The Perfect Camino Shoe!

PastorCat · Mar 1, 2018

Shoes and boots are like opinions...

Opinions are like butts...

Everyone's has one...

And most of them...well......ya'll can complete that sentence.

That said, I've found the Perfect Camino Shoe...at least for folks with wide-feet, Plantar Fasciitis, or bunionettes. I have all three. WideFoot folks rejoice!

Behold the amazing: Brooks Addiction 13
(cue the orchestral sound effects)

Whenever preparing for a long distance hike, I use Amazon Prime to sample shoes and boots. Brick and mortar shoe stores can only carry a limited number of styles and brands. Amazon, pretty much, carries every brand and style in existence. And they deliver them to your house...and pick them up to return them for free! I have tried on nearly 100 pairs of boots and shoes since 2015 (...in preparation for three long-distance hikes). Till I found these Brooks shoes I had a few favorites:

ASICS GEL-FOUNDATION 13 (previously, my favorite - Unfortunately, folks with really-wide feet have zero trail-running options).
NEW BALANCE 990 (available in 6E, these are a close second to the Gel Foundation 13's. The 6E here is size-equivalent to most 4E shoes)
MEN'S MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR (IMHO -If you don't have really wide feet, this is as good as it gets)

Notwithstanding the three honorable mentions above, after trying on, (more or less), 100 pairs of boots and shoes, (probably more), in my opinion, for pilgrims with:

Really wide feet
Bunionettes (or presumably bunions)
Plantar Fasciitis
Yikes! Or all three...

The best "lite hiking" shoe/boot in existence is the Brooks Addiction 13!

And now a few footnotes:

A bunionette — or "Tailor's Bunion" — is just like a big toe bunion, but develops on a little toe instead.
Boots on the Camino Frances are for fans of blisters. If you like hot, sweaty, blistery feet, hike the Camino in boots. Of course, that excludes the MEN'S MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR. The Moab boots are awesome!
Amazon hater's, best of luck! The world is changing. There is no stopping it. The prevalence of Etail (as opposed to retail) is going to increase from now until the Apocalypse. Time to adjust. Shoes aren't vegetables. Nor are they made by local craftsmen. "Buying Local" when talking about products manufactured internationally is pointless. Kind of silly too. It's 2018. Logistics have evolved. It's best to evolve with them.

C clearly · Mar 1, 2018

So happy that you have found the perfect shoe for your particular feet, at this time, for your type of usage. No need for hyperbole.

Anamiri · Mar 2, 2018

I like my Brooks as well, might look into that style, although I was hoping to find some hiking sandals

PastorCat · Mar 2, 2018

C clearly said:
So happy that you have found the perfect shoe for your particular feet, at this time, for your type of usage. No need for hyperbole.

Without hyperbole the world would be outrageously boring, incredibly bland, irretrievably disappointing, hmmmm....dare I say, a world like that would be PERFECTLY HUMORLESS. Know what I mean pilgrim?

C clearly · Mar 2, 2018

PastorCat said:
Without hyperbole the world would be outrageously boring, incredibly bland, irretrievably disappointing

True. And you'd know you hadn't achieved an effective level if you didnt get any response.

Camino Chrissy · Mar 2, 2018

Happy for you to be so excited and enthused about shoes that are working so well for you and offering options that may help others!

JanelMcB · Mar 2, 2018

Altra Lone Peak 3 or 3.5 are excellent if you need a shoe with a wide toe box. Very light weight. Comfortable feel under foot when walking.

Joziane · Mar 2, 2018

Congratulations!! It can be quite a chore to find the RIGHT one....enjoy them and thank them each day after
the walk is done.....

blueskywa · Mar 2, 2018

Having a number of pairs of Brooks - leather and mesh Addiction and Ariels as well, I have found the insoles in the Ariel are THE best for comfort. The same insoles have been around the block for 10 years or so, including a Camino and ready for the next one, not to mention many kilometres of training. AND they still look like new. They just get popped into my new shoes, this time Salomon which has a comfy insole but not a patch on the Ariel....

J F Gregory · Mar 2, 2018

JanelMcB said:
Altra Lone Peak 3 or 3.5 are excellent if you need a shoe with a wide toe box. Very light weight. Comfortable feel under foot when walking.

