Gore-tex or leather? Best exercises?

[Xavante69]

I´m going to buy new shoes before my walk, from SJPP to SDC.

What is best, gore-tex or leather?

 

[Xavante69]

Training...?

Which is the best training, before walking the Camino?

Do you need to be an athletics, to make all the 800 km?

 

[JohnnieWalker]

Hola and welcome to the Forum

Your questions are ones that everyone asks! The answer is- it depends!

In term sof the the choice of foortwear it depends on the time of the year and what the weather might be like. You would wear goretex lined boots or mid ankle shoes in spring and winter when it is likely to rain and lighter walking shoes in summer. Nowadays most people avoid leather boots because of the drying time - but there are some who still swear by them. This is one subject on which all walkers have an option! If you type "boots" in the seach box a number of threads will come up with lots of information on this subject. But don't hesistate to ask here. A starting point might be going along to a good hiking supply shop and explaining to them that you want to walk the Camino and what time of year you may go - they will assist. My advice would be Don't Buy First Time - gather information. Go along in the afternoon mid week - you feet will have swollen with the normal walking of the day and you are more likely to get a sales assistant with expereince rather than a weekend temp. Try on some boots and shoes (with your own socks or the socks they provide) and walk up and down the little hill they provide. Take your time and go back until you have settled on that you want.

In terms of training in advance - I think if someone if very unfit and overweight for example it is advisable to get a little more into shape or there will inevitably be muscle and joint problems. It is always a good idea to do some training walks to get your feet used to walking with shoes or boots. A few days hiking with a full rucksack is also good.

If you are walking the Camino Frances however keep in mind that there are albergues at close intervals and it is possible to start more slowly and build experience and stamina over the first week or so.

You certainly don't have to be an athlete!

Best wishes

John

 

[lindamac]

I started with leather shoes and they were a disaster for me, I would recommend Gore-tex as they allow your feet to breathe, and dry overnight if you are walking in the rain, which is bound to happen as you travel thru Galicia!

 

[keithashaw]

I’m walking the Camino de Santiago in September/October in 2011, starting from SJPdP. I think getting some basic walking fitness before setting off is wise. I walked the English Coast to Coast walk earlier this year (about 195 miles) and to get fit I started walking around the village where I live about a couple of months beforehand. Just three miles to start with (about an hour and a quarter) every couple of days, but building up to eight miles twice a week in the last fortnight.

I wore my normal walking boots and carried my backpack to get accustomed to everything.

This really paid off and I didn’t have any difficulty at all with the walk, and no blisters. My walking companion didn’t do any preparation and suffered as a consequence. He found the distances (10 to15 miles) really hard to manage for the first week.

A couple of walking poles or a stout staff is also a big help.

Best wishes,
Keith

 

[ksam]

Re: Training...?

Which is the best training, before walking the Camino?

Do you need to be an athletics, to make all the 800 km?

Ummm, walk. Then walk some more...then a little more! Then put on your backpack and walk a bit more. Repeat! That's about it! I do like to run, bike etc etc. My hubby doesn't. We did the Portuguese in '08, and with a good bit of walking before hand, he did just fine. A few blisters, but they can happen to anyone...even the most prepared.

As J. Walker said, check around this forum, there is the most incredible wealth of information.

Wishing you the very best, Buen Camino, Karin