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Footwear options for Camino del Norte

A

arworm15

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Del Norte: June 16 2023
Hello Everyone!

I am a first-time pilgrim, and I plan to walk the Camino del Norte starting June 15th and arrive on July 25th in Santiago. I'm seeking advice on some decisions I still need to make over the next few weeks.

My first question is about footwear. I'm unsure if this is accurate, but I think I saw somewhere that the average temperature will be around 27 degrees Celcius. If that is the case, I wouldn't mind having a pair of boots with especially given that the elevation changes frequently, extra ankle support might be appreciated. However, if the temperature will mostly be in the 30 to 35-degree range I imagine boots won't be incredibly comfortable. Or are boots completely unnecessary regardless? If so is there another style of shoe others would recommend?

My second question is a little different. I'm trying to book a train ticket in advance from Santiago to Lisbon at the end of July. Is it possible to book a ticket that far in advance? I've looked at several sites, but I was only able to buy tickets a few days in advance, perhaps I missed something. Or maybe a better question is if this is even necessary to do in the first place. I assume Santiago is very busy that time of year and I thought it might be necessary to book in advance.

Thanks in advance for your time and thoughts!
 
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I'm on the Norte now (and I also walked it in 2018). Some wear boots, others wear trail runners or hiking shoes. I'm in hiking sandals which suit me fine. Wear what you are comfortable in.
 
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trecile said:
I'm on the Norte now (and I also walked it in 2018). Some wear boots, others wear trail runners or hiking shoes. I'm in hiking sandals which suit me fine. Wear what you are comfortable in.
Click to expand...
Agree. Wear what works for your feet understanding there will be pavement, rain and coastal trails.
 
Last year I started on the CF and in my research I read that someone mentioned shoes having a rock plate. Another poster said they weren't necessary on the CF but might be useful on the CN. Because of heat and fires, I transferred to the CN and due to the rugged terrain and the fact that the only reason I was taking ibuprofen was due to pain in the soles of my feet, I began to wonder about whether I'd be better off if my shoes had a rock plate. I did not change my footwear last year but I do continue to ask about the value of a rock plate for future walks. All that to say, you might want to look into that for yourself. Still, the footwear that works for you is the one you should go with.
 
Hi,
I will be doing the norte starting on june 17 from Irun and taking some detours (lebaniego and primitivo) to arrive in Santiago on july 25 as well.
My wife just came back from Italy and Spain, she recommended I use an app called Omio for train and bus travel while there. I think it does let you book what you are needing.
My name is Alex from Mexico, perhaps we will cross paths while walking.
 
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I walked the Norte. I never wear boots. In terms of the terrain underfoot I do not believe boots are a necessity for most people. But this is only my opinion and what is good for me. As others have said wear what you want. Boots are heavier and your feet will often sweat more in boots than trail runners. Personally I love the lightness and cushion of my trail runners (Brooks Cascadia). I also have noticed over the years that it seems to me more people in boots get more blisters than those in trail runners. Of course I have nothing to prove this statistically or scientifically. It is only my eyes and fading memory that assumes this to be true. Wear what you want but in terms of necessity based on the camino itself, boots are not necessary.
Buen Camino
 
I prefer boots with Gore-tex on the del Norte in the fall (very rainy). Don't know about summer. My wife prefers Keen sandals. Most folks seem to prefer something in between. Buen Camino
 
We were on the Norte, doing some sections, in parts of May, June, September, and October a few years ago. I wore boots on the Frances when we did our first Camino hike in 2001 and had many painful blisters. Been wearing trail runners on the Camino and PCT ever since. I like Altras and I add a thin insert (Spenco) for extra cushioning.
 
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trecile said:
I'm on the Norte now (and I also walked it in 2018). Some wear boots, others wear trail runners or hiking shoes. I'm in hiking sandals which suit me fine. Wear what you are comfortable in.
Click to expand...
I was very happy with my Altra Lone Peak 5, trail runners, essentially. All terrains.
 
I walked the Norte in June last year. Loved it. You can find average temps on line. It wasn’t as hot as that.
For me the most important thing with footwear is to avoid blisters. I ended up in a Camino family of 6. I was the only one not to have any. It spoils the experience. There’s lots of advice on this forum about how to avoid them. Can be confusing because not all feet are the same, so you need to work out now what’s comfortable for all day walking. My solution is Altra Lone Peak shoes, merino socks and Vaseline applied all around the feet before putting the socks on each morning. But that may not be the best solution for you.
Have a wonderful walk, Buen Camino!
 
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