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Beard or No Beard? I have a decently long beard, a little on the thin side rather than really full and thick. I start my NOBO thru hike mid March and because of ticks I am considering shaving my beard off and maintaining it shaved during my thru hike. What’s everyone’s opinions about beards and if I keep it any secrets on keeping ticks out? Currently I shave my head, I have for years. And plan to shave while in towns during my thru hike so shouldn’t be to difficult to keep shaved, but who knows I could get lazy with it. Lol
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bighammer
12-30-2018, 18:39
You can hope you don't get your face in the bush and pick up ticks, but shaving might make it less likely. I shaved my head before my solo section hike, just so I could try to eliminate hiding places.
I treated my clothes, tent, and pack with diluted Permethrin to also try to keep them away. I had a very small spray bottle of 100% DEET that I only got out once or twice in my May/June hike in Virginia. Seemed like only the very swampiest areas in wet weather made it necessary.
Time Zone
12-30-2018, 18:40
Entirely a personal decision.
I like the idea and look of beards more than the reality, mostly because of food debris, snot (when outside in the cold w/runny nose), and the fact that around the corners of my mouth, the whiskers sort of grow at an angle to poke me uncomfortably. Oh, and my beard is patchy at best on my cheeks, so I can't grow a full beard - only a mustache, goatee, or sideburns*. My wife hates them, so it's just as well. But I do like the look, esp. since I'm follicularly-challenged on my scalp.
* or "neckbeard" - wish my computer skills were up to that stereotype!
Start in the colder weather with the beard. See how it goes. Mow it off when it gets warmer. You're already planning on shaving anyway.
Slo-go'en
12-30-2018, 19:19
Just keep it trimmed. Carry a small pair of scissors, which are handy for other things too.
I can't imagine the amount of money I've saved by not buying razors and shaving cream for the last 45 years or so :)
Just keep it trimmed. Carry a small pair of scissors, which are handy for other things too.
I can't imagine the amount of money I've saved by not buying razors and shaving cream for the last 45 years or so :)
Not all of us want to look like we're playing Capt Ahab. You had a good length beard last time I saw you at Springer Mt shelter. Not ZZ Top be careful where you step length but still a lose that sandwich in your beard length. :D
devoidapop
12-30-2018, 21:26
if you have a beard of any real length you'll need to carry a plastic comb or hair pick to keep the tangles out. I imagine they'll work to root out any ticks as well.
FWIW, I've never had a tick in my beard.
Lone Wolf
12-30-2018, 21:27
huh?.......
hikewithgravity
12-30-2018, 21:31
Ticks attach themselves to humans when humans walk through thick vegetation. Typically, this is tall grass. They then look for skin to attach themselves. Once this is accomplished, they happily feed. The likelihood of a tick attaching itself high enough to you that your beard is the first best warm skin available is highly unlikely.
I never had a tick attach itself to me on my thru-hike because I regularly sprayed insect repellent on my legs. This should be sufficient for anyone.
Beard, never had a tick issue on my face.
AllDownhillFromHere
12-30-2018, 23:58
Beard is the answer. Beard length is how you identify the alpha hiker. It advertises to townies and hitches that you're a thru. It becomes the envy of your coworkers when you return.
Beard.
Beard is the answer. Beard length is how you identify the alpha hiker. It advertises to townies and hitches that you're a thru. It becomes the envy of your coworkers when you return.Beard.
I thought it was determined by how worn are your shoes/trail runners aka Forrest...Forrest Gump. :D
Puddlefish
12-31-2018, 10:16
Beard is the answer. Beard length is how you identify the alpha hiker. It advertises to townies and hitches that you're a thru. It becomes the envy of your coworkers when you return.
Beard.
At the Gooch shelter, a Sheriff's crew showed up, because someone's mom panicked about not hearing from her boy for four hours or so. The only descriptive information they had was "tall young guy with a big beard." We were all "yeah... that narrows it down to about a dozen guys."
MuddyWaters
12-31-2018, 10:24
Beard is the answer. Beard length is how you identify the alpha hiker. It advertises to townies and hitches that you're a thru. It becomes the envy of your coworkers when you return.
Beard.
Alarming # of young people sporting hiker beards today, that arent hikers. Including pro athletes.
I personally got tired of hair in my mouth, food and snot on that hair. Could keep tasting last meal by sucking that hair. Eating hamburger was disgusting. Hair in mouth, mustard and ketchup on beard. That was point i decided it had to go.
