Booze for Blisters?
My grandfather told me many years ago that using rubbing alcohol on your feet a few weeks before a backpacking trip will help prevent blisters. Have you heard this before?
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Question:
My grandfather told me many years ago that using rubbing alcohol on your feet a few weeks before a backpacking trip will help prevent blisters. Have you heard this before?
Submitted by – Patrick – Cleveland, OH
Answer:
Yes, I have heard that before. Theoretically, since rubbing alcohol dries out skin, it would encourage tougher skin and therefore reduce blistering. I have never tried it, and no one I know has either. On the other foot, so what if I haven’t tried it—it might work and it is unlikely to cause harm. I am guessing it would take a couple of weeks of daily applications of the alcohol for it to work—if it does indeed work.