Never again.

It’s become my mantra, ever since I ran a 100-mile race in 2003 and my feet were so covered with blisters I couldn’t wear socks for a week, and my toenails were blackened so badly they looked like I had taken a sledgehammer to them. For two weeks after, in a procedure that is probably even more painful than what I’m writing here, I would have to sit down at night, bite the inside of my mouth in agony and peel off toenail after toenail.

Never again.

Although my example is extreme, it’s presented for a reason. I’ve spent the better part of the last four years figuring out how to make feet blister-proof, how to ensure that the only toenail problem I ever have again is how to handle the torrent of compliments showered upon me for having such beautiful looking nails. Treating your feet with thought and care shouldn’t be something that you do after you’ve spent several hours hiking or running. Before any trail activity, you should sit down for a few moments and decide how best to ensure that your feet don’t end up taking a beating. Here’s are three simple things I’ve discovered as my feet have healed and now seemingly smile back at me following any trail race, run or hike I take.

Start with the socks. A lot of people would say start with the shoes, which is important, and is something I’ll deal with in a moment. But socks, I’ve learned, are maybe even more critical than the shoes. Why? I’ve always run, raced and hiked in good socks, made of the finest performance material that will wick the moisture away from your skin and dry out quickly. I was still missing the boat, though. It hasn’t been until the last year or so, when I switched to Injinji socks, where I have really seen a marked difference in the wear and tear of my feet. The concept behind these socks – for lack of a better term, they are “toe socks” – is simple. The creators of Injinjis look at your feet the way you would look at your hands. Mittens on a hand will keep your hands warm, but they offer poor dexterity (ever try to tie your shoes with mittens on?). Gloves, on the other hand, will keep your hands warm as well, but obviously offer fingers a much freer, a much greater range of motion. Your toes are the same. Toe socks enable your feet to perform naturally, without the unprotected friction, and heat and moisture buildup that will occur when wearing a conventional tube sock. The likelihood of blisters, hot spots, moisture buildup and neuromas can be greatly reduced by wearing toe socks. In my own experience, I’ve run 50-mile trail runs for the last year wearing Injinjis, and have yet to experience even the slightest blister.."

My husband and I were planning a trip to Paris, where I knew we would be walking our feet off. I needed some kind of relief from the constantly compressing and shifting toe separators I have been wearing up to now. I purchased your socks from Sahalie and, WOW! was I pleased with them! I have not known such comfort in years! Other than the expected fatigue from walking more than we are used to on a daily basis, my feet sailed through our trip! What a difference!!! I wear them ALL the time now. The only "improvement" I would love to have happen is more colors!!!."

I was recently told about the injinji brand. I looked all over in various running stores and could not find them. I found your website and ordered 2 pair of the "Injinji Tetratsok Mini Crew Socks BLACK LARGE". I have been using them while in training for the ING NYC Marathon 2007. I have had no blisters! I am so excited to have a training season in which I have one less thing to think about. I have been strongly recommending the sock to my teammates. So, again, THANK YOU!."