Boots or Trainers?

[CaminoJohn]

I am preparing for my 3rd camino. Previously I have worn leather boots. This time I thought I would lighten my load and possibly increase my comfort by wearing trail sneakers or trainers. The pair I bought are partly leather with a mesh type weaving between....Here's the problem, I live in a desert and I have noticed as I walk that the mesh is acting like bellows...each step is sucking in dust!!! At the end of 5 hours walking my feet inside a liner and then a sock are filthy!
Has anyone walking in trainers on the camino experienced such problems? Is it just my home environment?! I can always wear my boots again!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

You could walk only in the mud on rainy days. Voila. No dust problem.

The dirt is the downside of sandals and mesh footwear. There are a lot of lightweight hiking shoes/boots that are not so prone to letting in dirt. You could consider them, or just plan on having dirty socks, which may not be a huge problem; they often are washed daily by pilgrims. Leather boots have their own problems, so you likely are faced with choosing between two non-optimum options.

 

[CaminoJohn]

Thanks Falcon! I have extremely wide feet and am limited to mostly New Balance for shoes and boots. I think I will be ok with the cross trainers... I think it is my environment..but I was just wondering if any one else on the camino had experienced this "bellows" effect. My feet,not just socks, are getting filthy!

 

[rachelvi]

My husband and I both wore trail running shoes on the camino. The only day that I remember having really dusty feet was the long day on the roman road.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I wore New Balance Trail Shoes on all my walks.
I loved them.
No breaking in.
And even if it got VERY rainy, they were always dry by next morning.

I LOVE NEW BALANCE SHOES! :lol: