- Time of past OR future Camino
- 04/2024
I know I’m going to walk in Hoka Speedgoats, but on the fence whether to go with the Gortex ones. I’m starting the Camino Frances on the 3rd of April. I’d appreciate any feedback! Buen Camino!
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Thanks! I like that idea!Concider taking a pair of waterproof socks with you instead of goretex shoes. Most days you will not need the goretex anyways. Your normal Hokas will at least dry out nicely if it does happen to rain.
After years of hiking and running, I am a believer in non-gortex shoes. No matter what, your feet are going to get wet if the rain or puddles gets serious. You'll also get wet once you get warmed up and start sweating. But you'll dry out much faster, especially in something like a train runner. Just get good socks - synthetic or wool, and you most likely will be plenty warm, even if wet.
Well, it’s clear that the Non-Gortex win!! Thanks for weighing in. You had a perfect comparison.Last fall my wife and I walked the VdlP/Camino Sanabrés and on to Muxia - the end was a month of daily rain. My wife wore non-Gortex shoes, mine were Gortex. Both our feet were drenched pretty much everyday. The daily wet feet was a completely new experience for both of us. What we learned:
1. It's not so horrible to have wet feet, at least if it's not crazy cold. We put petroleum jelly on our feet each morning and that seemed to help. No blisters for either of us during the rainy part of our pilgrimage.
2. My wife's shoes got wet sooner than mine - maybe 10-15 minutes sooner unless we were both wading flooded trails, in which case there was no difference. But her shoes dried out when it quit raining much quicker than mine. Overall, her shoes handled really rainy conditions better than my Gortex shoes.
So in general, I would vote non-Gortex. They save you money by being a bit less expensive, they dry out much quicker, and if it's really rainy, your feet will get wet anyway, and that's not the end of the world.
I’m going with the Non-Gortex. It is clear to me now, it’s just makes sense. Thanks for sharing your knowledge!@elajenki , another vote for non, from someone who wears both. I wear gortex boots wandering around at home in the winter months, mainly because then I can just walk straight through the puddles and mud. But in the summer most definitely non gortex.
I'm following a guy hiking the TA at the moment, a couple of days ago they had to do 60 plus river crossings in that one day, most of them in the first 3 -4 hours. If they had had Gore-Tex shoes their feet would have been permanently wet, as it was they dried out relatively quickly. Non-gortex shoes are pretty common in the through - hikers community ( PCT, AT etc), although there are always gortex proponents.
If you do a quick search you will find that this question comes up very often here on the forum, there are always a few people that vote for Gore-Tex, the majority however do not. Just like everything it's whatever works for you.
I do not want permanently wet shoes. Thanks for your sharing your experiences.@elajenki , another vote for non, from someone who wears both. I wear gortex boots wandering around at home in the winter months, mainly because then I can just walk straight through the puddles and mud. But in the summer most definitely non gortex.
I'm following a guy hiking the TA at the moment, a couple of days ago they had to do 60 plus river crossings in that one day, most of them in the first 3 -4 hours. If they had had Gore-Tex shoes their feet would have been permanently wet, as it was they dried out relatively quickly. Non-gortex shoes are pretty common in the through - hikers community ( PCT, AT etc), although there are always gortex proponents.
If you do a quick search you will find that this question comes up very often here on the forum, there are always a few people that vote for Gore-Tex, the majority however do not. Just like everything it's whatever works for you.
I wore regular training shoes until the rains in Galicia. I put on the goretex and foolishly didn't put on my gaiters. Deep puddle and the water filled the shoe and never left. Gaiters with Goretex or shoes that dry.I know I’m going to walk in Hoka Speedgoats, but on the fence whether to go with the Gortex ones. I’m starting the Camino Frances on the 3rd of April. I’d appreciate any feedback! Buen Camino!
Great question. After reading a lot of information about Camino and Appalachian Trail hikers I opted for Hoka ATR 6 trail runners for my CF last fall. I also wore wool socks every day. After rainy days, including the big flood on September 2nd, I took my insoles out every night to allow my shoes to dry.I know I’m going to walk in Hoka Speedgoats, but on the fence whether to go with the Gortex ones. I’m starting the Camino Frances on the 3rd of April. I’d appreciate any feedback! Buen Camino!
Thank you so much for asking that question!!! I have been fussing over this for weeks!! To all who answered, your advice makes sense and I really appreciate itI know I’m going to walk in Hoka Speedgoats, but on the fence whether to go with the Gortex ones. I’m starting the Camino Frances on the 3rd of April. I’d appreciate any feedback! Buen Camino!