This is also my choice for a trail runner.

lt56ny · Mar 2, 2018

I love my brooks Cascadias. Just got a new pair for my fourth Camino

PastorCat · Mar 3, 2018

JanelMcB said:
Altra Lone Peak 3 or 3.5 are excellent if you need a shoe with a wide toe box. Very light weight. Comfortable feel under foot when walking.

Hey! If you have a link to a 4E (or wider) trail running shoe, I’d love to give it a try. I’ve yet to find a trail runner that’s wide enough for my foot.

KariC · Mar 3, 2018

JanelMcB said:
Altra Lone Peak 3 or 3.5 are excellent if you need a shoe with a wide toe box. Very light weight. Comfortable feel under foot when walking.

I have the pretty much the feet PastorCat describes, and have tried on and not liked Altras. It's all so individual. The wide Lowa boots work perfectly for me, but I've yet to find a shoe I can go really long distances in. I've made a note of the Brooks and well as another shoe recommended months ago, for the next time I decide to try to find the perfect long distance shoe.
It's all SO individual!

trecile · Mar 3, 2018

I think that MY Perfect Camino Shoe would be a better title for this thread.

josephmcclain · Mar 3, 2018

PastorCat said:
Shoes and boots are like opinions...

Opinions are like butts...

Everyone's has one...

And most of them...well......ya'll can complete that sentence.

That said, I've found the Perfect Camino Shoe...at least for folks with wide-feet, Plantar Fasciitis, or bunionettes. I have all three. WideFoot folks rejoice!

Behold the amazing: Brooks Addiction 13
(cue the orchestral sound effects)
View attachment 39828
Whenever preparing for a long distance hike, I use Amazon Prime to sample shoes and boots. Brick and mortar shoe stores can only carry a limited number of styles and brands. Amazon, pretty much, carries every brand and style in existence. And they deliver them to your house...and pick them up to return them for free! I have tried on nearly 100 pairs of boots and shoes since 2015 (...in preparation for three long-distance hikes). Till I found these Brooks shoes I had a few favorites:

ASICS GEL-FOUNDATION 13 (previously, my favorite - Unfortunately, folks with really-wide feet have zero trail-running options).

NEW BALANCE 990 (available in 6E, these are a close second to the Gel Foundation 13's. The 6E here is size-equivalent to most 4E shoes)

MEN'S MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR (IMHO -If you don't have really wide feet, this is as good as it gets)

Notwithstanding the three honorable mentions above, after trying on, (more or less), 100 pairs of boots and shoes, (probably more), in my opinion, for pilgrims with:

Really wide feet

Bunionettes (or presumably bunions)

Plantar Fasciitis

Yikes! Or all three...

The best "lite hiking" shoe/boot in existence is the Brooks Addiction 13!

And now a few footnotes:

A bunionette — or "Tailor's Bunion" — is just like a big toe bunion, but develops on a little toe instead.

Boots on the Camino Frances are for fans of blisters. If you like hot, sweaty, blistery feet, hike the Camino in boots. Of course, that excludes the MEN'S MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR. The Moab boots are awesome!

Amazon hater's, best of luck! The world is changing. There is no stopping it. The prevalence of Etail (as opposed to retail) is going to increase from now until the Apocalypse. Time to adjust. Shoes aren't vegetables. Nor are they made by local craftsmen. "Buying Local" when talking about products manufactured internationally is pointless. Kind of silly too. It's 2018. Logistics have evolved. It's best to evolve with them.

I totally understand your enthusiasm for your shoes! I felt the same thing for mine. The whole Camino Frances without blisters or any problem at all. They were HOKAs and I loved them. I sort of bowed down to them in worship every evening!

Jeff Crawley · Mar 3, 2018

PastorCat said:
Shoes and boots are like opinions...

Opinions are like butts...

Everyone's has one...

And most of them...well......ya'll can complete that sentence.

That said, I've found the Perfect Camino Shoe...at least for folks with wide-feet, Plantar Fasciitis, or bunionettes. I have all three. WideFoot folks rejoice!

