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Shoes in October- November ?

ellensfootprints

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
October 5 ,2016
Greetings my people! I have Keen Durable sandals and Brooks trail shoes which I love both and they are well broken in. Now that so will start at SJPdp I would like to know if I should leave the sandals and go with a waterproof trail shoe or boot? Along with my trainers. Will my last few weeks be in rain an cold weather? I'm from Southern California ! Thanks for any feedback!
 
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Each time I've walked in October/November, I've worn New Balance Trail Runners with absolutely no problems at all. Comfortable, lightweight, sturdy soles, and dry overnight with no issues.
 
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Each time I've walked in October/November, I've worn New Balance Trail Runners with absolutely no problems at all. Comfortable, lightweight, sturdy soles, and dry overnight with no issues.
So not too much rain/ snow? I really don't want to drag any xtra wt around. So one pair of shoes would be great!
I'll be starting Oct.6/7 . Thanks so much!
 
So not too much rain/ snow?
Nobody said there wouldn't be rain or snow! :eek: However, I think most people only take one pair of shoes plus the evening slip-ons. I take waterproof boots but that's because they are super comfortable and they usually dry overnight. Others are happy with non-waterproof shoes, which might dry a bit faster.
 
So not too much rain/ snow? I really don't want to drag any xtra wt around. So one pair of shoes would be great!
I'll be starting Oct.6/7 . Thanks so much!

Yes, there will be rain and even some snow - be prepared! One pair of boots for the way and one pair of sandals for the albergues/towns will do the trick. Oh, and gaiters might be a good idea, plus rain trousers and poncho. Buen Camino, SY
 
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Greetings my people! I have Keen Durable sandals and Brooks trail shoes which I love both and they are well broken in. Now that so will start at SJPdp I would like to know if I should leave the sandals and go with a waterproof trail shoe or boot? Along with my trainers. Will my last few weeks be in rain an cold weather? I'm from Southern California ! Thanks for any feedback!
Galicia is known as the Seattle of Spain. Bring the trail shoes and think about some low gaiters as ¨waterproof¨ means there is proof that they can hold water. Also consider some gloves and a real rain jacket... Willy/Utah/USA ( Salamanca Hospitalero currently)
 
Greetings my people! I have Keen Durable sandals and Brooks trail shoes which I love both and they are well broken in. Now that so will start at SJPdp I would like to know if I should leave the sandals and go with a waterproof trail shoe or boot? Along with my trainers. Will my last few weeks be in rain an cold weather? I'm from Southern California ! Thanks for any feedback!

Cold is when you throw a bucket of water out the window and it freezes before it hits the ground.

It never gets cold in Spain.

Southern California has a similar climate to Spain. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes ... at higher altitudes ... it snows. You'll encounter frost from mid November. You might get snow and freezing temperatures between Astorga and Ponferrada and between Vega de Valcarce and Triacastela. You will get heavy squalls of rain in Galicia.
 
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Greetings my people! I have Keen Durable sandals and Brooks trail shoes which I love both and they are well broken in. Now that so will start at SJPdp I would like to know if I should leave the sandals and go with a waterproof trail shoe or boot? Along with my trainers. Will my last few weeks be in rain an cold weather? I'm from Southern California ! Thanks for any feedback!
Cold is when you throw a bucket of water out the window and it freezes before it hits the ground.

It never gets cold in Spain.

Southern California has a similar climate to Spain. Sometimes it rains. Sometimes ... at higher altitudes ... it snows. You'll encounter frost from mid November. You might get snow and freezing temperatures between Astorga and Ponferrada and between Vega de Valcarce and Triacastela. You will get heavy squalls of rain in Galicia.
Thank you all so much for your great info. Helped me make my decision. I can't wait to get there . October 7!
 
If I may add my 2 cents, I plan to cover the camino frances early november with a simple pair of trail running sneakers (+ gaiters for the rare snow patch), although i have mixed feelings about this especially if the weather turns sour.
 
Last edited:
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Southern California has a similar climate to Spain.
A similar suggestion has been made before, and it isn't borne out under any of the major climate classification schemes. Most of northern Spain is considered to be temperate oceanic under the Koppen scheme, with a band of temperate mediterranean to the east of Galicia. In contrast, Southern California appears to have a range of hot summer mediterranean, cold summer mediterranean, with hot desert and cold desert further inland and patches of hot semi-arid and cold semi-arid. (Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Spain, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_California)
 
A similar suggestion has been made before, and it isn't borne out under any of the major climate classification schemes. Most of northern Spain is considered to be temperate oceanic under the Koppen scheme, with a band of temperate mediterranean to the east of Galicia. In contrast, Southern California appears to have a range of hot summer mediterranean, cold summer mediterranean, with hot desert and cold desert further inland and patches of hot semi-arid and cold semi-arid. (Sources: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_Spain, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_of_California)

I have been to California. The caveat being that the visits have been short and the experience of it might not be representive. I guess the same could be said of my walk on the camino. Its often sunny. It rains hard. It snows. It never gets cold. Same as Spain.
 
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I have been to California. The caveat being that the visits have been short and the experience of it might not be representive. I guess the same could be said of my walk on the camino. Its often sunny. It rains hard. It snows. It never gets cold. Same as Spain.
The difference between us might be that I never expected my infrequent early autumn visits to south-western USA to make me an expert on its climate, even if it gave me a wonderful opportunity to appreciate the tremendous great range of different environments as one crossed southern California into Arizona or returned across it from Nevada. I would say the same about northern Spain in springtime.
 
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I'm not sure I would compare northern Spain and southern California. The Frwnch route is by far much cooler. If you are used to a warm climate be prepared for a slightly cooler one. The term "waterproof" is meaningless is Galicia. The rain is like a sentient being. Least that's how I found it while walking in October and November.
I carry crocs. Weigh almost nothing, can be worn in the shower.
Buen Camino...
 

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