The Camino has ruined my footwear wardrobe...

[wayfarer]

I wore a pair of Brasher walking boots on my 2012 Camino and covered just over (or under) 1000kms depending on whose distances you believe. These are a wide fitting boot which I also got in a size larger because I was double socking. Everything worked a treat, finished the journey without a blister or any other foot problems........except one, my feet spread and grew in size. Now none of my former shoes or boots fit me comfortably even for just day walks, my two small toes bear the brunt of this spread and end up sore by evening. What I have started doing now is wearing another "good" pair of brasher boots for general wear but come going out to a function or somewhere "posh" where I have to wear my good going out shoes, I suffer 'till I get home again, I dread weddings at the moment. I have contemplated going back to my childhood and going barefoot again.
Have any of you had similar experiences.

 

[Saint Mike II]

Wayfarer - sorry no specific experience. Suggestions: go see a podiatrist as soon as possible to have your feet scanned and/or examined for physical problems. It could be a temporary or even permanent, also take along a couple of pairs of shoes - the ones you wore on the Camino and your ordinary ones that now have fitting problems.
Depending upon the podiatrist finds you may need to buy a new pair of shoes, even if the problem is temporary, because walking around in badly fitting shoes or shoes that are hurting is not a good idea. Beun Camino

 

[dougfitz]

I have observed this as well, both personally and in others. I don't think its unusual - it has happened to me after every multi-day walk.

Regards,

 

[CaminoJohn]

I wore a pair of Brasher walking boots on my 2012 Camino and covered just over (or under) 1000kms depending on whose distances you believe. These are a wide fitting boot which I also got in a size larger because I was double socking. Everything worked a treat, finished the journey without a blister or any other foot problems........except one, my feet spread and grew in size. Now none of my former shoes or boots fit me comfortably even for just day walks, my two small toes bear the brunt of this spread and end up sore by evening. What I have started doing now is wearing another "good" pair of brasher boots for general wear but come going out to a function or somewhere "posh" where I have to wear my good going out shoes, I suffer 'till I get home again, I dread weddings at the moment. I have contemplated going back to my childhood and going barefoot again.
Have any of you had similar experiences.

Yes! I too gained an inch in length and went from an already wide 3E to 4E! I remember the horrified look on a Swedish pilgrims face when I told her I had to throw out all my shoes after my first camino! I live in a place of small feet and can't just go shoe shopping. .I have to order all my shoes online and they almost all cost over $100!

 

[cherrys]

I used to have long skinny feet, a woman's 9 1/2 or 10 US, but just returned the Hi Tec 10's I bought for an 11. And my "home" shoes seem to have shrunk while I wasn't looking! But the walk was well worth larger feet. Hopefully by next time they will have gotten growing out of their system!

 

[Katia Taam]

Thanks so much for this post...
I could not understand what was happening with my feet...
Now I´m happy again, it´s normal

 

[unadara]

Me too, I had wide feet and no problems, Mother who only bought Clarks laced shoes for us and 1 pair summer sandals, mostly went bare foot. Now I'm an almost 40...(7) used to get into a 5 . Have walked 3 Caminos.My new Merrell sandals are 40's. lovely fit, and my daughter said tonight I have "claustrophobic" feet, I don't like tight shoes or shoes (especially "ladies" ones) at all.

 

[dougfitz]

I think we 'normally' wear shoes that are a little smaller than would be ideal, but because many of us are not on our feet all day, it's not all that obvious. Given the chance, the effect of regularly walking for several hours at a time, our feet spread out, ie broaden and lengthen.

This is different from oedema, where fluids are retained in the soft tissues of the foot, causing them to swell.