Rain, socks & more socks

[jo webber]

Today we took our walk, in the rain. Ok, light rain, sort of sprinkles. We missed the heavy rain. The streets were very wet, large puddles we could not avoid. As I wear sandals my socks got soaked, twice. The sandals were wet but not bad.

I changed into the Teva shower sandals with dry socks. Socks got wet. Decided to just go without socks as it wasn't that cold. It worked pretty well, was a bit rough on the bottoms of my feet. I had not worn the Tevas with my backpack before.

My question is, how hard should I try to keep feet, socks dry? Even with hiking shoes I would be wet over time. Are there any socks better for walking in when wet? By now I have at least 6 different kind of socks. lol If it is cold and wet I will probably want socks on with my sandals.

 

[Mark Lee]

Today we took our walk, in the rain. Ok, light rain, sort of sprinkles. We missed the heavy rain. The streets were very wet, large puddles we could not avoid. As I wear sandals my socks got soaked, twice. The sandals were wet but not bad.

I changed into the Teva shower sandals with dry socks. Socks got wet. Decided to just go without socks as it wasn't that cold. It worked pretty well, was a bit rough on the bottoms of my feet. I had not worn the Tevas with my backpack before.

My question is, how hard should I try to keep feet, socks dry? Even with hiking shoes I would be wet over time. Are there any socks better for walking in when wet? By now I have at least 6 different kind of socks. lol If it is cold and wet I will probably want socks on with my sandals.

The few times I got rained on while walking the Camino Frances (4-5 days maybe out of over 120 days) I just kept walking with wet shoes and socks. If it's raining there's really nothing you can do to keep your shoes, socks and feet 100% dry. If it's warm like when I walked the CF, you just deal with it and clean up, dry off and such at the albergue when you get there. In warm weather wet feet are not going to do you any harm.
On my Caminos I never wore insulated, gore-tex, waterproof, etc boots/shoes. Always wore the lightest and most breathable. I found they dry quicker after getting wet. Same with my socks. Lightweight, synthetic running socks. They dry quick, too and work great even when wet.
Cold, snowy weather or drizzly, freezing or very cold variety? Different beast altogether. Better be cognizant of footwear, but then again, you'd never catch me walking the Camino in that stuff...ha ha.

 

[jo webber]

clean up, dry off and such at the albergue when you get there

Makes sense to me. I have heard a lot about keeping feet dry etc. But really, if it rains you are going to get wet. I haven't melted yet.
Thanks.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

What time of the year do you plan to walk?

If it is in a part of the year where you can expect/anticipate lots of rain or snow, dry feet are a pretty big deal as one reason for blisters stems from wet foot parts rubbing on other wet foot parts or footwear parts. This is where you read about many people swapping out socks midway through their day. Others talk about use of moisture wicking socks to help pull wetness away from the foot. Wetness softens the skin so you are much more prone to blistering even if you have quality footwear.

I wear GTX mid boots (I've only walked in winter and spring) and never had wet feet and, perhaps luckily or coincidentally, no blister issues. I'm sure this is in large part to wearing the right footwear for my feet but equally so the fact that I keep the outside wetness outside and wear a high quality smartwool socks that wicks moisture and provides cushioning.

If you are walking in drier months I'm sure Mark's advice above makes total sense!

 

[jo webber]

We are planning for Sept and Oct of 2017. From the weather histories I have looked up it shouldn't be too cold.

 

[jo webber]

smartwool socks

After purchasing three types of wool socks, I don't like them. My feet feel dry and itchy after wearing them.

 

[C clearly]

My question is, how hard should I try to keep feet, socks dry?

I'd say you shouldn't try at all to keep your feet and socks dry while you are walking in sandals in the rain!

 

[Kanga]

@jo webber I walk in sandals and most of the time I go without socks. So getting my feet wet is not a problem - I wade through the water and ignore it.

If it is cold as well as wet, then I wear Sealskinz or Dexshell waterproof, breathable socks. I would not wear them all the time. If I was a sock and sandal wearer I'd take ordinary socks for when it was dry weather, and Sealskinz or Dexshell for when it was raining.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

One evening I saw a man at the albergue with the most horrible blisters under his feet, an inch and a half plus in diameter, due to walking in the rainthe previous day. He ended up having to go home.

I love my Gortex Salomon walking shoes, my feet have never felt wet while wearing them, even when it rained all day and day after day.

When I walked in treking sandals, with socks, I did get caught in the rain, bit it only rained for 10-20 minutes. I took off the then dirty socks when it stopped raining, rinsed my feet and voila. But I would not want to have to walk in wet socks for hours, and in sandals, especially if walking thought muddy fields where feet sink right into the mud.

 

[SanJo]

After purchasing three types of wool socks, I don't like them. My feet feel dry and itchy after wearing them.

Try wearing a thin pair of polypro (polypropylene) socks underneath. They wick moisture away from your skin and put a barrier between your skin and itchy wool.

 

[spursfan]

We are planning for Sept and Oct of 2017. From the weather histories I have looked up it shouldn't be too cold.

The good news is that you've got plenty of time to reconsider your determination to wear sandals come what may - and you should also be guided by the proportion of walking during September (typically very warm with brief rain showers) and October (colder with longer periods of rain)

For me, sandals are for summer and showers - during your intended period you might need thin socks, rain-proof socks and wool socks

I walk during May or September and wear trail runners - after light rain, the warmth of my feet soon dries the thin socks - but I do have at least three pairs of socks, so can change if needed

 

[Sixwheeler]

As I live in the UK where it is often cold and frequently wet too, wet feet are unthinkable. In the rain I wear waterproofs and lightweight waterproof boots. In the winter I might wear gaiters too but more usually a pair of mini gaiters that cover the good of the boots and which keep out water, mud, stones, dust, snow ..... This system has worked well for me from Scotland to Africa.

 

[jo webber]

Sealskinz or Dexshell for when it was raining.

Thanks. The rain, wetness was no longer a problem once I simply took my socks off. The air that got between my feet and the Teva shower sandal was enough to help.

I think I can buy what I might need in the way of socks in Spain, if I change my mind. In mud, I might just go barefoot. Step easily to see what may be deep in the mud, spreading toes helps give both stability and traction in mud. Unless it is the slick stuff that causes everyone to end up on their behind.

 

[jo webber]

And if it is just too horribly awful - I will stay in a hostel for a day or two and sleep.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Liners were a leoblem for me on C1 as they would bunch up at bottom of foot. They quickly were shown the door.

1 pair of whar ever you have tried before heading out is what you should wear, and bring two or three of them.

 

[Koidream]

And the best on the Camino, there is always a place to dry socks
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/camino-photos/laundry-drying.1786/

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Water causes friction. Friction causes blisters. You will want a way to keep your feet dry.

 

[Mark Lee]

And if it is just too horribly awful - I will stay in a hostel for a day or two and sleep.

Good choice. My philosophy exactly.

 

[Dennis D]

Walking on muddy and flooded trails is quite different that walking on wet streets. Last April/May it rained everyday for 2 weeks and then it was sporadic after that. Hopefully the weather will be more favorable for you when you go.

My Keen "waterproof" boots got soaked almost every day that it rained hard. When I returned to the USA, I wrote to Keen to compliment the way the boots held up for 2000 Kilometers with the exception that they were not waterproof as advertised. Much to my surprise they sent me a new pair of boots free of charge.

There are lots of separate posts about blister management. You might want to check them out. What works for some doesn't necessarily work for others.

The most important thing is you are going and hopefully it will be an experience that will enhance your life.

Buen Camino