CaminoJoy123
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2017
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Look for trail running shoes. The major difference between trail runners and regular runners is the tread. Many companies make them. I wore New Balance last year.In the USA a running shoe and a trail shoe are totally different.
Hello everyone, would you say a pilgrim could continue using quality running shoes and rugged sandals on the Camino Frances? Won't that work for most of the middle to the end sections in May and June? I've heard trail shoes are the way to go. In the USA a running shoe and a trail shoe are totally different. Don't have trail shoes. I've also heard waterproof shoes are necessary. Don't have those either. Don't have hiking boots either.
I'm from the USA, in Florida. I'm accustomed to walking or hiking in Brooks running shoes with Superfeet insoles for four miles to eight miles, wearing a lightweight hydration pack. I also use Keen sandals for shorter distances. I've never hiked in boots, trail shoes or waterproof shoes. I don't get blisters.
We don't have cobblestones here or uneven pavement here, except parts of St Augustine, and that's slow. We don't have rocks either. I have walked on sidewalks, which is unenjoyable. Mostly I walk in the woods, or on grass, or on sand-dusty trails; or I go barefoot on the beach or soccer fields. We don't have hills here. I normally avoid walking in mud and rain.
I am thinking of doing the Camino Frances starting in the middle of May, and ending in Santiago. I hope to do do 100 km, at minimum. I would like to do much more. I don't really know exactly where I will start. I want to walk about three or four weeks.
I'll be carrying a normal hiking backpack for low-weight overnight trips, with maybe 40 Liters capacity. Hope to limit loads to 15 pounds or so.
Perhaps you can advise, given my training habits and background, and because you are experts on the terrain and weather on Camino Frances. Thanks for any guidance and help.
Look for trail running shoes. The major difference between trail runners and regular runners is the tread.
This is actually a good question. The standard response is that shoes are a personal choice, and they are. I think what you are REALLY asking is what the trail conditions are like, and if runners would be OK. The answer is that runners are OK......BUT....
You will encounter a range of trail conditions and they vary with the seasons. A bunch of the camino is through towns and villages. This is a mix of tarmac and cobble stones. Much of the trail is improved woodland trail dressed with crushed stone - perfect. Some of it is essentially a creek bed, with a mixture of gravel and larger stones. Mercifully, these stretches are short. There are a few patches that can be quite muddy when it rains. There were two horrible patches where the locals had thoughtfully installed flagstones. For a significant portion, you can choose to walk on the trail, or the road that parallels the trail on and off for almost half the distance.
The weather matters a lot. We had dry weather walking through Rioja, but I can see why its reputed to be difficult and muddy in the rain. In Galicia, some of those creek bed stretches had the creek flowing when we walked through in the rain, and you had to do some hopping to keep dry. Nobody can tell you what the weather will be when you are going, but you are more likely to see dry than wet in May. If its dry, runners are perfect for the camino......as long as you don't need any kind of support, and you are OK with stretches of uneven surfaces. I was fine with runners on all the surfaces I encountered, but I accept that not everyone will be.
Now my story. I like walking in runners too. I don't like hiking boots at all. I went in April-May all the way, and knew that I would encounter significant rain, which I did. I took two pairs of shoes. I hesitate to recommend this to anyone else because of the weight implications, but when I go again, I will take two pairs of shoes again. My main pair were my Saucony runners. I wore those for about 70% of the time. I also wore those walking through the town no matter what the weather, because I found paved roads to be uncomfortable any other way. I also had a pair of Gortex Merrell trail shoes, which I wore when it rained, and for the few muddy stretches we encountered. Yeah, in April, that was 30% of the time. Many times, I changed shoes during the day, with the changing weather.
When I got to my destination for the day, off came whatever I was wearing, and on went the other shoes. A change is as good as a rest for tired feet, at least for me!
