering areas with duct tape before hitting the sidewalk. Everyone is prone to blistering in different areas, but the back of the heel, toes, or the arch of the foot is a good place to start.
Paper Tape Prevents Leg Blistering: A Randomized Preventive Trial Evaluating Paper Tape At Endurance Distances | Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine via NPR