I don't wear socks 😂

[Suziem]

I'm walking my first Camino in September with Andy Wild and I hate wearing socks and I'm worried my feet will blister and Andy WILL be giving me a piggy back most days
Any advice please

 

[MaryLynn]

My advice: wear not one, but two pairs of socks - thin liners and outer thicker socks, both Merino wool...you won’t be sorry, and Andy will be happy.

 

[Bradypus]

What do you normally wear for fairly long walks? If you already walk the equivalent of your daily Camino stages in shoes or boots or sandals or even barefoot without socks and without problems why should the Camino be all that different? And if you have never walked that far before then it would be a good idea to try a few long days nearer home before September

 

[Felice]

Why not walk barefoot as well? That way you can make doubly certain that Andy will have to give you a piggy back.

 

[Icacos]

Just make sure, for Andy’s sake, you wash your feet everyday.

 

[jefferyonthecamino]

I'm walking my first Camino in September with Andy Wild and I hate wearing socks and I'm worried my feet will blister and Andy WILL be giving me a piggy back most days
Any advice please

don't shift your weight when piggy-backing
Buen Camino

 

[The Kolbist]

I heard from someone that an archbishop from the Philippines walked barefoot from SJDPP to Santiago..

 

[Anamiri]

Wear sandals no socks required, and September is very warm

 

[Dorpie]

Welcome to the forum @Suziem any friend of Andy's is a friend of his

Got to say it sounds like a terrible plan, but I've been wrong before and no doubt will be again. What footwear are you planning on using?

For me single sock worked better than double, sandal better than boot, but that's just me.

Buen camino,

Rob.

 

[Stivandrer]

A very old soldiering technique is to use foot wraps, :

(the pumpkin serving is a bonus that you can disregard)

Depending on how dry you can keep your feet while walking, I would think one needs some medium in your boots to transmit humidity and to keep feet clean ...

 

[Bradypus]

I heard from someone that an archbishop from the Philippines walked barefoot from SJDPP to Santiago..

I am not aware of that particular story but it does not surprise me. I first learned about the Caminos from my wife's mother. Barbara walked as part of an international group led by a man who had a religious experience at Lourdes which eventually led him to walk barefoot from Paris to Santiago in the early 1980s.

 

[linkster]

Don't skip the underwear and go commando, so that you don't get chaffed from the piggy back ride.

 

[alexwalker]

I once walked some days with a young Hungarian who walked barefoot from home to SdC. Leather feet, going 50-60 kms/day. I just let him pass me after a while...

 

[Kiwi-family]

@Bradypus said what I was thinking- but I have a couple of questions as well.
What is it about socks that is problematic - would a different brand be a solution? If it turns out walking long distances sockless is uncomfortable for you, which is the greater discomfort - to wear socks or not?

 

[andywild]

It looks like I'm going to earn this Compostela.

 

[Anamiri]

Are your shoes large enough to allow socks and swollen feet? Walking and gravity provide swollen feet leading to friction. The trick is to make sure that you buy them larger than normal . Especially in width.(Take the socks with you when you go to buy your shoes). The sales person is likely to try and talk you out of it. It is unlikely that they have walked a Camino , so you may have to insist . I once met a salesperson who "wouldn't sell" me the shoes in the size I wanted. I bought them somewhere else and had a blister free Camino. I think sandals are the best option though for warm months, cooler feet, and no socks to wash.

 

[C clearly]

Get walking sticks in a very long length so you can help with stability when you are riding piggyback. Also, don't let Andy bring a back pack as it will be in your way.

 

[Davey Boyd]

I met a few people over the years that never wore socks on camino. Those barefoot regretted it mostly. Those in open sandles never had a problem and swore by it. Bye the way, none of them ever got blisters. (Barefoot ones mostly thorns and occasionally nastier stuff like glass. Not mentioning cow dung in Galicia).

Whatever is best for you! I'm sure Andy won't mind carrying you though!

 

[Icacos]

Get walking sticks in a very long length so you can help with stability when you are riding piggyback. Also, don't let Andy bring a back pack as it will be in your way.

And the two of you need to decide beforehand whether you’ll be walking miles or kilometres; if you have to discuss this en route it will delay your progress. Oh, and whether you’ll be working in Celsius or Fahrenheit, lest one of you might be too hot and the other too cold.

 

[Former member 49149]

The question is though: how do we know if you are real?

 

[Stivandrer]

yes, show us your leathery feet !

 

[chinacat]

... or not ...

 

[nycwalking]

It looks like I'm going to earn this Compostela.

It looks like you alls fellow pilgrims will have lots of fun.

Find some red socks.

They’re great for camino walking.

Buen camino.

 

[andywild]

The question is though: how do we know if you are real?

Are you suggesting my friends are just a figment of my imagination? If so why would I invent one that has sock issues?
I assure you all my imaginary friends are of sound mind and they all think I'm great.. apart from Steve.. he's just a miserable bugger.

