- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances/Finestere 2023, 2024 ?
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Thanks for sharing your useful experience. Also planning to use non-goretex or other waterproof materials.This varies a lot from person to person - for some people, feet swell a lot in the heat, for others not.
The fact that you can walk 6 hours and your feet don't swell is a good sign, but only if exposed to heat you will really find out.
I never wear shoes "extra size" for the camino. I wear the same ones I walk at my home town (cold parts of Australia). But I came to learn that I need shoes that breath well: the only time my feet got swollen to the point of hurting was once I was training with waterproof shoes on a hot day, and it was SO BAD, the temperatures inside the shoe were ridiculous. So now, only breathable shoes for me. At the same time, I know people who do entire caminos on summer with waterproof shoes just fine.
So I think the main thing is to make an educated guess considering how your feet normally behave. Maybe go with the shoes that are comfortable for you, but have some budget to buy something different if they out to be the wrong option for the camino?
Thanks for sharing your useful experience. Also planning to use non-goretex or other waterproof materials.
Never ever. Not on my hikes in moderate to cold climate, and not in Guatemala either. Shoes should fit as good as possible, without wobbling around at your feet. This would only increase the risk of blisters and worse.I'm curious if people wear shoes one/half size too big shoes due to swelling of the feet? Heard this recommended, but I've never needed it on my long hikes (5-6 hours). But it has been in cold temperatures, so, will the heat make my feet swell? What do you think and what do you do?
I don't size up either as per the reasons already stated. I think this advice is so popular on the camino because this is the first time most walkers have done a long hike.Never ever. Not on my hikes in moderate to cold climate, and not in Guatemala either. Shoes should fit as good as possible, without wobbling around at your feet. This would only increase the risk of blisters and worse.
The only reason I could imagine why in recent years this oversizing myth emerged: Maybe people not used to wearing practical shoes and to walking tend to generally buy shoes that do not fit well and even are too small from the start. I have seen many people wearing fashionable or office shoes that were definitely too small, squeezing their feet into them.
I never go by numbers at all unless I am re-buying a brand and model I bought before. Depending on brand, my shoe sizes vary by up to 1.5 in difference. So a 10.5 from one brand might be a perfect fit as might be a 12 from another.When I got my first "proper" shoes I was recommended to go at least a size bigger. I did so and the toe box was to wide and "floaty". I ended up with plus half size (10 1/2 instead of 10) and I'm very pleased with the fit.
Also, shoes can have different widths depending on the make so its important to get properly fitted (in my opinion) for your first shoes (mine are a narrow fit)
As above, the caveat is that everyone is different.
Best of luck choosing your footwear.
and by many others before him!! @davebugg has contributed to a discussion that started well before he and I joined the forum, and will no doubt continue despite the fact that what is sound advice on this topic hasn't fundamentally changed. If you can get to a good outdoors retailer with a fitting slope, merely buying a size larger is not sound advice! That said, the link @henrythedog has provided is the latest and probably the most complete explanation, and what is offered in the first half dozen or so posts there offers a pretty complete coverage of the topic.Not entirely coincidentally that is as recommended by Dave Bugg as follows:
The only reason I could imagine why in recent years this oversizing myth emerged: Maybe people not used to wearing practical shoes and to walking tend to generally buy shoes that do not fit well and even are too small from the start. I have seen many people wearing fashionable or office shoes that were definitely too small, squeezing their feet into them.
Not always so easy. Not many sandals can accommodate custom orthotics, and also, every pair has the straps positioned differently so there's still lots of opportunity for problems. (For those of us whose feet are the drama queens of our bodies.)I just make it easy and wear hiking sandals - they are very breathable and adjust easily for any swelling.
For those of us whose feet are the drama queens of our bodies
Yes go up 1/2 size, you will be very happy. Just be sure the shoe will hold your foot so it doesn't slide forward. I wear Altras, a barefoot boot, mid height and it holds my foot back so no toe bumping. It hasn't been that hot here but my feet still get sweaty, maybe because my boot is waterproof. No blisters til we had a very wet, rainy day and my feet were pretty wet despite waterproofing. Altras are more of a trailrunner company, lots of their products are not waterproof but we like the extra protection. I go up 1/2 size in my Keen hikers too. We're grom NH, USA, so in the White Mountains we need good footwear all 4 seasons.I'm curious if people wear shoes one/half size too big shoes due to swelling of the feet? Heard this recommended, but I've never needed it on my long hikes (5-6 hours). But it has been in cold temperatures, so, will the heat make my feet swell? What do you think and what do you do?
It would be better to get your shoes fitted properly by an experienced salesperson. There are links to the advice on this earlier in this thread. The very short version is: take the socks, orthotics or other devices you will be using on the camino, do some walking and go later in the day, and don't park in front of the store but walk a little way to it. Then don't be surprised if the size is larger than your normal street shoes.Yes go up 1/2 size, you will be very happy.
