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Oh my word... I am soooo tired of buying and trying shoes.
I no longer really know what I should do. I have measured my feet around, and length and I have emailed various shoe manufacturers to check their sizing before buying.
For my last 2 camino I wore (in the end) Salomon's GTX 2 Ultra. They worked well. I still had a few niggly sore toes but no major problems.
For the Vdlp, as Keen started selling their wide fit shoe in europe I decided to try the Targhee (wide) but as I can only get this here in a mid boot... I had to buy the mid. I bought these in February and as I've lost weight since then they are now too big... yes you really do lose weight on your feet.
So... I tried my original Salomon's but they were also too big... So I decided I would just buy another pair of Salomons but a size down (which worked with the measurement of my feet). However, these arrived and were noticeably narrower... not good for my feet.
So... I went back to Keens and bought a 42.5 (eu size) this allows for the 1/2 size because the shoe runs small... and is up 1 size to allow for the long distance walking. They felt great at home. I wore them for a few days all day... one day was a full on house work day getting the house ready for house sitters... so they had a good work out. They felt fine. Today I walked about 8km in them and they hurt my feet.
I felt like they are still too big? but they shouldn't be? I kind of feel like my foot sits too far forward in the shoe when I'm waling rather than being held in the heel? I've tried different lacing but I'm not sure it helped the problem. I'm also not sure the mid boot is good for me... I just think I'm happier in a shoe?
I love my Teva sandals... I bought them in my correct size and they are good. I have some Keen sandals (Newports and Whisper) but I find the straps cut just across my little toe so they aren't great for long distances although I wear them a lot at home.
So what should I do? I cant just keep buying new shoes and boots... I can only really test them on a walk and then I cant take them back? I really am so confused? Any advice you can offer will be very welcome!
P.s. I have 2E wide feet and I live in France and my width just not exist in any shops... so I have to but online.
Such a useful video. Not least because I own those exact boots, and saw lots more Vasques racked up in the albergues.I have found this video to be really useful, particularly the way it shows you how to lock your heel into the back of the boot. I also left a few of the holes nearest my toes with the laces uncrossed in order to accommodate swelling feet.
I feel your pain and frustration and hope you can find a solution very soon.
What were these ones?telling me they were totally unsuited to walking the Camino in winter
What were these ones?
They look a bit high for me, but what was their reason (and yours)? Winter conditions? High boots not suitable for walking in any season? I see that the weight is under 1 kg for the pair, which is not too bad.https://www.rei.com/product/803672/ahnu-montara-waterproof-hiking-boots-womens
They're probably right, which is why I didn't get them. Back to square one...
They look a bit high for me, but what was their reason (and yours)? Winter conditions? High boots not suitable for walking in any season? I see that the weight is under 1 kg for the pair, which is not too bad.
I don't find that a convincing argument at all. What ice conditions are they imagining and why would you need more support in winter? You are not scaling the Rockies in winter. Neither are you walking in the Alps or the Pyrenees, (except maybe one day. I don't know what the additional "support" would be for! I notice that the first review on the website was from someone who loved them for the camino.Their reason was not enough support and they were too bendy, lightweight (ergo, risk of injury), not solid enough for a winter Camino.
Personally, I would take a boot, but I would not consider it crazy talk to consider shoes! Do get a roomy fit (the biggest that is not TOO big) and try out different sock combinations. Take a pair or two to an indoor mall to walk briskly for an hour, comparing them - different sizes, different socks. (Even though REI will accept them back worn, it is nicer to give them a first test indoors so they can be returned as new.)Do you think I could push it a bit further and get a sturdy running shoe instead of a boot, or is that just crazy talk?
