Walkergirl
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- April-May 2016
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Shoes, waterproof, like the Salomon Ultra2GT something or other.
But have you considered taking a look at your socks? When I wear the midweaight Injinji my skin melts away in the creases, as it does when I go on scuba trips. If I use the lighter weight injinji I do just fine.
Shoes, waterproof, like the Salomon Ultra2GT something or other.
But have you considered taking a look at your socks? When I wear the midweaight Injinji my skin melts away in the creases, as it does when I go on scuba trips. If I use the lighter weight injinji I do just fine.
Shoes, waterproof, like the Salomon Ultra2GT something or other.
But have you considered taking a look at your socks? When I wear the midweaight Injinji my skin melts away in the creases, as it does when I go on scuba trips. If I use the lighter weight injinji I do just fine.
I have been reading your posts about wearing sandals...I'm not brave enough for that on my first Camino! I know it works for you, and I will keep it in mind. Thanks!I wear hiking sandals, and wear Sealskinz socks if it is very cold. Ask the question, you will probably get as many answers are there are forum members!
Thank you for your comments.I got my shoes at a running footwear store where the sales people were very knowledgeable. On their recommendations I selected a trail shoe with a roomy toe box as your feet expand as you walk each day. In the beginning my shoes "felt" too roomy, but I never had one blister in 39 days. Also I wore inner socks and outer socks which I changed during the day sometimes. My shoes were not waterproof. Buen camino.
Yikes!! Does everyone's feet grow permanently as a result of all this walking? That could prove to be expensive to replace all my shoes and boots post camino! I hear your message though.My feet grew on the camino. Muscles and bone growth! On the Camino, I was eyeing my shoes every morning as the enemy, as instruments of torture. At Santiago, I put them in the trash and wore my son's sandals.
First of all, my feet swelled. Then I got blisters. With bandaging there was less room for my feet in my shoes, so I got different blisters. I cut out the insert to make more room, but then I got blisters on the balls of my feet. It was holy week, and I could not find a place open to buy new shoes.-- Since I got home, none of my shoes fit. I have finally (one year later) given them away. I now wear shoes that don't cramp my toes. -- I took the insert that came with my original hiking shoes (which I had loved before my feet swelled up), and set my foot on them. They were far too narrow, pushing my toes in at the front, and in on the outer side. (That accounts for me loosing my two big toe nails.) Men's regular shoes are a D in width, while women's are a B in width. I now wear Men's hiking shoes (and riding boots) or women's wide shoes. I went from a size 8 (39) to a size 8.5 (40 or 41).
I've heard it said that trail shoes take very little breaking in, which is why I'm considering it at this late stage.If the New Balance that you like are highly breathable, then you'll probably be OK. If, when your feet sweat, you get blisters, then higher breathability will be in your best interests. Although waterproof breathable technology is "breathable," it is limited in the amount of moisture it can transport out, which means you can overwhelm it if you sweat too much. Also, if it gets wet inside or outside, it's transport abilities are effectively zero.
A quality pair of merino wool socks and a breathable set of heavier-duty trail shoes may be just what you need.
Arguably (as in, I fully expect someone to argue the point), trail shoes don't require much or any "break-in."
As to the difference between men and women, the real question is what works for your particular foot. My wife wears men's trail shoes because they work best for her.
I've done three CF's, and my feet are 1/2 size larger. Size 11D to 11-1/2D. I can only think that my feet got stronger and bigger from the long distance walking, and they do feel and look stronger.Yikes!! Does everyone's feet grow permanently as a result of all this walking? That could prove to be expensive to replace all my shoes and boots post camino! I hear your message though.
Thanks for asking as I have the same concern with my goretex hiking boots that I used recently in Nepal hiking the Annapurna trails. Out of 12 days on the mountains, I had sweat soaked feet on one day but enough to make me doubt using it for the Camino this coming May. After detailed reflection about what happened on that one occasion, I discovered that it was because I started with a wool socks at 2800m and descended to about 1100m that same day with the same socks. Had I changed to a lighter perhaps a coolmax sock which I had when it got warmer, the problem would be addressed. But like many people, we oversight the importance of wearing the right socks particularly with changing temperatures and assume socks are just socks.
Personally, I appreciate the stability of the boots on the ankles especially with load on the back. Due to my doubts, I've decided to bring along a trail running shoes as backup and as evening wear instead of a sandal. If for some reason the boots fail on me again on the Camino, I will mail it to collect later in Santiago and use the trail shoes full time. Maybe have a cheap flip flops not just for shower but also for evenings.
The only risk of weight is having to carry the boots into Spain for mailing. Alternatively, I could give or dump it away.
Ivar, who runs this site, has a great service for holding mail sent ahead by pilgrims.If for some reason the boots fail on me again on the Camino, I will mail it to collect later in Santiago and use the trail shoes full time. Maybe have a cheap flip flops not just for shower but also for evenings.
The only risk of weight is having to carry the boots into Spain for mailing. Alternatively, I could give or dump it away.
You may want to look at this thread:Yikes!! Does everyone's feet grow permanently as a result of all this walking? That could prove to be expensive to replace all my shoes and boots post camino! I hear your message though.
....With the weather warming, my feet have been sweating and I got blisters on a recent 20 km hike, where previously I had none. I am starting to wonder about wearing trail shoes. I only have a week to break them in before starting on the trail, but if my feet will be happier in them, I'm willing to make that change.....
I would like to echo two suggestions and add another.
- Change your socks at least once a day. It will make a huge difference. Also get really good athletic socks....the kind that have one labeled for the left foot and the right foot.
- In the morning walk for about 15 minutes, stop, take off your boots and the adjust your socks and boot lacing.
- At the end of the day unlace or really open up your boots so the dry out. If that doesn't work, stuff them with newspaper, which will wick out the moisture.
I have many pairs that are right foot and left foot specific. A brand from Spain, which is also seemless, my IceBreakers and of course the Injinjis.I have never seen socks that come in "Left" and "Right"
I have never seen socks that come in "Left" and "Right"
I have been training in the Altra Lone Peak shoes - and they are wonderful. Light weight, comfortable, and fit my feet beautifully. A friend told me that people walking the Pacific Crest Trail swear by them. I depart in 9 days - so in two weeks I will know for sure, but so far these have been great! I was considering NB as they also fit my feet well, but the Altra is a giant step above. Buen Camino.I go back and forth between my Keen Voyageurs and the Altra Lone Peak - a nice wide trail running shoe that might be a bit minimalist for walking 12 - 18 miles a day. So my plan is to bring them both to Spain and mail my trail runners to some intermediate point. If I still like the Keens, I'll send my Altras onto Ivar in Santiago to hold for me till I get there. I am also carrying a pair of sandals in my pack.
The other thing, as also mentioned by previous respondants above, is that your feet will GROW. Not just swelling as you walk, but actually increasing in size. I went from an 8.5 to a 9.5, and towards the end of my Camino, it meant I lost a toenail on the longest of my toes. Go up a size from where you usually are, lots of room in the toe box, to accommodate this.
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