I have always had trouble finding good hiking boots as I have a very boxy forefoot. Shoes and boots with a curved last do not work, they push my toes together from both sides. That's why I go with Keen traditional fit and the Altras, 1/2 size up. They don't squeeze my toes and the fit is not sloppy. Most outfitters in our area, even EMS or REI don't carry much variety in stores so it's all on-line ordering for me. Not all Keens are traditional fit. For this trip, 8 days on Voie de Vézelay, I ordered both 9 and 9 1/2 in the Altras and glad I did because my toes would have been sliding into the end of the shoe on the downhills. I am a four season, very experienced hiker and considered a regular Princess and the pea when it comes to my gear. No shoe salesperson has ever been helpful to me because my foot shape does not fit into most shoes, I have no bunions just a nice undeformed foot, with short squarish toes. Bottom line is only you can decide if a fit will work. And most retailers in the USA have limited return policies which preclude going for a nice long hike to test the fit.It would be better to get your shoes fitted properly by an experienced salesperson. There are links to the advice on this earlier in this thread. The very short version is: take the socks, orthotics or other devices you will be using on the camino, do some walking and go later in the day, and don't park in front of the store but walk a little way to it. Then don't be surprised if the size is larger than your normal street shoes.
Unless you are so remote from an outfitters that you have to order online, just getting a half or full size larger is far from the best way of getting well fitting footwear. And for those who might be sensitive about what they perceive as their big feet, if you suddenly feel appalled at the size recommended, don't be. I have seen someone do this to their detriment. Fortunately, their big brother had a spare pair of 'evening shoes' that fitted much better. They were then appalled to realise that despite their size difference, she had the family feet!
This varies a lot from person to person - for some people, feet swell a lot in the heat, for others not.
The fact that you can walk 6 hours and your feet don't swell is a good sign, but only if exposed to heat you will really find out.
I never wear shoes "extra size" for the camino. I wear the same ones I walk at my home town (cold parts of Australia). But I came to learn that I need shoes that breath well: the only time my feet got swollen to the point of hurting was once I was training with waterproof shoes on a hot day, and it was SO BAD, the temperatures inside the shoe were ridiculous. So now, only breathable shoes for me. At the same time, I know people who do entire caminos on summer with waterproof shoes just fine.
So I think the main thing is to make an educated guess considering how your feet normally behave. Maybe go with the shoes that are comfortable for you, but have some budget to buy something different if they out to be the wrong option for the camino?
Had a similar experience when road walking in Alabama years ago. Never saw blisters like those, top of toenail, under the nail and out the bottom! Arrived in Selma and bought a pair of sandals, boots never went back on til we flew home . Back in those you could return the boots, and I did.We trained heavily for our first Camino in boots the same size as our regular shoes. They felt great and we thought they fitted perfectly. After five or six days on the CF, however, blisters damn near killed us. Finished the CF in sandals.
Since then we’ve walked nearly 2,500 miles in boots half to one size larger and had no problems.
Agree with Anamya. Depending on individual. I normally wear EU 36, but last month whn my training hit 10km, my feet start to swell at 2nd hour(in tropical heat). Eventually I have to buy another pair size EU 37. For the fact that you hike 5, 6 without swelling is a good signThis varies a lot from person to person - for some people, feet swell a lot in the heat, for others not.
The fact that you can walk 6 hours and your feet don't swell is a good sign, but only if exposed to heat you will really find out.
I never wear shoes "extra size" for the camino. I wear the same ones I walk at my home town (cold parts of Australia). But I came to learn that I need shoes that breath well: the only time my feet got swollen to the point of hurting was once I was training with waterproof shoes on a hot day, and it was SO BAD, the temperatures inside the shoe were ridiculous. So now, only breathable shoes for me. At the same time, I know people who do entire caminos on summer with waterproof shoes just fine.
So I think the main thing is to make an educated guess considering how your feet normally behave. Maybe go with the shoes that are comfortable for you, but have some budget to buy something different if they out to be the wrong option for the camino?
Yes, very good advice. I went to an outfitter and found that my right foot was a half size longer than my left and my left foot was wider than my right. I had sized out of women’s sized hiking boots altogether and went to a men’s shoe sized up one size. My feet looked like small SUVs and I always wore a silk liner and hiking socks. A little lambs wool in the toe to fill the extra space and I was good to go. My feet grew a full size on the Camino, not just from heat but from my feet getting more muscular! By the end of the first week or so, I did not need lambswool in the toe box and I got not one blister from St. Jean to Santiago.and by many others before him!! @davebugg has contributed to a discussion that started well before he and I joined the forum, and will no doubt continue despite the fact that what is sound advice on this topic hasn't fundamentally changed. If you can get to a good outdoors retailer with a fitting slope, merely buying a size larger is not sound advice! That said, the link @henrythedog has provided is the latest and probably the most complete explanation, and what is offered in the first half dozen or so posts there offers a pretty complete coverage of the topic.
I went a size up and had no problems. I met a girl who didn't and lost both her big toenails. It ended get Camino early. Depends on the shoe and the feet though I guess.I'm curious if people wear shoes one/half size too big shoes due to swelling of the feet? Heard this recommended, but I've never needed it on my long hikes (5-6 hours). But it has been in cold temperatures, so, will the heat make my feet swell? What do you think and what do you do?
Or if you cut your toenails before you start walking or your lacing technique.I went a size up and had no problems. I met a girl who didn't and lost both her big toenails. It ended get Camino early. Depends on the shoe and the feet though I guess.
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