Prone to Heel Blisters? Try this Simple Shoe-Lacing Trick

As a Nordic walking instructor, I make my living with my feet, so blisters, bruised toenails, and other foot issues can be a real problem for me.

Quite a while ago, during a visit to a chiropodist, he told me something surprising: I have narrow heels. He explained that this can make it harder to find athletic shoes that fit properly. He recommended a few brands that tend to work well for people with narrower heels.

Heel lock lacing technique

I'd never given much thought to my heels before, but I have noticed that I seem to get more heel blisters than most people.

Along with moving to the shoe brands he recommended, I recently began using the "heel lock" lacing method (click for a quick video).

It's a simple, long-established way of lacing your shoes that helps snug up the back of the shoe to hold your foot more securely in place. The goal is to reduce the up-and-down movement of your heel, which can create friction and lead to blisters.

So far, it seems to be working!

It's very easy to do. It took me only a minute or two to re-lace each of my Nordic walking shoes. Sometimes the simplest solutions are the most effective.

If you're prone to getting blisters on the backs of your heels like I am, I suggest trying the heel lock method before spending money on other fixes. You may find that a small change in how you lace your shoes can make a surprisingly big difference.