To prevent blisters when hiking, this is what I did when in the army (USA), and attended the French Army's Commando School where we did for the last exercise, 100km in three days, sounds odd but 100% works. I will just say it: first put on a pair of ankle-high Ladies "nylon's", then put your normal socks on over these. So, the nylons are right against the skin of your feet, and then the socks are outside of these and when you walk, the nylons grip right against your skin and the socks slide (imperceptably to you) over the nylons, taking all of the "movement and rubbing" away from your skin, and occurs instead, between these two clothing layers. No more blisters. :). Yes, this presumes you have the basics covered, shoes that fit, socks that fit. For socks , worn over the ankle-high nylons, we had wool socks but that may not matter as long as the socks that you use, slide on the nylons.