What would you do in the Spring, April-May? ThanksI wore Gortex mid-boots each day on a winter Sarria to Santiago Camino in Jauary this year. Rain was common and wading ankle deep in water happened. My gortex boots dried overnight with a little care. I pulled the footbeds out and used newspaper stuffed inside (actually grocery store ad flyers) on the worst days. Other days, they dried near a radiator. I plan to wear the same brand again next winter on the VdlP. Trail trainers (non-gortex) worked fine in summers.
I’m starting April 3. I’m taking my time, so you may catch up with me!Thank you so much for asking that question!!! I have been fussing over this for weeks!! To all who answered, your advice makes sense and I really appreciate it
Starting my Camino in SJPDP April 6. Buen Camino!
I would probably wear trail runners.What would you do in the Spring, April-May? Thanks
Ditto. In fact, I did, first week of April last yearI would probably wear trail runners.
Exactly the same experience for us and I totally agree. He is now a non goretex devotee!Last fall my wife and I walked the VdlP/Camino Sanabrés and on to Muxia - the end was a month of daily rain. My wife wore non-Gortex shoes, mine were Gortex. Both our feet were drenched pretty much everyday. The daily wet feet was a completely new experience for both of us. What we learned:
1. It's not so horrible to have wet feet, at least if it's not crazy cold. We put petroleum jelly on our feet each morning and that seemed to help. No blisters for either of us during the rainy part of our pilgrimage.
2. My wife's shoes got wet sooner than mine - maybe 10-15 minutes sooner unless we were both wading flooded trails, in which case there was no difference. But her shoes dried out when it quit raining much quicker than mine. Overall, her shoes handled really rainy conditions better than my Gortex shoes.
So in general, I would vote non-Gortex. They save you money by being a bit less expensive, they dry out much quicker, and if it's really rainy, your feet will get wet anyway, and that's not the end of the world.
After running 2 miles in dry sand, my trail shoes filled with sand, making them heavy and uncomfortable. Same thing with running on a trail near my home, where the soil eventually dries to a powdery, flour-like soil. Also, my trail shoes’ outer soles didn’t stand up well on the 3 miles of pavement back to my home. I eschewed my trail shoes for running shoes with non-porous tops.After years of hiking and running … a trail runner. Just get good socks - synthetic or wool, and you most likely will be plenty warm, even if wet.
Gortex vs. non-Gortex is probably the most debated topic in the Camino forums. Although Hydration pack vs. water bottles runs a close second.I know I’m going to walk in Hoka Speedgoats, but on the fence whether to go with the Gortex ones. I’m starting the Camino Frances on the 3rd of April. I’d appreciate any feedback! Buen Camino!
Was walking the Portuguese at the same time! It was saturating haha.I am sure you can get as many opinions as there are people. So all I can say is I choose not to wear gortex . My last camino, October 23, I wore Hoka Speedgoat 5 NON gortex. It rained for 7 days straight. I thought I might need fins and snorkel. But after walking through water to my ankles, and mud (I hope it was mud but know otherwise) my shoes dried overnight every day. And they were as comfortable at the end as the beginning.
I know some people who liked their gortex until the rain came and determined they took too long to dry and seemed to be moist for days after the rain ended. Personally I can not say how it would have been for me.
Do what you are comfortable with but I choose the regular speedgoat as they served me better than fantastic.
There is no sand walking on the coastal route. It’s all asphalt and boardwalks and an easy walk. EnjoyI'm hiking the Costal route for the first 5 days, and my experience with coastal California hiking is that Gortex lined Boots help keep the sand out better. I'm not sure how much sand I will encounter, but that's my thinking.
You are correct for most of the way. When we walked the CP Coastal in April/May 2022 there were parts of the boardwalk that had sand drifted to the top of the posts holding the rope railings, about 3+ feet in 2 or three areas for about 10 feet in each section. All in all not much. We just stepped carefully through those sections and avoided sand in the shoes. Still happy with my choice on no gortex for both caminos, but that is just my opinion. As always go with what works for you.There is no sand walking on the coastal route. It’s all asphalt and boardwalks and an easy walk. Enjoy
I know I’m going to walk in Hoka Speedgoats, but on the fence whether to go with the Gortex ones. I’m starting the Camino Frances on the 3rd of April. I’d appreciate any feedback! Buen Camino!