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Ditto. Whenever I wear proper boots I lose nails, no matter how roomy (or not) the toebox is.Happens to me a lot. I am walking in Japan at the moment and have been for the past month. Mostly road walking and hard on the feet. I have lost 3 out of 10 so far. None painful and none a problem.
So true, in my case, too. The solution has been to wear thin socks and lightweight Keens.But first, try walking with thinner socks. Fat socks crowd your shoes, and can make your toenails bruise black.
I saw a mention some time ago, that you wear Ecco sandals! Are these your open-toed sandals? I have Eccos, very comfortable indeed but never thought of wearing them all the time! Now I'm tempted!!@Findjoy I used to lose toenails all the time until I ditched the shoes. Now I wear open-toed sandals on all my caminos and my toes and toenails are happier for it.
Yes, mine are Ecco Offroad. The anniversary model, very pretty multicolours!
I posted a question about blisters a few weeks ago and the responses were very helpful.
I will be walking the Frances way at end of this month and training hard with my walking companion. Last Thursday we hiked 20 kms and did well, except a very sore big toe nail. Yesterday we hiked another 20kms and my toenail is painful and, I think, starting to turn black.
My big toe does stick up and often, over time wears a hole in my trainers which are just fabric. Yesterday I tried a foam tube bandage but it didn't improve things.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might be able to do? Many thanks.
I wonder if you think they would help prevent my pinkie from rolling under the toe next to it. I have tried various methods of taping to keep my pinkie 'straight' rather than lying lazily on its side but nothing really works well. Every time I walk a lot, it causes me blisters and I'm not looking forward to THAT while I'm walking the Camino. Thanks!I have a similar problem with my second toe (I had a bad bunion surgery years ago and my big toe is now “floating” and can’t grab and do the work it should so the second toe ends up getting abused). I don’t like walking in sandals so that wasn’t a solution for me. I found the most amazing thing (from a reference on here somewhere probably) — toe caps. They sound uncomfortable but they aren’t! They are miraculous. This is what I use but they make them for big toes also. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0C1QIA/?tag=casaivar02-20
I’ve used these for years. They do not crowd your ties as you would think. I wear toe socks and then the caps and light wool over that.I have a similar problem with my second toe (I had a bad bunion surgery years ago and my big toe is now “floating” and can’t grab and do the work it should so the second toe ends up getting abused). I don’t like walking in sandals so that wasn’t a solution for me. I found the most amazing thing (from a reference on here somewhere probably) — toe caps. They sound uncomfortable but they aren’t! They are miraculous. This is what I use but they make them for big toes also. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0C1QIA/?tag=casaivar02-20
Yes! Get the smallest ones available and you will need to trim it down. Experiment with it on the pinkie or the one next to it.I wonder if you think they would help prevent my pinkie from rolling under the toe next to it. I have tried various methods of taping to keep my pinkie 'straight' rather than lying lazily on its side but nothing really works well. Every time I walk a lot, it causes me blisters and I'm not looking forward to THAT while I'm walking the Camino. Thanks!
Try a silicone lubricant like Two Toms.I wonder if you think they would help prevent my pinkie from rolling under the toe next to it. I have tried various methods of taping to keep my pinkie 'straight' rather than lying lazily on its side but nothing really works well. Every time I walk a lot, it causes me blisters and I'm not looking forward to THAT while I'm walking the Camino. Thanks!
No open-toe sandals! "Keen" have the best models. Otherwise stones very easily will come inside. And yr toes are not protected!Toes are deeply meaningful to pilgrims. They merit great respect, because if you don´t treat them right, they will shut your Camino right down!
I am not a toe/shoe/foot-strike/stride expert, but you will find a few of those here on the forum. It does sound to me like your toe is too crowded inside your shoe, and it´s banging against the inside. You may have to get shoes with a bigger toe-box, or experiment with walking in open-toe sandals... or cut a slice in the shoe-leathe r to make more room for that poor toenail. But first, try walking with thinner socks. Fat socks crowd your shoes, and can make your toenails bruise black.
Sounds like you Don't have a large enough shoe box or shoes are not the right size. It is important to have a shoe large enough to allow the foot to swell, and they will from either the heat or the mileage.I posted a question about blisters a few weeks ago and the responses were very helpful.
I will be walking the Frances way at end of this month and training hard with my walking companion. Last Thursday we hiked 20 kms and did well, except a very sore big toe nail. Yesterday we hiked another 20kms and my toenail is painful and, I think, starting to turn black.