Buen Camino
Yes. Less of it and warmer in summer, more of it and colder in winter. There is no dry season or wet season, Galicia has a 'temperate maritime' climate.It's random? The rain is random?
Hello Rick, yes I'm asking about trail surface and weather, which create the conditions, yes. And how do people react, do they just keep walking or do they stay indoors.
I've considered taking two pairs of walking shoes also. I dread that though. And that means no crocs at night, because that would be taking three pairs of shoes. And if we take flip flops into the shower... four!
So your goretex trail shoes worked for you in the heat?
Regarding the rain, it's not organized into "the rainy season" versus "the dry season"? And it's not organized into "the 4pm daily summer shower that passes in 20 minutes"? And it's not like "this is going to be a hurricane we see coming on satellite"? It's random? The rain is random?
Yes. Less of it and warmer in summer, more of it and colder in winter. There is no dry season or wet season, Galicia has a 'temperate maritime' climate.
Perhaps the question you need to consider is can you walk, comfortably, day upon day, carrying a 6 kg pack plus water on variable terrain in shoes designed for running pack-free on track? Loads of people walk in 'trail' sandals in the spring & summer - sometimes they get wet.
"Look for trail running shoes. The major difference between trail runners and regular runners is the tread"
I ditto that comment
I found some great Brooks running shoes with enough support and able to handle my orthotic only to find on some slopes and trail grit I did not have enough traction- Had to go back and look at tread depth for the pair I ended up wearing
I will try and answer your questions as best I can.
The Camino goes through four separate climates. The Pyranees have a mountain climate complete with snow (although not in May!), the Meseta is a near desert, Galicia is what Tincantinker called it - pretty much the same as where I live, and then there is everywhere else. None of these are anything like the climate in Florida - No giant T-Storm every afternoon, but otherwise nice. No hurricanes.
You cannot predict the weather, but prepare for the climate. You need a rain solution that you can live with, because in all likelihood, you will get rained on. You will encounter some cool days too, so have a fleece of some sort.
Most pilgrims just keep walking in the rain. Some hole up when its really bad, but I didn't. Just took a shorter day than when it was nice. There are thunderstorms (with torrential rain) in Spain, but not like the ones in Florida, and not very often. Avoid those when they pass through, but otherwise the rain is lighter than you are accustomed too.
Full disclosure, I also had a pair of crocs (they weigh nothing) that I carried as well. These were good for hanging in the albergue, as well as the showers. Can't recommend that much footwear, but it all fit in my 40 litre 20 pound pack, which was not a burden for me. Then again, I'm a big guy, not a small woman. If I weighed 120 lbs, this would be a much harder choice.
As for the Gortex shoes in the heat, I never saw one single day over 22 C (70 F) for the entire Camino. You probably will. You might encounter much higher temperatures, which is why a lot of summer walkers like sandals. Gortex shoes are awful in the heat, so this is something to consider. I Do NOT recommend Gortex as your only footwear that time of year.
What kind of rain is it? Gentle? Torrential? Did the rain pass in ten minutes?
What kind of trail conditions happen when it rains? Did the mud dry in an hour? Does it take days? Do people just stop and wait it out?
What season gets the rain in Galicia? How is June? Or July?
You felt like you were going to lose your footing in Galicia and were glad for the traction. Good information. Was that from the rain and mud? Or is there dry slippery sliding things happening?
Speaking of after the walk, what do people do? Are pilgrims sick of walking around Europe at that point? Or do they stay and go visit friends in Europe? Do they turn into tourists? Or what?
I am thinking of doing the Camino Frances starting in the middle of May, and ending in Santiago. .
Three out of four caminos, I wore Nike running shoes. I never get blisters wearing Nikes. Winter 2014, camino number 4, I started with Nike shoes, had to switch to boots due to injury and mud. Wear whatever works best for you. I saw an American Benedictine monk wearing a cut-off sweatshirt, corduroy pants, and flip-flops.
Buen camino.
