View Full Version : Toenails
Is loosing your toenails as common as blisters, chaffing, and the usual thru hiking experiences? I know N. Nomad had his removed before he Sobo'd from Cape Gaspe. Thanks. :)
I have heard of and seen many who have lost toenails during a thru hike (long distance hiking). I personally have never had it happen and know of countless others who also had no issues with it. Some of those that I know that experienced it said it was painful while others said no biggie. I dont think it is no where near as common as blisters, chaffing, or other such things but it is common nonetheless.
I hope this helps,
RAT
Keeping your nails trimmed at all times, so they don't jam into the front of your boots on downhills will go a long way to reduce the chances of having this type of problem.
Lyle
I highly suspect that blacktoe just might caused more by ones propensity towards it (genetics?) rather than have it result from any specific footwear, or size of footwear, but it most always is a direct result of one's toes constant pounding after a mileage threshold is passed.
Luckily it is only painful for a few days and then slowly goes away. The color of the afflicted nail slowly changes from a dull blue color to a darker, blacker blue, then becomes almost black, caused by the dying blood locked underneath the nail. A couple of weeks later, the nail, now cut off from the body's replenishing blood supply and completely dead, begins to separate from the toe and can be even painlessly pulled away from it.
Underneath the dead toenail is a shining new, thinner, younger and more flexible nail that is no longer susceptible to turning black and causing pain-at least for another six months or so for any toe other than the big toe, or a year for the big toes. But after that time has passed, those younger, flexible nails slowly age and harden and the blacktoe cycle begins anew.
If you get it, I think you got it more as a result of a "luck of the draw" rather than from anything else other than from too many miles walking/running upon them. Just grit your teeth and hobble on and and in a few days the pain is gone completely. Then you can look forward to the joy of removing those dead nail:D
I have no medical training. The above is from many years careful observation of my own feet and what happens to them.
Wanderingson
02-24-2007, 06:51
As others have pointed out. Toe maintenance is critical on any extended hike where you will experience multiple or prolonged ups and downs. Proper footwear fitting is also crucial in preventing many toe injuries. I have found that if I have properly fitting footwear and keep my nails clipped, I do not experience the dreaded "Fuji Toe". A group of us coined this phrase after seeing countless people with black and blue toenails after decending from the summit of Mt. Fuji in Japan. In fact many folks experienced shin, knee, hip and other lower extremity pain from the decent not the ascent.
I really 100 percent on my old dogs to get me down the trail and will pamper them every opportunity I can to keep them in good working order.
Proper fitting footwear, good socks, and toenail maintenance will get you far my friend.
Is loosing your toenails as common as blisters, chaffing, and the usual thru hiking experiences? I know N. Nomad had his removed before he Sobo'd from Cape Gaspe. Thanks. :)
For me...yes to all.
I lost toenails on the AT and Long Trail. I couldn't say why exactly. I called my self taking care after it happened the first time, but it's happened again on other long hikes. I just deal with it.
The chafing thing I found to be a matter of staying dry and clean. Both of which are difficult to do in hot, humid weather and thru-hiking. That was Virginia for me. Now, I keep a dry bandana, gold bond powder and the neosporin handy.
Blisters!!! I had them in spite of myself. I'm pretty attentive, but it happens anyway. The worst I ever had was from a pair of Montrail trail runners. Something about the way they fit around the tops. They really chewed me up just below my ankles. (It was a very wet hike on the LT.)
Bloodroot
02-24-2007, 20:43
I lost a few toenails from the downhills and stubbing my toes on rocks and roots when switched from boots to trail runners.