When I go to harvest any parts of cactus I try to find an area where I can build a small fire. (Well, if I'm getting more than a pear or two or a pad or two.) Wear leather gloves and leather jacket if you have one. Knee pads are good if you're going to kneel. Have pliers with long handles and a good sharp knife. I am a woman I don't know if the long handled pliers have an official name. But I use the pliers to hold a cactus pad or pear if I can then use the sharp knife to cut it off. Using the pliers to hold the cactus part I then hold it in the flame to burn off the spines. That works pretty well. You still have to watch for prickles but they are mostly taken care of in the field that way.
When I get them home I still use gloves to peel them "just in case." But, also the flame on a gas stove can be used to pass the cactus parts through to burn the spines.
I think sliced up prickly pear pad or fruit are good sauted in a little butter.
And if all the leather you are wearing does not stop a bunch of cactus stickers from attacking you, then look for the ugliest rock you can find, full of holes and rough and rub it over the hand and the stickers are gone.
I tried an emery board and that does not work.
No, not learned from my Indian ancestors, LOL, learned that trick from a lovely lady in my pottery class, who was sharing her cactus plants with me.
I do understand that the rough rock is the method used before shoes by the runners and warriors, mama too, I imagine ....