Hi Les@Ted Stek thats interesting about Hoka ... I looked at them but read they didn't have a lot of grip and not great for trails? I like the idea of the footbed in them. Maybe I need to revisit them... And I don't mind how they look if they make my toes happy
thats interesting about Hoka ... I looked at them but read they didn't have a lot of grip and not great for trails? I like the idea of the footbed in them. Maybe I need to revisit them... And I don't mind how they look if they make my toes happy
... They were somewhat comfortable, but I confess I couldn't get past the looks and that they are HUGE. It was bad enough they looked like swim flippers, but they were day glo fuschia and blue swim flippers. I know that shouldn't matter if toes are happy, ...
Oh my word... I am soooo tired of buying and trying shoes.
I no longer really know what I should do. I have measured my feet around, and length and I have emailed various shoe manufacturers to check their sizing before buying.
For my last 2 camino I wore (in the end) Salomon's GTX 2 Ultra. They worked well. I still had a few niggly sore toes but no major problems.
For the Vdlp, as Keen started selling their wide fit shoe in europe I decided to try the Targhee (wide) but as I can only get this here in a mid boot... I had to buy the mid. I bought these in February and as I've lost weight since then they are now too big... yes you really do lose weight on your feet.
So... I tried my original Salomon's but they were also too big... So I decided I would just buy another pair of Salomons but a size down (which worked with the measurement of my feet). However, these arrived and were noticeably narrower... not good for my feet.
So... I went back to Keens and bought a 42.5 (eu size) this allows for the 1/2 size because the shoe runs small... and is up 1 size to allow for the long distance walking. They felt great at home. I wore them for a few days all day... one day was a full on house work day getting the house ready for house sitters... so they had a good work out. They felt fine. Today I walked about 8km in them and they hurt my feet.
I felt like they are still too big? but they shouldn't be? I kind of feel like my foot sits too far forward in the shoe when I'm waling rather than being held in the heel? I've tried different lacing but I'm not sure it helped the problem. I'm also not sure the mid boot is good for me... I just think I'm happier in a shoe?
I love my Teva sandals... I bought them in my correct size and they are good. I have some Keen sandals (Newports and Whisper) but I find the straps cut just across my little toe so they aren't great for long distances although I wear them a lot at home.
So what should I do? I cant just keep buying new shoes and boots... I can only really test them on a walk and then I cant take them back? I really am so confused? Any advice you can offer will be very welcome!
P.s. I have 2E wide feet and I live in France and my width just not exist in any shops... so I have to but online.
With your current Keens try an insole insert like " superfeet" . You can google them and see what they are. I bought pair of Asolo gtx95 boots in size 46 up from my normal 44 and walked over 600km in the 5 months leading to my Camino this spring with my superfeet and thin liner socks and mid weight socks. I walked in forests and hills with my full Camino pack. All with no problems. Well after the Roman roads and down hill runs into and from the Pyrenees through to Villa de Monjardin my feet had expanded and I had blisters on little and big toes from hitting the front sides of the toe box. In Logrono I ended up with size 48 Solomon mid boot and my trusted superfeet insoles, took one day off for salt baths for the blisters and I walked the rest of the way to Santiago without new problems. I met a podiatrist at home and he explained that walking training for two hours a day and 8km doesn't really stress your feet too much but long days will and the tendons and ligaments stretch making your foot size change. He liked the inserts I had and said good arch support is needed to have the best outcome. So while your new Keens may seem large, your foot will expand when you are on your next Camino. Hope this helps. Buen Camino.Oh my word... I am soooo tired of buying and trying shoes.
I no longer really know what I should do. I have measured my feet around, and length and I have emailed various shoe manufacturers to check their sizing before buying.
For my last 2 camino I wore (in the end) Salomon's GTX 2 Ultra. They worked well. I still had a few niggly sore toes but no major problems.
For the Vdlp, as Keen started selling their wide fit shoe in europe I decided to try the Targhee (wide) but as I can only get this here in a mid boot... I had to buy the mid. I bought these in February and as I've lost weight since then they are now too big... yes you really do lose weight on your feet.
So... I tried my original Salomon's but they were also too big... So I decided I would just buy another pair of Salomons but a size down (which worked with the measurement of my feet). However, these arrived and were noticeably narrower... not good for my feet.