I used "running" for Europeans on Camino forum. But, yes, I meant sneakers. On winter Camino I was happy with boots, Nike sneaks could not stand up to mud. But, this summer VDP, it will be Nike sneaks, and my boots to trade off with.Im assuming what we call sneakers here in America are called running shoes in Europe?
I walk about 15 miles a week here in New Jersey, almost always in sneakers but right now I'm walking in a pair of North Face Storm hiking shoes and I'm thrilled with them. To me they are the same as a running shoe but much better made and waterproof.
As many members say here, plan for the climate and be prepared for any type of weather
I walked in May 2015 and only saw 3 days of light rain in 40. But it got quite hot. Up to 30 C. Some mornings were cool to start.
Similar in May last year (2016) though cooler.
Others will report walking in a much higher percentage of rainy days and dealing with clinging mud. That is an experience I still have to look forward to.
The point? Predicting the weather and hence trail conditions is almost impossible. What you can probably assume is that it will be between 15-25 C when walking in May. And some days it will rain.....probably all day. Walking in the rain can be nice, if you have the right gear.
As for the terrain. It varies a lot from asphalt roads, to cobbled Roman Roads, to senda (fine gravel tracks), woodland earth paths to rocky trails like a river bed. (in sections up and down to Cruz de Ferro for example)
Footwear is a very personal choice and depends on what you are used to and the condition of your feet. Technically you could walk barefoot if you were used to walking barefoot! Some wear runners, trail runners, trail sandals, boots......
Personally I wear mid length lightweight boots. I like the thick soles and tread. I like the ankle support. I would have twisted my ankle a couple of times without them. But that is just me. If my feet / ankles were in better shape, I would probably wear trail runners.
Oh, and my boots are Gortex
My feet do tend to get warm and a bit sweaty, but no warmer than wearing runners I would think. I do make sure that every 2-3 hours I take my boots and socks off and air my feet. Maybe even change socks. A good practice I think whatever footwear is used.
Never got a blister yet...............touching wood......!
Many, many (probably thousands) of pilgrims walk the entire Camino every year, successfully wearing running shoes. I recommend trail runners, but I saw lots of pilgrims wearing non-trail running shoes, and you don't have to have waterproof ones.
The walking terrain on the Caminos Frances consists of a lot of improved roads like blacktop and concrete. It's hardly a wilderness trek, but the traction the soles of trail-runners provide does help on the downhills and uphills on the non-improved sections. Don't approach walking it like a traditional backpacking trip through the mountains or woods. It's nothing like that, and keep you pack as small and light as possible. If you forget something you can buy it in Spain. No big deal.
I never encountered any huge climate condition differences from one end of the Camino Frances to the other, or big differences in weather. Sure, you go up in the higher elevations and it gets cooler, but nothing drastic. The meseta section is nothing like a desert (I know people like to say it is). It's just flat farmland.
Basically the Camino Frances is hilly in some sections, flat in others. That's it, but sometimes people get pretty poetic and mystical in its description, ha ha.
If you find a pair of trail runners you like, wear them. If they are trashed by the time you reach Santiago, you can always throw them away and buy some new shoes there.
ultreia
Depends on what you consider hot temperatures....Ok, so you've got the waterproof boots with goretex and you have had no blisters. And you air your feet throughout the day, when you take a break. Good information.
Lots of variety in surfaces on Camino. Good info.
As for the temperatures, I thought people were saying it's already hot right now? But if my math conversion is right, you're saying Camino Frances doesn't even get to 80F in May. Es correcto? For the central part and forward? I thought there was a big desert.
I'm assuming June temperatures are above 82F but not in Galicia.
Ok, so you've got the waterproof boots with goretex and you have had no blisters. And you air your feet throughout the day, when you take a break. Good information.
Lots of variety in surfaces on Camino. Good info.
