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Boots or Trainers?

CaminoJohn

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances 2006,2008,2011; VDLP, Sanabrias (2018)
I am preparing for my 3rd camino. Previously I have worn leather boots. This time I thought I would lighten my load and possibly increase my comfort by wearing trail sneakers or trainers. The pair I bought are partly leather with a mesh type weaving between....Here's the problem, I live in a desert and I have noticed as I walk that the mesh is acting like bellows...each step is sucking in dust!!! At the end of 5 hours walking my feet inside a liner and then a sock are filthy!
Has anyone walking in trainers on the camino experienced such problems? Is it just my home environment?! I can always wear my boots again!
 
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
You could walk only in the mud on rainy days. Voila. No dust problem.

The dirt is the downside of sandals and mesh footwear. There are a lot of lightweight hiking shoes/boots that are not so prone to letting in dirt. You could consider them, or just plan on having dirty socks, which may not be a huge problem; they often are washed daily by pilgrims. Leather boots have their own problems, so you likely are faced with choosing between two non-optimum options.
 
Thanks Falcon! I have extremely wide feet and am limited to mostly New Balance for shoes and boots. I think I will be ok with the cross trainers... I think it is my environment..but I was just wondering if any one else on the camino had experienced this "bellows" effect. My feet,not just socks, are getting filthy!
 
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
My husband and I both wore trail running shoes on the camino. The only day that I remember having really dusty feet was the long day on the roman road.
 
I wore New Balance Trail Shoes on all my walks.
I loved them.
No breaking in.
And even if it got VERY rainy, they were always dry by next morning.

I LOVE NEW BALANCE SHOES! :lol:
 

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