I would return the New Balance for a different pair. I purchases a pair of New Balance Crosstrainers about two weeks ago...I ended up getting the 606's. They felt great...BUT...after wearing them once to work out in, I developed a blister on my pinkie toe on my right foot. I took them back and traded them for a pair of New Balance 609's which looked almost identical and are so comfortable, I am glad I made the effort to exchange them.

Either the pair you have doesn't fit, or there is something rubbing to cause the blister. With the distance you are walking, no way it is the walking that is causing it.


L

Blisters are caused by the feet moving inside the shoe and rubbing against the shoe fabric.

New Balance are designed for wide feet. I wear NB 2E. If your foot is slipping side-to-side inside the shoe, it's too wide. If your heel is slipping upwards, it's too long a shoe.

There are plenty of blister pads available at drugstores. Sometimes you get relief by cutting a hole in the insert over the blister.

Some models of NB are wider than others. I use the trail shoe. I wear thin socks under a thick pair that I cut the toes out. That gives me extra support in my instep and heel while letting by toes have some wiggle room.

Sometimes blisters are caused by feet getting wet. One solution might be spraying your feet with antiperspirant before walking. A study in the army showed the new recruits had fewer blisters by doing that.

Sometimes blisters are caused by your feet swelling inside the shoes. That usually means not enough electrolytes but it could just be shoes that are too tight.

If you don't mind real pain, there is a cure for the blister. You can buy Tincture of Benzoin at the drugstore. As cleanly as you can, pop the blister and drain the fluid, then (here comes the pain) you drip tincture of benzoin into the drain hole work it into the blister. It hurts A LOT but only for a minute. When it stops hurting the blister is sealed.

It's a common treatment used during the EcoChallenge. Also Navy Seals and Special Forces use it. I've used it on a dozen blisters. It always amazes me how much it hurts and it always amazes me how it instantly fixes a blister.

Good luck.

Hi SezMarcy

I have the blister problem every spring and every time I get a new pair of runners - guess I'm a real tenderfoot. This year I put about 5 elastoplast bandaids on top of each blister and manged to walk - I am always ok after the first blister heals. Since I am so prone to blisters I try to always keep some elasoplasts in my pocket when walking.

Someone (I think it was MarimbaMom) suggested I try moleskin on the blisters but mine were undercontrol so I didn'ttry it yet. I've never used moleskin but I would think you get it at the pharmacy.

Hope they heal soon it's such a drag to be held up by blisters when you're rarin to go.

Lots of good ideas here.

The shoes feel like they fit great -- I might try that extra sock thing on just the right foot which might be a hair smaller or something. The left foot feels wonderful; I hate to give up immediately. And maybe the moleskin too. Unfortunately I cut the dead skin away, right before my runner daughter told me "don't EVER do that!" Big mistake, the air is killin' me.

As for "If you don't mind real pain, there is a cure for the blister. You can buy Tincture of Benzoin at the drugstore".. um.. have you given birth? ;-) It's been awhile, but I'm thinkin' I can stand a minute of anything.

Thanks for the help, everyone! :-)

If you've cut away the blister's roof then all you need to do wash/dry the blister base. Then dip a q-tip in tincture of benzoin and rub it into the exposed blister. Tincture means alcohol so that's where the pain comes from. Once it dries you're ready for your first marathon. :-)