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Sandals?! I'm starting my first Camino Frances on Sept. 5. I think I'm in Shoe Hell! I have tried 5 different shoes the last 2 months trying to find one that feels good. I have a wide toe box, but medium width. I tried the Altra, for it's wide toe box, but it just didn't seem to provide much support and gave me a low backache. I am getting so discouraged and not training enough, because I can't settle on a pair of shoes!!@MegH you will find two schools of thought on waterproof shoes. Some people think they are a necessity when the path is wet and muddy. They love their waterproof shoes and are happy with them. Some of us (like me) think differently. In a heavy downpour water gets into my shoes no matter how waterproof, and in heat my feet sweat so the shoes get wet from the inside. Waterproof shoes I find hot and uncomfortable. The lining breaks down. They take a long time to dry out. In contrast I have found light breathable shoes (runners) without waterproofing "walk dry".
You also need to consider the weather. It is always unpredictable on the Camino Frances, but of all the months September is probably the most settled. It can get very hot in September. You may get lucky and walk the whole Camino without one day of rain.
Personally, I'd go for comfort. Nowadays I wear sandals. I carry a pair of waterproof breathable socks for emergency wear if it is very cold.
I have wide feet and problem big toes from sports injuries, and I walked the Camino very happily, with no blister or foot problems, in New Balance 1080V5 running shoes. They have good traction, and mesh toppers that dry quickly. You can put in a different pair of insoles, but the ones they came with were fine for me. I got them from Zappos online, which has free returns. I also sized them one larger than my normal shoe, and used a liner and wool sock. Also applied a light coating of a vaseline type cream every morning, and aired my feet out at least once during the day. All of these things combined (plus a low pack weight and poles) kept my feet and me happy!Sandals?! I'm starting my first Camino Frances on Sept. 5. I think I'm in Shoe Hell! I have tried 5 different shoes the last 2 months trying to find one that feels good. I have a wide toe box, but medium width. I tried the Altra, for it's wide toe box, but it just didn't seem to provide much support and gave me a low backache. I am getting so discouraged and not training enough, because I can't settle on a pair of shoes!!
I walked sjpp to Santiago 2014 Sept Oct... and have similar feet and always in shoe helll as one foot larger since walking. My Lowa boots died in Burgos with nasty blisters and more and I wore out my Tevas in days ...bought Salomon walkers half size bigger in wide width and finished in them. Shipped the boots to Leon. I still can't wear them now even though they were perfect as new boots the last month before my trip. I am still wearing the Salmon Walkers in 2016...waterproof and with pull wire and even work in them. Still can't find a new boot....Sandals?! I'm starting my first Camino Frances on Sept. 5. I think I'm in Shoe Hell! I have tried 5 different shoes the last 2 months trying to find one that feels good. I have a wide toe box, but medium width. I tried the Altra, for it's wide toe box, but it just didn't seem to provide much support and gave me a low backache. I am getting so discouraged and not training enough, because I can't settle on a pair of shoes!!
Sandals?! I'm starting my first Camino Frances on Sept. 5. I think I'm in Shoe Hell! I have tried 5 different shoes the last 2 months trying to find one that feels good. I have a wide toe box, but medium width. I tried the Altra, for it's wide toe box, but it just didn't seem to provide much support and gave me a low backache. I am getting so discouraged and not training enough, because I can't settle on a pair of shoes!!
The last week on Camino I used bag balm ... you can buy on line or at farm stores too (used on cow teets) ...this is much better than Vaseline. Put a lot on in morning then sock and shoe ... fantastic... your feet will love you !!Thank you, Islandjoe. Today I will be trying out a pair of Ahnu hiking shoes. I'm so glad the store lets me return shoes after wearing them! Hopefully this will be THE ONES.
I should start this by saying I'm a fan of both Teva and Keen sandals. But in an attempt to reduce weight I was window-shopping lightweight sandals online and stumbled across Zero Shoes.
I was tempted by the promise of comfy trail walking and super light ... So I thought I'd give them a try.
