Footwear durability

[GAUVINS]

I walk on teva toachi 2. I've completed something like 450k out of a 2300k+ itinerary. Wondering if I should be thinking about having a pair sent to a resupply point.

Googling returns little useful information on the durability of footwear (depends a lot on terrain and gait I suppose.).

Would be curious to read about experiences. Excluding defects, how many kms do you get out of a pair of shoes/boots/sandals?

 

[mspath]

I wear Decathlon Forclaz 500 hiking boots. Each pair easily lasts 2 caminos walking from SJPdP to Santiago plus either out to Finisterre/Muxia or down to the Portuguese border at Valenca do Mino. Thus the boots easily last 2000 km before the sole shows wear. They probably would be ok for 3000 km but for safety sake new boots are purchased every 2 years.

 

[MTtoCamino]

Not to try to compete but my Keens Voyager lasted only to around Leon when I had to put new foot beds in & duct tape super glue them. Then I refused to find something new. By the time I got to Finnesterre they were done & I just wore my crocks until arriving home. But they worked. Either I find a better boot or I take 2 pairs the next time & ship ahead to Ivar

 

[Urban Trekker]

Love Keens but they only come with soft soles. The soles wear out in less than 300 miles. I now look for hiking shoes or boots with Vibram soles. Currently I'm using Adidas TerraX hiking/walking shoes. They have built in roll bars, a heavy duty nylon shank, and Vibram soles. I have trained in them, walked the Portuguese Camino in them, and I still train in them. I plan on walking the French Camino in them next year. Bomb proof! Buen Camino

Happy Trails

 

[naplesdon]

I walked from SJPdP in a pair of Merrell's last year (I don't remember the model but they were high tops) and the lining inside was shredded to pieces by the time I reached Santiago. Merrell replaced them with the Moab model and after a break-in period and 300 km on the Aragones this month they are holding up very well.

 

[dougfitz]

If you have the time, this has been discussed here and here in the past.

 

[naplesdon]

If you have the time, this has been discussed here and here in the past.

Okay, here and here??
I love new thread, don't you? I think I actually posted a picture of my boots from last year on a previous thread.

 

[dougfitz]

Okay, here and here??
I love new thread, don't you? I think I actually posted a picture of my boots from last year on a previous thread.

The links (here and here) should work, but let me know if they aren't working properly and I will substitute the full url.

 

[t2andreo]

Ok, just to make Doug spew smoke from his ears (humor intended here), here is some new information...

On my first Camino, I wore a pair of Keen Targhee II mid-high's. They had less than 100 km practice wear on them before starting. By the time I reached Santiago, 34 days later, the fibrous mid-sole-layer was showing through on BOTH heels.

On arriving home, I took several photos of the heels and sent them via e-mail to Keen only to suggest that, for the price paid, they might consider changing the density of the rubberoid compound used at least in the heel area. I explained the Camino de Santiago and the varied terrain.

They promptly apologized and sent me an online coupon for a replacement pair of any Keen boot of equal value. They have one of those "no excuses" warranty policies. I never actually asked for a warranty replacement. They just did it. That is one sign of a very good company.

So, I did two things. I promptly ordered another exact pair of the same boots, soft heels and all, online, from Keen. Also, I sent off my boots to be resoled. Even glued on soles/heels can be replaced. I found the firm on the web. My new Keen boots are still sitting in their box in my closet.

However, they never did alter the tread material on the Targhee II. I have been checking my local REI shop periodically to talk to the shoe clerks to verify this. They did however, come out with a similarly styled, but more expensive mid-high model, the "Durand." This model DOES HAVE a denser out sole material in the heel and sole. On the other hand, it costs an additional USD 45 (USD 180 vs. 135 for the Targhee).

Since then, I've worn the original Keen Targhee II boots on three Caminos, and had them resoled after each Camino Frances. They were fine after the Porto to Sanitago pilgrimage this year. I am on my third sent of resoled outers. The uppers are so well broken in that I almost NEVER have any foot problems.

