New shoes at the last minute

[Joodle]

I just came back from a 4 hour walk and need to face the fact that my Merrell Kapra hiking shoes are too narrow for my right foot. My foot hurts on the outside and the inner side. My left foot is perfect, my right foot hurts. I have a pair a New Balance Leadville 1210 coming wednesday, because I just had a feeling this was happening. I'm hoping 3 weeks is enough time to break in a Trail Runner.. Thoughts?? I can take my Keen boots if I need to, they fit well, but I just didn't want the weight. Dang!! I thought I had it all worked out. Any NB Leadville 1210 lovers out there?

 

[dougfitz]

The shoe you are getting has a synthetic mesh upper. It shouldn't need any breaking in to conform to your foot shape. Wear them a few times to ensure they fit, but that should be all that you need to do.

 

[koilife]

Agreed 100% with @dougfitz.

One additional thought would be to replace the basic insole with a generic insert like Superfeet or a heat molded insert to your specific foot to increase the degree of support you'll get as the shoe inevitably breaks down. The later type of insert will dial in your sole-to-shoe fit about as precisely as you can get. After that, you can adjust tightness with lacing techniques, assuming you don't get any specific pressure points from the uppers (many shoes have decorative nonsense that artificially constrict and create pressure points; NB tends to be one of the better brands in avoiding this problem).

 

[shubertj]

I just came back from a 4 hour walk and need to face the fact that my Merrell Kapra hiking shoes are too narrow for my right foot. My foot hurts on the outside and the inner side. My left foot is perfect, my right foot hurts. I have a pair a New Balance Leadville 1210 coming wednesday, because I just had a feeling this was happening. I'm hoping 3 weeks is enough time to break in a Trail Runner.. Thoughts?? I can take my Keen boots if I need to, they fit well, but I just didn't want the weight. Dang!! I thought I had it all worked out. Any NB Leadville 1210 lovers out there?

Joodle
You won't have any problems with breaking you shoes in in your time frame. I would highly recommend you make sure you shoes are at least a full size larger as I will guarantee your feet will swell when your doing multiple long days of hiking. The number one issue for new long distance hikers on the Camino are shoes are to small.

 

[spursfan]

You might also think about putting an ENGO patch on the inside of your shoes as well
And trail runners take no time at all to break-in; just put them on and start walking

 

[Richard Ward]

I had no trouble putting 15+ mile days on new Salomon trail runners. I think you will be fine.

 

[kmrice]

my Merrell Kapra hiking shoes are too narrow for my right foot.

Give serious thought to getting two pairs; a different (but correct) size for each foot. I tried to compensate in various ways for different sized feet, but, in the end, getting shoes or boots that fit is about the most important gear choice for long distance walking. I hate to pay the price for two pairs of boots when I buy, but I've learned that, for me, it is well worth it. (I did approach the manufacturers to see if they could provide a pair of different sized boots, but they declined to do so.)

 

[Joodle]

Give serious thought to getting two pairs; a different (but correct) size for each foot. I tried to compensate in various ways for different sized feet, but, in the end, getting shoes or boots that fit is about the most important gear choice for long distance walking. I hate to pay the price for two pairs of boots when I buy, but I've learned that, for me, it is well worth it. (I did approach the manufacturers to see if they could provide a pair of different sized boots, but they declined to do so.)

I think I will just get a bigger pair and wear an extra sock on the smaller foot. It wasn't until after walking 10 miles that I started to feel the pain on both sides of the wider foot. Good save!!

 

[Richard Ward]

Keep in mind that your foot size may go up on an extended walk, as your arch may flatten out. I tended to get bigger shoes, as they reduce toe damage on downhills, and when you hit roots/rocks.

 

[kmrice]

I think I will just get a bigger pair and wear an extra sock on the smaller foot. It wasn't until after walking 10 miles that I started to feel the pain on both sides of the wider foot. Good save!!

Might work; I tried it and it didn't work too well for me. The smaller foot blistered. Plus, there were comments about the weird guy who always wore mismatched sox!

 

[Joodle]

Might work; I tried it and it didn't work too well for me. The smaller foot blistered. Plus, there were comments about the weird guy who always wore mismatched sox!

 

[Sebastian Cohen]

Joodle
You won't have any problems with breaking you shoes in in your time frame. I would highly recommend you make sure you shoes are at least a full size larger as I will guarantee your feet will swell when your doing multiple long days of hiking. The number one issue for new long distance hikers on the Camino are shoes are to small.

WHAT exactly is "a full size larger"? In UK size, would that be from size 7 to 7.5 or from 7 to 8?

Thanks

 

[C clearly]

WHAT exactly is "a full size larger"? In UK size, would that be from size 7 to 7.5 or from 7 to 8?

Thanks

See the other thread. Feet are not exact, nor are the changes people experience.

 

[shubertj]

See the other thread. Feet are not exact, nor are the changes people experience.

If you normally wear regular shoes at 7, I would wear an try an 8.

I wear 11 dress shoes (thin socks), size 12 tennis and running shoes (double socks) and and 13 hiking low cut trail shoes (silk liner and heavy hiking socks). Keep in mind the most swelling comes after repeated long days of hiking.

My wife just returned from her 4th Camino and normally wears a 1/2 size bigger 8 to 8 1/2 and I talked her into wearing a 9. She bought a heavier marino wool sock which they call a medium weight and used a silk liner, she didn't have any issues at all, no blisters and didn't even use one band aid.

 

[dougfitz]

Joodle
You won't have any problems with breaking you shoes in in your time frame. I would highly recommend you make sure you shoes are at least a full size larger as I will guarantee your feet will swell when your doing multiple long days of hiking. The number one issue for new long distance hikers on the Camino are shoes are to small.

It is important not to confuse the process with the outcome here. You might expect that by getting shoes fitted correctly, they will end up being a size or more larger than one normally wears. If it is impossible to get a proper fitting done, resorting to buying a size larger might be enough, but that cannot be guaranteed.

 

[shubertj]

It is important not to confuse the process with the outcome here. You might expect that by getting shoes fitted correctly, they will end up being a size or more larger than one normally wears. If it is impossible to get a proper fitting done, resorting to buying a size larger might be enough, but that cannot be guaranteed.

Doug,
Totally agree the only true test is on the trail !

 

[shrinkinglo]

Last week, I purchased the Leadville V3 locally on Thursday and walked a 5k on Saturday (that actually ended up being over 5 miles because I also walked to the race). I have been wearing New Balance trainers (different models) for awhile and have been fitted to size 7 at various running shops (street shoe 6.5). So I bought the Leadville size 7 online to save a trip to the store. However, when that pair arrived, it was way too large. Sent it back and went to the store to be fitted again. Shoe professional said the Leadville may run large, so I left the store with a 6.5 as it fit much better. I did not have any problems with putting the shoe through the distance, given I had maybe put 1000 steps on it before the 5k. Of course, YMMV. My feet liked my last model New Balance trail runners much better after I utilized an insert (also New Balance fitted by a machine at the store, but I have used Superfeet in other shoes). To start, no insert in the Leadville, but it may be needed later. The point is, be flexible. So far, I am happy with the Leadville.