I've had them 4 days and I've put them on when I get up and take them off when I go to bed... Almost
View attachment 27792
They are very comfortable and I think I'll take them as my second shoe... And not too expensive either?
http://xeroshoes.co.uk/xero-shoes-umara-ztrail.html
Thank you. I have a farm store nearby and will consider. Not sure what to think. I read in some articles not to use vaseline/creams on feet and then others say to generously apply it. Have also been told that Body Glide is better than vaseline. Six one way...half dozen the other!The last week on Camino I used bag balm ... you can buy on line or at farm stores too (used on cow teets) ...this is much better than Vaseline. Put a lot on in morning then sock and shoe ... fantastic... your feet will love you !!
Next Camino I will use it everyday!
And the Masai in east Africa...£55??? The Viet Minh used to make these out of recycled truck tires!
I actually have been trying a pair of Keen low hiking shoes with the wide, rounded toe box but it is causing a sharp shooting pain in the ball of my big toe on one foot. Otherwise, they feel great. Go figure.I am an avid hiker and walker and always got blisters no matter what I did. I thought it was something I had to live with. On my Camino in 2014, I bought women's Keene low hiking shoes, a full size larger than my usual street shoes. No blisters! I used a thin liner sock and a heavier hiking sock. If I felt a hot spot coming on I put on bandaid on the spot before walking the next day. I found that during the Camino walk my feet seemed to flatten, broaden and lengthen. Maybe that sounds crazy but I believe the larger, naturally wider Keene's were a miracle answer for me. I hope you find the shoe/system that works best for you. Buen Camino.
I wore my echo sandals for an hour town walking and got massive blister on bottom of foot. I bring sketchers as back up. Very light Buen camino
Are you referring to the Teva Terra Fi Lite sandals? Do you wear them with socks or just barefoot? I tried out a pair of Ahnu shoes today. No pain in arch or ball of toe, but got my first small blister on heel!yep... me too!
Well not quite but I have been doing a little experiment over the last 4 days... walking the same circuit around our house... rough stoney ground with 120m elevation up and down and with a little road walking thrown in for good measure... 4.2km so it's about an hour walking.
Day 1 - Keen's (discovered that my feet have shrunk as I've lost weight (22kg) so now the shoes are too big
Day 2 - Salomon's GTX Ultra - I've worn these on my last 2 camino's and they were great then but they are also too big now
Day 3 - Teva Terra... I bought these for a holiday in February and have lived in them almost all the time since... they worked like a dream
Day 4 - Xero shoes - I've been wearing these as a sandal for the last week and loved them but on the trail they were no good. I didn't feel any stones underfoot but my foot moved too much side to side and I've got a small blister coming on the ball of my left foot and a hotspot on the right.
So Teva's won hands down... although thats a little unfair on the Keen's and Salomons as my foot has shrunk so they are just too big for me.
Are you referring to the Teva Terra Fi Lite sandals? Do you wear them with socks or just barefoot? I tried out a pair of Ahnu shoes today. No pain in arch or ball of toe, but got my first small blister on heel!
Yes, it does help. I will look into them. Thank you!I bought a pair of Men's Terras Fi 4.. not the light version. I bought my real size and I have worn them day after day after day for months but this is the first real test on trail conditions. I expected it to be a problem as there are lots of small lose stone on this walk but they were great. I walked without socks but I think I might consider wearing some liners to help prevent blisters for longer walks.
I still think I would prefer to take a shoe as well as the Teva... and i've emailed them to ask about the lite version... but I was surprised at how good my feet felt at the end of the walk. I'm keen to take them on a longer trip now. Hope this helps.
Yes, it does help. I will look into them. Thank you!
Sandals?! I'm starting my first Camino Frances on Sept. 5. I think I'm in Shoe Hell! I have tried 5 different shoes the last 2 months trying to find one that feels good. I have a wide toe box, but medium width. I tried the Altra, for it's wide toe box, but it just didn't seem to provide much support and gave me a low backache. I am getting so discouraged and not training enough, because I can't settle on a pair of shoes!!
Sandals?! I'm starting my first Camino Frances on Sept. 5. I think I'm in Shoe Hell! I have tried 5 different shoes the last 2 months trying to find one that feels good. I have a wide toe box, but medium width. I tried the Altra, for it's wide toe box, but it just didn't seem to provide much support and gave me a low backache. I am getting so discouraged and not training enough, because I can't settle on a pair of shoes!!
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