Blisterhelp, 3 Byland Road, Whitby (2026)

23/02/2026

What are ENGO® Blister patches made of, and why do they work so well? 👟🔥

ENGO® patches are made from PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), the same incredible material used in Teflon™.

PTFE is hydrophobic (it doesn’t absorb water), has an extremely high melting point, and, most importantly for runner, has one of the lowest friction coefficients of any solid material. Only carbon ranks lower.

Why does that matter?

Because blisters are caused by friction.

ENGO® patches don’t go on your skin, they go inside your footwear. By lining the high-friction areas of your shoes, they reduce shear forces before they ever reach your skin. That means:

✔ Long-lasting blister prevention
✔ Sweat-proof performance
✔ No sticky residue on your skin
✔ Pain-free application and removal
✔ Around 300 miles of protection per patch

They’re thin, latex-free, pressure-sensitive, and actually stick better the more pressure they receive.

From ultramarathons to hiking boots, ski boots, everyday shoes, even sports equipment handles, ENGO® is friction management done properly.

Blister prevention isn’t about padding the skin.
It’s about reducing friction at the source.

Have you tried ENGO® patches before? Drop your experience below 👇
Or save this post for your next race or adventure.

17/02/2026

If you get blisters from your backpack- you need to read my blog.

Blisterhelp, prevention and treatment of blisters.

12/02/2026

Backpack blisters aren’t “just blisters.”

Once the skin breaks under a pack strap, you’re dealing with:
⚠ Open wounds
⚠ High infection risk
⚠ Constant pressure you can’t avoid
⚠ Potential race withdrawal

At that point, the goal shifts from performance to damage control.

In my latest blog, I cover:
✔ How to protect open backpack wounds
✔ Which dressings work best under load
✔ When medical review is non-negotiable
✔ Why duct tape should NEVER go on skin

If you’re racing multi-day ultras, this knowledge could keep you safe, and keep you moving.

👉 Read the blog now and prepare properly

05/02/2026

Training with your pack once a week is not enough.

If you’re running a self-sufficient ultra, your shoulders and lower back need conditioning just as much as your feet.

Key mistakes I see:
❌ Packs over 10kg
❌ New packs worn only on long runs
❌ Ignoring early hotspots
❌ Relying on creams instead of fit + training

Backpack blisters are rarely bad luck, they’re usually a setup issue.

In my latest post, I explain:
• How to train with your pack properly
• Why women often need different pack designs
• How tape and skin glue work together in the desert

👉 Read the full guide before your next ultra.
Your back will thank you.

29/01/2026

After every ultramarathon I work at, I ask the same question:
Which injuries didn’t need to happen?

Backpack blisters are high on that list.

As an expedition podiatrist working at events like Marathon des Sables and Fire & Ice Ultra, I regularly treat severe pack-related wounds, many of which could have been prevented with better preparation months before the race.

In this blog, I share:
✔ What I see go wrong most often
✔ Why pack fit matters as much as pack weight
✔ How to tape correctly in extreme heat
✔ What to do when blisters turn into open wounds

Learn from the mistakes I see on the medical tent floor — not from your own back mid-race.

👉 Read the blog on my Blisterhelp website and race smarter, not harder

22/01/2026

Backpack blisters can end an ultramarathon just as fast as foot blisters.

In self-sufficient ultras, repeated pressure, sweat, and pack movement can cause severe blistering under shoulder straps and across the lower back. These often start as mild chafing, then quietly progress into open wounds that runners don’t even see until the damage is done.

The problem isn’t just friction.
It’s pack weight, poor fit, load distribution, and unprepared skin working together.

In my latest blog, I break down:
🎒 Why heavier packs massively increase blister risk
🎒 Why creams alone aren’t enough
🎒 How to train your skin, not just your legs

If you’re racing self-sufficient or multi-day events, this is essential reading.

👉 Read the full blog and protect your back before race day

15/01/2026

Blisters can end a ski holiday faster than bad weather.

As a podiatrist specialising in blister prevention, I see the same issues every winter:
• Heels rubbing in oversized boots
• Ankles sore from pressure points
• Wet skin increases friction
• Hotspots ignored “just for one more run”

Once a blister forms inside a ski boot, every turn becomes painful — and rest days aren’t cheap.

In my latest blog, I cover:
✔ How boot fit affects blister risk
✔ Why sock choice matters more than you think
✔ When liners, gel sleeves, taping, or boot patches work best
✔ What to do the moment you feel a hotspot

Prevention costs far less than a ruined holiday.

