# Hard shoes blister my Achilles tendon. Any special socks or pads I can use? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [April 12, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821 "2007-04-12T16:58:10Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Gozu](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gozu/32/6615_2.png) [@Gozu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gozu)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821/1 "2007-04-12T16:58:10Z")
I bought some hard shoes and they blister my achilles tendon and hurt. This happens with most hard shoes I’ve bought in the past few years which is the reason why I stuck almost exclusively to my running shoes. I’m wondering if there are any socks with gel pads or some other way of protecting my achilles tendon when I’m wearing them? Other than that, they’re comfortable. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821/2 "2007-04-12T17:11:13Z")
Moleskin is your friend. ---
**Author:** ![DrDeth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b487fb/32.png) [@DrDeth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DrDeth)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 5:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821/3 "2007-04-12T17:19:20Z")
They make socks with two layers, especially to prevent blisters. You can duplicate this by wearing two pairs of light socks. ---
**Author:** ![cmyk](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cmyk/32/3353_2.png) [@cmyk](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cmyk)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 5:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821/4 "2007-04-12T17:41:38Z")
Throw a band-aid on your AT. S’what I do sometimes. ---
**Author:** ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 5:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821/5 "2007-04-12T17:45:07Z")
I found I had that problem when I wore cheap shoes. Some things really are worth the extra money. This is one of them, for me. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821/6 "2007-04-12T18:54:39Z")
If I know shoes or boots are going to chafe, I put white adhesive tape over the area. Of the foot, not the footwear! ---
**Author:** ![asterion](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/4da419/32.png) [@asterion](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asterion)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821/7 "2007-04-12T19:04:09Z")
[QUOTE=panache45] Moleskin is your friend. [/QUOTE] I’d definitely go with moleskin or molefoam as well. ---
**Author:** ![zelie\_zelerton](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/59ef9b/32.png) [@zelie\_zelerton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zelie_zelerton)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2007, 7:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/hard-shoes-blister-my-achilles-tendon-any-special-socks-or-pads-i-can-use/399821/8 "2007-04-12T19:33:56Z")
I often find that there is a gap between my heel and the shoe and that’s causing extra rubbing. Get some heelgrips to prevent too much movement of the shoe and then protect the delicate areas of the foot. If the shoes are leather then spend some time treating them with linseed oil to soften them. Works beautifully.