I hate shaving, i normally run clippers over face once/week keeping short stubble mustache/goatee. On trail i will shave every few weeks. At about 3 the hair curling into neck gets irritating, and if wait longer its really hard to do with disposeable razor. Takes a few passes anyway , and it better be a sharp new one.
Turtle-2013
12-31-2018, 10:38
Forty years of hiking with a beard (and cutting firewood, and trimming trees, and making hay, and etc in the woods & grasslands) ... and it never crossed my mind to worry about having a beard in relation to ticks. Enjoy your hike!
ldsailor
12-31-2018, 12:41
In three years of doing LASH's, I think I may have seen two male long distance hikers without a beard. I imagine few have the time or energy to mess with shaving. I certainly didn't.
Lone Wolf
12-31-2018, 19:58
At the Gooch shelter, a Sheriff's crew showed up, because someone's mom panicked about not hearing from her boy for four hours or so. The only descriptive information they had was "tall young guy with a big beard." We were all "yeah... that narrows it down to about a dozen guys."
NOBOs 15 miles from the start DO NOT fit that description. most still have a piece of tissue on they face from the last shave that mornin' in the motel
Puddlefish
01-01-2019, 11:58
NOBOs 15 miles from the start DO NOT fit that description. most still have a piece of tissue on they face from the last shave that mornin' in the motel
In 2016, there were a whole lot of tall guys who pre-gamed their "trail" beards.
MuddyWaters
01-01-2019, 12:42
In 2016, there were a whole lot of tall guys who pre-gamed their "trail" beards.
Next thing will be to starve yourself for 5 mo and come on trail pre-emaciated
AllDownhillFromHere
01-01-2019, 14:21
In 2016, there were a whole lot of tall guys who pre-gamed their "trail" beards.
As you should - you don't want to be growing it in while sweaty and gross. It's itchy enough under normal circumstances.
Puddlefish
01-01-2019, 14:48
As you should - you don't want to be growing it in while sweaty and gross. It's itchy enough under normal circumstances.
That's a good consideration. I'm not judging anyone for their fashion/grooming choices. I attempted to remain clean shaven, but that wasn't really possible without clippers. After 3 to 5 days, the disposable razors didn't last fifteen seconds before hopelessly clogging.
Always at the start of a hike, the guys are all, "I'm not going to shave at all - let's see how gnarly my beard gets!" This is usually followed by fist-bumping and a few grunts of male solidarity. And then I'm like, "Hey, great idea! I'm not going to shave either - I want to grow my beard out too!!" and I grin and hold out my fist but sadly, there are no bumps for this chiclet; only raised eyebrows and mumbles of, "Uh...okaaaay..."
After about 12 weeks, its like there is only one dude in the woods - and he is everywhere! He passes me mid-morning, he passes me again after lunch, then he passes me yet again when I set up camp.....sometimes there are more than one all walking in a line, but all I see is a bunch of hair in shorts and then I worry that I'm hallucinating.
Individuality....marinate on that.
The Flatlander
01-01-2019, 21:38
Most people see me with my beard and say biker. I say thru-hiker. 1986.
AllDownhillFromHere
01-01-2019, 22:25
Most people see me with my beard and say biker. I say thru-hiker. 1986.
There is an odd crossover between hikers and bikers. Kind of like people who drive Subarus and people who shop at REI.
I've done the beard thing but I avoid it now. just feels dirty and sloppy. No thanks. It's not that hard to clean up a little bit every day.
Time Zone
01-02-2019, 08:00
After 3 to 5 days, the disposable razors didn't last fifteen seconds before hopelessly clogging.
I wonder if single-blade disposables like the BIC also get clogged. They might, due to the plastic frame around the blade, but at least there's no chance of a closely adjacent 2nd blade being the cause of clogging.
Traveler
01-02-2019, 08:24
There is an odd crossover between hikers and bikers. Kind of like people who drive Subarus and people who shop at REI.
So bikers drive Subarus and hikers shop at REI, or is it the other way around?
handlebar
01-07-2019, 12:49
if you have a beard of any real length you'll need to carry a plastic comb or hair pick to keep the tangles out. I imagine they'll work to root out any ticks as well.
FWIW, I've never had a tick in my beard. Same here, and I've hiked over 15,000 miles with a long, down to my chest, beard. I comb out the beard before retiring for the night and again in the morning on rising, If there were any ticks, I'm sure the comb would pull them out. For tick control, consider soaking your hiking clothes in Permethrin. Since I started doing that, I haven't had any ticks embedded, and it seems to reduce mosquito problems.
