Boots or shoes?

[Curly Cath]

Boots or shoes? Starting the frances from Pamplona on Monday

 

[trecile]

Boots or shoes? Either, or sandals. It really is personal preference.

Personally, I've never felt the need for boots. I have walked the Frances twice in trail running shoes, and I have done several other Caminos, with more difficult terrain than the Frances exclusively in sandals.

 

[Curly Cath]

Boots or shoes? Either, or sandals. It really is personal preference.

Personally, I've never felt the need for boots. I have walked the Frances twice in trail running shoes, and I have done several other Caminos, with more difficult terrain than the Frances exclusively in sandals.

Have you walked in February and March? I love my shoes but am a bit worried about getting wet feet and twisted ankles

 

[Anniesantiago]

Shoes. There are several threads on this if you do a search. It’s just a matter of personal opinion and what you are used to

 

[Curly Cath]

Shoes. There are several threads on this if you do a search. It’s just a matter of personal opinion and what you are used to

Thanks I saw a few threads I was hoping for replies from pilgrims walking in navarra now to see what the terrain is like now

 

[Mar Oregon]

Thanks I saw a few threads I was hoping for replies from pilgrims walking in navarra now to see what the terrain is like now

Which ever you choose, they better be well broken in by now or you may be sorry. Monday isn’t far away.

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi @Curly Cath
I guess you’ve got both on hand and it’s a last minute choice ?
Have you been ‘test driving’ both choices ..
ie your ‘boots’ and ‘trail walkers/runners’.??

Which felt most comfortable? Or your gut feeling ?

There is your choice ..!!

The terrain on most of the routes in spain can be comfortably walked in trail shoes.
I’ve walked many of these routes ; the first 7 years I used boots but always had some ‘different ‘ problem.(especially with the waterproof or goretex lined versions). Last year I walked in my ‘Brooks Ghost 11 trail shoes. I will always walk in trail shoes now. Much better ‘for me’..
I’m heading off (in a week) to Italy and after that the last section of Vdlp; but the tread on the Brooks is worn, so this time I’m trying my Hoka one one’s. Bondi6. Trail shoes.

Choice depends on your feet - but if it’s just the terrain you’re querying. It’s fine for shoes , sandals , or your boots if they are your favourite for comfort.
Buen camino

Annie

 

[Saint Mike II]

I walked from St Jean to Santiago in May/June 2017 in Keens light weight boots. They gave me good ankle support and have a good wide toe block so that my feet can spread and relax. But as I always say - go with what really suits your feet.

 

[Kathy F.]

I agree with most of what has been said.
Assuming that both are equally broken in . . .
Shoes if you are walking on terrain you are used to. However, I walked in a bit more than 3 weeks of nothing but rain and thick mud (yeah, I know, sounds like fun for my first CF). I wore Moab Ventilators, boots that are not waterproof and gave good ankle support. My feet were wet (would have been in shoes, also) and the boots dried out completely and quickly overnight. Since I have no way of predicting what the weather will be, I would take boots. But that is just my own experience, which conflicts with many knowledgeable posters here.

 

[OzAnnie]

Have you walked in February and March? I love my shoes but am a bit worried about getting wet feet and twisted ankles

I understand your concern about the time of year.
That was a fear I had in 2018 starting the camino Madrid in March. (Worry of snow and wet feet) - unwarranted fear on my part. In hindsight, I wish I’d walked in the trail runners.

However, you may be more frightened of twisting your ankle? Most good supportive trail runners will keep you safe. They dry out fast too.
Note: walking in keens boots (I’ve worn them too ; also Merrill’s Moab’s ‘non’ goretex boots) - or for that matter any shoe in pelting rain - you’re going to have water get into your shoes from the top .. you have to ‘wring out’ your socks sometimes.

You may get a completely dry camino too !!

Choose the comfortable ones for you..

 

[Curly Cath]

Lots of helpful replies thanks people!
I love walking in my shoes I am much happier in them
However I have sprained my left ankle 3 times over my life time and broke it 3 years ago so I think I am erring on the side of boots just to be on the safe side
Both are really well worn in
I am also thinking about the wet / rain / mud but since we have some of the worst flooding ever in the UK at the moment I am actually finding it hard to remember Spain won't be so wet!