So... I went back to Keens and bought a 42.5 (eu size) this allows for the 1/2 size because the shoe runs small... and is up 1 size to allow for the long distance walking. They felt great at home. I wore them for a few days all day... one day was a full on house work day getting the house ready for house sitters... so they had a good work out. They felt fine. Today I walked about 8km in them and they hurt my feet.
I felt like they are still too big? but they shouldn't be? I kind of feel like my foot sits too far forward in the shoe when I'm waling rather than being held in the heel? I've tried different lacing but I'm not sure it helped the problem. I'm also not sure the mid boot is good for me... I just think I'm happier in a shoe?
I love my Teva sandals... I bought them in my correct size and they are good. I have some Keen sandals (Newports and Whisper) but I find the straps cut just across my little toe so they aren't great for long distances although I wear them a lot at home.
So what should I do? I cant just keep buying new shoes and boots... I can only really test them on a walk and then I cant take them back? I really am so confused? Any advice you can offer will be very welcome!
P.s. I have 2E wide feet and I live in France and my width just not exist in any shops... so I have to but online.
Oh my word... I am soooo tired of buying and trying shoes.
I no longer really know what I should do. I have measured my feet around, and length and I have emailed various shoe manufacturers to check their sizing before buying.
For my last 2 camino I wore (in the end) Salomon's GTX 2 Ultra. They worked well. I still had a few niggly sore toes but no major problems.
For the Vdlp, as Keen started selling their wide fit shoe in europe I decided to try the Targhee (wide) but as I can only get this here in a mid boot... I had to buy the mid. I bought these in February and as I've lost weight since then they are now too big... yes you really do lose weight on your feet.
So... I tried my original Salomon's but they were also too big... So I decided I would just buy another pair of Salomons but a size down (which worked with the measurement of my feet). However, these arrived and were noticeably narrower... not good for my feet.
So... I went back to Keens and bought a 42.5 (eu size) this allows for the 1/2 size because the shoe runs small... and is up 1 size to allow for the long distance walking. They felt great at home. I wore them for a few days all day... one day was a full on house work day getting the house ready for house sitters... so they had a good work out. They felt fine. Today I walked about 8km in them and they hurt my feet.
I felt like they are still too big? but they shouldn't be? I kind of feel like my foot sits too far forward in the shoe when I'm waling rather than being held in the heel? I've tried different lacing but I'm not sure it helped the problem. I'm also not sure the mid boot is good for me... I just think I'm happier in a shoe?
I love my Teva sandals... I bought them in my correct size and they are good. I have some Keen sandals (Newports and Whisper) but I find the straps cut just across my little toe so they aren't great for long distances although I wear them a lot at home.
So what should I do? I cant just keep buying new shoes and boots... I can only really test them on a walk and then I cant take them back? I really am so confused? Any advice you can offer will be very welcome!
P.s. I have 2E wide feet and I live in France and my width just not exist in any shops... so I have to but online.
Thanks again for all the great advice... And it's good to know I'm not alone in my struggle.
@Ted Stek thats interesting about Hoka ... I looked at them but read they didn't have a lot of grip and not great for trails? I like the idea of the footbed in them. Maybe I need to revisit them... And I don't mind how they look if they make my toes happy
I walked again this morning in the Keen and they really aren't right. I tried the lacing and I wore some coolmax liners and a bridgedale wool sock. When we started they felt tighter and I felt more in control and started to think that they would be fine after all. But we're walking up and down some 200m hills so going up they were good going up for an hour but as soon as we started to go down my foot was sliding forward out of the heel and my toes are hitting the end of the shoe... I can actually feel my heel not in place, even on the flat.
So after a couple of minutes I swapped into the Tevas and finished the walk in them.
I think I'm going to buy a few pairs of lighter trail shoes... New Balance, Altro, Hoka, Brooks... The only thing I can do is try them at home and compare them. I know I will have to pay the return postage but hopefully this will give me a chance to experiment and find a shoe that works.