If you’re skiing this season, whether for a week or the whole winter, this is worth reading.

👉 Read our Blisterhelp article now and keep your feet ski-holiday ready

05/01/2026

Ski boots don’t cause blisters, friction and pressure do.

Every turn you make forces your calves, ankles, and feet against the sides of your boots. Over a long ski day, that repeated pressure plus sweat and movement is a perfect recipe for painful blisters, especially if your boots don’t fit properly.

And for most UK skiers, this is a once-or-twice-a-year holiday sport… which means zero time for your skin to adapt.

The biggest blister triggers I see:
🎿 Poorly fitting hire boots
🧦 Socks that trap moisture
🔥 Warm, sweaty feet
❌ Ignoring early hotspots

The good news?
With the right boot fit, sock choice, taping, liners, and friction-reduction products, ski blisters are largely preventable.

Don’t let sore feet cut your ski holiday short.

👉 Read the full blog for practical blister-prevention strategies before you hit the slopes

17/12/2025

How to stop foot swelling during desert ultramarathons

Foot swelling is inevitable… but excessive swelling is preventable. Here’s what I recommend after years in desert medical tents:

🔥 Train for heat, real heat. Heat chambers, warm-climate trips, or even a treadmill with the heating turned up!
👟 Shoes: wider, with a thumb’s width at the toe.
🧦 Armaskin liner socks, reduce friction and limit fluid build-up.
🧊 Keep the neck cool: FroggToggs scarves work brilliantly.
🧴 Apply anti-chafing products strategically.
💧 Balance electrolytes
⬆️ Elevate your feet at every checkpoint, even 10 minutes helps.

Small adjustments create huge outcomes in the desert.
Your feet will thank you at mile 200.

If you have an event coming up in 2026, please read our blogs, they will help you complete it.

https://blisterhelp.co.uk/blog/understanding-foot-swelling-oedema-in-desert-ultramarathons/

09/12/2025

Foot swelling in desert ultras, the number 1 cause of blisters.

Most runners think blisters “just happen”…
But in desert ultras like the Marathon des Sables, the REAL culprit is foot swelling (oedema).

Extreme heat causes vasodilation, plasma leaks into the tissues, hydration becomes complex, and gravity pulls every drop straight into your feet. Add sand, pressure, and multi-day strain… and suddenly you have a bigger foot inside a smaller shoe — the perfect recipe for blisters.

Understanding oedema isn’t optional. It’s the difference between finishing strong or limping into the medical tent.

I’ve worked as an expedition podiatrist at MDS, Fire & Ice, London Marathon and GNR - and swelling is one of the most preventable, yet most overlooked, causes of foot failure in the desert.

Your feet aren’t the problem.
Your environment is.

https://blisterhelp.co.uk/blog/understanding-foot-swelling-oedema-in-desert-ultramarathons/

04/12/2025

From the Marathon des Sables to the Fire & Ice Ultra, I’ve seen every kind of blister you can imagine, from small heel hotspots to complete forefoot degloving.

In every case, one truth remains: the body adapts to what it’s trained for. The skin, the tissues, even your pain tolerance, all can be conditioned.

Too often, runners focus on cardiovascular endurance and neglect their feet until it’s too late. But your feet are your only true contact point with the desert. Treat them like the vital equipment they are.

In my work as an expedition podiatrist, I help runners prevent and manage blisters before they end their race. My latest blog explores why forefoot and heel strikers develop different problems, and how both can prepare effectively.

Because no matter how strong you are, you can’t outrun pain.

https://blisterhelp.co.uk/blog/forefoot-vs-heel-strikers-blisters-in-desert-ultra-running/

24/11/2025

The desert doesn’t forgive poor preparation

The desert is a brutal teacher. It punishes every weakness, and your feet are first in line.

Whether you’re a seasoned ultrarunner or a first-time adventurer, blisters are an equaliser. They don’t care about your fitness level, only your readiness.

Proper preparation means conditioning the tissues of both the heel and forefoot, choosing footwear that fits with your gait, and paying attention to hotspots before they escalate. Every minute spent on prevention is an hour saved on the course.

In the desert, comfort is endurance. Prevention is performance.

👉 Explore my in-depth guide for desert blister prevention.
https://blisterhelp.co.uk/blog/forefoot-vs-heel-strikers-blisters-in-desert-ultra-running/

Blisterhelp

23/02/2026

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