Hiking. When I decend, my toes rub my shoes???

Question

My big toe nails always come up, blood flow stops and the nails dies. I have decent hiking shoes. Is there some type of cover to put around my toes to prevent this?

Answer 1

Here's an expert opinion -mine. I have been backpacking for over 35 years and of course have descended many a nasty slope in all those years.
You need to have properly fitting boots .
Hiking boots are not fitted the way regular shoes are.
As a rule your boots should be one half to one full size larger and a full size wider ,depending upon who the boot manufacturer is.
When you try on your boots you need to be wearing the sock combination that you will be hiking in . I usually use a light inner sock and a heavy ragg wool outer sock and I also add an insole liner. I'm a big person and I tend to carry heavy packweights so I like the extra cushioning.
Before you put your sox you should clip your toe nails short and you should keep them short through out the duration of your hike.
With your boots laced up , while standing you should be able to stick a finger down the back of your boots along your Achilles Tendon
I grew up hiking the rocky trails and talus slopes of New Englands' mountains and it was common practice then and now to kick a wall really hard to see if your toes crunched before you finalized the decision to buy your boots
There are also walking techniques you can develop that will lessen the degree of foot slide.
The technigues basically involve leaning back on a slope and keeping your body vertical rather than leaning into it .There's more techniques but I'm won't get into them today.
Alas Yahoo Answers does not think that back packers , climbers & cavers deserve a special sports category so we all get lumped in with the gun people. Good thinking guys , I wouldn't think twice about inviting those two groups to the same party.

Answer 2

i googled your problem and found quite a long and winded story of one man's hiking experience in the Grand Canyon - he too mentions the toe mashing and had this to say -

"I was shocked to learn that four, maybe five toes had been pummeled to death and were looking pretty sorry. I would lose a few nails. I can't imagine what would have happened if I hadn't worn the toe guards that I found at a ballet supply store. "

Answer 3

Okey. I learned this like last week.
When you decend the air gets thicker...and things go back to normal size...okey...say you hiked a moutain and on top......your hand looked smaller..its true...when you go up in elevation the particles in your body contract, because the air is thinner...crazy huh? Do your shoes fit brfore you hike?

Answer 4

come on this is to much lady just bye a bigger pair of shoes for crying out loud stop waisting my very valuable time

Answer 5

your shoes arent as good as you think they are! thats awful! get fitted properly at a sports store and buy a GOOD pair, like $200 or more, if its something you want to persue