Behold the amazing: Brooks Addiction 13
(cue the orchestral sound effects)
View attachment 39828
Whenever preparing for a long distance hike, I use Amazon Prime to sample shoes and boots. Brick and mortar shoe stores can only carry a limited number of styles and brands. Amazon, pretty much, carries every brand and style in existence. And they deliver them to your house...and pick them up to return them for free! I have tried on nearly 100 pairs of boots and shoes since 2015 (...in preparation for three long-distance hikes). Till I found these Brooks shoes I had a few favorites:

ASICS GEL-FOUNDATION 13 (previously, my favorite - Unfortunately, folks with really-wide feet have zero trail-running options).

NEW BALANCE 990 (available in 6E, these are a close second to the Gel Foundation 13's. The 6E here is size-equivalent to most 4E shoes)

MEN'S MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR (IMHO -If you don't have really wide feet, this is as good as it gets)

Notwithstanding the three honorable mentions above, after trying on, (more or less), 100 pairs of boots and shoes, (probably more), in my opinion, for pilgrims with:

Really wide feet

Bunionettes (or presumably bunions)

Plantar Fasciitis

Yikes! Or all three...

The best "lite hiking" shoe/boot in existence is the Brooks Addiction 13!

And now a few footnotes:

A bunionette — or "Tailor's Bunion" — is just like a big toe bunion, but develops on a little toe instead.

Boots on the Camino Frances are for fans of blisters. If you like hot, sweaty, blistery feet, hike the Camino in boots. Of course, that excludes the MEN'S MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR. The Moab boots are awesome!

Amazon hater's, best of luck! The world is changing. There is no stopping it. The prevalence of Etail (as opposed to retail) is going to increase from now until the Apocalypse. Time to adjust. Shoes aren't vegetables. Nor are they made by local craftsmen. "Buying Local" when talking about products manufactured internationally is pointless. Kind of silly too. It's 2018. Logistics have evolved. It's best to evolve with them.

(Holds breath while waiting to see your review of perfect socks . . . )

PastorCat · Mar 4, 2018

trecile said:
I think that MY Perfect Camino Shoe would be a better title for this thread.

PastorCat · Mar 4, 2018

Jeff Crawley said:
(Holds breath while waiting to see your review of perfect socks . . . )

Look out for the "World's Greatest Sock" review next week.

rbrownprop · Mar 4, 2018

You might try an unconventional approach. I wear Keen Waimea sandals in all but the most extreme conditions. Tracks like the Camino suit me and them just fine. If your feet don't tolerate cold that could be a problem part of the year. But other than that there are few downsides. The number one advantage is less surface areas for potential blistering and no need for socks. The footbeds are as good as the most expensive insoles a new pair should last beyond the end of the track almost no matter where you start. You could buy a pair for a test; even if you don't wind up using them on your Camino you will have a good sandal for other uses.

PastorCat · Mar 4, 2018

rbrownprop said:
You might try an unconventional approach. I wear Keen Waimea sandals in all but the most extreme conditions. Tracks like the Camino suit me and them just fine. If your feet don't tolerate cold that could be a problem part of the year. But other than that there are few downsides. The number one advantage is less surface areas for potential blistering and no need for socks. The footbeds are as good as the most expensive insoles a new pair should last beyond the end of the track almost no matter where you start. You could buy a pair for a test; even if you don't wind up using them on your Camino you will have a good sandal for other uses.

Ya know, when I walked in 2015, I did bring a pair of hiking sandals with me. The sandals did double duty as albergue shoes (assuming they'd been washed) and were great for hiking the flats. I didn't like them for inclines or descents. I couldn't use them for rocky roads either. Even so, they did get lots of use.

Below is the sandal I brought. Well... Not the actual sandal. That's just a picture. It's not even a picture of the actual sandal. That's a new one. Nowadays mine is old and dirty. Anyhoo, kind of like the photo below.