Puddlefish
01-07-2019, 13:05
I wonder if single-blade disposables like the BIC also get clogged. They might, due to the plastic frame around the blade, but at least there's no chance of a closely adjacent 2nd blade being the cause of clogging.
Single bladed are slightly better for that, if you can find them.
MuddyWaters
01-07-2019, 13:22
I wonder if single-blade disposables like the BIC also get clogged. They might, due to the plastic frame around the blade, but at least there's no chance of a closely adjacent 2nd blade being the cause of clogging.
Thats why you shave in town, where you rinse it under running water in sink. Its not hopeless. Its every swipe, it glides over hair being clogged up, but rinse and repeat , wipe outward with finger, and eventually you reach skin if only a couple weeks growth.
The trick is to grow a beard before hiking. When you're done hiking, keep the beard and get on with the rest of your life. The end.
Thats why you shave in town, where you rinse it under running water in sink. Its not hopeless. Its every swipe, it glides over hair being clogged up, but rinse and repeat , wipe outward with finger, and eventually you reach skin if only a couple weeks growth.
After each rinse, whack the handle on the sink edge with the blade facing down over the sink. Any stuck hairs come flying out.
Nathan428
01-29-2019, 17:01
At the Gooch shelter, a Sheriff's crew showed up, because someone's mom panicked about not hearing from her boy for four hours or so. The only descriptive information they had was "tall young guy with a big beard." We were all "yeah... that narrows it down to about a dozen guys."
That is hilarious. My first reaction to the OP was...if beards dramatically increase the risk of ticks, then pretty much 90% of thru hiking guys take that risk. Just take normal precautions. Also, if you're anything like me, I'm constantly running my hands through my beard.
cliffordbarnabus
01-30-2019, 00:40
do you mow yards?
do you do it again the next week? and the next week? and the next one ad infinitum?
do you pay for gasoline to do so?
did you pay for your mower to do so?
did you pay for plastic bags to dispose of stuff?
save your money. save your time. let it grow. let it show. be it grass. be it a beard.
Thank you everyone for the comments and advice. I decided long ago to keep my beard. I really like my beard and have been growing it for about 3 years now and I wear it with some length on it. Some have said I already have my trail beard lol!
The only reason I posted the question is because I watched a video by NATGEO on the Appalachian Trail and a man they interviewed who previously thru hiked and now maintains the trail said in his interview that the tics can hide in your beard and it’s a really bad idea to grow one...
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Another Kevin
01-31-2019, 18:21
I never wore a beard until one time that I went on a two-week hike and came back with a hiker scruff - and my wife said she liked it.
(I still don't like it much. It's kind of patchy, and it's gray. But I don't have to look at it.)
I've had a beard for years and hiked a substantial amount of time during that period--if we're being honest, the hair on the face is not really a tick magnet. Same with the head. I would be more worried about down under. I've occasionally found ticks hiding in the secret garden around my meat and two bits. I usually go commando when hiking so it's easier for them to find their way to the promise land. just my $.02 (sorry for the visuals...)
TexasBob
02-01-2019, 11:07
I wonder if single-blade disposables like the BIC also get clogged. They might, due to the plastic frame around the blade, but at least there's no chance of a closely adjacent 2nd blade being the cause of clogging.
Single bladed are slightly better for that, if you can find them.
Thats why you shave in town, where you rinse it under running water in sink. Its not hopeless. Its every swipe, it glides over hair being clogged up, but rinse and repeat , wipe outward with finger, and eventually you reach skin if only a couple weeks growth.
Got me to thinking about whether a gel like Edge or a foam like Barbasol would be better in this situation. The foam seems to rinse out of the razor easier and might make for slightly less clogging. The gel might make for less irritation.
Got me to thinking about whether a gel like Edge or a foam like Barbasol would be better in this situation. The foam seems to rinse out of the razor easier and might make for slightly less clogging. The gel might make for less irritation.
I’m sure this will get a lot of laughs and comments but I use something called coochy cream. Recommend by a friend (who also shaves his head bald) and his wife. I haven’t used anything else since I tired it. Works great on head and face alike, well I’m guessing it’s great for anywhere on the body! Lol
https://www.amazon.com/Coochy-Rash-free-Shave-Scents-Available/dp/B00O5IMU7E/ref=sr_1_30_s_it?s=beauty&ie=UTF8&qid=1549038962&sr=1-30&keywords=Coochy+cream
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