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Richard Elkins reviews and runs in the Endurance from Wrightsock

Though new shoes are exciting, they’re also some of the biggest causes of blisters. Since blisters form due to friction between shoes and feet, the stiffness of new shoes can increase a wearer’s chances of suffering from blisters a great deal. Luckily, new shoes don’t have to give you blisters when you know how to break them in. Find out more about the top six blister-free ways to break in new shoes.

1. Wear Them for Short Periods

When you first get a new pair of shoes, it’s best to take it slow. Instead of trying to wear them all day, begin by just wearing them for short periods, such as while you’re walking around the house. By slowly breaking them in, you’ll help them loosen and stretch without wearing them long enough that they could give you blisters. Once you start wearing them over longer periods, wear blister-free socks or keep an extra pair of shoes close by just in case.

2. Moisturize Your Skin

A little self care for runners can go a long way. If you have to wear a new pair of shoes over a longer period, you can moisturize your feet to protect yourself from blisters while you break in the shoes. Before you go on a walk or run in your new shoes, apply lotion to your feet to moisturize them. To reduce friction in the areas where blisters are most likely to form, place petroleum jelly on hotspots, such as your heels, top of toes, and sides of toes.

3. Stick Them in the Freezer

While freezers and shoes are an unlikely pair, they go very well together when you need to break in some new shoes. Before sticking your shoes in the freezer, grab some plastic freezer bags and fill them with water. Next, stick the bags in each shoe’s toe, and then place the shoes in your freezer overnight. After the water freezes in the bag, it will expand, stretching out your shoe’s toe as a result. Just make sure you don’t overfill the bag, as it could overstretch your shoe.

4. Blow Dry New Shoes

If you have a new pair of shoes that fit a little too snugly, you can use a blow dryer to stretch them out. After putting on your socks and shoes, use the blow dryer to distribute heat across the entire shoe. For tighter areas of your shoes, blow hot air on them for at least 20 to 30 seconds. Keep in mind, the blow dryer method is best for leather shoes, and you should keep the blow dryer far enough away that it doesn’t burn you.

5. Switch Between New and Old Shoes

If you’re trying to break in a new pair of running shoes, don’t throw out your old pair, as you’ll want to alternate between them. When you run in your new shoes, keep it to only 20 or 30 minutes. For longer runs, stick to your older shoes until you’ve fully broken in the new ones to prevent blisters. Additionally, runners that switch between multiple pairs of shoes lower their risk of running-related injuries by 39%, according to a study published by the Scandinavian Journal of Medicine & Science in Sports.

6. Wear Anti-Blister Socks

Another way you can break in a new pair of shoes is to wear anti-blister socks whenever you take your new pair out for a walk, run, or hike. Blister-free socks from Wrightsock feature temperature regulation, friction absorption, and complete moisture evaporation. Due to all these qualities, they excel at preventing blisters, even when you’re wearing a stiff and tight pair of shoes. Whenever you slip on new shoes, save yourself from blisters by putting on your favorite pair of blister-free socks.

Choose Wrightsock for Blister-Free Socks

At Wrightsock, we’re proud to provide our customers with socks designed for blister relief. Whether you’re breaking in a new pair of shoes or wanting to prevent blisters on a long hike, our anti-blister socks are perfect for you. We have several blister-free socks designed for different activities, such as our running or walking, trail running, military, and hiking anti-blister socks. With all of these options, you can use our socks to break in a new pair of hiking boots, dress shoes, or running shoes with ease.

 Whether you’re a new runner or a seasoned vet, you need running goals to maximize your growth and keep you motivated. Whenever the new year’s approaches, many runners set resolutions to hit new personal records, such as cutting down their mile time or running farther. While these resolutions can be great motivators, it’s also important to take care of yourself—physically and mentally—to be as healthy as possible and continue to enjoy running all year long. Review our top self-care new year’s resolutions for 2022 today.

1. Start Meditating Regularly

When you’re running a long race, having the strength and endurance to finish it is only part of the battle. It’s also essential to quiet your mind and develop self-control over your thoughts, especially negative ones, to run consistently and complete difficult runs. Meditation is proven to help manage pain, destress, and enhance mental resilience, so regularly meditating is the ultimate self-care practice for a runner. Like when you first started running, begin slowly and find a meditation plan you can commit to over a few months. 

2. Make Consistency a Goal

If you’ve struggled to stick with a running schedule in the past, make a resolution to become more consistent. One of the best ways to become a more consistent runner is to create a running schedule you commit to sticking to over the first three months of the new year. Set a reasonable goal for you to complete in that timeframe and chart your progress in a journal for additional encouragement. Once you see your progress, you won’t want to stop. (Hint: preventing running discomfort and injury can help keep you on track. Make sure you are wearing the right socks to help support your consistency.)