I'm also going to try my old salomons with an extra sock layer and I'll try my newports with socks too... At least I have these and can take them out walking and experiment... But I'm not leaving home without my Tevas at the moment.
Once again thanks all for the good advice... Wish me luck!
Thanks again for all the great advice... And it's good to know I'm not alone in my struggle.
@Ted Stek thats interesting about Hoka ... I looked at them but read they didn't have a lot of grip and not great for trails? I like the idea of the footbed in them. Maybe I need to revisit them... And I don't mind how they look if they make my toes happy
I walked again this morning in the Keen and they really aren't right. I tried the lacing and I wore some coolmax liners and a bridgedale wool sock. When we started they felt tighter and I felt more in control and started to think that they would be fine after all. But we're walking up and down some 200m hills so going up they were good going up for an hour but as soon as we started to go down my foot was sliding forward out of the heel and my toes are hitting the end of the shoe... I can actually feel my heel not in place, even on the flat.
So after a couple of minutes I swapped into the Tevas and finished the walk in them.
I think I'm going to buy a few pairs of lighter trail shoes... New Balance, Altro, Hoka, Brooks... The only thing I can do is try them at home and compare them. I know I will have to pay the return postage but hopefully this will give me a chance to experiment and find a shoe that works.
I'm also going to try my old salomons with an extra sock layer and I'll try my newports with socks too... At least I have these and can take them out walking and experiment... But I'm not leaving home without my Tevas at the moment.
Once again thanks all for the good advice... Wish me luck![/
After reading so much about Hoka One One, I purchased a pair of Tor Summit Mids in June. I can NOT get used to these and am about to send them back to REI. I feel like I clomp along rather than spring step. That tends to make me tired and uncomfortable. When I look at my Merrills from the side as they sit on a rack beside me, I can see all the way under them to the other side at the arch. Looking at the Hoka, the sole is completely flat on the rack. I know that doesn't have anything to do with the inner arch as I wear the same kind of heat fitted Sole insole in both. It could be why I'm clomping though....I think?
Buy a pair of runners that’s all you needOh my word... I am soooo tired of buying and trying shoes.
I no longer really know what I should do. I have measured my feet around, and length and I have emailed various shoe manufacturers to check their sizing before buying.
For my last 2 camino I wore (in the end) Salomon's GTX 2 Ultra. They worked well. I still had a few niggly sore toes but no major problems.
For the Vdlp, as Keen started selling their wide fit shoe in europe I decided to try the Targhee (wide) but as I can only get this here in a mid boot... I had to buy the mid. I bought these in February and as I've lost weight since then they are now too big... yes you really do lose weight on your feet.
So... I tried my original Salomon's but they were also too big... So I decided I would just buy another pair of Salomons but a size down (which worked with the measurement of my feet). However, these arrived and were noticeably narrower... not good for my feet.
So... I went back to Keens and bought a 42.5 (eu size) this allows for the 1/2 size because the shoe runs small... and is up 1 size to allow for the long distance walking. They felt great at home. I wore them for a few days all day... one day was a full on house work day getting the house ready for house sitters... so they had a good work out. They felt fine. Today I walked about 8km in them and they hurt my feet.
I felt like they are still too big? but they shouldn't be? I kind of feel like my foot sits too far forward in the shoe when I'm waling rather than being held in the heel? I've tried different lacing but I'm not sure it helped the problem. I'm also not sure the mid boot is good for me... I just think I'm happier in a shoe?
I love my Teva sandals... I bought them in my correct size and they are good. I have some Keen sandals (Newports and Whisper) but I find the straps cut just across my little toe so they aren't great for long distances although I wear them a lot at home.
So what should I do? I cant just keep buying new shoes and boots... I can only really test them on a walk and then I cant take them back? I really am so confused? Any advice you can offer will be very welcome!