My big toe does stick up and often, over time wears a hole in my trainers which are just fabric. Yesterday I tried a foam tube bandage but it didn't improve things.
Does anyone have any suggestions as to what I might be able to do? Many thanks.
Thank you!Try a silicone lubricant like Two Toms.
I wonder why that is?On the other hand many men wear their shoes too big!
Yes! I have Keen sandals that I bought in Burgos after having had trouble with closed shoes and a trip to the doctor. They have elastic laces so I can use lighter or heavier socks as needed. Not on the Camino now and still use the sandals.I used Teva hiking sandals last time for 700km after similar toe problems. Waterproof socks on wet days. Hiking poles for additional ankle support up and down hills.
Thanks for the hint. I received these yesterday and for the first time in years my second toe on each foot didn't hurt after walking 12 miles. I wish I would have known about them sooner because the toes are already black and blue from last week's walk.I have a similar problem with my second toe (I had a bad bunion surgery years ago and my big toe is now “floating” and can’t grab and do the work it should so the second toe ends up getting abused). I don’t like walking in sandals so that wasn’t a solution for me. I found the most amazing thing (from a reference on here somewhere probably) — toe caps. They sound uncomfortable but they aren’t! They are miraculous. This is what I use but they make them for big toes also. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0C1QIA/?tag=casaivar02-20
I second the toe caps suggestion!I have a similar problem with my second toe (I had a bad bunion surgery years ago and my big toe is now “floating” and can’t grab and do the work it should so the second toe ends up getting abused). I don’t like walking in sandals so that wasn’t a solution for me. I found the most amazing thing (from a reference on here somewhere probably) — toe caps. They sound uncomfortable but they aren’t! They are miraculous. This is what I use but they make them for big toes also. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01N0C1QIA/?tag=casaivar02-20
Three words: Injinji toe socks!!I wonder if you think they would help prevent my pinkie from rolling under the toe next to it. I have tried various methods of taping to keep my pinkie 'straight' rather than lying lazily on its side but nothing really works well. Every time I walk a lot, it causes me blisters and I'm not looking forward to THAT while I'm walking the Camino. Thanks!
I recently did a 3-week slow partial Camino. I read a lot about shoes and socks for Camino before going and, unfortunately, followed ALL the advice. My shoes (Altra Lone Peak 6 ankle hikers) were a half size larger than usual, I had an orthotic in the shoes, Injinji socks under merino hiking socks. It felt fine the first couple of days, then I discovered my second toe was getting dark and rather swollen under and around the nail. I read on some forums about the fairly common problem, some mentioned piercing through the nail to relieve a blister below. I went to the Health Clinic (Centro de Salud) in Estella, they indeed cleaned the area, inserted a needle down through the center of the nail, and drained some fluid from underneath, bandaged it up and sent me along. None of it hurt, neither before nor after the clinic visit. My Spanish is not good enough to have the conversation I would have liked about after care. Another pilgrim group at the next albergue advised not wearing two pairs of socks. Ultimately, I removed the orthotic and used just the plain insole that came with the shoes, and wore just a pair of lightweight Wright socks, the double layer ankle high ones. No further toe problems. The nail, a month later, is still there, and underneath is dark pink, but in time it surely will finish detaching. I am surprised but grateful that this didn’t ever cause pain. The corresponding toe on the other foot had a much milder version of the same issue, untreated.I agree with @dgallen and all other posters here about boot fit and tightness affecting your toenails. If you do not have a good fit and you have loose lacing as you go downhill your foot will slide forward hitting the front and or top of the shoe. Definately keep toenails trimmed and double check your boot fitting. I also have Keen hiking sandals for those moment when my feet need some air
Yesterday I did a long walk in my new Lowa Aerox mid. I normally hike with Lowa renegades but switched to a lighter shoe for this walk due to knee issues. I used regular hiking socks on purpose partly to see how they feel and partly due to hot florida sun. Not even 30 min later I felt a rubbing around the ankle. I switched to Wrightsock lightweight double layer Merino Coolmesh II hiking socks.. omg what a difference! Walked for 4 hours felt nothing more than my crazy knees. Fit of my boots were perfect and my Superfeet green inserts were perfect (extra one in my pack) . Moral to the story : I will continue to test and tweak my equipment as this is my first camino...good luck figuring it out and also consider seeing a podiatrist before your next long walk.
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