 

[andywild]

And the two of you need to decide beforehand whether you’ll be walking miles or kilometres; if you have to discuss this en route it will delay your progress. Oh, and whether you’ll be working in Celsius or Fahrenheit, lest one of you might be too hot and the other too cold.

Definitely miles, there's less of them.. and the same goes for weight.. strictly kgs...

 

[BlaBlah]

the more km you have prepared the safer your approach (solve these issues before the long haul!) However do learn how to use elastic adhesive bandage (athletic/Tensoplast) to protect skin chafing BEFORE it blisters. It sticks for several days-even surviving shower-and taping in time is better than blistering.

 

[Stivandrer]

Red socks,
isn´t that for elephants ?

 

[Former member 49149]

Red socks,
isn´t that for elephants ?

You have been peeking into another thread....

 

[Former member 49149]

Are you suggesting my friends are just a figment of my imagination? If so why would I invent one that has sock issues?
I assure you all my imaginary friends are of sound mind and they all think I'm great.. apart from Steve.. he's just a miserable bugger.

Funny, I thought I was addressing someone else, and you replied. We need Sherlock on this one...

 

[Stivandrer]

yes, but I had to stop, it was taking all my time !!

 

[Caminogoat]

Why not walk barefoot as well? That way you can make doubly certain that Andy will have to give you a piggy back.

Does Andy have anything to say about this??

 

[Icacos]

Does Andy have anything to say about this??

One of them, preferably both, will have to use bag transport ?
And if they’re planning to get to SdC, they’ll have to figure how they’ll deal with the last 100k ?

 

[Gretel Schuck]

I'm walking my first Camino in September with Andy Wild and I hate wearing socks and I'm worried my feet will blister and Andy WILL be giving me a piggy back most days
Any advice please

 

[Gretel Schuck]

Try some different socks, fabric- before you go. Bare feet get sweaty and can create a problem- also make sure your hiking shoes
Fit properly.

 

[lt56ny]

I once walked some days with a young Hungarian who walked barefoot from home to SdC. Leather feet, going 50-60 kms/day. I just let him pass me after a while...

One of the many reasons the Camino is worth the price of admission!

 

[Robert Nystrom]

Why not walk barefoot as well? That way you can make doubly certain that Andy will have to give you a piggy back.

I met August in 2016 on the CF who had been walking from Austria - barefoot ! He was doing just fine

 

[Vitor Ferreira]

I personally feel more confortable with sandals. I only put a pair of socks to prevent blisters and provide an extra layer of protection and cushioning. But i guess i could do it without sockss, so could you perhaps

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I'm walking my first Camino in September with Andy Wild ... Any advice please

Get used to the name Sandy.

 

[Moorwalker]

I'm walking my first Camino in September with Andy Wild and I hate wearing socks and I'm worried my feet will blister and Andy WILL be giving me a piggy back most days
Any advice please

What do you usually wear to walk longer distances? Test out the shoes you intend to wear and see what happens. Personally I'm with you, I walk mostly in Teva sandals and very rarely wear socks, and I don't get blisters.

 

[RumAndChupacabras]

What do you normally wear for fairly long walks? If you already walk the equivalent of your daily Camino stages in shoes or boots or sandals or even barefoot without socks and without problems why should the Camino be all that different? And if you have never walked that far before then it would be a good idea to try a few long days nearer home before September

Excellent, all around advice!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

It looks like I'm going to earn this Compostela.

Andy, have you now become a "chick magnet" after two caminos?
And if you are giving free piggyback rides the whole way to Santiago, may I sign up for the next time you go again? Does it matter that I am an "older gal"!

 

[andywild]

Andy, have you now become a "chick magnet" after two caminos?
And if you are giving free piggyback rides the whole way to Santiago, may I sign up for the next time you go again? Does it matter that I am an "older gal"!

I've been called many things... Chick magnet is definitely not one of them... As for signing up, sure, why not.. I'm planning VDLP with Randy next spring, I'm sure he'd be ok taking turns carrying you

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I've been called many things... Chick magnet is definitely not one of them... As for signing up, sure, why not.. I'm planning VDLP with Randy next spring, I'm sure he'd be ok taking turns carrying you

Touche' Andy...love this! I always try to walk in Spring!

 

[Sparrow in Texas]

For real, there are two women who walked the whole of the Appalachian Trail both directions Barefooted with heavy packs! Why not? These were the first and now there are others...

Southbound and Walking Home by Lucy and Susan Letcher

So, no socks, no shoes, go for it! No hay problema!

 

[gkr]

Lucky you! You don't have to wash them! or smell them!

 

[gkr]

I heard from someone that an archbishop from the Philippines walked barefoot from SJDPP to Santiago..

That was after he visited the museum housing Imelda Marcos's many pairs.

 

[David]

 

[Sean Lad]

I'm walking my first Camino in September with Andy Wild and I hate wearing socks and I'm worried my feet will blister and Andy WILL be giving me a piggy back most days
Any advice please

No socks perfect
one less chore No Sock Washing