3. Take Care of Your Feet

Taking care of your feet takes just a few minutes out of your day. Meanwhile, foot injuries and issues can set you back on your running progress and goals. Here is a quick look at 3 common issues for your feet and how you can prevent them in 5 minutes or less:

• Wearing moisture-wicking socks can help prevent athlete's foot. 
• Stretching your feet can help avoid injury and muscle strain. 
• Investing in blister-free socks can help prevent painful, infection-prone blisters. 

4. Join a Running Group

Another great self-care practice is to join a running group, as it can increase your motivation and connect you with other runners. If you’re looking for new friends with similar interests, a running group is a great place to start. Alongside the chance to make friends, a running group will help you run with other people who can give you extra encouragement to reach your goals. In 2022, give a running group a try and reap the benefits of other runners motivating you to be your best.

5. Commit to Stretching Every Day

While most runners know they should stretch after a run, many don’t make time to stretch every day, especially when they haven’t gone on a run. A great daily stretching routine can help you stay injury-free and increase your overall flexibility. As a result, it’s essential you make stretching a priority during the new year. You can find tons of stretching routines online designed for runners, and you might even want to pop into a virtual yoga session on your day off to really upgrade your stretching game.

6. Try Trail Running

If you’re always running on a treadmill or around your neighborhood, you might want to switch it up every once in a while by adding trail running into your routine. Since trail running gets you out in nature and gives you a fresh environment, it can be incredibly refreshing. The American Psychological Association has found that spending time in nature can reduce stress, improve concentration, and promote happiness. Due to all the benefits of nature, make a resolution to try trail running for the first time in 2022.

7. Treat Yourself to High-Quality Running Gear

Instead of sticking to your old pair of running shoes or socks that are falling apart, treat yourself to some high-quality running gear in the new year. By investing in a new fitness tracker or some specialty running shoes, you’ll be committing to continue running all year long. Plus, new gear can improve your performance. For example, anti-blister running socks can help prevent blisters and make it so you don’t have to spend a few days on the couch recovering.

Take Your Running to the Next Level with Anti-Blister Socks from Wrightsock

At Wrightsock, we’re proud to help runners achieve their new year’s resolutions by providing them with anti-blister running socks. Our socks’ unique double-layer design reduces friction and absorbs moisture, leading to a much lower chance of blisters. Since our socks provide blister relief and make runners much more comfortable, they’ll help you run more consistently and reach your goals. Besides our standard blister-free socks, we also offer trail running socks designed to help you stay comfortable and protected while you jog in the woods.

Check out our selection of anti-blister socks today. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us. 

As postal workers deliver mail from door to door, they’ll be on their feet quite a bit, making a comfortable pair of socks a must-have. Since comfort is critical to a long day’s work delivering mail, many postal workers turn to anti-blisters socks. If you’re looking for postal socks, take a moment to learn more about blister-free postal socks and their advantages.

What Are Postal Socks?

Postal socks refer to socks meeting uniform requirements set by the United States Postal Service (USPS). For example, the USPS’s requirements for most postal workers state that postal regulated socks have to be quarter-length, crew style, or calf-length. Postal worker socks also have color requirements, with approved colors being white with blue stripes, uniform blue-gray, or black. 

What Are Blister-Free Postal Socks?

Blister-free postal socks come in a style fitting the USPS’s uniform requirements and also feature qualities designed to reduce blisters.

Why Choose Blister-Free Postal Socks Over Other Options?

If you’re in the market for postal socks, you have a few options available to you. Instead of choosing one of the standard offerings, turn to blister-free postal socks. Unlike other socks on the market, blister-free postal socks come with several benefits designed to increase comfort. 

Find out more about the top benefits of blister-free postal socks from Wrightsock below:

• Greater friction absorption: Wrightsock socks feature Double Layer® technology, meaning they all have a specially designed inner and outer sock layer. These two layers make it possible for our socks to absorb friction during walks and runs. By absorbing friction, these socks prevent it from transferring to your feet, where the friction would normally weaken your skin and raise the chance of a blister forming.
• Improved sweat and moisture evaporation: Another benefit of Wrightsock blister-free postal socks is their ability to evaporate moisture and sweat. Since these socks feature a Dri-Wright® inner layer, they effectively wick away moisture from the skin. This moisture-wicking technology makes it so your feet stay drier, leading to greater comfort and a lower risk of blisters.
• Beter temperature regulations: Blister-free socks from Wrightsock also assist with temperature regulation. Due to their moisture-wicking technology, they keep feet warmer in cold weather and cooler in hot weather. Since these socks have two layers, they trap air and give wearers extra insulation from cold and heat. By keeping your foot temperature at an appropriate level, our blister-free postal socks provide more comfort and a lower chance of blisters. 
• Reduced blister risk: Our blister-free socks attack the main sources of blisters by regulating temperature, improving moisture evaporation, and absorbing friction. Since our socks eliminate the primary causes of blisters, they significantly reduce the risk of postal workers suffering from blisters while out on their route. 

