WalkforSue
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Plan to walk May (2018)
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Many of us only bring trail shoes and no boots at all. Mine are a pair of lightweight New Balance trail runners. Walked from Saint Jean to Finesterre in them last year and only got one tiny blister. My back up shoes were a pair of sandals that I can walk in if necessary.I am planning to walk the entire Camino in May of 2018. I have watched a number of documentaries on YouTube and the consistent complaint is extremely painful blisters. I understand that I need to break my boots in (need to buy them) well before the trip. My question is - does it make sense to also bring a pair of trail shoes so I can alternate between boots and shoes - hopefully preventing "hot spots" from wearing the same shoes every day? My trail shoes are light and well broken in. Thanks is advance!
Hi,I am planning to walk the entire Camino in May of 2018. I have watched a number of documentaries on YouTube and the consistent complaint is extremely painful blisters. I understand that I need to break my boots in (need to buy them) well before the trip. My question is - does it make sense to also bring a pair of trail shoes so I can alternate between boots and shoes - hopefully preventing "hot spots" from wearing the same shoes every day? My trail shoes are light and well broken in. Thanks is advance!
IMHO, sometimes the OP isn't quite asking the question they don't quite realise they should ask. By sticking one's neck out a wee bit and risking the wrath of the thought police, one can gently and kindly lead a fellow pilgrim towards formulating further questions and more wide-ranging and focussed lines of enquiry. By rigidly sticking to the OP at ALL times, one risks rigid, limited thinking. I prefer curiosity and flexible, creative thinking. But that's just wacky presumptuous old me.The OP is not asking about a brand, nor boot vs what have you. He wants to know if two different types of walking footwear is a good idea, or if just sticking to one type will do.
Having backpacked thousands of miles of rough wilderness trails with pack weights, on average, of 36 Kg (36 pounds), wearing trail running shoes, I will not go back to my old-style backpacking boots...
To your specific question, no. I would support the advice to take what you will walk in, and your second pair should be what you will wear in the evening. If you already have footwear that fits, is still functional and will remain so for the length of your camino, use it. It may not be perfect, but you already know that.I am planning to walk the entire Camino in May of 2018. I have watched a number of documentaries on YouTube and the consistent complaint is extremely painful blisters. I understand that I need to break my boots in (need to buy them) well before the trip. My question is - does it make sense to also bring a pair of trail shoes so I can alternate between boots and shoes - hopefully preventing "hot spots" from wearing the same shoes every day? My trail shoes are light and well broken in. Thanks is advance!
This site appears to be run by a single individual to spread an ultra-light hiking agenda, and this particular article is little better than a series of headlines and opinions. Read it by all means, but don't think it should be given any more weight in your consideration than original advice you will get from forum members her.Here's some info about boots vs trail shoes:
http://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/ditch-boots
I think part of the difficulty is that when you are starting out and a lot of things about your body are starting to get sore, it isn't going to be easy to work out that one of them is a hot spot. It's also too easy to tough it out a little longer when it would be better to stop and attend to your feet. There is no simple solution to either, but if you can remember this - the pain you tough out today will be back to haunt you even more tomorrow. It's better to stop than to push through.As Michael Caine told me in Puente la Reina a while back (you have to do his voice in your head) "my mate said, if you get a hot spot on your foot slap a plaster on it. Job done!" (he didn't add 'not many people know that'
I wore salomon gtx mids and never had s blister. Two socks system with a Vaseline coat every morningI am planning to walk the entire Camino in May of 2018. I have watched a number of documentaries on YouTube and the consistent complaint is extremely painful blisters. I understand that I need to break my boots in (need to buy them) well before the trip. My question is - does it make sense to also bring a pair of trail shoes so I can alternate between boots and shoes - hopefully preventing "hot spots" from wearing the same shoes every day? My trail shoes are light and well broken in. Thanks is advance!
Just to note that 36 kg is about 79 pounds.
<snip>..... This site appears to be run by a single individual to spread an ultra-light hiking agenda, and this particular article is little better than a series of headlines and opinions. Read it by all means, but don't think it should be given any more weight in your consideration than original advice you will get from forum members her........
