- Time of past OR future Camino
- May-July 2023
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I'm going with Altra Lone Peaks. I do like Hokas too!Depends on type of "shoe". My last two Camino walks from Porto (Central & Coastal) I walked mainly in a lightweight pair of HOKA's switching to leather walking boots on the occsional rainy day or over rough terrain.
Breaking in the HOKA's was minimal, really comfortable from day 1. Breaking in the leather boots took a couple of months of weekend walking.
If your shoe is heavy duty, then it'll need a couple of dozen miles, ideally in the wet which helps to flex the leather/fabric and shape it to your foot. I'd also advise you carry a backpack of similar weight to the one you intend to carry on your Camino.
Don't forget, your feet will give you plenty of feed-back, make sure you listen to them.
BTW, HOKAs went in the bin at about 1500km, leather boots are still going strong.
I'm going with Altra Lone Peaks. I do like Hokas too!
Thank you for the info! I was wearing Merrill Moab's but just thought they were too hot. I wanted something more breathable and more room for my toes!Hi, Sirron,
I wear Altra Lone Peaks also and in my experience they don’t need any breaking in at all. I always start out with a brand new pair, especially because I have found that they are a lot less durable than other shoes and will struggle to make it to 800-1000 kms. I’ve had some ripping on the top (but shoe repair places in Spain are terrific), in addition to the extensive wearing on the soles. I love these shoes but wish they would last longer!
As others have said, non leather shoes really don't require a breaking in period at all. I bought a pair of the same model shoe that I had been training in and wore them for a couple of walks to make sure that there were no manufacturing irregularities that would make them uncomfortable, and they worked perfectly for my Camino.I'm going with Altra Lone Peaks. I do like Hokas too!
I have a pair of shoes I like but my trip isn't for another 8-9 months. Should I buy another at some point and break them in. But how many miles (or KM lol) on a pair of shoes are too much before starting the Camino? Trying to find the sweet spot of knowing my shoes and not having them fall apart while I'm on the Camino Frances.
@Sirron ,I'm going with Altra Lone Peaks. I do like Hokas too!
My thoughts are that if you need to break in shoes, they are the wrong ones. I think you should be able to find a pair that feel good as soon as you try them on. The first time I wore my Keens was walking onto the airplane. No problems, no blisters.I have a pair of shoes I like but my trip isn't for another 8-9 months. Should I buy another at some point and break them in. But how many miles (or KM lol) on a pair of shoes are too much before starting the Camino? Trying to find the sweet spot of knowing my shoes and not having them fall apart while I'm on the Camino Frances.
Good question: breaking in a new pair of shoes/boots is (i believe) essential. That said most modern lighter weight walking shoes do not require the kilometres/miles that the old leather boots required. My suggestion start slow - two or three km/miles at a time. Stop often and adjust the laces. As for total distance - well maybe two weeks walking should be sufficient. Good shoes will not "fall apart" in under 800km/500 miles. If they did I would be letting the supplier and manufacturer know about it very quickly.I have a pair of shoes I like but my trip isn't for another 8-9 months. Should I buy another at some point and break them in. But how many miles (or KM lol) on a pair of shoes are too much before starting the Camino? Trying to find the sweet spot of knowing my shoes and not having them fall apart while I'm on the Camino Frances.
Mine do not fall apart in that time, but they have distinctly less cushioning than when new. That is the natural downside of starting with the extra cushioning. It is important for my metatarsalgic feet, but it might not matter to other people. I expect my non-leather shoes to be comfortable right out of the box and not need any pummeling to soften them.Good shoes will not "fall apart" in under 800km/500 miles.
So far as I can make out, your first camino is 2023. Enjoy the anticipation and the accumulation of tips and hints. If you want to be sure, wear the footwear you plan to use till you know it will be the right choice. Then buy another pair the same, and wear them in and keep them aside. Or put that pair aside!I have a pair of shoes I like but my trip isn't for another 8-9 months. Should I buy another at some point and break them in. But how many miles (or KM lol) on a pair of shoes are too much before starting the Camino? Trying to find the sweet spot of knowing my shoes and not having them fall apart while I'm on the Camino Frances.
Maybe the term "break in" was wrong. What I meant was I worried about how many miles I should put on my shoes before I leave. I didn't want my shoes to fall apart half way haha.My thoughts are that if you need to break in shoes, they are the wrong ones. I think you should be able to find a pair that feel good as soon as you try them on. The first time I wore my Keens was walking onto the airplane. No problems, no blisters.
I find that for similar shoes to the Altras, the mid-sole has lost its resilience after about 800-1000 km of use, and the outer sole will have lost most of its tread, and even worn through in some places. The worst performance that I have experienced was that the tread had been worn away on the heels between SJPP and Najera, and the outer sole completely gone in places by the time I reached Santiago.Maybe the term "break in" was wrong. What I meant was I worried about how many miles I should put on my shoes before I leave. I didn't want my shoes to fall apart half way haha.
Thank you that's what I'll do. I'll use em enough to know if they are fitting right.I find that for similar shoes to the Altras, the mid-sole has lost its resilience after about 800-1000 km of use, and the outer sole will have lost most of its tread, and even worn through in some places. The worst performance that I have experienced was that the tread had been worn away on the heels between SJPP and Najera, and the outer sole completely gone in places by the time I reached Santiago.
My view is that for Altras and similar styles of shoe, I would not want to put too many miles up before starting the Camino. If you are using a pair now in training, it is probably worth thinking about replacing them shortly before you go.