As for the temperatures, I thought people were saying it's already hot right now? But if my math conversion is right, you're saying Camino Frances doesn't even get to 80F in May. Es correcto? For the central part and forward? I thought there was a big desert.
I'm assuming June temperatures are above 82F but not in Galicia.
Depends on what you consider hot temperatures....
I see you are from Florida where it can get damn hot and humid. I've lived in south Louisiana and Texas for most of my life and it gets way hot and humid, too. I've done the Camino Frances multiple times between June and September. The only time I experienced temps in the 90's (F) was last July-August when I was on it. Hot and dry. Other times on it I found the weather to be very nice. Cool in the mornings and evenings. Sunny days. Wore shorts everyday on the Camino. I never walked with long pants on any of them.
If you are walking it between May-June I would be very surprised if the temps went higher than the 80's, and low humidity. That like Christmas day in the south, ha ha.
Not one lick of desert on the Camino Frances. Zero. The Meseta ain't desert. Here's a couple of my photos of it:
View attachment 33175 View attachment 33177
kinda cool, huh? Like Kansas or Nebraska.
ultreia
Like I said, late last summer (July-September) it was very hot in northern Spain, and if one wasn't careful one could easily have been a heat casualty. A couple of days just plain kicked my ass, but of all the times I have been on the Camino that was the worst. No doubt one could seriously hurt oneself walking long distances with a pack anywhere in any temps if oneself doesn't hydrate, dress properly and use common sense. I'm not downplaying that need or that possibility.I thought people were nearly getting heat stroke last year or the year before? Temperatures about 90?
I started walking August 23 last year, and it was definitely HOT. A couple of days it was up to 95F/35C. Fortunately, not much humidity. I did know a couple of people who had to take a rest early on because of the heat. I stopped walking each day by about 1:00 pm when it was that hot, and I was sweaty, but fine. Now I'm confident that I'll be able to handle the weather during my walk this year in July.Like I said, late last summer (July-September) it was very hot in northern Spain, and if one wasn't careful one could easily have been a heat casualty.
Ok, so you've got the waterproof boots with goretex and you have had no blisters. And you air your feet throughout the day, when you take a break. Good information.
Lots of variety in surfaces on Camino. Good info.
As for the temperatures, I thought people were saying it's already hot right now? But if my math conversion is right, you're saying Camino Frances doesn't even get to 80F in May. Es correcto? For the central part and forward? I thought there was a big desert.
I'm assuming June temperatures are above 82F but not in Galicia.
Yeah, it can be handy.Wow great app Mark. Thanks
Yeah, this is a personal choice and one that I fretted about too before the Camino: Go with low-top, light-weight trail shoes like some of the ultra-light trekkers on the Pacific Crest Trail out here in CA, or sturdier, heavier boots? In the end I stuck with a brand that I'm familiar with and whose boots have been consistently reliable for me in all kinds of hikes: Keen. You mentioned that you own their sandals. I've hiked in their non-waterproof low-tops and waterproof versions as well. It's true that the non-waterproof versions breathe nicer, but on the Camino you'll probably get wet at some point (I went in March, so check around the forum here for summer weather, especially in Galicia where I'm sure it rains anyway). I experienced a little of all weather, including snow and ice. The Keens I chose for the Camino were their Oakridge Waterproof boot. They performed perfectly and I highly recommend them. Also, consider Superfeet inserts and wearing two pair of socks, and lotion or vaseline on your toes -- I didn't get a single blister the whole trip. Good luck and Buen Camino!Hello everyone, would you say a pilgrim could continue using quality running shoes and rugged sandals on the Camino Frances? Won't that work for most of the middle to the end sections in May and June? I've heard trail shoes are the way to go. In the USA a running shoe and a trail shoe are totally different. Don't have trail shoes. I've also heard waterproof shoes are necessary. Don't have those either. Don't have hiking boots either.