Then again, the inner linings are starting to show some wear and tear after about 2,000 Km. So, in another year or so, I may have to switch over to my new pair. For now, I am seeing how many times they can safely resole my original pair of boots. Once I hit three resoles cycles, I will have saved the cost of a new pair of boots.

I personally love Keen boots because the "last" (foot mold) they use to form the shoe portion of the boot, most nearly matches the shape of my foot. I must have a genetically European foot shape, because the only other manufacturer that can make shoes as good-fitting is Mephisto, the premium French shoe maker. FYI, my ancestry is all European. Sadly, they do not make anything that can be used for the Camino. Plus, they are VERY expensive.

Each person must find the best fitting and wearing shoe for them. But, at least for those folks on this side of the "pond" resoling is readily available via the mail. I also know from my Google searches that hiking boots are resoled in the UK too. Just do a web search for "resole hiking boots" or "resole hiking shoes."

It is not cheap. My resoles cost about USD 85 including postage. But that is still at least 1/2 less than a new pair. Plus the resoled boots are broken in and "good-to-go" right out of the box they are returned in. Also, the resoling firm uses actual Keen factory replacement soles. So the result would be the same as if Keen manufactured the shoes. The firm I use also replaces the Keen insole inserts for the price quoted.

The last thing I recommend is to buy shoes from a manufacturer with a "cast iron" warranty. Keen is one such manufacturer. According to Don (above) Merrill is another such manufacturer.

So, buy the best fitting shoes or boots you can afford. Buy them from a manufacturer who stands behind their product; and if you especially like the fit and wearability of the shoes or boots you have, look into having them resoled professionally between Caminos.

I hope this helps.

 

[GAUVINS]

If you have the time, this has been discussed here and here in the past.

Thanks. Read both. Lots of variance...

I would tend to agree with your personal experience (good footwear lasts thousands of kms). Took me nearly a decade to wear my first Tevas.

(I couldn't believe my eyes when I read that salespeople would suggest that a pair of hiking boots should be expected to last less than 500 miles.)

 

[MTtoCamino]

I walked from SJPdP in a pair of Merrell's last year (I don't remember the model but they were high tops) and the lining inside was shredded to pieces by the time I reached Santiago. Merrell replaced them with the Moab model and after a break-in period and 300 km on the Aragones this month they are holding up very well.

I bought a pair of Moabs prior to my trip as I tried training with them for 2 months, They are great for durability but they just gave me terrible foot pain. So I had to keep trying other brands. If you can wear them they are great.

 

[naplesdon]

I bought a pair of Moabs prior to my trip as I tried training with them for 2 months, They are great for durability but they just gave me terrible foot pain. So I had to keep trying other brands. If you can wear them they are great.

I have always wonder whether these big name brand names are watching our post, I'm sure they are!
My worst experience so far with the Moab is the ankle support which I was looking for, it is clearly not there. So far my heels feel like they are doing a lot of twisting in the back of the boot, but it has not resulted in blisters which I find surprising. My toes look like mincemeat after 300km but that might be a boot size problem or the neuropathy/diabetes in my feet.
I can't comment on foot pain because I walk the Camino to ease the pain of my neuropathy, long distance walking is an amazing cure.

 

[anniethenurse]

...
On my first Camino, I wore a pair of Keen Targhee II mid-high's. They had less than 100 km practice wear on them before starting. By the time I reached Santiago, 34 days later, the fibrous mid-sole-layer was showing through on BOTH heels.
....

Hola @t2andreo,

these are very boots I have been wearing on most of my caminos and now after almost 3000 km I finally have to get rid of them. The soles are worn out and they are not waterproof anymore. The inner linings gave upp during my last camino from Lisbon to Finisterre and the uppers are well broken in but giving upp now. So I have got a new pair that I have to break in before the next year´s camino.

I will be taking better care of my new ones (as you do @t2andreo ) and see how many km they really can last.

Keen Targhees II Q Mids are the best and most comfortable boots for me all four seasons. I hope now my new ones will be as comfortable than my old one

@t2andreo have a good time in Santiago in July

regards,
annie

 

[bystander]

I have mixed feelings about Merrell Moabs (mid-height).

