PUBLISHED 10/14/2005
When marathoners share war stories, the villain is often a throbbing blister. Lewis G. Maharam, M.D., medical director of the ING New York City Marathon, estimates that one in three runners in this year's race will finish with a blister. Good footwear--synthetic socks made with double layers and shoes that fit properly and match your biomechanics--can prevent blisters. Despite these efforts, some feet are still hotspot havens, and reinforcement is necessary. Here's how several blister-relief and -prevention products held up on our testers.
| Product: | SportShield Towelette 10-pack, $8 | Moleskin 3 sheets, $3.29 | Blist-O-Ban 6-pack, $6.50-$7.50 | Band-Aid Advanced Healing Blister 6-pack, $3.99 | ProFoot Corn Wrap 3-pack, $4.33 | ENGO Performance Patches 4-pack, $9.95 |
| Function: | Lubricated towelette that you rub on feet to prevent blister-causing friction. | Relieves existing blister pain; apply prerun to prevent future blisters. | Adhesive has a center bubble to protect existing blisters; can be used preventively. | Double-layered Band-Aid protects existing blisters; can be used preventively. | Stretches over toes, aligning the gel padding on the blister provides relief. | When applied directly to shoe, sock, or insole, creates a slick, chafe-free surface. |
| Pros: | Easy to apply; no mess; multifunctional--can use on all chafe-prone areas. | Inexpensive; available at drugstores; useful for all sizes of blisters and hotspots. | Easy application; super-thin. "You'll forget it's on," said a tester. | Cushiony; seals wound for healing. "A Band-Aid on steroids," said a tester. | Conveniently slips in between the toes; gel reduces pain on impact. | Lasted through multiple runs; stayed put--didn't move around in shoe. |
| Cons: | Doesn't provide protection or comfort to existing blisters. | "Neither fast nor easy to apply compared to other products," said a tester. | Despite the protective bubble, it didn't relieve the pain of impact. | It's very sticky and primarily for long-term use; a bit bulky. | If blisters are big, may exacerbate pain; not convenient as a preventive product. | A bit pricey. |