P.s. I have 2E wide feet and I live in France and my width just not exist in any shops... so I have to but online.
- flip side is that breathable also means quick dry..."My only issue with the Merrell was that I encountered lots of rain and my feet got wet"
- Te Araroa is quite a different kettle of fish to the camino... you'll encounter some rugged terrain & plenty of weather! A High-top boot gives you support, which is a concern, & because we don't get the same kind of heat in summer, they won't turn your feet into boiled prunes lol"I had planned another trek the entire length of New Zealand this year, where it rains quite a bit, and started looking for a similar shoe. I stumbled upon Hoka One One, Thor Ultra, and started using them for my everyday training walks. They are wide and super comfortable for me, from day one, like the Merrells. Unfortunately. Again, I really did not like how they looked, but I learned my lesson.
I wore them for over five hundred miles here before I used them on the Camino Francis in May and they worked great for me. I am starting the Via de la Plata this September and already have my Hokas ready to use. I will also use these for my 2,300 k trek in New Zealand in January. Unfortunately, they are a little pricy."
- ultimately that's the best advice"I have had many people ask me what shoe I recommend because I trek a lot, and I usually tell them, "use what fits you and feels good to you."
Try Altra Trail runners they have a wide toe box, Im a 4E and even though they don't come in wide size the toe box is what matters. I use the Olympus model, also good quality light cushion wool socks are just as important. make sure you train with them gradually before you go, as they are completely flat (0 drop-no heel) so they take getting use to. if you don't, you might suffer Achilles tendon problems. Topo brand is good tooOh my word... I am soooo tired of buying and trying shoes.
I no longer really know what I should do. I have measured my feet around, and length and I have emailed various shoe manufacturers to check their sizing before buying.
For my last 2 camino I wore (in the end) Salomon's GTX 2 Ultra. They worked well. I still had a few niggly sore toes but no major problems.
For the Vdlp, as Keen started selling their wide fit shoe in europe I decided to try the Targhee (wide) but as I can only get this here in a mid boot... I had to buy the mid. I bought these in February and as I've lost weight since then they are now too big... yes you really do lose weight on your feet.
So... I tried my original Salomon's but they were also too big... So I decided I would just buy another pair of Salomons but a size down (which worked with the measurement of my feet). However, these arrived and were noticeably narrower... not good for my feet.
So... I went back to Keens and bought a 42.5 (eu size) this allows for the 1/2 size because the shoe runs small... and is up 1 size to allow for the long distance walking. They felt great at home. I wore them for a few days all day... one day was a full on house work day getting the house ready for house sitters... so they had a good work out. They felt fine. Today I walked about 8km in them and they hurt my feet.
I felt like they are still too big? but they shouldn't be? I kind of feel like my foot sits too far forward in the shoe when I'm waling rather than being held in the heel? I've tried different lacing but I'm not sure it helped the problem. I'm also not sure the mid boot is good for me... I just think I'm happier in a shoe?
I love my Teva sandals... I bought them in my correct size and they are good. I have some Keen sandals (Newports and Whisper) but I find the straps cut just across my little toe so they aren't great for long distances although I wear them a lot at home.
So what should I do? I cant just keep buying new shoes and boots... I can only really test them on a walk and then I cant take them back? I really am so confused? Any advice you can offer will be very welcome!
P.s. I have 2E wide feet and I live in France and my width just not exist in any shops... so I have to but online.
Altra Lone Peak "4.0" will be available in the near future, I just heard rumors from my shopkeeper.@RogerSchneider and @Priscilla NCSadly this means Altra are off my list now too unless they have a Lone Peak 4.0 which changes again
I honestly have started to question if I will have to give up walking... which is crazy but the blisters are such a problem. I have four other shoes in my Amazon basket which I am going to try next week... some Hanwags, Merrells, and two different Salomons... wish me luck!
I'm curious how others find the 4.0s. I hate it when I find a great shoe and the model changes!
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