Beating the toenail blues
R E A D E R S ' R E M E D I E S
In your Grand Canyon page on the Web, you asked how to prevent
losing toenails when hiking downhill:
1) Unlace your shoes halfway, tighten 'em, tie a knot, and then
relace the top half. This helps keep the bottom half of the
boot from loosening up with slack from the bottom half, and,
thus, helps keep your foot from sliding forward in the boot.
Some places that sell hiking boots have a test ramp to find a
better fit, with respect to downhill hiking.
2) Too late -- already hurt the toenails? Walk backwards in an
emergency...
Ken Oakeson
oakeson@boi.hp.com
Wrap lambs-wools around the toes to pad them. I have two different
sized feet, lambs-wool padded in the toe of my boots makes a big
difference. This can be purchased at most drug stores in small
packages for less than $2.50.
sillygrinn@theriver.com
Lambswool in the toes of my boots does the trick for me. It creates a
comfort barrier between my toes and the front of the boot. I've
backpacked in the canyon three times and have never had a toenail
problem. I found my lambswool at Walgreen's.
Martha E. Bassler
bassler@zeigler-coal.com
Foot and shoe moving in differnent directions (foot forward & shoe
backward) does this. If your shoes do not fit correctly then walk
down sideways. This is actually the best descent method for steep
inclines anyway.
Drew Logan
drewlogan@ravenet.com
I just returned from my first Grand Canyon trip. We took up
backpacking just this past year with the goal of preparing for the
Canyon. On the first day we descended to the Colorado on the
South Kaibab Trail. I can report not a single sore toe or blister
for me or my girlfriend. How did we accomplish this? Heeded all
the advice. We purchased our boots last March. Tried on every
boot we could get ahold of and bought the ones that fit our feet
with extra room in the toe. We went on 13 overnight backpacking
trips (half of these on the Superior Hiking Trail in Minnesota) and
twice as many day hikes. Our boots were well broken in. We both
chose a version of the Vasque Sundowner. On our descent we kept
a comfortable pace. At about half way I inserted into the toes of my
boots some pillow batting. I had read about the lambs wool but
couldn't find any. Pillow batting has the same properties, it won't
mat up. My girlfriend didn't use any. We arrived at the Colorado
with all our nails intact and ready for the next day's hike.
Doug / St. Paul, MN
douglaslee@uswest.net
I have hiked the canyon 6 times and am planning my next for October.
Every time, I have hiked down in Birkenstocks. Many people made
comments re: my alleged stupidity. However, I am happy to report
I have never had a single blister!
BRITEANGL@aol.com
Taping your toes can help -- this is a marathon runners tip that
works for downhill hiking as well. I have yet to lose a toenail
in the GC (over a dozen trips and counting at a rate of two a
year). I have lost toenails running but that was from dumbness
(I neglected to use any tape and had my shoes too lose).
Bill Merrow
bmerrow@columbus.legent.com
I lost my toenails out of vanity -- did not want to admit my true
shoe size. I had to hike out with my toenails all puffed up and
VERY painful! Visited a clinic on top and had to have them drilled
(yikes!). Once I owned up to my size-9 foot, then bought a size
10 boot, I never lost them again on a canyon hike. So my theory
is have enough toe room so that they don't touch the ends of
your boots.
Andrew Palazola
palazola@concentric.net
My first treck into the canyon was Nankoweep. That is quite an
initiation. I went down the first day and out the second. The
interesting thing is I never suffered from a blister or black toenail.
Amazingly this was the first time I had worn these boots, I bought
them the day before. I think I owe my saved feet to the advice of
the other hikers, the socks that are double layered with nylon
inbetween, and cutting all of the free edge off of my toenails the
day before the hike.
Lynn Raymond
lraymond@weber.k12.ut.us
We used to get the black toenails years ago and someone told me
to trim the toenails back almost to the quick the night before the
descent. I have been doing this for years and have not suffered
the dread black nails since.
siacat@aol.com
The easiest way to prevent this problem is to wear Tevas on the
way down. I found this out after losing my toenails this past May.
n9540658@cc.wwu.edu
I've made 4 hikes into the outer reaches of the canyon. My first
was during the first week of August 1991 and I suffered greatly.
This first hike was both a joy and a hell of sorts. I had the wrong
boots and got blisters about the size of walnuts; moreover, I lost
the toenails from both big toes and the two toes next to
them. It seems that I had boots that fit me exactly and left no room
for the foot to move when I stubbed against a rock (as everyone
knows is unavoidable). By the time the trip was over my feet
looked awful.