Haha - well said to a woman who is stuck home for five days recuperating from a workout injury. Note to self: "Working out the second day with a back is dumb and sacrifices more workout time than skipping the second day!" Thanks for your wise advice.I think part of the difficulty is that when you are starting out and a lot of things about your body are starting to get sore, it isn't going to be easy to work out that one of them is a hot spot. It's also too easy to tough it out a little longer when it would be better to stop and attend to your feet. There is no simple solution to either, but if you can remember this - the pain you tough out today will be back to haunt you even more tomorrow. It's better to stop than to push through.
Yes, that is my exact question, however, I am open to and thankful for everyone's input. To further clarify, I'm a climber and I use my trail shoes (with sticky soles) on my approach, so I wear them regularly and replace them when they start to break down.The OP is not asking about a brand, nor boot vs what have you. He wants to know if two different types of walking footwear is a good idea, or if just sticking to one type will do.
Indeed, and there is much that this community can offer in understanding that not every every situation needs boots, carrying extra weight doesn't make sense, etc, etc.Doug, I quite agree with your observation of the http://www.cleverhiker.com/blog/ditch-boots website. However, what the author is stating has become conventional wisdom among the large body of backpackers in the thru-hiking community for the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail, and the Continental Divide Trail. A large percentage of the experienced, non-thru hiker backpacking community have also echoed the findings reported on the website.
Thank you @WalkforSue , some people like to get carried away and let the world know they know things and forget what they highschool teacher taught them: it doesn't matter how brilliant your essay is if you are not answering the question.Yes, that is my exact question, however, I am open to and thankful for everyone's input. To further clarify, I'm a climber and I use my trail shoes (with sticky soles) on my approach, so I wear them regularly and replace them when they start to break down.
Indeed, and there is much that this community can offer in understanding that not every every situation needs boots, carrying extra weight doesn't make sense, etc, etc.
But my observation is they rarely discuss the risks and issues associated with the approaches they propose for an age and fitness demographic such as one might find on the camino. I could take every section of the 'Ditch Boots' article a point out where the author has ignored, downplayed or just disparaged any information on alternatives. It would be a rather boring and dry critique and I'm not about to do it here. But I do suggest that for many of us, advice that suits fit young people doing the AT etc is not always going to suit our own circumstances.
Indeed, and there is much that this community can offer in understanding that not every every situation needs boots, carrying extra weight doesn't make sense, etc, etc.
But my observation is they rarely discuss the risks and issues associated with the approaches they propose for an age and fitness demographic such as one might find on the camino. I could take every section of the 'Ditch Boots' article and point out where the author has ignored, downplayed or just disparaged any information on alternatives. It would be a rather boring and dry critique and I'm not about to do it here. But I do suggest that for many of us, advice that suits fit young people doing the AT etc is not always going to suit our own circumstances.
What about taking something waterproof for the feet? I've seen two schools of thought: 1. Waterproof is a must-have and 2., Forget it, you're feet will get wet anyway.
I've got a lightweight trail running shoe that would probably dry out pretty quickly. My waterproof shoes are fairly heavy - a pound and a half probably. What experiences have people had? Are waterproof shoes a leave-behind?
When are you walking? Wet feet in colder weather can be very uncomfortable, warm weather, not so much. Wet feet means your skin will soften and make you vulnerable to blisters. Dry shoes and wet pants or shorts means water running down your legs and getting into your nice waterproof boots. No shoes are really waterproof unless like me, you wear gaiters that cover the tops of your boots. So you ask a simple question which leads to many others to be answered before you can decide on a course of action.What about taking something waterproof for the feet? I've seen two schools of thought: 1. Waterproof is a must-have and 2., Forget it, you're feet will get wet anyway.
I've got a lightweight trail running shoe that would probably dry out pretty quickly. My waterproof shoes are fairly heavy - a pound and a half probably. What experiences have people had? Are waterproof shoes a leave-behind?
When are you walking? Wet feet in colder weather can be very uncomfortable, warm weather, not so much.
