Footwear mozarabe/vdlp February

[Antnix1]

I'm hoping to start Mozarabe from Almeria mid January. Not sure if I'll walk the full way but i want to be prepared.

I'm used to wearing low hiking boots (shoes). I don't need to worry about ankle support but my main worry is mud above my ankles. I own mid-height boots but over long distances they're uncomfortable and they're also more bulky to carry.

Would i get away with low boots if i carry cheap canvas gaiters?

As a second pair of footwear i was considering regular trainers for evenings or warmer days, or sandles but not both.

Advice appreciated!

 

[duncanwhyte]

I walked in March April and it was dry. It's mostly a good country path, farm track. No real obstacles to clamber over. There were some muddy patches. The only river crossing was a day or so from the end near Merida. I did it in a walking shoe.

 

[JerryStroebele]

My wife, son in law and I walked Almeria to Granada last March. No rain. When you leave Almeria you walk up a DRY river bed with a few tiny rivulets to step over. Sometimes you must step in very shallow water. Our son in law wore mid length leather boots, Gore-tex lined. I wore mid length synthetic boots -- La Sportiva Raptor GTX (very lightweight) -- Gore-tex lined. My wife wore Keen sandals and wool socks. We were each happy with our footwear. When my wife's socks got wet she just changed them. There are a few stages where you make very steep descents. And some very rocky sections.

 

[Tincatinker]

I'm hoping to start Mozarabe from Almeria mid January. Not sure if I'll walk the full way but i want to be prepared.

I'm used to wearing low hiking boots (shoes). I don't need to worry about ankle support but my main worry is mud above my ankles. I own mid-height boots but over long distances they're uncomfortable and they're also more bulky to carry.

Would i get away with low boots if i carry cheap canvas gaiters?

As a second pair of footwear i was considering regular trainers for evenings or warmer days, or sandles but not both.

Advice appreciated!

I'm always puzzled when I see posts from experienced or habitual walkers who are suddenly querying their footwear. Is it because there is some other-worldiness about a day on Camino that suggests it should be different from any other day?

IMO wear what you are used to and are comfortable in. Would you change your under-pants because it's a Camino? Would you change your tooth-brush because it's a Camino? Mud is just mud. Carry an extra pair of socks and a boot brush if you must but don't confuse your feet. They trust you to look after them

 

[Damien Reynolds]

I'm always puzzled when I see posts from experienced or habitual walkers who are suddenly querying their footwear. Is it because there is some other-worldiness about a day on Camino that suggests it should be different from any other day?

IMO wear what you are used to and are comfortable in. Would you change your under-pants because it's a Camino? Would you change your tooth-brush because it's a Camino? Mud is just mud. Carry an extra pair of socks and a boot brush if you must but don't confuse your feet. They trust you to look after them

Ok, I just switched. Because the ones I used to wear tend to hurt now. Yah wore them a bunch, and I switched once before, and it was a disaster. Like holes in the back of my heals that took a month to heal.. But this time I'm gonna walk for a bit in the new ones before hand. Try to figure out if they really work good.

 

[Portach]

I'm hoping to start Mozarabe from Almeria mid January. Not sure if I'll walk the full way but i want to be prepared.

I'm used to wearing low hiking boots (shoes). I don't need to worry about ankle support but my main worry is mud above my ankles. I own mid-height boots but over long distances they're uncomfortable and they're also more bulky to carry.

Would i get away with low boots if i carry cheap canvas gaiters?

As a second pair of footwear i was considering regular trainers for evenings or warmer days, or sandles but not both.

Advice appreciated!

I walked Granada to Córdoba starting early Feb last year. The weather was dry and experienced no mud. In contrast, I found many of the surfaces quite hard and compacted.

 

[peregrina2000]

I personally think that on the Mozárabe, the more padding in your shoes, the happier your feet will be. Trail runners are my shoe of choice for any camino, but I think they are particularly good for walking in the Mozárabe’s rocky riverbeds and on rocky ascents and descents. And I agree with @Tincatinker that the presence or absence of a lot of mud is not something that would make me question my footwear choice.

 

[hieudovan]

I walked Granada to Córdoba starting early Feb last year. The weather was dry and experienced no mud. In contrast, I found many of the surfaces quite hard and compacted.

This is good news for me. I am going to walk from Almería the first week of Feb, 2024. I was worried about walking in the riverbeds which might get muddy or have water. I prefer almost anything to walking in the mud or water in the river. Buen camino.