Yet another shoe question

[Ellann]

I recently travelled to Thailand where I did a lot of walking wearing my new Keen Anatomic Fit shoes. These shoes have a wide toe area in front. They are also a size larger for the purpose of long distance walking. Problem was that I had lots of toe issues, including callous & blisters on small toe that curl inwards. My question is do shoes that have wide toe and a size bigger cause feet to move around too much causing toes to suffer? I am walking French Camino in May 2025 and concerned I need another pair of shoes. Any advice and recommendations greatly appreciated.

 

[C clearly]

My question is do shoes that have wide toe and a size bigger cause feet to move around too much causing toes to suffer?

For me...
No, as long as the lacing and fit around my mid-foot and arch is good. It needs to hold my foot snugly in place (so it doesn't slide forward) but leave my toes free to wiggle.

 

[CarolamS]

Your whole foot shouldn't move about in your shoe. A wide toe box just gives space for your toes. Lacing is important. What socks are you using? I am apt to get blisters between my little toe and the next so I wear Injinji liner toe socks inside merino wool hiking socks. Works really well for me. I think there are other ways of managing 'difficult' toes. Double socks like this might be enough to enable your shoes to fit better. It took me a while to find my best shoe and sock combo. It's worth persevering. Good luck.

 

[C clearly]

They are also a size larger for the purpose of long distance walking.

I would also add that your foot doesn't grow longer when it swells. It is more likely to just get wider in the mid- to fore- foot. Unfortunately, most manufacturers don't seem to want to go to the trouble of making different widths.

 

[Dani7]

For me...
No, as long as the lacing and fit around my mid-foot and arch is good. It needs to hold my foot snugly in place (so it doesn't slide forward) but leave my toes free to wiggle.

Exactly what @C clearly said. And here is a way to anchor your heel with your laces so foot and heel do not slide forward.

 

[RJM]

Only you will be able to determine what your best choice in shoes for the Camino is. Make an educated guess on a pair that you think will work for you and then make several 10-kilometer walks in them. That's the only way of knowing.

 

[dick bird]

Any advice and recommendations greatly appreciated.

All I can say is that if a particular shoe has already given you problems, that is not the shoe for you. Go to a specialist shoe store and be very specific about what you want to do. If the assistant doesn´t seem to understand, go to another store. If a shoe is comfortable and an even fit all round, it should be OK, but road test it before you set out on your camino.

 

[bestfootforward]

I recently travelled to Thailand where I did a lot of walking wearing my new Keen Anatomic Fit shoes. These shoes have a wide toe area in front. They are also a size larger for the purpose of long distance walking. Problem was that I had lots of toe issues, including callous & blisters on small toe that curl inwards. My question is do shoes that have wide toe and a size bigger cause feet to move around too much causing toes to suffer? I am walking French Camino in May 2025 and concerned I need another pair of shoes. Any advice and recommendations greatly appreciated.

Hi Ellann, I would expect a shoe a full size larger to cause whole of foot movement including clearly undesirable heal raising - and hence blisters and callouses. I live in the tropics where swelling goes with the territory, particularly in the wet season when I hike on regardless, but all my shoes, hiking (Merrell trail runners) and otherwise are all my normal size.

Any shoe that causes you grief isn't the right shoe for you. Totally agree with @dick bird that a visit to a specialist/s is your best starting point followed by comprehensive road testing. And once your shoe is sorted, good socks and foot goo (applied before socking up in the morning and after releasing your feet at day's end)/merino wool/toe socks etc should complete the trifecta of foot joy needs. Happy shoe sorting and then Buen Camino!

 

[Bedspring]

I recently travelled to Thailand where I did a lot of walking wearing my new Keen Anatomic Fit shoes. These shoes have a wide toe area in front. They are also a size larger for the purpose of long distance walking. Problem was that I had lots of toe issues, including callous & blisters on small toe that curl inwards. My question is do shoes that have wide toe and a size bigger cause feet to move around too much causing toes to suffer? I am walking French Camino in May 2025 and concerned I need another pair of shoes. Any advice and recommendations greatly appreciated.

Obviously shoes are an important issue, and you need to get the right ones, but early this year I was in Thailand, Lao and Vietnam, and later when I walked my Camino, and my feet felt sore, I reflected on the fact that many of the people I met in SE Asia, would have walked the Camino in Flip Flops.

For what its worth, on my return I bought some Hokka shoes and wish I had had them for the Camino, though do find them too clunky for British Hill and Mountain walking.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

My question is do shoes that have wide toe and a size bigger cause feet to move around too much causing toes to suffer?

As @C clearly says, no. But the rest of the fit needs to be correct and you do need to lace them properly.

The point of going wider is so that your feet have room to swell/spread on a long distance walk, as stated above.

Going a little longer (some go just a half size, some a full) is to give your toes sufficient space so that they do not stub against the front of the shoe when you walk downhill. Every year people end up with blackened and/or missing toenails because they fail to do this. Unpleasant.

You have been given some excellent advice above. Seeking professional help to choose the right shoe, lacing your shoes properly, toe socks, double socking, possibly lubricating your feet (although for me this causes blisters rather than prevents them) Body glide and Vaseline seem to be popular choices.

If it's just some minor oddity with your foot you may find that adjusting your lacing and using hiker's wool in problem areas is enough.
Give the suggestions a try until you find the right combination for you.

Personally I just use a good comfortable pair of shoes ( which is very individual) and good quality Merino socks. The moment I feel a hot spot forming I use hikers wool to pad out the area. (But you really do need to stop straight away and not just wait until your next break!)

Incidentally you may find that your small toe issue requires the input of a podiatrist. My mother has something she calls curly toe which sounds very similar to what you have described. She was prescribed roomier shoes ( which you have) toe separators and inserts.

The good thing is that you have plenty of time.

 

[Ellann]

Thanks everyone. I walked the Portuguese Camino in shoes half size bigger, can't remember the name, using Vaseline and stocking socks under wick off socks and had no blisters at all, however I did get plantar fasciitis, but that is another story! I think I will buy some toe socks and I also loved the video on heel locking.

 

[Helen2006]

I recently travelled to Thailand where I did a lot of walking wearing my new Keen Anatomic Fit shoes. These shoes have a wide toe area in front. They are also a size larger for the purpose of long distance walking. Problem was that I had lots of toe issues, including callous & blisters on small toe that curl inwards. My question is do shoes that have wide toe and a size bigger cause feet to move around too much causing toes to suffer? I am walking French Camino in May 2025 and concerned I need another pair of shoes. Any advice and recommendations greatly appreciated.

In my view (and I too have wide feet and have to buy my shoes accordingly) this business of avoiding too much movement is best solved by the way the footwear is laced. Space around your toes is good, feet that slide in your shoes are not: you will have friction burns. There are charts available that show you how best to lace walking shoes for various conditions. I’m so sorry that I don’t have one here to post for you, but a Google search ought to throw one up… Ultreia!