The Blister Problem No One Talks About
Ask any runner about their biggest enemy. It’s not hills, not weather, not even the alarm clock. It’s blisters. Those tiny, burning pockets of pain that turn marathons into death marches and hikes into hobbling limps.
At Not Sox, we’ve seen it firsthand. In December 2024, we sponsored a team walking 1000km through the Abu Dhabi desert in 30 days. Brutal heat, endless sand, and one simple rule: if your feet break down, the mission is over. Their secret weapon? Toe socks.
Why Blisters Form
Blisters are caused by friction — skin rubbing against skin or sock fabric. Add heat and moisture, and the skin shears apart. The classic “big toe vs neighbour toe” fight is one of the worst culprits.
How Toe Socks Solve the Problem
Toe socks separate each toe, eliminating skin-on-skin contact. They wick sweat more effectively and distribute pressure more evenly across the foot. For endurance athletes, that means less chafing, less heat build-up, and no need for panic tape jobs halfway through a race.
Proof from the Field
In ultra-running, blister prevention is almost an obsession. A survey of ultramarathoners (Lipman et al., 2014, Clinical Journal of Sport Medicine) found that nearly 40% developed blisters during competition. Many failed to finish because of them. Toe socks directly address the main causes.
Our sponsored team in Abu Dhabi reported something remarkable: not a single debilitating blister across 1,000 km. Sand in their food, sunburnt faces, aching joints — yes. Blisters? No.
Should You Switch?
If you’re running a 5K on pavements, maybe not. But if you’re planning a half marathon, a Hyrox competition, or a weekend hiking trip, why risk the most preventable injury in sport?
Or, as the mountaineer Reinhold Messner once said: “Mountains aren’t fair or unfair, they’re just dangerous.” Blisters aren’t fair either — but unlike mountains, you can actually do something about them.