Part 4 of 10 in Feet Finish Expeditions.
A hot spot is the warning stage before a blister. It is the moment when friction, pressure, heat, moisture, poor fit, or foot movement inside the boot begins to irritate the skin.
This is also the moment when a trekker can still control the outcome. Stop early, remove the boot, dry the area, check the sock, adjust lacing, reduce movement, and protect the skin with tape, lubricant, a blister pad, gauze, or foam before the damage progresses.
Common hot spot zones include the heel, toe tips, ball of the foot, outside edge, Achilles area, arch, and bunion region. Wet socks, tight toe boxes, downhill foot slide, uneven lacing, and repeated impact all increase risk.
The practical rule is simple: do not wait for a blister to prove the problem exists. The warning is the problem.
Stop early. Dry it. Tape it. Keep moving.