Hola @Sirron good quality walking shoes should not fall apart after 500 miles/800 k m. My suggestion is if you have not acquired your new walking shoes go to one of the reputable suppliers in your town/city. Explain what you are going to use the shoes for and ask for their advice. If you do not like the advice or the recommended shoes then "vote with your feet" and try another shop. CheersMaybe the term "break in" was wrong. What I meant was I worried about how many miles I should put on my shoes before I leave. I didn't want my shoes to fall apart half way haha.
I believe that @Sirron has found "the" shoes, but doesn't want to put too many miles on them before the Camino.Hola @Sirron good quality walking shoes should not fall apart after 500 miles/800 k m. My suggestion is if you have not acquired your new walking shoes go to one of the reputable suppliers in your town/city. Explain what you are going to use the shoes for and ask for their advice. If you do not like the advice or the recommended shoes then "vote with your feet" and try another shop. Cheers
I have a pair of shoes I like but my trip isn't for another 8-9 months. Should I buy another at some point and break them in
I’m walking my fifth Camino next year and rather than break in another pair of trekkers next year I’m saving my last years pair because they were so good and no blisters and I think they still have one more Camino in them. If your current pair are the same save them save your feet. Keith from Norfolk Buen CaminoI have a pair of shoes I like but my trip isn't for another 8-9 months. Should I buy another at some point and break them in. But how many miles (or KM lol) on a pair of shoes are too much before starting the Camino? Trying to find the sweet spot of knowing my shoes and not having them fall apart while I'm on the Camino Frances.
@norfolk-keith ,I’m walking my fifth Camino next year and rather than break in another pair of trekkers next year I’m saving my last years pair because they were so good and no blisters and I think they still have one more Camino in them. If your current pair are the same save them save your feet. Keith from Norfolk Buen Camino
I wore Hokas, probably had 50+ miles on them. If you have shoes now that you like but aren't leaving for 8-9 months, but another pair. Shoe manufacturers seem to "tweak" their shoe designs almost every year - and not always for the better. My first Camino I wore Brooks Cascadia 13. The next couple of generations were no where near as comfortable for me - that's how I ended up with the Hokas. So, if you find something you really like, but more right now even if you don't need it right now. My friend calls this buying futures.I'm going with Altra Lone Peaks. I do like Hokas too!
That’s what I wore , first pair fell to bits after 800km , second pair lasted until Fisterre. The soles on the first pair separated from the shoes at the heel, but can’t complain , nada blisters.I'm going with Altra Lone Peaks. I do like Hokas too!
I posted a fresh pair to friends in ZamoraI used Altra Lone Peak 5 on the CF - if I knew what I know now, I would have replaced (with the identical shoe) in Leon. By the time I got to Ponferrada I knew I needed to change them, but I was walking through on a Sunday, so nothing was open. I really wanted the same shoes, and Altra are not so common in Spain. I kept on - by the time I got past Sarria every step was painful as all the cushioning had gone and in the end I found a shop selling Merrells which I bought and carried on with (but the damage to my feet was done).
Having said that - I am rather hard on my shoes. I saw other people with the same shoes, and although they had issues with the uppers and loss of tread, they went the whole distance (800k) in them.
Next time, I'll either arrange for a second pair to be picked up over halfway through, or make sure I plan ahead better...
I did like the Altra Lone Peak though, they just weren't hardwearing. I should have guessed, as I went through a pair in recreational/training walking in a couple of months, and then got a new pair to start the camino with.....
I think that trail runners are more durable than the highly-cushioned road runners. I depends a lot on how much cushioning your particular feet need.I usually get between 4000 and 5000 kilometres out of the New Balance trail runners that I wear.
Absolutely depends on the type of the shoes. I used barefoot shoes on my Primitivo, they are good almost straightaway.Depends on type of "shoe". My last two Camino walks from Porto (Central & Coastal) I walked mainly in a lightweight pair of HOKA's switching to leather walking boots on the occsional rainy day or over rough terrain.
Breaking in the HOKA's was minimal, really comfortable from day 1. Breaking in the leather boots took a couple of months of weekend walking.
If your shoe is heavy duty, then it'll need a couple of dozen miles, ideally in the wet which helps to flex the leather/fabric and shape it to your foot. I'd also advise you carry a backpack of similar weight to the one you intend to carry on your Camino.
Don't forget, your feet will give you plenty of feed-back, make sure you listen to them.
BTW, HOKAs went in the bin at about 1500km, leather boots are still going strong.
Did you put an insole in yours or just wear them as they came?I used Altra Lone Peak 5 on the CF - if I knew what I know now, I would have replaced (with the identical shoe) in Leon. By the time I got to Ponferrada I knew I needed to change them, but I was walking through on a Sunday, so nothing was open. I really wanted the same shoes, and Altra are not so common in Spain. I kept on - by the time I got past Sarria every step was painful as all the cushioning had gone and in the end I found a shop selling Merrells which I bought and carried on with (but the damage to my feet was done).
Having said that - I am rather hard on my shoes. I saw other people with the same shoes, and although they had issues with the uppers and loss of tread, they went the whole distance (800k) in them.
Next time, I'll either arrange for a second pair to be picked up over halfway through, or make sure I plan ahead better...
I did like the Altra Lone Peak though, they just weren't hardwearing. I should have guessed, as I went through a pair in recreational/training walking in a couple of months, and then got a new pair to start the camino with.....
I might bring me a lightweight pair of sandals also to swap on days.Absolutely depends on the type of the shoes. I used barefoot shoes on my Primitivo, they are good almost straightaway.
I first had the manufacturers insole and brought a superfeet one with me and swapped them in and out. I also bought two different pairs towards the end, as I thought that they might help. They didn’t, the shoes were too far gone for that.Did you put an insole in yours or just wear them as they came?
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