I'm from the USA, in Florida. I'm accustomed to walking or hiking in Brooks running shoes with Superfeet insoles for four miles to eight miles, wearing a lightweight hydration pack. I also use Keen sandals for shorter distances. I've never hiked in boots, trail shoes or waterproof shoes. I don't get blisters.
We don't have cobblestones here or uneven pavement here, except parts of St Augustine, and that's slow. We don't have rocks either. I have walked on sidewalks, which is unenjoyable. Mostly I walk in the woods, or on grass, or on sand-dusty trails; or I go barefoot on the beach or soccer fields. We don't have hills here. I normally avoid walking in mud and rain.
I am thinking of doing the Camino Frances starting in the middle of May, and ending in Santiago. I hope to do do 100 km, at minimum. I would like to do much more. I don't really know exactly where I will start. I want to walk about three or four weeks.
I'll be carrying a normal hiking backpack for low-weight overnight trips, with maybe 40 Liters capacity. Hope to limit loads to 15 pounds or so.
Perhaps you can advise, given my training habits and background, and because you are experts on the terrain and weather on Camino Frances. Thanks for any guidance and help.
Yeah, it can be handy.
I looked up Leon, Spain (about the halfway point of the CF sort of) for this month so far. Damn nice....40's-70's (F) and pretty dry.
https://www.wunderground.com/q/zmw:00000.1.08055
When temperatures are in the 75-82 range, with humidity below 55%, this is called paradise. Not desert.
I too have only the city to walk in. Pavement and sidewalks, with a short dirt walking path of about 1/2 mile. No hills.
What I would suggest is to wear your shoes for a 10 mile walk with a fully loaded pack. Walk from park to park or coffee shop to restaurant to mall, whatever will give you a break every 3 to 5 miles. Try for a 6 hour walk. If your feet are happy, wear the shoes.
Shoes will dry if it rains. There are water proof socks that weight much less than water proof shoes. If you have time, walk in the heat and go someplace to walk in the cool. Figure out socks. For me, the shoes were easy - the socks were difficult.
1. does it work for you?
2. does it weight less than another item.
Sure it's not that hot. We hit 115 F in Sydney this year. But I didn't go walking around for hours in it!
5-10 hours walking in just 80 F gets 'warm'. You will go through plenty of water and sun protection is essential, even in overcast weather.
But if you are used to long walks in warm/hot weather, you'll find it easy to cope with
I can't imagine walking for ten hours. Do people really do that? I was thinking a six hour day.
Very helpful!Look for trail running shoes. The major difference between trail runners and regular runners is the tread. Many companies make them. I wore New Balance last year.
The worst surface to work on in the heat is road on a hot day. Sometimes, however, it is unavoidable. But remember you will get a hot sun burning down on you and the road itself will be very hot and there is some glare as well. When you can feel the heat coming through the soles of your shoes it is not pleasant especially if you have several km to go. and this tends to happen almost inevitably in the last 5 km of the day. 35C on road on a sunny day is when I tend to haul the hiking umbrella out because it is really unpleasant and I need to take the temperature down a degree or 3. And I live in the Tropics so am present used to hiking in the heat. BTW, it's a dry heat usually so it is pretty rare to get drenched with sweat. But a lot of people don't realise how much fluid they lose as a result. And if you are mildly dehydrated with the wrong shoes, that is asking for blisters.I started walking August 23 last year, and it was definitely HOT. A couple of days it was up to 95F/35C. Fortunately, not much humidity. I did know a couple of people who had to take a rest early on because of the heat. I stopped walking each day by about 1:00 pm when it was that hot, and I was sweaty, but fine. Now I'm confident that I'll be able to handle the weather during my walk this year in July.
Personally I think people who do a large piece of the Camino in running shoes or trail runners and carry a pack are exposing themselves to ankle issues, arch problems and just having the things not holding up and denigrating (seen it twice). The footwear is simply not designed for that kind of use and believe me you don’t want to be looking for new footwear in the middle of your Camino.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?