Maxipads on boot liners...

[vinotinto]

Early on in the Camino, I staggered into the Roncal albergue in Cizur Menor (right outside of Pamplona) with sore and blistered feet. The woman who ran the place let me in early, and after I had rested for a bit she drained and dressed my blisters.

Then she checked out my boots. After removing the Superfeet liners, she reached into her medical supply box and picked out a packet of large maxipads. She then proceeded to place a maxipad on top of each liner. The adhesive and wings helped to secure the pad to the liner.

She told me that the maxipads will help keep my feet dry by absorbing moisture. In addition, they also provide a bit of padding. And they are inexpensive and easy to get at supermercados. "We need to find cheap and easy solutions on the Camino," she said.

From then on, I made sure I had a package of maxipads in my backpack so I could change the ones in my boots every couple of days (got a couple of odd looks at albergues). They seemed to help, especially after I bought a lighter pair of Spanish boots in Logrono from the helpful folks at the Planeta Agua outdoor store (and spent an extra day there breaking then in). And now, I have no problem buying maxipads at the store