The next year I brought nice but expensive boots and took my two
sons on a BSA 50-miler merit badge hike, and none of us suffered
any foot problems. Last year my oldest son and a friend did the
South Bass and several excursions on the North Rim without
any problems.
Ergo: get good boots, the correct socks, use powder
and most importantly bang the boots prior to buying them
and make sure the toe does not hit the boot
Jim Crigger
Jcrigger@mnsinc.com
Cut off your toenails prior to the hike. You will find that
your toenails will cause you no further pain.
This might seem a little drastic at first, but once they are
out you will be relieved of more of a headache than
you know.
Joel Lander
jlander@fed.frb.gov
Your boots don't fit! If you can touch the front of your
boots with your toes, your boots aren't long enough.
OUCH! You should be able to kick a wall without
having your toes touch front. Otherwise, every time
you take a downhill step, you are (gently, at first)
stubbing your toe(s). Find another place to buy boots,
because for $185 for good hiking boots, some ignorant
salesperson robbed you.
msterry@ualr.edu
Proper fitting boots such as Vasque may prevent the loss of
toenails. I have hiked the Appalachian Trail and never had
such an occurrence.
Carol Mattes
cmattes@macpost.odr.georgetown.edu
The CAUSE is your toenails hitting the boot during downhill
hiking. You are then supporting yourself on the ends of your
toenails. This crushes the nail beds and damages it.
- FIX - Avoid loads on the end of your toenails by what
ever means you can.
METHODS
1. Make sure that there is enough room for your toes to wiggle
freely in the boots. This mostly means long enough. Do not
make the boots wider. In the store with the socks you intend
to wear kick something solid like a concrete pillar and stand
on tiptoe like a ballet dancer (you can hold on). the toes must be
free to wiggle and not touch the boot except on the bottom. Many
boots are rather pointy in the toe and such models should be avoided.
Many boots were designed for alpine mountaineering where standing
on narrow rock edges is critical and have been blindly copied by
other manufacturers. I have used Limmer boots (Peter Limmer
& Sons, Intervale, NH) for years because they are designed for
backpacking and have a very fat toe and lots of support across the
arch.
2. When going down hill the boot must support the foot across the
arch and not allow the foot to slide forward. Therefore, frequent
tightening of the boot may be necessary during a long descent.
Everyone should recheck within the first 15 to 30 minutes of
starting down. If the point is reached where the 2 sides of
the boots come together and can not be tightened any further a
pad or spacer should be added over the arch. If you have room
you can add more socks with the toes cut off or remove the toes
from one pair if you have 2 pair on.
Less desirable for most but can be done if desired or necessary.
3. No toe in footware, i.e. Tevas, cut the toes out of your boots.
4. Walk backwards.
5. Omit shoes entirely.
Terry Kennedy
terryk@sdd.hp.com
Moleskin, Moleskin, Moleskin.
OK, so I never hiked the Grand Canyon yet (I'll write when i get back
after my month hike leaving next week) but on my other hikes, Moleskin has
been the FIRST thing I've packed always! It sticks to anything: toes,
early forming blisters (before a bubble appears, otherwise don't use it),
and you can buy it in any foot care section.
Although I like suggested idea of cutting the toenails off, as I sit here
with toenail clippers I find I do not have the nerve . . .
JLMartin@aol.com
I just hiked New Hance to the river, Tonto to Horseshoe Mesa & out on
Grandview. Being a second-year Grand Canyon hiker who lost both big
toenails last year, I was very apprehensive about keeping my toenails. I
faithfully followed the advice in this forum, buying hiking boots which
gave me 3/4 inch from the toe to the front of the boot, lacing my boots as
described by Ken Oakeson, trimming my toenails to the quick, sock liner &
wool socks. I had a great hike without the dreaded black toenail! Thanks
for the tips.
Rob Brower
College Station, Texas
rbrower@myriad.net
The best remedy I found for not losing nails in The Canyon is to lose them
before you start. Excellent preparatory training is best met by one or two
barefoot cross-country excursions in the Yukon in January. I recommend
this as solution #1 because without toes, you can't lose toenails.
The good part of this is the payoff in my family when the Toenail Fairy
visits - [s]he pays beaucoup more than his/her competitor aka "Tooth
Fairy."