Top Postal Socks

At Wrightsock, we carry several kinds of anti-blister socks meeting postal requirements. For example, you can select Coolmesh II Quarter or Crew Socks in black, with both options featuring a breathable and lightweight construction.  Another great option is a pair of black Running II Crew Socks, as they’re built to go long distances. You might also be interested in our black Endurance Quarter Socks since they feature strategic cushioning and an ultra-soft feel.

Choose Wrightsock for Blister-Free Postal Worker Socks

When you’re looking for blister-free postal-regulated socks, turn to Wrightsock. With all of the options we provide to our customers, we’re sure we can help you find the perfect pair of socks for your route. We’re so confident in our socks’ quality that we provide a 100% satisfaction guarantee and a one-year warranty for all our products.

When you have a runner in your life who you want to wow this holiday season with the perfect gift, you’re probably looking for some ideas. You can’t go wrong with anything designed to improve a runner’s performance, comfort, or recovery. Some top holiday gifts include warm athletic clothing, activity trackers, shoes, foam rollers, and anti-blister socks. Learn more about our seven holidays gift ideas for athletes and runners below:

1. Activity Trackers

Smartwatches and fitness trackers are some of the most useful gifts you can give to a runner. Many trackers will record a runner’s heartbeat, distance traveled, time, and calories burned while they’re out on a run. By keeping track of these stats and others, a runner can more easily set goals, compete against their personal records, and take charge of their health.

2. Merino Wool Beanies

Around the holiday season, most runners are facing freezing temperatures that can make a run miserable. Give them the gift of warmth by buying them a beanie made out of merino wool. Merino wool does an excellent job keeping the head warm while still wicking away any excess moisture, making it the ideal material for a beanie.

3. Touchscreen Running Gloves

Like a new beanie’s ability to keep runners warm in the winter, touchscreen running gloves serve the same purpose. When a runner’s out in freezing weather, keeping the hands warm is critical. Since most runners have music or a podcast playing while they run, you’ll likely want to select a pair of gloves featuring touch screen compatibility. Those with this feature will let the wearer use their smartphone without having to take off their gloves. 

4. Foam Roller

After a run, you need to stretch and recover, and many runners enjoy using a muscle roller to work out any tightness in their legs. A great foam roller will help massage a runner’s leg muscles and get as deep as possible into their toughest knots. When used correctly, foam rollers improve flexibility and circulation, lessen joint and muscle pain, and increase balance and range of motion, making them an excellent gift for the runner in your life.

5. Running Headphones

If you know a runner who enjoys a podcast or music while they hit the pavement or their favorite trail, they need headphones designed for running. No runner enjoys earbuds falling out of their ears or giving them uneven sound quality. An excellent pair of running headphones will be water-resistant, fit securely, and deliver strong sound quality. 

6. New Running Shoes

You can’t have a list of great running gift ideas without including running shoes. Any runner won’t mind having an extra pair or two of running shoes around, and a pair from their favorite brand will certainly make a lasting impression. Before you buy any running shoes for them, make sure you know their shoe size. If you’re not sure what shoes to buy them, you can always go with a gift card to their favorite running shoe brand.

7. New Anti-Blister Running Socks

Perfect as stocking stuffers, anti-blister running socks are an excellent gift. Unlike your twelve-year-old nephew, runners know just how important socks are and will love them as a present. Blister-free socks will improve a runner’s overall performance and comfort by keeping excess moisture and friction at bay. Since blister relief is essential to a runner’s ability to stay pain-free and stick to their running schedule, anti-blister running socks are an excellent present.

Give the Gift of a Pair of Wrightsock Anti-Blister Socks

When you’re looking for an excellent pair of running socks designed to protect a runner’s feet, turn to Wrightsock. Our Double Layer® anti-blister socks feature top qualities like complete moisture evaporation, temperature regulation, and friction absorption. Our blister-free socks also come in multiple styles, with trail running anti-blister socks perfect for those who prefer to run off the beaten path. If you’re looking for a gift for an all-around athlete or lover of the outdoors, we offer tactical and hiking anti-blister socks. 

Find a memorable gift for the runner in your life by reviewing our selection of running anti-blister socks. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.