How to avoid the dreaded "boondocker's fingertips?"

[profdant139]

I won't even post a photo of what my fingertips looked like after a week of sub-freezing camping -- suffice it to say that my thumbs and index fingers were cracked, bleeding, and painful. This problem almost always occurs when boondocking in cold weather, more so than campground camping -- boondocking seemingly involves many more outdoor chores, filling the water tank, dealing with the batteries and the solar panel, etc.

I have tried wearing gloves, but I have to take them off when doing almost anything requiring dexterity. Plus, the gloves get soaked in wet or snowy weather, which is a pretty common occurrence. Hand creams don't really do much. I have tried surgical tape -- it gets wet, and it leaves a sticky residue.

So that is my question -- is there a solution to this, or do I just put up with it?

[NinerBikes]

profdant139 wrote:
A belt sander works great, too! Much faster than the random orbital sander, unless you use 60 grit paper. Do not use a wood rasp, though. 😉

I don't think you have enough watts with the portable solar panel you bought to run a belt sander. :B

[profdant139]

A belt sander works great, too! Much faster than the random orbital sander, unless you use 60 grit paper. Do not use a wood rasp, though. 😉

[NinerBikes]

profdant139 wrote:
The foot problems, unfortunately, are often a function of aging -- as my podiatrist says, "Time wounds all heels."

Somebody else has to start another thread on orthotics for boondockers -- I am too busy smearing on all of those terrific hand cream remedies -- can't type -- hands all sticky. 😉

Nothing like a 3 minute hot shower, and then hitting the callused portions of the foot and heel with a Ped Egg, immediately after exiting the shower. It will cheese grate away the calluses rather nicely.




My Keens sandals have aggravated this condition when going without wearing socks with sandals. Wearing socks and shoes alleviates how fast the calluses advance. Helps a lot if the calluses are moist and softened first before you start trying to skin them alive with this tool, it cuts much more efficiently and keeps the blades sharp a lot longer.

[carl2591]

you can get some nice 7 mil thick gloves at harbor frieght. I get the 5 mil at sams clubs box of 100 for like $6.50. the 7 mil one are like 10 bucks for box of 50
http://tinyurl.com/j7v69ol

the 5 mil at HF are 8 buck for 100 not bad either one.. I use the 5 mil when change oil, trans fluid etc.. and the 7 when doing repairs or stuff when you are using more power in your hands.

4runnerguy wrote:
Latex gloves are great when you need some dexterity with what you are doing. While Wally World sells lightweight ones in their pharmacy department, there are thicker ones that last much longer. Check auto parts stores or order on line. I use them when working on the car, as my hands don't get saturated with oil and grease. Plus the latex gives good grip.

[profdant139]

The foot problems, unfortunately, are often a function of aging -- as my podiatrist says, "Time wounds all heels."

Somebody else has to start another thread on orthotics for boondockers -- I am too busy smearing on all of those terrific hand cream remedies -- can't type -- hands all sticky. 😉

[LenSatic]

2oldman wrote:
I get skin splits on my heels if I wear flip-flops for more than about an hour. Boy do they sting!

I see peeps walking around in those things all day - I guess they don't have my problem.

I did, too, until my wife bought some Dr. Scholl's Intensive Heel Repair cream. It worked. Now I use it, occasionally, plus a pumice stone when I shower.

LS

[2oldman]

I get skin splits on my heels if I wear flip-flops for more than about an hour. Boy do they sting!

I see peeps walking around in those things all day - I guess they don't have my problem.

[tplife]

Use what the pros use, Aquaphor (a mixture of petroleum jelly and water-based ingredients) and nitrile gloves. The Aquaphor won't leave you greasy, and labs and clinics don't use latex due to the allergies (both patients and providers). In warm and cold labs we experience these same issues, after 36 years on the job this is what works best for me anyway.

[2oldman]

sparechange wrote:
side note...4 pages of moisturizer recommendations is pretty funny

We're all girly men. 🙂

[LenSatic]

sparechange wrote:
and stay hydrated. something most of us don't think of when it gets cold.

¡Exactamundo, mi amigo! Hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! 😉

LS

[profdant139]

sparechange, it is funny -- but where else can I get input from folks who are high plains ranchers or arctic oilworkers? My hands are recreationally chapped -- yours are professionally chapped!

[sparechange]

been working the oilfields in the arctic circle the last 5 years and we all go through this every winter. think we all have lotion of choice up there (mines cornhuskers) but I think the point is to use it frequently and stay hydrated. something most of us don't think of when it gets cold. Side note...4 pages of moisturizer recommendations is pretty funny

[2oldman]

I find plain old Vaseline works well. But it doesn't always do the job overnight.. use it regularly.

[NinerBikes]

Bag Balm is well known in mountain biking and road biking circles as keeping the chafing and rawness away in the nether regions known as "taint" from getting saddle rash on those long hot gruelling climbs and rides where you need to ride the horn on your mountain bike saddle, and slide back and forth on the saddle going up and down steep hills and mountains. It works. Apply sparingly... also applying before going to bed and then installing latex gloves on your hand before retiring for the night helps tremendously also.