As cool and stylish as Converse sneakers are, they are notorious for rubbing the pinky toes and the back of the ankles. So how to stop getting blisters from Converse?

The easiest way to prevent blisters from Converse is to cover the hot spots, which include your pinky toes and the back of your ankles, with band-aids or blister prevention tapes. You can also wear thick socks for extra protection.

That said, there are also unique products like a blister blocker (anti-friction balm) which create an invisible barrier between your skin and the canvas material. In this post, we will share with you everything you need to know on how to prevent blisters from Converse shoes.

Why Do You Get Blisters From Converse?

So why do you get blisters from wearing Converse shoes?

You get blisters from Converse because either you are wearing poorly fitted socks or your shoes are not the right size. The constant rubbing from the canvas material can scrape the upper layer of the skin, causing fluid build-up and blisters.

Heel blisters caused by Converse:

Pinky toe blister caused by Converse:

Converse shoes, including the Chuck Taylor, are true to size. So whenever you buy a new pair of shoes, make sure the size is correct, otherwise, you will be dealing with blisters endlessly.

How to Stop Getting Blisters From Converse

We’ve found four methods to help prevent your Converse from causing blisters.

The four methods on how to prevent blisters from Converse are: covering constantly rubbed areas with band-aids or tapes, wearing a thick pair of socks, applying the blister blocker anti-friction balm, and installing heel liners.

Here are the four methods explained in greater detail:

1. Cover the Hot Spots With Band-Aids or Tapes

Converse shoes, especially the popular Chuck Taylors, are known for their narrow-toe boxes. 

Because of this, not only do they rub the back of the ankles, but they can also rub against the side of the toe, including the big toes and the pinkies.

One effective method to stop blisters from Converse is covering constantly rubbed areas, like the pinky toes and the back of the ankles, with band-aids. You can also use special blister prevention tapes which can protect your skin against friction.

Sure, band-aids are easy to find and are cheap enough if you are in a pinch.

However, blister prevention tapes are ultra-light and are built with athletes in mind. The rounded-edge design allows the tapes to stay on your skin for up to two days.

Out of all the products we’ve tested, the KT Tape works the best because it is hypoallergenic, latex-free, and natural rubber-free. In other words, the tape contains fewer potential substances that can trigger allergic reactions. Not to mention, they are very cheap!

We’ve found the best results with the KT Tape (buy on Amazon):

Because they are precut to 3.5-inch strips, you can easily apply them directly on “hot spots” like the pinky toes and the back of your ankles. Rest assured, they will protect your feet against the harsh canvas material of Converse sneakers.

2. Wear Long and Thick Socks

Did you know that rubbing and blisters are often caused because the socks you wear are too thin and do not offer enough protection for your skin?

An easy method to stop Converse shoes from rubbing the skin of your feet is to wear thick socks regularly. Thick socks provide more cushioning and protection.

In fact, not only do thick socks offer protection, but they can also help stretch the material of the shoes, especially when they have narrow toe boxes like Chuck Taylor.

If you don’t have thick socks, you can always wear two pairs of socks at once. With the extra protection, you can have peace of mind while walking around in your Converse shoes.

Instead of wearing thin, no-show socks, it’s a good idea to wear long, thick socks that will protect both your toes and the back of your ankles.

3. Apply Blister Blocker Balm

Even after breaking into your Converse, the constant rubbing between the canvas and your skin is enough to cause painful blisters in the toes and heels.

If you want to find extra protection against blisters caused by Converse, your best bet is to apply an anti-friction balm, also known as a blister blocker, which acts as an invisible barrier between your skin and the canvas material of the shoes.

One excellent product we would recommend is the Solemates Blister Blocker.

It is dermatologist-recommended and would protect you against block strap chafe, heel friction, and toe-rubbing blisters. It’s clear, smooth, and lasts up to 6 hours.

Solemates Blister Blocker (buy on Amazon):

In fact, many medical practitioners recommend the use of an anti-friction balm because they are non-greasy to apply on your skin, gentle, and perfectly safe to use.

In fact, this non-toxic balm has natural lubricants that nurture and moisturize skin.

4. Install Comfortable Heel Liners

Heel liners are soft, ergonomic pads with double-sided tapes that cushion the back of your ankles to prevent slipping and rubbing. They are extremely useful if you experience more pain in your heels than anywhere else while wearing Converse.

Chances are, the heel blisters you get from wearing your Chucks are the result of constant rubbing due to the up-and-down slipping in the heel area.

Heel liners address the heel blister issue by keeping your heels inside the shoes, eliminating any slipping and rubbing that would cause pain.

These are some of the most effective heel liners (buy on Amazon):

The heel liners above are not only easy to apply, but they fit most running shoes, sneakers, dress shoes, leather boots, including Converse Chuck Taylors.

Just double-check when buying products online because some heel liners only fit women’s shoes, especially high heels. You need heel liners designed for both men and women.

Final Words

And there you have it, our tips on how to stop and prevent blisters from Converse shoes.

Blister prevention tapes work well to protect specific areas of your feet, while thick socks and anti-friction balm, like the blister blocker, create a barrier between your skin and the shoe material.

Additionally, heel liners can prevent heel slippage and blisters.

By applying the easy tricks we have shared above, you can wear a pair of Chucks without having to cringe in pain after long hours of walking.