A couple of years ago, before my recent illness, having done research I bought a pair in preparation for what is my now postponed camino. On walks of longer than 5 miles (8k) and those walks were only once or twice a week the boots fell apart in less than 9 months. That is the toecap and the sole separated from the upper.

They were replaced under guarantee but I would not/could not trust the new pair to last 800km!

So for the time being I have now gone in the opposite direction from the Keen Targhee type boots recommended above and am experimenting with very lightweight Altra Olympus shoes backed up by Keen sandals to see how they last over the next few months.

 

[EL Guapo]

I have had good luck with the keen targhee II . My current pair have a little over 2800 miles on them and the soles are a bit worn but still serviceable. I walk 5 to 10 miles each day in Alaska and I completed the French route in May. They have a good toe box and good support. I normally do 25 to 30 klm a day on the camino and with the aid of Vaseline , no blisters or foot problems. A good pair of Marino wool socks is a good choice for me . I do a lot of walking and have not found a better hiking boot that fits my program. I hope this is helpful to you.

 

[L Squared]

I had Keen hiking shoes that I probably put 400 km on walking at home prior to the camino. After walking the camino (total distance for the shoes <1000 km) I had to toss them in Santiago de Compostella as the insides were a shredded mess in the heel area of both shoes. I patched them while walking with big strips of moleskin which got me to Santiago. I was unimpressed with their durability. The soles were fine but the interiors were very poor quality. I do not know what model they were but the exterior was a combination of suede and nylon. They were not waterproof.
My Teva sandals which were my backup shoes seem to last forever.

 

[ricitosdeplata]

Go to rei website under Expert Advice to see the article When to Replace your Shoes. 500miles/ 900 km seems to be the max miles. And the look of the shoe is not the only thing to consider. Is your shoe still giving the support you need?

 

[naplesdon]

Go to rei website under Expert Advice to see the article When to Replace your Shoes. 500miles/ 900 km seems to be the max miles. And the look of the shoe is not the only thing to consider. Is your shoe still giving the support you need?

Totally agree. I think one of the biggest problem every pilgrim risks is thinking their faithful old boots will last for years. One Camino Frances and your boots need to be replaced, bien sur! I also am a firm believer in using innersole like Dr. Scholls and I replace them several time during my walk.

 

[dougfitz]

Go to rei website under Expert Advice to see the article When to Replace your Shoes. 500miles/ 900 km seems to be the max miles. And the look of the shoe is not the only thing to consider. Is your shoe still giving the support you need?

This advice is about running and walking shoes. To quote the introduction to the article:

As a general rule, most running and walking shoes last up to 500 miles. How and where you use your shoes could alter that number. For example, pavement wears down shoes faster than a track, a trail or gravel. Also keep in mind that shoes with an EVA midsole tend to wear down faster than shoes with a polyurethane midsole.
​

My observation on this is that there are two wear mechanisms. First that the harder tread layer wears and exposes the softer compression layers. If the footwear had an aggressive tread for off-road use, it will have lost its effectiveness some time beforehand, even if you are tempted to keep a pair of favourite boots, they will not be as effective as they were when new. This affects all footwear.

The second effect is that where footwear is build with a very compressible mid-sole for more comfortable use on paved and other hard surfaces, this will gradually lose its ability to recover, and lose its 'bounce back' ability. Again, this may not be enough to convince to do away with your favourite shoes, but it might be the point at which you thank them for their sterling service and find less demanding work for them.

I generally agree with the observation that road and track sports shoes have a very low effective life, as do hiking boots and shoes with soft sole components. My experience with specialist hiking boots with somewhat more robust construction is that they tend to last much longer.

My last observation is that, based on the @ricitosdeplata's interpretation of the REI advice, one should only walk kilometres if one wants to maximise the life of one's shoes. Walking miles seems to generate a higher wear rate! Or is there something about walking in countries that don't use the metric system that we all need to know about?