- Time of past OR future Camino
- Frances 15,16,18
VdlP 23, Invierno 23, Fisterra 23
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All I know is that I have been thru hiking longer than 90% of the forum members have been walking Caminos. I made the stupid mistake of buying into the advice of inexperienced hikers on my first Camino and wore Merrill shoes. Ended up with a severe case of plantar fasciitis, a Morton’s Neuroma, and Achilles tendinitis in one foot.
Got a good scolding from my podiatrist over it. I just finished walking the Invierno yesterday in my Vasque Goretex lined backpacking boots (lightweight, not mountaineering boots). No plantar fasciitis, no neuroma, no tendinitis, no blisters, and no wet feet even in pouring rain and walking through streams.
My poles helped, as always, to keep the strain off my knees on steep downs and losing my balance on stream crossings. Plus the movement keeps my hands from swelling.
To each his own. My advice is don’t take advice on the face of it and go out and try and figure out what works for you. Also remember that those thru hikers on the AT and PCT are in the kind of physical condition that the vast majority of Pilgrims are not. Most pilgrims have never even hiked or walked extensively, let alone carried more than a cheap bag with a bottle of water on their back. I say this based on the numerous number of absolutely basic questions asked on this forum.
Sorry for the delay, I’m only now seeing your post as I just got back from Spain a day ago. My (women’s) Vasque St Elias are wide sized, plenty of toe box space. To your first question, no I didn’t use the inner soles that came with the Merrel Moabs. Silly me didn’t want to ruin my expensive custom orthotics so I wasted my money on But even with my orthotics my Podiatrist thinks I would have developed the same problems.Sounds dreadful Alaskadiver !
Did you fall into the trap of using the ridiculously thin and non supportive inner soles that Merrell's come with ? I'm quite interested in just what caused such a collection of serious problems . I have chosen the reverse of your own selection of footwear , for years I used Vasque boots exclusively , I loved them , unfortunately age and a widening foot made the narrow Vasques unwearable . It is now only due to Merrell Moabs with supportive inner soles that sees me still walking well and comfortably .
Do they make them with the Megagrip type? To keep me (also not named "Grace") from slipping on wet stone or pavement.My Merrel trail runners do.
Eh, that one time you need the things pays back for all the times you carry them on the pack the rest of the trip. Mine come apart and fit into the water bladder pouch that is not used for the plane ride...also I check the pack and build in longer than 90 minutes plane changes. (I try hard to get at least 2 hours on a transfer point.) We also put the pack into a duffel for the flight.If proper usage is crucial it seems many don't know how to use them and seem to think merely trailing them along is taking "25%" of pressure off their knees...surely that is fantasy? Counter the times they are "useful" with going through the hassles of whether airlines will let you carry them on board,number of stream crossings you'll encounter,downhill sections and the percentage of the time they are use f ul is very small...therefore are they necessary?...let alone having to watch a video to learn how to use them
Thanks to the postings of many forum members, like @davebugg, @JillGat and @falcon269, I have learned that two of the things I assumed were true were nothing but folklore.
The first is that boots will give you ankle support. These fine folks have posted convincing evidence that that is simply not the case.
Unless there is a second coming in the shoe category, I will never wear anything else.
Here's one to invite flak...poles. the theory is that it takes 25% pressure off knees.
Frankly, that entirely depends on whether you have bad quality ankles or not.
However army boots are generally cut higher than the light boots that many people wear for walking. The low boots/high shoes give very little useful support although they may well keep the water out if you splosh through puddles. When I need boots for winter walking in rough counry I have a pair of high boots that I had made to measure and they are wonderfully comfortable.But just personally, I could **not** survive without my army boots and the ankle support they most definitely provide -- but that includes in daily life pottering about town as well.
I thought I was the only one. I wear cheapo ankle socks, no problemo. Before one camino (when I thought I needed boots), I got super expensive liner socks to wear under my wool hiking socks (it was early March) - and by the time I got to Pamplona, there was a good crop of blisters between my toes, and the socks went in the box that I posted to Santiago.I work in cheap socks. I meet my goal of 10,000 steps every day in cheap socks. I run in cheap socks. So I'm suggesting it's a myth to think you need to buy expensive hiking socks. And they are expensive! If something works for you 48 weeks a year, changing to something different for the Camino doesnt work for me.
Can you share the name of these magical sandals?I'm overjoyed. have just managed to find the perfect sandal for me after over 10 months of searching. Its wide enough, and made for an orthotic, slight rocker bottom (arthritic big toe), super comfy - and not three sizes too big. I had begun to think such shoes didn't exist. The issue for me is that my feet are a 38 long (just) but a 41 wide - which makes for an impossible search. In these giant shoes (41) I constantly knock my toes, and am really clumsy. especially on stairs where I almost fall down daily . I am much more nimble when wearing a shoe that fits.
I've done two Caminos in Brooks runners, which were fine but not when my toe is flared up- impossible to make an orthotic work well in a shoe 3 sizes too big. I cant find a rocker bottom shoe to fit my feet anywhere.
So imagine my joy on finding these sandals. Perfect for September
Please. That's my question too - I seem to have the same feet.you share the name of these magical sandals?
yes they are Waldlaufer, on the sole it says Waldlaufer LuftpolsterCan you share the name of these magical sandals?
I don't wear sandals ever but I had to click.Are they these? They look comfy.
Yes in navy, I didnt get a choice in colour (its winter here, Im wearing them around without socks, but plan to take thin socks on the camino)
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