I can very easily walk several miles at a time whether it is walking the dog or walking into the town centre as I hate waiting for buses. I have the stamina of an ox and can just keep going provided that my shoes are comfortable. But even when wearing my most comfortable shoes I can sometimes develop a big blister on the heel of my foot which makes walking painful. I have recently tried the blister patches from Compeed. I had only wanted to buy some plasters to cover the blister but when I was browsing I noticed the Compeed Blister Patches which seemed much more appropriate. Plasters only provide very minimal cushioning, they look unsightly and usually come off quite quickly, so I hoped the Compeed patches would be the solution.

These are a bit expensive at about £4 for a box and you can get different sizes to cater for the different areas you can get a blister – small ones for little toes, medium size patches and the largest one I believe is for the back of the heel and I bought the largest one. You get about five of these big ones in a box but they are supposed to stay on for a few days by which time the blister should have healed. These do not look like normal plasters, they are a transparent, silicone-like patch and we are advised to warm them by rubbing with your hands which is supposed to make them stick to the skin better. They are more high-tech than plasters to as they contain Hydrocolloid particles which absorb any fluid from the blister to form a protective gel. This is supposed to keep bacteria out and promote healing.

I find them very effective. The adhesive is much stronger than normal plasters so for a start they actually stay stuck to my foot. With normal plasters as soon as my feet start sweating they will come off so that is the first good thing. My feet feel immediately soothed and relieved of the pressure and soreness of the blister so I can go walking in comfort again. I tend to always carry a pack in my bag as they are a handy size and if I am walking and can feel some soreness starting I stop and put one on. They are water-resistant and they have stayed on even when I have had a shower, but as they are expensive even in the shower I will try not to get them too wet (which is a difficult process) as I do not want to have to apply another. They really do provide soothing relief and I find them a godsend. I am happy to pay this price as one patch is enough to deal with a blister and they are many times better than plasters.

Rating: 10