foot wear & care

Hi all. Apologies for another footwear question, but I'm interested in hearing what experiences people have had wearing waterproof socks for long periods on rainy days. I bought a pair of cheap Chinese waterproof socks, 110g - seems to be layers of fabric and neoprene - and now wondering whether...

I wore Brooks Ghost on my camino last year. I loved them but they're worn out now so I bought a new pair. They're Ghost 16. I don't know what my old pair were but I bought them in 2023 so I guess they were 15s? These feel the same but my hips hurt after a long walk and they don't seem to breathe...

I learned a new term today. Zero-drop shoes. Hadn’t come across the term before. Was researching a brand of trail runners (Altra Timp 5) and read that they are zero-drop shoes. Which means, I discovered, that there is no difference in height between the heal and the toe. Usually the heal is a...

Every year around this time, I buy the soon to be outdated Altra Lone Peak. Lots of sites have the Lone Peak 8s on sale, in anticipation for the Lone Peak 9. I like to be a year behind because then I can check to see if there have been a lot of reported issues with the current year’s model...

Has anyone used the hike-footwear shoes on the Camino? This would be the barefoot type shoe.

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...

I will be doing the Camino Frances in May/June 2025. I’m trying to decide between Hoka Challengers and Merrill Accentors. The Challengers don’t seem to have a very robust sole as the middle part is just soft foam. The Accentors don’t have a lot of cushioning. Durability and traction issues? I...

I understand that footwear on the Camino is a personal choice. I will start my first Camino on the Camino Frances in the first part of April. With the varying weather conditions, what shoes/boots do you suggest? I went hiking in Red River Gorge in Kentucky over the weekend in my Alta Lone...

I wasn't sure whether to pist this in Equipment (lacing technique) or here (inflamed and swollen foot). Here is what I ended up with. As people who have been following my "Live from the Camino Torres" thread know, I've been having some foot problems, particularly with my left foot. At first I...

I am walking the Camino Frances for the whole month of May (April 22nd - June 1st), and am wondering whether I should opt for waterproof shoes/boots? I have seen mixed messages online - on the one hand, waterproof shoes can cause your feet to sweat which can cause blisters, on the other hand, if...

Looking for advice from 'mature' peregrinos because when I start the VdlP from Seville on 3 April 2025 I'll be 70 (where did that time go?). On all previous caminos I've worn mid-boots (Keen or Scarpa) without any issues. But given the distance to Santiago, plus the likelihood of some lengthy...

Hi, I am looking into purchasing hiking shoes/boots which are not waterproof - I have looked into Hoka and Keen but would welcome any recommendations. Thank you in advance, Maryse

I am searching for a new trail shoe this year. I have walked the Frances for two years in Hoka Speed Goat 5s. The toe box is too narrow for my foot, and I get blisters on my pinky toes. My shoe size is 14, and I usually purchase a 15 for the Camino. This year, I am planning on starting in Le Puy...

For those who use it, how much do you take with you? The cheapest packages on Amazon are 7/8 oz, or 25 gm. Having never used lambswool (but it seems like it would be handy, or...um...footy), I have no idea how much to use in any given application. Also, can you wash, dry, and fluff it out to use...

Hey all! I'm about to start on my second camino and having some shoe trouble. Last camino I work Merrill Moabs right with no insoles and ended up getting plantar fasciitis about 3 weeks in. This time I am trying to prepare more and found some good insoles that protect against pronation and have...

As an experienced pilgrim of ten years I have, unfortunately, developed a repetitive injury to my left foot (neuroma) which means covering the long distances daily on the route is not always possible, depending when the injury flares up... I am looking for any advice on how to accommodate the...

Hi, I did Sarria to SdC in hiking boots and my knees hurt every day. This June I walked the CP, Central way, on trail runners and thanks to the extreme cushioning hardly felt my knees. I start from SJPdP early September and plan to wear my trail runners again, but as I am reading about rocky...

Hello, Since walking the Camino I have experienced a numbness on the heel of my left foot. It’s accompanied by general symptoms of plantar fasciitis but I’m wondering if anyone has any thoughts or experience with this specific numbness. I’m hoping it will go away and heal on its own, but any...

Memorial to the unknown pilgrim: a pair of trail runners dug in at the roadside

Vintage marker stone near Cesantes: A pair of old hiking boots painted in yellow and blue sits on top of a typical way-marker.