Good Hiking,
Hugh [IlostmineinTheCanyon] Stallworth
Valrico [Flatlands], Fla.
dotlynne@gte.net
I too have suffered from black toe in the canyon. I think all the
suggestions I read would work. It seems to me the malady has sevewral
potential sources. The first occurrence for me was the result of boots that
fit fine most places but were not sufficient for the canyon. A friend with
vast experience in the canyon suggested a simple on-the-spot fix. Put
strips of moleskin on the top of your socks over your arch to tighten the
fit. My other occurrence was a result of a too-long toenail catching sock.
Jim Halpin
Tulsa, Okla.
jhalpin@tulsacouncil.org
When I recently had a toe problem, two suggestions came from a
salesperson at REI in Seattle.
1st. Don't wear cotton socks when hiking. They hold moisture and add to the
blistering problem.
2nd. Lock lace the boots. Loop the laces three or more times and pull
hard at various spots on your boot. That will help keep your foot from
sliding forward. I tried it after a recent blister bout and both
suggestions worked.
Bob Saindon
biker@accessone.com
In addition to obvious methods listed in other letters here, try
putting moleskins on the outside of your socks over problem toe(s).
John Hess
(rust-colored Trailwise pack)
johnhess@mail.clandjop.com
I just returned from the first Grand Canyon trip ever where I did
not damage my toes!!! I combined all of the tricks listed on the
toenail page. First, I bought new boots (again). I tried on over 25
pairs of boots before I bought. The winners were Scarpas. Seems part of
the problem is that I have small feet -- about a size 5-1/2. Most
manufacturers just make boots smaller, and don't recalibrate the last for
the smaller foot. An insert helped the boot to fit better also, and to keep
my foot from sliding forward. Quite frankly, I decided to totally ignore
cost, although these were reasonably priced. I knew that if my toes were
sore at the bottom of the canyon, I would pay anything at that point to
avoid the condition. I wore a quiana liner sock and a wool sock. The
moment anything became uncomfortable -- not sore, just uncomfortable -- I put
adhesive tape on it. I even wrapped lambs wool around the top of a smaller
toe which had become sensitive.
I also purchased a new backpack which fits me better -- a Lowe
Crossbow. Perhaps carrying the weight properly contributed to my foot
health. So although counting equipment, this was the most expensive Grand
Canyon trip yet in terms of dollars, it was the least expensive in terms of
foot problems, and the enjoyment level was the highest.
For the first few days, I tried the shoelace routine mentioned
elsewhere. My feet just got aggravated! So, I returned to my old ways --
lace the shoes up comfortably in the a.m. and leave them alone. I hope
these tidbits may help someone else. I was glad to find out I was not alone
in my toe problems!!!
Trude Kleess
puffin1@ix.netcom.com
Try arch supports to hold your foot in place and prevent sliding forward.
Or if you have incredible balance and superhuman legs, walk on your
heels!
Amy Mumford
wamumford@sprynet.com
TRIM TOENAILS SHORT. WEAR TWO PAIR OF SOCKS, A INNER LIGHT WICKING PAIR
UNDER A HEAVY SOCK. GET HIKING BOOTS WITH CORRECT FIT. PUSH HEEL INTO BACK
OF BOOT FIRMLY, LACE LOWER LACES SNUGLY, TIE A OVERHAND KNOT AND WHEN YOU
START TO LACE UP THE UPPER PART OF THE HIKING BOOT WITH THE SPEED LACING
METAL HOOKS, PULL SNUGLY AND TIE AN OVERHAND KNOT BETWEEN EACH SET OF HOOKS.
DO A DOUBLE TIE INSTEAD OF YOUR USUAL KNOT WHEN YOU REACH TOP OF BOOT. THIS
WILL SECURE FOOT INTO THE BACK OF THE BOOT AND KEEP YOUR TOES FROM SLIDING
FORWARD ON STEEP DOWNHILL PITCHES AND RAMMING INTO THE END OF THE BOOT. IF
YOU FEEL ANY HOT SPOTS STARTING ON YOUR FEET, STOP AND APPLY EITHER MOLESKIN
OR CLOTH BACKED DUCT TAPE TO PREVENT BLISTERS. TAKING YOUR BOOTS OFF DURING
LONG REST BREAKS TO LET FEET AIR AND SOCKS TO DRY DOESN'T HURT EITHER. HOPE
THIS HELPS.
pclifton@co.bexar.tx.us
I read somewhere that the gel toe guards that ballet dancers use in their
ballet shoes are great for preventing black toenails, but I haven't tried it
myself. Apparently you can find these gel pads in ballet shops.
Angie Costales
Angela.Costales@valueoptions.com
The very best way to prevent blackened toenails is to use a mule for the
descent, but then there is the issue of blackened butt...
vze2qp2q@verizon.net