Banjo&Matilda
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino Frances October 2018
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While I've never used that particular brand, I can say that that type of shoe (in my experience) is perfect for the Camino. I did my fast walk from Leon to Santiago using a pair of New Balance trail shoes and will walk this year in a pair of Altras. The pros of trail running shoes are that they are lightweight, breathable, and dry faster than boots when wet. You can also cut open the toe box or other particular areas if you are suffering from swelling or blisters. Cons are....???. I do recommend that you get a pair that has a rock plate, as it will protect the bottom of your foot from bruising on some of the more rocky sections.
While I've never used that particular brand, I can say that that type of shoe (in my experience) is perfect for the Camino. I did my fast walk from Leon to Santiago using a pair of New Balance trail shoes and will walk this year in a pair of Altras. The pros of trail running shoes are that they are lightweight, breathable, and dry faster than boots when wet. You can also cut open the toe box or other particular areas if you are suffering from swelling or blisters. Cons are....???. I do recommend that you get a pair that has a rock plate, as it will protect the bottom of your foot from bruising on some of the more rocky sections.
You might see the related thread about the Keen Arroyo II hiking sandal. This footwear has a closed toe box and full heel counter. It is a very good choice IMHO for walking the Camino, depending on your needs.
Click here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/keen-arroyo-ii.47224/
I hope this helps.
There seem to be almost as many shoe options as pilgrims but there will be one that works best for you. It is hard to make that decision without actually trying them on but several of the mail-order shoe stores I've dealt with have reasonable return policies - a pain but better than ending up with multiple pairs of shoes that aren't acceptable.
Personally I (old guy with feet like Donald Duck's) have been very satisfied with the Merrill Moab line - the Ventilator in warm weather and the all leather Rover in cooler weather.
Whenever this issue comes up I always remember the old adage about never criticising someone until you've walked a mile in his shoes. That way when you do you'll be a mile away and you'll have his shoes!
Buen camino! May you (and your feet) keep smiling!
Hi All,
-Firstly, thank you for everybody's input on this forum - it is an ocean of knowledge that I find so valuable!
My husband and I will hike the Camino Frances in Oct-Nov 2018. We both have fairly new Zamberlan Tofane (his) and Zamberlan Vioz (mine) which are heavy, full leather hiking boots. We thought they'd be great. Then we hiked 9km yesterday, after which my husband turned to me and said "I think I'd be posting these boots back home on day 3 of the Camino". I couldn't agree more with him!!!! As comfy as they are, they are so heavy!!!
So we're on the lookout for some hiking/trail shoes that are more lightweight for us both. I realise this is a very individual thing and that we will need to try on lots of different shoes, but I have got my eyes on Topo Hydroventure shoes and am wondering if anyone has any feedback on using Topo shoes or similar for long distance hiking.
Here is the link to the shoes:
http://shop.topoathletic.com/mens/Outdoor.html?colorid=1984&model=Hydroventure
Thanks in advance!
I'm not sure if they make them any more, but I wore the Minimus 10v2's. While I did like them, my feet feel MUCH better in Hokas or Altras due to their extra cushioning. If you also prefer cushioning, you could check out the NB Fresh Foams. They make a trail version which is supposed to be pretty good.Every time I checkout New Balance, I get confused because there are so many choices. I have to order on-line, so I can't try them on. Which did you use?
You are welcome I also run in Brooks ghost and love them. For ultra trail distances I have found that the larger toe box of Altras is more comfortable. Fits like a glove can get uncomfortable as the day and days go one just another thing to think about. Happy shoe shopping!Thank you everybody for taking the time to reply to my question. I saw a podiatrist today to check a few things and I asked him what I should wear. He didn't give me the "miracle prescription" that I was after (how lazy of me to want to be told what to wear!), but he suggested I get something similar to my very comfy runners (Brooks Glycerin). So today I tried on some Brooks trail runners (I had no idea they existed) and got properly fitted in Brooks Ghost and Cascadia. They fit like a glove, but I don't yet have the confidence to buy them, given I haven't actually tried many shoes on yet! I will give the Merrils a go, because they seem so well liked. It is my good fortune that we have plenty of time to prepare! Thanks again everyone!
@CharlesZammit, that doesn't sound like a very inspiring ad for Merrells! It sounds like I can find a lot better with a bit of persistence! Thank you for your feedback none-the-less!Merrells will work for some feet , even mine , but be sure to replace the inner sole . The inners that come with the Ventilator style are so thin they give no cushioning at all . This coupled with a very hard Vibram sole with no soft mid layer can add up to an uncomfortable time , at least.
In Australia the Neat Feat brand of inner sole available from Chemist Warehouse is ideal for the Ventilator , very soft forefoot cushioning , heel pad and excellent arch support .
One other thing to watch is the heel lining of the Ventilator , this is unfortunately fairly flimsy and will rub through if you are not scrupulous in using a shoe horn to both fit and remove them .
@CharlesZammit, that doesn't sound like a very inspiring ad for Merrells! It sounds like I can find a lot better with a bit of persistence! Thank you for your feedback none-the-less!
The weight of boots ; and shoes for that matter is often disregarded as irrelevant , nothing could be further from the truth . I think you have made a wise decision to re examine your footwear .
This is perhaps a simplistic explanation but it might go some way to confirming your belief.
For fitness' sake 10,000 steps per day is usually recommended for most people , a walk on the Camino is obviously much more than this each day , for me , a scant 175cm in height, it takes about 9km to achieve .
A pair of leather boots can easily reach or exceed a kilo in weight . You are lifting a half a Kilogram 10,000 times , a total of 5 Metric tonnes !
Triple this for the walk from SJ on the first day and that is 15 Metric tons mostly uphill .
Over 800km of the Camino this adds up to a staggering 440 Metric tonnes .
Cripes ! I'm thinking of wearing thongs .
I say go for fit first.
Thanks for your advice. We are learning all about blister protection, so we will be well prepared for our Camino. I tend to agree with your advice re shoes with a bit more support. Thanks again.The Topo Marketing team say "Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for driving so much traffic to our website."
Personally I would recommend getting some boots that give you a bit of ankle support. Although there are many parts of the walk that you could walk in light training shoes, there are other parts that are rocky, rough and uneven where you will be grateful for the additional support.
Read up on blister protection too. There are too many people that have blisters that they could have avoided with a bit of prior knowledge.
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