Trailrunners on Camino Portuguese

[TDS]

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.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

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]

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]

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!

 

[lt56ny]

Always trail runners Brooks Cascadias

 

[Bill Krueger]

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]

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

 

[KricketN]

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

 

[jmcarp]

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.

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]

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.

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]

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]

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!

 

[Zuzana23]

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.

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]

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!

 

[auburnfive]

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