Losing toenails

“Cottonsocks learned the hardway to trim her toenails before a hike involving long, steep down hill descents.

Already lost two toenails and looks like another couple will peel off.”

“She might need longer boots too. I lost a couple as a result of my 2002 AT hike. Then, I lost a couple as a result of our trip to DisneyWorld last year, believe it or not.”

“I learned the hard way about HOW to trim the toe nail.
you have to clip square, when i was trimming round.
result: 4 ingrown townails. can you say OUCH!”

“Maybe REI could market toenail replacements for those who like to show their toes.”

“Lee press-on toenails, for those that want to hide their bloody stumps when wearing sandles.”

“they have press-on nails for toes?? funny!”

“Just a joke - I hope.”

“bitpusher - you did the AT in 2002?”

“Oh, it's a joke.........but maybe some day....”

“About 30 miles of it.”

“LOLOL! Here I thought you did the whole GAME (or MEGA). Had me going!

Every little bit helps, though. I estimate I have about 60 miles down. 2107 to go.”

“Ha! I wish.

I have about 60 miles total too.”

“Geez bit, and here twigeater thought you were some kinda stud muffin.

Guess again, Mainiac!!!

>8^P”

“More muffin than stud here, lol...”

“LOL”

“you know, even when i clip my toenails, i still lose some on long hikes.

hey chili,
just thought i'd let you know i'm mad at you for leaving me high and dry in memphis!!
(j/k)”

“She's just plain mad....”

“hey marko! you haven't even met me yet....you just wait and then you'll know mad!! ;)”

“I've met yam and I can now say that I'm absolutely mad! mooohooohaaahaa!”

“They don't call yam "The Petite Fury" for nothin' ya know...”

“I didn't get the impression that yam was all that furry...”

“yam, you need to do some slappin' around for that pic!”

“If you are loseing toenails, you need boots or trailrunners that FIT.”

“That yam needs a shave, bitpusher!”

“I think I'll leave that one alone, lol....”

“So does that mean that Mapleleaf is actually Dennis Rodman?”

“man, he just looks freakier and freakier every time I see a pic.”

“I have to blow all those theories out of the water. I'm sitting here minus 5 toenails after my trip to Isle Royale. The boots...had them over a year...fit great. Toenails were cut the way they should be.

I'm blaming it on poor ventilation in the boots after they were cooked to long by a fire on another trip. I'm also blaming it on a poor choice in socks.

I'd also have to give some credit to the terrain. Although it didn't hurt, I was aware of my toes occassionally getting pounded in the ends of my boots.”

“Smart wool for smart hikers!!!!( plus liners.......I think uphill is hard....but downhill hurts....



CHILI......tell Cottonsocks to call me tonight.......please.....”

“hey bit!!
that's a pic of my long-long-long lost cousin. thank you for re-uniting us!!

and ski, your trip to madness wasn't that difficult--you were 3/4 of the way there. :)”

“Thanks for pushing me over the edge, yam.”

“lol...”

“youch... losing a toenail is bad enough, but losing 5?! Yikes!

I'm glad I haven't had to learn how that feels...

What IS a good prevention (besides proper trimming, good sock and large enough shoes?)”

“it sucks loesing toenails...some of them never grow back right either.

hey, I ran over my big tow with a cart last night. I might lose it. Cool! Its all bruised looking :D”

“I wonder if you can pack the tip of a "loose" boot with lambswool? (you know, the kind that ballet dancers use in their toe shoes?) Do you think that would help pad the nails?”

“I have never found a boot that is kind to my toes on downhills. It's why I prefer trailrunners or sandels.”

“That happened to me this summer too. Was on a 7.8 mile round trip with an elevation gain of 1,300 ft. Coming down was tough on the toes. Felt bruised that night.

Did the Bolder Boulder 2 days later, then spent two of the next three days with toes squished under the twart of a whitewater raft.

A month later drying off after a soak in a hot tub in Winter Park two nails just flicked up from the base...totally freaked me out, but oddly didn't hurt at all.

But now they're much better and can even be polished again :)

Will have to remember to pack the sandals for the downhill next year.”

“even during the months that i take 3 trips a month... i have never lost a toenail and i am hard to fit. i usually have to spend about 4 months looking for a new pair of shoes or boots. you folks need to see someone about some shoes that fit, if you don't have a feel for it, yourselves..”

“I second rad's remarks.
Losing nails and hugh bleeding blisters is not 'normal' for backpacking, and most can be prevented.”

“So, how should boots fit??/..I like some room in mine...I wear a liner and smart wool.......or should they be more snug???”

“i like mine to fit just perfect, not snug, but not alot of room at the toe. proper lacing is important, too. i can tell after a few steps if i don't have them laced snug in the right spots or too snug in others. sock brands are a personal preference, but i prefer the padding on the toebox of thorlos. smartwool just doesn't hold up, for me, but smartwools make great sock to sleep in!”

“"just perfect" ha! can i be any more vague?”

“Thanks for the info...and I'll try the socks!!!!”

“I can send them an abundant supply of Siberian Husky wool for their boots. Khatru is getting in his winter coat and I'm brushing it out as fast as I can. He don't need to be fluffy and furry in SE Missouri...we ain't got no tundra here.”

“Thanks for the tips everyone. I will not wear the boots again. I have good socks.

I need new boots.....



Yeeeeppppeeee new gear run.”

“you know, if you got your boots at REI, you can always return them!”

“I am going to have to think about what to wear on my feet this weekend..I am sooooooo excited....”

“...shoes?...”