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Thank you, great advice i appreciate!If they fit your feet and are comfortable, that's fine. However, Skechers are not known for making long-distance walking shoes or boots. Before you buy them I would recommend going into a couple camping/hiking stores and seeing what they have for boots and speaking to some of the staff, explaining what you want to do. Whatever you buy I would recommend that it be waterproof and breathable (made with something like Gore Tex) but that is just my own preference.
Thank you, will see if i can find them here in S.A and take it from there, appreciate your advice.Perhaps I am in the minority, but I found a pair of Navaros online for $24 - including shipping. I had my doubts because, well, they were so cheap. The bottoms of my feet were sore (I wore them for three months) until I put in an insert from Birkenstock. It did the trick. On my (shortened) Camino, my feet were the only things that did not hurt. I liked my Navaros because they tend to run wide and my feet swell in the heat and afternoon. They were light and comfortable, and "breathed." I was lucky and happy I did not have to spend a lot of money for the "perfect" hiking boot.
Hi Amandita,
It really does not matter what they look like, what you read or hear about them or what anybody here thinks of them. Shoes, especially for long distance walking like a camino, are so personal and so important, that you really have to figure this on out on your own.
Buy shoes that fit you like a glove. If they dont feel right, forget it, move on to the next pair.
Go to a store and fit, fit, fit.
Also don't just look at boots. I know lots of people here live and die by boots, but just as many people are (trail)runner shoe advocates. So also, please try and feel the difference. Especially if you are not used to (heavy) boots and all of a sudden you start an 800km walk on them. You could get into serious trouble. Really, i know....unfortunately.
Your feet are not my feet are not anybody elses feet. Only you will know how shoes feel, fit and walk.
All we can do is tell you how good or bad our boots or shoes are.
Maybe there are stores where you can buy boots/shoes that have a good return policy so can can try them on INSIDE your own home for a week or so and if they dont feel ok, you can return them and get money back or other shoes or boots to try.
Maybe your on a budget, i don't know, but saving money on the single most important part of your equiptment is a bad idea. If this is the case, try saving on something else first. Just a thought.
Buy shoes that fit you like a glove.
Just another observation with Sketchers ....they are known to get quite whiffey.
Find out what sock works best for you as well. Any mismatch of socks and boots can give you an instant "hot spot" or even worse, a blister you will remember long after you end your journey. The right combination of shoes and socks will allow you to "wick" away more or less moisture. It's easy to figure this one out at home before you leave. Again, I think with the socks, you get what you pay for. Check out REI.com to see what's available. Lastly, buy an extra $3 shoelace and stick it in your pack. Once you break one, you will never pack without a spare!
Buy shoes that fit you like a glove. If they dont feel right, forget it, move on to the next pair.
Go to a store and fit, fit, fit.
@Dutch, I hope you didn't intend the advice to find shoes that fit like a glove to be taken literally. Equally, just buying footwear so many sizes or half sizes bigger is not the best solution. Getting properly fitted by people who understand the demands of long distance walking is a far better option, and that means visiting a reputable outdoors retailer who has a fitting slope, taking along similar socks to those you will walk in, getting fitted towards the end of the day and trying to be on your feet for a while beforehand.erm .... actually, buy shoes that are one european size or a half US/UK size larger than what you usually wear, as feet swell during hiking, and they will blister and be very painful if the shoes are too small.
Hi All. Im planning to start my Camino in May 2015. I had a look at different hiking boots and makes, and came across Skechers hiking boots. I liked what is saw and read about them, but i would like to hear your opinions before i make my decision. Have anyone have hiked in them before, and what is your opinions regarding Skechers? Thanks.
@Dutch, I hope you didn't intend the advice to find shoes that fit like a glove to be taken literally. Equally, just buying footwear so many sizes or half sizes bigger is not the best solution. Getting properly fitted by people who understand the demands of long distance walking is a far better option, and that means visiting a reputable outdoors retailer who has a fitting slope, taking along similar socks to those you will walk in, getting fitted towards the end of the day and trying to be on your feet for a while beforehand.
After all that, one might expect that the footwear you buy will be larger than your normal fit. But rather than try and start there, the plan is to end there knowing that you have made every endeavour to make sure that what you buy will be right.
@Bogong get something thats cheap and comfortable? Strange advice. How about somethimg thats comfortable and good, instead of making the price and important issue? Trying to save money on the most important piece of equiptment you have does not sound like a good idea to me.
I dont understand how you can wear out 2 pairs of boots on a 900km walk. It they are really worn out, then the quality does not seem alll that great to me. And quality and price do go hand in hand when it comes to shoes and clothing.
We have a couple of stores like that where I live, but there are also a couple that have staff who taken the time to understand the Camino, and take the time to properly fit footwear. They were also recommending shoes rather than boots when our local Friends of the Camino group visited last. At least were I live, it is not as dire as you seem to have found it.I dont really agree on going to a good store and listen to just their advice on long distance walking/hiking. In my experience they have the tendency to want to sell you boots all the time and boots just arent for everybody and for the camino, they can be overkill. A camino does not require boots.
Agree completely with this.I am not saying you shouldnt go in a store for advice, but do not let them sell you something you are not comfortable with. Take the advice and do with it what you want. So i say, fit, fit, fit...shoes, boots, whatever, but dont stop untill it feels good. And dont just go to one store.
whatever the price, but never assume that by paying more you're going to get better quality. It may just mean that the vendor/manufacturer is taking a bigger cut.
De colores
Bogong (aka John)
Without going into all sorts of details, i can tell you that this is not true. Not true at all. A big misconception people have of the whole textile world. I am a manufacturer and i know, quality of fabrics and high(er) prices do go hand in hand. The same goes for specialised skilled workers and special machines needed for special materials. And the outdoor world is full of special materials.
Hiking footwear is personal. I have spent 25 years packing and climbing in boots and would not ever use a low cut shoe. They are HEAVY and there have been many times where they have saved me from a twisted ankle. I "pitch" on a lot of steep granite and when the soles get worn & slick, I have to replace them. The boots are so well worn and comfortable by then that I use he old ones for yard work. But, I also climb with guys who swear by low cut footwear. Either way, I think you get what you pay for. Save money on some other gear, not the shoes!
Most importantly, buy them well in advance and wear them EVERYWHERE for at least a month. I pack with guys who wear them in the office with a suit and tie. Find out what sock works best for you as well. Any mismatch of socks and boots can give you an instant "hot spot" or even worse, a blister you will remember long after you end your journey. The right combination of shoes and socks will allow you to "wick" away more or less moisture. It's easy to figure this one out at home before you leave. Again, I think with the socks, you get what you pay for. Check out REI.com to see what's available. Lastly, buy an extra $3 shoelace and stick it in your pack. Once you break one, you will never pack without a spare!
The camino is on my bucket list for 2015 so I don't have much to contribute yet but boot selection is something I have learned NOT without great pain.
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