 

[JanelMcB]

Boots or shoes? Starting the frances from Pamplona on Monday

Could be either or neither. Some folks have walked the entire route in sandals. Wear what fits, doesn't harm your foot, is comfortable, and durable.

 

[The Kolbist]

for me - Boots. why?
1 - Rain. lots of rain. Boots handled rain a lot better
2 - ankle support. Longer Downhill seems to hold my ankle not to be twisted easily
3 - its a lot tougher. I see lots of running shoes destroyed midway in the camino

but then again. this is just me and my 2 cents.. not imposing or anything.

 

[Tincatinker]

I am actually finding it hard to remember Spain won't be so wet!

It has been a pretty wet winter in northern Spain too. 30 year averages here http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=9263D&k=nav the last few years have seen higher rainfall.

Those slippy / sticky clays of Navarra & Rioja will be a test this time of year. If you love your well-broken-in boots then wear them. And take a mud-scraper with you too.

Buen camino

 

[Caminogoat]

Boots or shoes? Starting the frances from Pamplona on Monday

If you don't have a pair of well-worn boots, it's no time to consider now.

 

[Curly Cath]

It has been a pretty wet winter in northern Spain too. 30 year averages here http://www.aemet.es/en/serviciosclimaticos/datosclimatologicos/valoresclimatologicos?l=9263D&k=nav the last few years have seen higher rainfall.

Those slippy / sticky clays of Navarra & Rioja will be a test this time of year. If you love your well-broken-in boots then wear them. And take a mud-scraper with you too.

Buen camino

Thanks that's extremely helpful! Boots it is

 

[Curly Cath]

Hi @Curly Cath
I guess you’ve got both on hand and it’s a last minute choice ?
Have you been ‘test driving’ both choices ..
ie your ‘boots’ and ‘trail walkers/runners’.??

Which felt most comfortable? Or your gut feeling ?

There is your choice ..!!

The terrain on most of the routes in spain can be comfortably walked in trail shoes.
I’ve walked many of these routes ; the first 7 years I used boots but always had some ‘different ‘ problem.(especially with the waterproof or goretex lined versions). Last year I walked in my ‘Brooks Ghost 11 trail shoes. I will always walk in trail shoes now. Much better ‘for me’..
I’m heading off (in a week) to Italy and after that the last section of Vdlp; but the tread on the Brooks is worn, so this time I’m trying my Hoka one one’s. Bondi6. Trail shoes.

Choice depends on your feet - but if it’s just the terrain you’re querying. It’s fine for shoes , sandals , or your boots if they are your favourite for comfort.
Buen camino

Annie

Thanks Annie. Basically I love my shoes better but given that my left ankle is so weak i think I should go with my boots. It also sounds like it will be wet underfoot in places which is helpful to know so boots are better for me. Both are really well worn I think my shoes from 2017 and my boots from 2014 so it doesn't matter from that point of view. Thank you It is helpful to see what others think

 

[trecile]

I don't know that there's much evidence that boots really support the ankles.
This is a good thread about the topic. Especially davebugg's post.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/urban-myths-about-boots-and-backs%E2%80%94-are-there-others.61966/

 

[Delphinoula]

I had boots for stoney muddy roads anywhere where I would twist my ankles and hooka one one for asphalt . The hookas did not need walking in. Maybe you already have shoes you could use?

 

[Jane Silverman]

Boots or shoes? Starting the frances from Pamplona on Monday

Keen sandals

 

[dougfitz]

I don't know that there's much evidence that boots really support the ankles.
This is a good thread about the topic. Especially davebugg's post.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/urban-myths-about-boots-and-backs%E2%80%94-are-there-others.61966/

I would suggest people read the whole thread to get a better understanding of the complexity of these discussions.

 

[camino.ninja]

Boots or shoes? Starting the frances from Pamplona on Monday

Waterproof trail runners. Asics and Columbia are good.