Trailrunners on Camino Portuguese

T

TDS

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2016

• Jul 10, 2018

• #1

I have been told that there is much cobblestone walking on both the coastal and traditional Camino Portuguese routes. If you have walked it from Porto, would trailrunners be sufficient for the cobblestones or would hiking boots be preferred? I am considering the Portuguese Camino and if so, would normally wear trailrunners, but am concerned about the cobblestones.

 

D

Deleted member 67185

Guest

• Jul 10, 2018

• #2

Trail runners will work very well. A feature that will be valuable will be a rockplate and a lot of cushioning, both of which will absorb the surface irregularities from impacting the sole of the foot. The Hoka One One Bondi 5 is an example of a shoe which has a cushioning level which doesn't need a rockplate; the New Balance 910v4 is a shoe example with a good rockplate.

 

Lmsundaze

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF (2016), CP (2017)

• Jul 10, 2018

• #3

I walked from Porto in trail runners last year - altra lone peak 3.0. No problems, no need for hiking boots. I also walked the Camino Frances 2 years ago in trail runners. Really this isn’t mountain climbing, just walking.

 

Anamya

Keeping it simple

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances (2015)
Portugues (2017)
Lebaniego (2019)

• Jul 10, 2018

• #4

I did it in trail runners last year, and would say that they were probably much better than boots exactly because of the stones! They are much more cushioned, which was essential to go along the trail.

My husband had hiking merrels, which are good, but not as cushioned as sneakers, and his feet were flat and really sore by the end of each day.

So yeah, stick to the trail runners, especially if you are used to them!

 

Last edited: Jul 10, 2018

lt56ny

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2023 Vasco, Meseta, Portugues Coastal

• Jul 10, 2018

• #5

Always trail runners Brooks Cascadias

 

B

Bill Krueger

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2016)
Camino Portugues (June-2018)

• Jul 10, 2018

• #6

just returned from the Camino Portuguese Coastal...trail runners are fine, but the cobbles do beat up your feet, evening soak them and give them a good massage and you will be fine!

 

J F Gregory

Camino Frances , Camino Primavito 2024

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances 2016, Portuguese 2021, Frances and Prima

• Jul 10, 2018

• #7

I walk and hike in Altra Lone Peak 3.5 on long distant walks and hiking in the Cascade mountains.

 

KricketN

"More Cowbell"

Time of past OR future Camino

Walked Central Portugese(2018)
Walked Coastal/Central Portugese (2019)

• Jul 10, 2018

• #8

Walked Central Portugese this May in Hoka One One's. The shoes are great for hard surfaces and the terrain.

 

jmcarp

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances, 2013
Camino del Norte a Chimayó (USA), 2015
Camino Portugues, 2017

• Jul 10, 2018

• #9

davebugg said:

Trail runners will work very well. A feature that will be valuable will be a rockplate and a lot of cushioning, both of which will absorb the surface irregularities from impacting the sole of the foot. The Hoka One One Bondi 5 is an example of a shoe which has a cushioning level which doesn't need a rockplate; the New Balance 910v4 is a shoe example with a good rockplate.

Click to expand...

I hesitate to recommend any specific footwear because of the differences in everyone's feet, but @davebugg has hit the nail on the head with his comments about the rockplate (stiff sole) and cushioning. Both are essential on those infernal cobbles.

 

Jeff Crawley

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

A "Tourigrino" trip once Covid has passed, so 2023

• Jul 10, 2018

• #10

TDS said:

I have been told that there is much cobblestone walking on both the coastal and traditional Camino Portuguese routes. If you have walked it from Porto, would trailrunners be sufficient for the cobblestones or would hiking boots be preferred? I am considering the Portuguese Camino and if so, would normally wear trailrunners, but am concerned about the cobblestones.

Click to expand...

They look like these:



There's no "give" underfoot - yes, wear trail runners but replace insoles with thicker ones than they came with.

 

Ed Aster

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2019

• Jul 10, 2018

• #11

I wore trail runners last month on the Camino Portuguese and had no problems. Boots not necessarily needed. Trail runners handled the cobblestones real well and softened the trek overall.

 

surya8

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Portugues Central and Coastal 2017 & 2019; Portugues Interior, Sanabres, Fisterra & Muxia 2018

• Jul 13, 2018

• #12

I walked Portugues Central between Lisbon and Santiago. The stretch before Porto felt worse for cobblestones, after Porto it was manageable. Walked in no name city walking shoes most of the way as my Salomon hiking boots were too heavy and too hot to walk in. Returned to walk Portugues Interior & Sanabres this year from Viseu, got a share of cobblestones there as well, walked in trail runners, was fine. Bom Caminho!

 

Z

Zuzana23

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

walked Portuguese coastal camino

• Jul 13, 2018

• #13

TDS said:

I have been told that there is much cobblestone walking on both the coastal and traditional Camino Portuguese routes. If you have walked it from Porto, would trailrunners be sufficient for the cobblestones or would hiking boots be preferred? I am considering the Portuguese Camino and if so, would normally wear trailrunners, but am concerned about the cobblestones.

Click to expand...

I am walking portuguese coastal now and also in trail runners and I am happy for the choice. There is really all kind of surface but trail runners are sufficient

 

Elle Bieling

Elle Bieling, PilgrimageTraveler

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Too many to count!

• Jul 14, 2018

• #14

No heavy hiking boots are necessary. I used a sturdier low top hiking shoe. Some folks swear by the Hoka ultra-cushioned hiking shoes. I must say at times I wished I had heeded this advice!

 

A

auburnfive

Veteran Member

• Oct 20, 2018

• #15

The Hoka One Ones I wore we’re fabulous, for the first time in 4, I had no blisters despite cobblestones. But good th8ng it was only 12 days, as the shoes were shot by the end