Packing boots while in city

[iidamarjattamirjam]

Hello everyone,

I’m off to my first camino (Frances) in two weeks, yay! Getting really excited. One pretty random thought came to me and I would love to hear how you experienced Pilgrims handle this;

Where or how do you pack your hiking boots when you’re in the city and wearing lighter shoes but still have to carry your bag (lets say between albergues or something)? Do you hang them from your bag? Stuff them inside the backpack? Carry a tote?
Just curious

Buen Camino everyone!

 

[wisepilgrim]

I just let them dangle. It’s annoying, and with a big gait things can get a bit crazy, but what do I care when I’m in leisure mode.

 

[Kanga]

I wear hiking sandals everywhere. If you wear boots you could pretend to be a member of the Doc Marten brigade, playing it cool. Set a fashion trend - heavy hiking boots worn with a lightweight miniskirt.

 

[iidamarjattamirjam]

I wear hiking sandals everywhere. If you wear boots you could pretend to be a member of the Dr Marten brigade, playing it cool. Set a fashion trend - heavy hiking boots worn with a lightweight miniskirt.

Don’t think I’ll be packing a miniskirt with me on this trip Sandals might get a little too cold to wear in October, no?

Edit: added ”cold” to previous sentence

 

[ver-lopen]

Don’t think I’ll be packing a miniskirt with me on this trip Sandals might get a little too cold to wear in October, no?

Edit: added ”cold” to previous sentence

I only bring flip flops, I will be wearing my boots in town. Trying to have a little weight as possible. If I need something badly I will buy it there.

 

[Kanga]

It is only two weeks til you leave, so you would be pretty committed to your hiking boots, but if you do have any problems with them, consider replacing them with lightweight trail shoes or sneakers. Then you could wear them everywhere.

You can always post your hiking boots ahead or home.

Spain is the land of wonderful shoe shops.

 

[mspath]

Just wear them. Here in urban France le look sport est trés chic ! Small fortunes are spent on monthly gym fees, hiking boots are often worn to stroll along the Champs-Élysées in autumn and winter, and multitudes wear designer backpacks.

Attitude is all.

 

[malingerer]

I wear hiking sandals everywhere. If you wear boots you could pretend to be a member of the Doc Marten brigade, playing it cool. Set a fashion trend - heavy hiking boots worn with a lightweight miniskirt.

Its been done! Tartan mini skirts and big boots! those were the days!

Samarkand.

 

[WalkingPlaylist]

I found a good way to tie them to my backpack using the laces so they don't dangle and accidently hit a person or anything else for that matter. You'll find there are a lot of places on your pack with the webbing and carabiner attachments that work.

 

[trecile]

Where or how do you pack your hiking boots when you’re in the city and wearing lighter shoes but still have to carry your bag (lets say between albergues or something)? Do you hang them from your bag?

I really can't think of scenarios where this would be a problem.
Keep your boots on until you arrive at your albergue. If you change into other shoes or sandals you would leave your boots (and your backpack) in the albergue while you are out eating or exploring. I don't know why you would be carrying either around town.

 

[Elle Bieling]

I use three carabiners, one at each heel, clipping them from the pull tab there to the backpack on each side, and the third carabiner to clip the top of the laces from each boot together, so they don't flop around. Works like a charm.

 

[C clearly]

I would wear my main walking shoe/boot in that situation, for reasons of bulk, but also because they are the best/steadiest/safest thing to wear when you are top-heavy with a backpack, and walking on cobblestones and curbs.

 

[Rita Flower]

I am travelling light through Europe pre Caomintand wear my Merrills everywhere - even to a London West End Show. People don't really look at what you are wearing.

 

[K_Lynn]

Don’t think I’ll be packing a miniskirt with me on this trip Sandals might get a little too cold to wear in October, no?

Edit: added ”cold” to previous sentence

https://www.purplerainskirts.com/ makes a very nice lightweight hiking skirt with side pockets, I'm 5'9"/175cm and it comes just above the knee, so not a miniskirt. I had lots of warm days last year in October (and got heatstroke walking to the lighthouse at Finisterre lol).
Socks and sandals are very common on cool afternoons with pereginos lol It's a fashion statement!

 

[JudyWanaWander]

Hello everyone,

I’m off to my first camino (Frances) in two weeks, yay! Getting really excited. One pretty random thought came to me and I would love to hear how you experienced Pilgrims handle this;

Where or how do you pack your hiking boots when you’re in the city and wearing lighter shoes but still have to carry your bag (lets say between albergues or something)? Do you hang them from your bag? Stuff them inside the backpack? Carry a tote?
Just curious

Buen Camino everyone!

