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Sandals and rain ? Do I wear socks..... Portugues in two week's time !

Gillyweb

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Villafranca - Santiago (2013)
SJPP - Santiago (2014)
Portugues (2017)
So....I feel ashamed to not know the answer to this after doing the CF twice but.....am I supposed to wear walking sandals in the rain ? With socks ? Without socks ??? What ???

I've always walked in my Berghaus lightweight high top hiking boots and they have only ever given me one blister. For the CF I needed them on the stonier sections (I like my ankles to feel supported) but having now done over 1000 miles I feel they may need to retire. I'm off to the Portugues in two weeks and I have a new pair of Merrill trekking shoes (All Out Blaze Sieve) which are super comfortable but which I'm currently wearing with socks. They are described as waterproof upper, but of course have holes in them (they are a sandal after all !!!) What do I do in the Galician rain ? I'm afraid to wear them barefoot as I don't want blisters but surely socks get soaked. Should I be taking my boots too ?? I'm in a quandry....help please
 
Last edited:
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
Water proof socks would work, if it is cold out. Like other rain gear, your feet won't breath in them. If it's warm, just let them get wet and bring an extra pair of sole inserts.
 
Took one pair of waterproof socks this year because was walking in early spring in trail runners so expected snow and rain. Wearing them felt like what I imagine wearing a wet suit would be like but they certainly worked. Kept my feet totally dry. Biggest drawback (apart from the cost!) was, when washed, they took ages to dry. Tricky if you get several consecutive days of rain. Mind you noone else washes much then either. I'd take them again.
 
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@Gillyweb where are you from? You say "south east" but not sure what continent/country. I only ask to know what might be available in your neck-of-the-woods.

I wear sandals in the rain. I have two different types of waterproof/breathable socks, and both are fine, but I would not wear them for extended periods because nothing that is waterproof is also completely breathable - so I keep them for when I really need them. One brand is Sealskinz https://www.sealskinz.com/UK/
and the other DexShell http://www.wetweatherwear.com/water-proof-socks.php

My suggestion is that you wear ordinary socks when it is dry, and the waterproof ones when it is wet. Although I don't wear socks most of the time, even when it rains. Easier to dry feet than socks!
 
No socks plus Teva F4's work for me ☺
 
On the Norte/Primativo mid April-early June I wore sandals the entire way. I wore a lite sock most of the time, but also had merino wool socks if it was colder. I doubled the thin and the merino on some cold or wet days, and only one horribly wet and cold day did my feet feel a bit cold, but all of me was cold too. I walked with no socks on part of the Camino dos Faros, but usually I was glad of the socks. I did buy some new ones part way across (Decathlon, 2 euros) as they had gotten trashed after a particularly bad series of "swamps" somewhere. The great thing about hiking in sandals is that after your feet get wet the first time, you really don't care, as they usually dry off quickly. I was going to buy Sealskinz after asking Kanga for advice, but my local EMS store didn't have my size, and I left it too late to order them. Next trip I will do the same combo again as I loved it.
 
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The focus is on reducing the risk of failure through being well prepared. 2nd ed.
I wore socks with my sandals. But heavily Vaselined my feet to stop the friction and brought an extra pair of socks to change once the rain stopped.
 
Shelova said:
I wore socks with my sandals. But heavily Vaselined my feet to stop the friction and brought an extra pair of socks to change once the rain stopped.
Click to expand...

Take both waterproof and merino , 2 pairs of each.
In the morning is chilly put one on , a few hours latter take them off when having a coffee.
 
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