I walked in April - started last few days of March. Cooler weather was a deliberate choice. Seems to me that people who walk in summer are bonkers, but some people have little choice of timing.Mid-September to late October. Plan to have rain pants that should be 'gaiter-like'.
I've walked the West Highland Way and 3 days left on the Camino in Lowa boots, I've never had a single issue with blisters etc. I absolutely wouldn't wear anything else.I am planning to walk the entire Camino in May of 2018. I have watched a number of documentaries on YouTube and the consistent complaint is extremely painful blisters. I understand that I need to break my boots in (need to buy them) well before the trip. My question is - does it make sense to also bring a pair of trail shoes so I can alternate between boots and shoes - hopefully preventing "hot spots" from wearing the same shoes every day? My trail shoes are light and well broken in. Thanks is advance!
What about taking something waterproof for the feet? I've seen two schools of thought: 1. Waterproof is a must-have and 2., Forget it, you're feet will get wet anyway.
I've got a lightweight trail running shoe that would probably dry out pretty quickly. My waterproof shoes are fairly heavy - a pound and a half probably. What experiences have people had? Are waterproof shoes a leave-behind?
I have walked the Camino from SJ to Finisterre 4 times. I wear Adidas running shoes and running socks. I take out the inserts that come in the shoes and replace them with really good arch supports. Never had a blister or sore feet. Flip flops for after walking. Even though boot lovers won't like this comment, you don't really need boots. You will be walking not mountain climbing.I am planning to walk the entire Camino in May of 2018. I have watched a number of documentaries on YouTube and the consistent complaint is extremely painful blisters. I understand that I need to break my boots in (need to buy them) well before the trip. My question is - does it make sense to also bring a pair of trail shoes so I can alternate between boots and shoes - hopefully preventing "hot spots" from wearing the same shoes every day? My trail shoes are light and well broken in. Thanks is advance!
I like the idea of an extra pair of insoles. Thanks!There is no such thing as a totally waterproof boot. Believe me, in my decades of wilderness backpacking I've tried it all. At best, the inevitable is only kept at bay for a bit longer. The US Military recognized this during the Vietnam war. My boots were fabric tops and leather bottoms with holes in the leather at the insole level. The holes drained the water that would soak into the boots when slogging through standing water in the jungles, or through rice paddies and shallow ponds.
Trail running shoes DO dry out pretty quickly. Boots will stay wet a lot longer than the shoes will. I have used trail runners on hikes throughout the Cascades, for weeks at a time, where rain was a given and soggy, puddled trails were inevitable. Yeah, the shoes (New Balance Leadville) would get wet, but paired with the smartwool socks I use, kept my feet comfortable. No blisters, and things dried out overnight.
I also carry an extra pair of lightweight insoles to swap out if the wet insoles aren't quite dry enough. And of course, extra socks. If I expect rain, I will apply a heavy coat of something like Body Glide, or Bonnies Balm to my feet to help keep them protected from pruning from excessively prolonged exposure to water. Of course, periodic breaks to allow for removing shoes and to dry off feet a bit is a good strategy.
For me, the conversion to trail runners about five years ago, was eye opening. Without the extra weight on my feet I am able to go farther with less fatigue.
Perhaps my experience is different here, because I find that with proper raingear and good waterproof boots my feet will remain dry for almost all of the day unless I am doing very long days, even in pretty continuous rain and walking in mud and bog. When I have faced these conditions, most of the time the issue is one of sweat buildup getting to the point where it runs down under the raingear and into my boots. Even in early spring, I find this point is reached sooner than it might be when I am walking in more places with a more temperate climate. I suspect that part of this is the easy nature of the Camino paths, where it is easier to maintain a faster pace than other places I have walked.There is no such thing as a totally waterproof boot. Believe me, in my decades of wilderness backpacking I've tried it all. At best, the inevitable is only kept at bay for a bit longer.
