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Check out La Sportivas. They fit your description of what you are looking for perfectly.
I do hear great reports on Hokas, especially helpful for people with plantars faschitis.
Great for those of us with PF. My podiatrist has a client who runs ultramarathons. At first she could not believe he could run like that in those shoes but now raves about them.
Wore Merrell Ventilators on two Caminos (SJPdP-SDC), 2013 and 2015. Both worked well, and plenty durable. They were in good shape when I got to Santiago and later had duty at home cutting grass, painting the house, etc. The model I wore were not the waterproof ones and don't recommend those for a summertime Camino. Don't need them and they don't breath as well and take longer to dry.
That was true for me, too. On both my Caminos I decided not to invest in beautiful brand new shoes, but wore a pair of "tried and true" trail runners in good condition from my closet and they held up well. This year will be a different story, however, as I have nothing much left to choose from, so off to the store I will go.
I think a pair of the Merrells I wore have a life of two Caminos, but that would be it, probably, and probably all you can expect of most of the modern shoes like that, that can't be re-soled. Still, 1000 miles or more of walking? Not bad for any shoe, and really all one can expect from compressed foam, rubber, synthetics and some pieces of leather.
Good point, Mark!
As you can tell from the comments received, opinions vary wildly. Nearly every manufacturer makes a "breathable, light, quick drying hiking shoe." That's what they have in common--what they don't have in common is that they all seem to have a slightly different philosophy regarding the shape of the human foot. I would suggest that the most important factor to consider is which shoe fits YOUR feet the best, not which brand or which model worked for someone else.
@trecile, like you I have a long narrow (womens) foot so must buy a mens show for caminos. It’s difficult to get many of the European brands in NZ but I’ve found the mens Scarpas are narrow enough. Tip - Don’t get a shoe with goretex (otherwise, too hot and water stays trapped)
I think you had it right in your first post and answered your own question . I have walked several Caminos and tried North Face, Solomon and other boots and had problems with my feet . Three years ago I started wearing Moab ventilators and have not had a single blister. I wear size 10 1/2 and the shoes fit true to size . The key for me is I buy 10 1/2 wide so when my feet get hot and swell I don't get Blisters. I also do not buy the ones with Gore-Tex since they snug up around your feet too tight and don't give you room when your feet get hot and swell. Gore-Tex won't keep your feet dry anyway when it rains all day . I have four new pair of Moab ventilators in my closet and I will wear them again when I start my next Camino in March . I usually walk about 1650 km on Camino in one pair of shoes seem to last me for the entire three months. So in conclusion moab ventilators, wide, no Gore-Tex and you should be good for the Camino, that's my two cents I hope it helps.
I love the Hoka One One, but I would be concerned about the high risk of spraining an ankle in these on the substantial amount of walking on stone and while carrying a backpack.
I also walked SJPP to SdC last year. They worked great. I had one blister before I built up a callus (probably due to my rigid orthotic rather than my shoe). In the final days and for weeks after I had some nerve pain on the outside of both feet. I am excited to heAR the come in wide. I would use them again.
Hi. I walked the Frances from SJPP to SDC last spring from March 28 to May 12. It rained almost the entire first month, at at least some time during the day. Frequently the sendas (paths) were flooded or muddy. I wore non-waterproof Moab Ventilators the whole way. Only one blister for a couple of days (not fault of the shoe). I used to be an ultramarathon runner and I found running with wet feet did not cause me blisters. I would get Blisters when it was hot, dry, with dirt the consistency of baby powder. My ventilators dried easily overnight. Buen camino!
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The Scarpas is the best i have it 15 years!
I agree Hoka One!
Keen Newport
Put an old newspaper in your wet shoes, it will dry fast!
I loved my Keen Targhee II mid boots. Although I just got my 3rd pair and they're not so great. But waterproof, breathable, solid on crazy terrain... just so dependable.
I've been reading about these "zero drop" shoes but will stay well away because as a person with plantear fasciitis and a heel spur I should always be walking with a small heel and/or a good arch (Birkies) if not my orthotics. I find the concept of zero-drop a bit strange because of that.
I wore Merrell Moab waterproofs on my 2013 Camino (Francés) and my 2015 Camino del Norte de Chimayó (USA), including several hundred miles of pre-Camino training hikes and another several hundred miles of post-Camino hiking. I probably had 1200-1500 miles on them when I retired them last fall for another pair just like them when we made the decision to walk the Camino Portugués in May of this year. I have close to 200 miles worth of training hikes on the new ones, which fit like a glove on my long, narrow foot. Obviously, I like the Merrells, but do not recommend them simply on the basis of how they have performed for me. Everyone should work with a footwear professional to determine the best hiking shoe or boot type, brand, and fit for their own feet, including at least a couple of real hikes of several miles or more. Just walking around a store in a pair of boots isn't sufficient to ensure a good fit. Remember, one's footwear is THE most important gear you'll acquire for his or her Camino.
Been using Brooks Cascadia over the last month and will test them from SJPDD to Santiago on Sept 9th. Seem very well built and super breathable. Light weight and a rock plate were my targets in trail shoes. Also taking low cut Lowa for late October wet days.
I suggest you go through with the Indestructible shoe as it has a variety of shoes. I am also using shoe of it for the last 2 years. The shoes are quite light, comfortable and have a decent look.
Been using Brooks Cascadia over the last month and will test them from SJPDD to Santiago on Sept 9th. Seem very well built and super breathable. Light weight and a rock plate were my targets in trail shoes. Also taking low cut Lowa for wet days.
Here there are after walking the CF from 9-8 to 10-24.