Letsgocamino · Mar 4, 2018

I walked the CP from Porto to SdeC wearing Keen H2 sandals and injinji toe sox and not a blister was had. Love Keen's big toe box AND for this walk i bought a mens size 8.5 on the advice of an REI foot guy as I hv a wide foot. He said mens size run wider. I believe shoes are like beauty products. You can't hv too many.

rbrownprop · Mar 4, 2018

I understand that some (okay most) people want something on their feet that provides a sense of stability. But the heel strap in the Ecco would drive me crazy; some Keen H2s also have the heel strap. I look at the heel strap as just another possibility of getting a blister. The only place I ever got a skin irritation is in the ball of the foot when using a new pair of Waimeas before breaking them in slowly. A little foot powder helps. I have attached a pic of the first pair I bought in 2014 (and still use when working in the garden, etc.). I wore them all over Asia. I did have to have the web preemptively stitched up in Batambang, Cambodia in 2016. The newer Waimeas don't wear as long but at US$60 they remain a bargain. I wouldn't wear anything else.

Erik Sandnes · Mar 30, 2018

JanelMcB said:
Altra Lone Peak 3 or 3.5 are excellent if you need a shoe with a wide toe box. Very light weight. Comfortable feel under foot when walking.

Altra Lone Peak are zero drop running shoes. Do you really recommend zero drop shoes for walking? I tried the HOKAs on the Camino in 2016, but they gave me a whole lot of blisters.

Jbirk · Mar 30, 2018

PastorCat said:
Shoes and boots are like opinions...

Opinions are like butts...

Everyone's has one...

And most of them...well......ya'll can complete that sentence.

That said, I've found the Perfect Camino Shoe...at least for folks with wide-feet, Plantar Fasciitis, or bunionettes. I have all three. WideFoot folks rejoice!

Behold the amazing: Brooks Addiction 13
(cue the orchestral sound effects)
View attachment 39828
Whenever preparing for a long distance hike, I use Amazon Prime to sample shoes and boots. Brick and mortar shoe stores can only carry a limited number of styles and brands. Amazon, pretty much, carries every brand and style in existence. And they deliver them to your house...and pick them up to return them for free! I have tried on nearly 100 pairs of boots and shoes since 2015 (...in preparation for three long-distance hikes). Till I found these Brooks shoes I had a few favorites:

ASICS GEL-FOUNDATION 13 (previously, my favorite - Unfortunately, folks with really-wide feet have zero trail-running options).

NEW BALANCE 990 (available in 6E, these are a close second to the Gel Foundation 13's. The 6E here is size-equivalent to most 4E shoes)

MEN'S MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR (IMHO -If you don't have really wide feet, this is as good as it gets)

Notwithstanding the three honorable mentions above, after trying on, (more or less), 100 pairs of boots and shoes, (probably more), in my opinion, for pilgrims with:

Really wide feet

Bunionettes (or presumably bunions)

Plantar Fasciitis

Yikes! Or all three...

The best "lite hiking" shoe/boot in existence is the Brooks Addiction 13!

And now a few footnotes:

A bunionette — or "Tailor's Bunion" — is just like a big toe bunion, but develops on a little toe instead.

Boots on the Camino Frances are for fans of blisters. If you like hot, sweaty, blistery feet, hike the Camino in boots. Of course, that excludes the MEN'S MOAB 2 MID VENTILATOR. The Moab boots are awesome!

Amazon hater's, best of luck! The world is changing. There is no stopping it. The prevalence of Etail (as opposed to retail) is going to increase from now until the Apocalypse. Time to adjust. Shoes aren't vegetables. Nor are they made by local craftsmen. "Buying Local" when talking about products manufactured internationally is pointless. Kind of silly too. It's 2018. Logistics have evolved. It's best to evolve with them.

What made you not choose the MOAB? I’m going through the same thing as you and have it narrowed down to the MOABs and Solomen XA (wide). Leaning toward the Merrells. I love my Brooks on the street but feel every rock after about 100-200 miles wear.

JanelMcB · Mar 30, 2018

Erik Sandnes said:
Altra Lone Peak are zero drop running shoes. Do you really recommend zero drop shoes for walking? I tried the HOKAs on the Camino in 2016, but they gave me a whole lot of blisters.

The person who recommended the Altra Lone Peak shoe to me has walked hundreds and hundreds of miles in them. No blisters. No problems. I'm testing several shoes now and feel no difference between them with regard to the zero drop.

mousehog · Mar 30, 2018

I really lucked out with my Mammut boots. I broke them in 2 months prior to starting. I prefer the ankle support in a light non leather hiking boot.

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