I find it a dilemma to give advice on whether or not to take good gear and try and walk dry, or just accept getting wet. My experience walking in temperate places is that good waterproof gear works and is part of being able to back up day after day when hiking. I took the same approach on my first camino in 2010 and again in 2014, and there were only a few rainy days. The gear I was using worked well as both rain and wind protection each time. Last year I decided to lighten my load and use a much lighter jacket, rain trousers and boots. These were okay in light rain, but did not perform well on the rainy days in Galicia just before arriving in Santiago, yet the very same gear has recently performed very well walking in very wet and very windy summer alpine and sub-arctic conditions in Norway and Iceland.The thing about DougFitz's info here (above) is that he doesn't just walk the Camino but has vast hands on (or is it feet on?) experience trekking in all sorts of climates and terrains over many years, not only as a trekker but as a first aider, so he has seen many feet in those situations too, not just his own -
I like walking Camino in trekking sandals (always in warm seasons) - Keen Newports - but when it comes to boots I would listen to Doug.
I walked Porto to Santiago in a pair of Bondi 3. Super comfortable. Never felt any of the cobblestones that bother so many.Does anyone have any experience wearing Hoka One One's? They are incredibly light but still have a good sole.
Thanks. I do have extremely "tender footies". I'm not sure it's possible to find any shoe that will eliminate the pain I'll have to suffer through. I walked the CF in 2015 in Keen low-rise boots. By midday every day, I had to use ibuprofen 600 and sometimes Tylenol 2, just to be to keep going. Now I'm planning to walk the CP in Hoka One One's in October, either W Challenger ATR 3, or TOR TECH MID Hoka One One waterproof boots. I thought I might want the ankle support for the cobblestones. Did you have trouble with that? If I didn't think I'd want the ankle support, I'd opt for the lighter weight Challenger. My age is against me at 75, because balance isn't as good as it once was. My poles will help with that, of course.I walked Porto to Santiago in a pair of Bondi 3. Super comfortable. Never felt any of the cobblestones that bother so many.
This being said, the tread is very soft, porous, so it does get worn quickly. Good for 300km, will not do for a full Frances, Norte or VDLP. HOO has other models with Vibram tread. I have a pair of Cliftons like that, but the toe box would be too narrow for me for a Camino, ok for going to the dog run. But HOO keeps coming up with many new models all the time, and recently launched wide versions of many of its models. Try as many of them on until,you get a good tread with a good fit.
Also, keep in mind that in order to be so light the material the shoe is made with is light, including made with tiny perforations. Waterproof they are not: if I walk through damp grass my socks will get wet. Bit they'll also dry fast!
A very comfortable shoe for tender footies.
The pain you feel by midday ... have you consulted a podiatrist? I ask because on my first C. the ball of my feet hurt a lot. I could not understand how others were doing just fine. I assumed I had not chosen a sturdy enough shoe. So I buy these memory foam, above the ankle monsters. 2 days in and I am in pain. So I took the boots off, pulled oit my Croc sandals and walked like this until I found trekking sandals in Astorga.By midday every day, I had to use ibuprofen 600 and sometimes Tylenol 2, just to be to keep going.
... the ankle support for the cobblestones. Did you have trouble with that?
My age is against me at 75, because balance isn't as good as it once was. My poles will help with that, of course.
I thought I might want the ankle support for the cobblestones. Did you have trouble with that? If I didn't think I'd want the ankle support, I'd opt for the lighter weight Challenger. My age is against me at 75, because balance isn't as good as it once was. My poles will help with that, of course.
I thought I might want the ankle support for the cobblestones. Did you have trouble with that? If I didn't think I'd want the ankle support, I'd opt for the lighter weight Challenger.
Does anyone have any experience wearing Hoka One One's? They are incredibly light but still have a good sole.
I am planning to walk the entire Camino in May of 2018. I have watched a number of documentaries on YouTube and the consistent complaint is extremely painful blisters. I understand that I need to break my boots in (need to buy them) well before the trip. My question is - does it make sense to also bring a pair of trail shoes so I can alternate between boots and shoes - hopefully preventing "hot spots" from wearing the same shoes every day? My trail shoes are light and well broken in. Thanks is advance!
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