Sandals vs Closed Shoe

[Sandyojo]

Aren't pebbles, road/debris getting under foot and sandal? Please sound-off. Thanks.

 

[Old Gringo]

Personally . . .I never saw one peregrino on the trail with sandals which should tell you a lot. Walking around town yes, trail no.

 

[whariwharangi]

I see people backpacking with sandals because of blisters. So it does work. You just have to be more careful about not stubbing your toe and picking up gravel.

 

[SYates]

Keen Sandals have some models that have the toe box covered in mesh to prevent stones etc getting in, something like this http://www.keenfootwear.com/product/shoes/women/newport-h2 I know quite a few fellow pilgrims that love them and use Keen Sandals as their main hiking shoe.
Buen Camino, SY

 

[Chigginson]

I started out with boots, but they have proved too small for my feet when they are swollen from around the 15km mark and resulted in a lot of pain and some inflamed blisters. I actually cut off the toe section of my boot (following the example of my peregramigo Henrik) and have been largely pain free. I have twice, in the past 5 days since cutting off the toes, had a small pebble enter the shoe. I did the outlandish thing of stopping, and removing the offensive material... I therefore think I would walk the camino in sandals were i to do it again (or maybe crocs, since fashion sense thankfully doesn't need to exist on the camino). Or cut yourself a pair of 'boondals' like me, and get the ankle support of a boot and the toe freedom of a sandal.

 

[Old Gringo]

I think the importance of footwear fit (and break in) can’t be stressed enough. My observation has been that the number one malady forcing people off the Camino was foot problems.

 

[LesBrass]

I wore Salomon's for my first 2 camino but I bought some Teva sandals and I've been training in them at home on pretty stoney trails which aren't that unlike the Camino Francis.

I have been so impressed with them so far and I certainly hope to wear them as much as I can on the Via... the Salomons will come too but I could see a 50/50 ratio happening... maybe?

 

[VNwalking]

I believe @Kanga walks in sandals--perhaps PM her?
My experience is that the lightness and breathability of sandals makes for far fewer blisters. But I can't share any experience of sandals on the Camino per s as I've been using a shoe (the Keen McKenzie) that is really the best of both worlds--a sandal with mesh. I've happily done the last 2 caminos in them, and no blisters.
[Sadly, this model has been discontinued, but if you're in Europe, this shoe can still be found online (@Giselleontour and I had some fun here about this...).
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/r-i-p-my-wonderful-shoes.40736/#post-422480
In the USA it also pays to check your local small walking shoe store--especially if you have a smaller than average foot--I found them locally in a women's size 7. ]

If you don't need super-wide sizes, there are other brands besides Keen that make 'water shoes' (basically sandals with mesh like the McKenzie above) that can double as perfectly good walking shoes--here's a random search:
https://www.rei.com/c/womens-water-shoes?r=c&ir=category:womens-water-shoes&page=1
They're worth checking out.

 

[Kiwi-family]

I walk in sandals with a covered toe. They are what fit. Fit is the most important factor.
Stopping to take a rogue pebble out is much quicker when you're wearing sandals than it was for the shoe and boot wearers I walked with!

 

[The 5 McC's]

I walk in sandals wide like buckets with a toe covering. They're not the most fashonable especially as I alternate every 7 kms with socks. I've never had any blisters and sometimes walk through puddles or fords to cool the feet. I wore boots for the first 7kms on the Pyrenees but that was all they were left behind.

 

[PEI_Heather]

I walked the Camino Portuguese in only trail sandals. I much preferred them to boots, in which my feet got too hot and had lots of blisters. I got blisters with the sandals but between the toes and where the sandal rubbed against my foot...solved this with moleskin and/or band aids. Pebbles and such were easy to remove: stop, undo strap, let pebble fall out, redo strap, continue walking (vs boots: stop, sit, undo boot, take off boot, shake out boot, put boot back on, lace up boot, stand up, continue walking).
My sandals were Merrills; I continue to wear them. (Oh, they don't have a toe covering, like the Keens do. My boots were Keens and now I am hesitant to wear them as my toes kept hitting the toe covering/front of the boot.)

 

[PEI_Heather]

I walk in sandals wide like buckets with a toe covering. They're not the most fashonable especially as I alternate every 7 kms with socks. I've never had any blisters and sometimes walk through puddles or fords to cool the feet. I wore boots for the first 7kms on the Pyrenees but that was all they were left behind.

My walking buddy was constantly asked if we were German; I wore socks with my wide-mouthed Merrills as well. (SO comfortable!!!!) The funny thing is, he IS German (boots and socks for him) and I'm Canadian!

 

[november_moon]

I can never seem to keep the rocks and junk out of my sandals if I hike in them. Other people manage to do it though.

 

[Tuesday Wildchild]

As someone who ONLY wears thongs or sandels I'd find enclosed foot wear hard going.

Yes I get grit and stuff in my feet but it's not hard to dislodge.

 

[ChloeRose]

I alternated between closed-toe and sandals because of bad blister problems. My closed-toe sneakers didn't breath enough! I didn't get much debris in my sandals as I walked, but I ultimately replaced my sneakers with a good mesh pair and gave the sandals away.