I wrap mine in a plastic bag, and put them in my backpack. That's why I don't bring a super small backpack although it's still very light but has spare room to expand or compress.

 

[trecile]

I don't wear boots, but I do have two pair of footwear. I cover the pair that I'm not wearing with shower caps and put them inside my backpack. I don't like things dangling and bobbing on my pack.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I really can't think of scenarios where this would be a problem.
Keep your boots on until you arrive at your albergue. If you change into other shoes or sandals you would leave your boots (and your backpack) in the albergue while you are out eating or exploring. I don't know why you would be carrying either around town.

That's exactly what I was thinking, too, and same thing even when staying at a hotel. I have never felt the need to hang my main pair of footwear from my pack.

 

[Robo]

If I'm walking with a pack.......I'm wearing my boots.
The only time I'm not, is when I reach my accommodation and leave my pack there.
Then when I go out I wear trekking sandals.

My sandals are my 'apres' walking wear

 

[cbacino]

Hello everyone,

I’m off to my first camino (Frances) in two weeks, yay! Getting really excited. One pretty random thought came to me and I would love to hear how you experienced Pilgrims handle this;

Where or how do you pack your hiking boots when you’re in the city and wearing lighter shoes but still have to carry your bag (lets say between albergues or something)? Do you hang them from your bag? Stuff them inside the backpack? Carry a tote?
Just curious

Buen Camino everyone!

May I suggest that you don’t need boots to hike any Camino. They’re overkill, heavy, and blister factories. I walked Paris-Norte-Primitivo, 2018, in trainers, and Gibraltar-Muxía in Keen sandals, 2022 - feet never sweaty.

 

[SabsP]

May I suggest that you don’t need boots to hike any Camino. They’re overkill, heavy, and blister factories. I walked Paris-Norte-Primitivo, 2018, in trainers, and Gibraltar-Muxía in Keen sandals, 2022 - feet never sweaty.

What works for you does not automatically works for others.
Winter and summer , Spain or at home I wear my leather Hanwag boots ( and my custommade insoles ) and I experiment with different types of Coolmax socks ( Bridgedale brand ).

 

[Robo]

What works for you does not automatically works for others.
Winter and summer , Spain or at home I wear my leather Hanwag boots ( and my custommade insoles ) and I experiment with different types of Coolmax socks ( Bridgedale brand ).

Exactly.
All we can do is share personal experiences, preferences and insights.

I tried Altra Lone Peaks as many here love them. Very bad for me. But it was good to try them.
I tried Hokka as many here love them. I find them quite good, but not my ideal yet.
I wear Gortex boots, that the majority dislike. I love them. (just too heavy for me now)
I've tried sandals, loved by many. Don't work for me.

Sometimes it's just trial and error.

No one is right.
No one is wrong.

We're all just different

 

[malingerer]

I really can't think of scenarios where this would be a problem.
Keep your boots on until you arrive at your albergue. If you change into other shoes or sandals you would leave your boots (and your backpack) in the albergue while you are out eating or exploring. I don't know why you would be carrying either around town.

thank God for common sense

Samarkand.

 

[Arthur Gil de Lamadrid]

Hello everyone,

I’m off to my first camino (Frances) in two weeks, yay! Getting really excited. One pretty random thought came to me and I would love to hear how you experienced Pilgrims handle this;

Where or how do you pack your hiking boots when you’re in the city and wearing lighter shoes but still have to carry your bag (lets say between albergues or something)? Do you hang them from your bag? Stuff them inside the backpack? Carry a tote?
Just curious

Buen Camino everyone!

I wear light weight Keen boots and carry ultra light sandals. I wear the boots any time I'm carrying my pack wether in town or out on the trail. I tend to need the ankle support and my boots are very light anyway. Once I get to a place where I can park my pack, I switch to bare feet and sandals in town or in camp. It's not about a fashion statement. It's about practically.

 

[iidamarjattamirjam]

Big thanks to everyone who has shared their thoughts on this. As someone said above, there are as many ways to gear up as there are pilgrims. I understand the worry with wearing boots, but I have my reasons as do the people who wrote about this before me. My Lundhags boots are lightweight, without membrane and provide me ankle support most of all. Wearing boots is not a fashion statement but an order from doctor to keep my ankles and knees safe

I like the thought of attaching the boots with carabiners and using the laces. After reading the comments I feel like I owe an explanation where I would see this relevant, but I guess it’s unnecessary - we all do things our way