2 stupid questions

imported
#1

Your first reaction will be that if someone has to ask these questions, they shouldn’t be planning a long backpack. Just believe me, i’ve done lots of 3-4 day trips, just nothing longer. My questions are…

  1. How does one cut their nails on a thru-hike? I hate carrying mostly useless multi-tools…i’m used to just making do with a knife for everything. Biting nails gives me painful hangnails. Does everyone just CARRY a clippers?

  2. In my first major attempt to down-weight my usual 30 lb. load, i bought a Go-Lite pack. It came with a fairly thick styrofoam back pad inserted. It seems to weigh about as much as the rest of the pack does. (ok, exaggerating) But, is this pad meant to be carried? Does anyone just leave it out and pack their fleece (or something similar) in a way that it acts as a pad?

thanks!

markv

#2

I carried clippers. You could also carry the ‘executive’ size swiss army knife with the little scissors.

I assume your using a frameless pack? I’ve never owned one, but my observations of people who had them on the trail is that their thermarest was used as a back pad.

Hope this helps.

Dharma

#3

I’ve got a frameless lightweight pack that I use my ThermaRest Z-Lite as a back pad or frame (depending on my
pack load). My pack load is about 25 to 27 lbs (including food / water). I can go about 5-6 days without resupply.

I carry fingernail clippers (not toenail clippers). They REALLY helped me as my nails began to do all sorts of painful things and I needed to file them and clip them. I’m not a fanatical ultralight guy so I can be at peace carrying the occasional single purpose tool. But I’ve found that the clippers are the best tool for any foot / hangnail etc. problems. It’s a comfort thing…

DoubleRev

#4

Funny you should bring that up. I am a section hiker and have run into a lot of thru’s on my last two trips. What’s the one item of gear that I’m most often asked if I will let them use it? My nail clipper. Some might think of that as a very “personal” piece of gear, and be hesitant to let someone else use it. I carry a small bottle of that Purell hand disinfectant stuff, and, whether I need to or not, I use it on the clipper when they return it. Never had a problem and usually the borrower is someone I’ve hiked around for a few days. It’s been an interesting conversation piece. I would never have guessed that piece of gear would be popular. Obviously it’s very light so I don’t mind the extra “weight”. I do also carry a knife, but I just never got into cutting my nails with one. Perfer the clipper. CBiscuit

CBiscuit

#5

It’s funny. I go ultralight-- under 10 lbs summer base weight. But I still carry a nail clipper. Foot care is such a HUGE issue on a long-distance hike that a nail-clipper-- something you almost forget about in regular life-- becomes a fairly important tool.

What GoLite pack are you talking about?

Eric

#6

I use one of those little 10 buck swiss army knives. It has a little pair of scissors that can be used as clippers. One tool over can slice your cheese. Isn’t life wonderful?

Tha Wookie

#7

We kept clippers in the drift box, which we accessed every couple of weeks. It was enough.

Ginny

#8

I used a Go-Lite Gust pack and kept the foam pad in through all the 1600 miles that I walked. It added enough comfort to justify keeping it and the weight was a moot issue.

nightfever

#9

I used the file on my Micra to file my fingernails. Then I would borrow clippers for my toenails. I did carry clippers for a while, think I sent them home and put them in a bounce box. Not a dumb question, it’s an important thing for your toes especially.

Bluebearee

#10

chewing toenails is something i just haven’t shaken since my thruhike attempt. i also favor dropping a few shavings into ramen for something more akin to indian curry spice…yum yuuuuummmm

burn

#11

all my nails fell off. Problem avoided=problem solved.:x

Officer Taco

#12

My son claims his nails always grow faster on a multi-day hike…but I haven’t noticed that. Maybe it’s just time slowing down.

RockyTrail