End of the day sandals

[Debra Garcia]

Look what I found for walking around the Albergue, using in the shower, walking around town etc shoes! Amazingly lightweight (pair weigh only 7 oz) and they are comfortable Birkenstock’s with cushion support and great traction soles! Mine are lavender and my hubby got black. Oh the things that get us thrilled preparing for our second Camino

 

[Debra Garcia]

Look what I found for walking around the Albergue, using in the shower, walking around town etc shoes! Amazingly lightweight (pair weigh only 7 oz) and they are comfortable Birkenstock’s with cushion support and great traction soles! View attachment 53407Mine are lavender and my hubby got black. Oh the things that get us thrilled preparing for our second Camino

These are for when I change out of my Camino Lone Peak Altras for walking! Love it

 

[wanderfrau]

Nifty

 

[Hiawatha]

I've always been a fan of Tevas , but they really are heavy ! I seriously want to find something lighter .
Do you think that your new find would also be suitable for alternative walking wear after foot trouble ?
I have heard of new trekking sandals called ' Xero' , but haven't been able to lay eyes on them yet .

 

[Debra Garcia]

I do not think they would be the best for some of the rocky sharp up and downs of the Camino. I am going to rely on my Altras for those areas.

 

[peregrina2000]

I've always been a fan of Tevas , but they really are heavy ! I seriously want to find something lighter .
Do you think that your new find would also be suitable for alternative walking wear after foot trouble ?
I have heard of new trekking sandals called ' Xero' , but haven't been able to lay eyes on them yet .

I actually have a pair of those plastic Birkenstocks, recommended to me by Anemone years ago. I have always brought Chacos on the Camino, which are just as heavy as Tevas or more, and I was hoping to find a replacement. I decided they were just too unstructured for my arches (I need custom orthotics in my walking shoes) and that I would not be comfortable walking around town in them post-Camino. In the end, I bought a slightly lighter pair of Chacos, which is what I carry now. I just like their arch support too much.

Let us know if you find the Xero and what they are like.

 

[linkster]

@peregrina2000 Have you ever checked out the Keen Rialto? I have a pair and the insole can be removed. It does not show it on the website, but the insole is held in place with velcro and can be removed. The insole is a separate piece of the sandal unlike the H2. You might be able to put your insoles in the sandal. I got mine at REI.

 

[t2andreo]

I prefer the slides (as you have) to thong type (between the toes) sandals for apres-Camino wear. The reason is simple. I can wear socks more easily with slides. If one is walking in the spring months, it can be chilly in the evenings or early morning.

Plus, if you develop blisters in the big toe region, the flip-flop sort of thing, between the toes, can be irritating. Better to have something you can wear regardless...but...

Having explained this, personally, I weigh EVERYTHING and choose the lighter option. So, for me, in my larger size, the flip-flop style is relatively lighter for the time being. So, I have a sturdy pair of Campion branded pachangas... flip flops.

I cannot afford to let this prime commandment slide for even one item. Getting my rucksack weight down to 10 kg is a Holy Grail sort of thing for me. Six Caminos and I can't get closer than 12 kg on departure. But, I keep trying.

The search continues...

 

[Penny Stewart]

I'd strongly recommend Crocs over flipflops.
They are plastic (so good for the shower), have a lot of bouncy cushioning (comforting at the end of a day of walking), weigh very little (less than 8 oz.), come in a huge range of styles and colours, and can be worn with socks in cool weather.
penelope

 

[nidarosa]

I have the one-strap Madrid version of the Birkenstock EVA sandals/slides. I wear them all the time at home, take them everywhere and use them as evening wear on the camino. Better than toe post sandals, because I can open the strap to allow for socks, easily slip them on to go to the loo in the night, and they are brilliant in the shower with no fabric straps getting wet. I think mine weigh 160g for the pair and they are virtually indestructible and very comfy with a contoured foot bed and EVA cushioning. For everything else I wear my Hokas.

 

[Elle Bieling]

I have seen many recommendations for Oofos. I finally bought my first pair. They have amazing arch supports, weigh 10 oz and come in slide styles or thongs. I haven't yet used them on a Camino because I just got them. So far they feel wonderful.

 

[Saranger]

I've had a pair of the EVA Birkenstocks for about 6 months now and love them! Great with socks or without. I'm taking mine on the Camino Ingles in May!

 

[Chris Gi]

I've always been a fan of Tevas , but they really are heavy ! I seriously want to find something lighter .
Do you think that your new find would also be suitable for alternative walking wear after foot trouble ?
I have heard of new trekking sandals called ' Xero' , but haven't been able to lay eyes on them yet .

Amazon has them for around $70 - $90

 

[William Marques]

One Camino I bought a pair of "old man's slippers" with a rubber sole in Astorga. They were light and comfortable and I still use them for pottering in the garden.

 

[alipilgrim]

Interesting. I have a pair of the EVA Birkenstocks, with the toe post and while I love them I do not find they have very good cushioning and they don't pack well for traveling, taking up a lot of volume. Mine are a few years old now, perhaps the newer ones have more cushioning?

 

[biped]

I have seen many recommendations for Oofos. I finally bought my first pair. They have amazing arch supports, weigh 10 oz and come in slide styles or thongs. I haven't yet used them on a Camino because I just got them. So far they feel wonderful.

I hope you will have reason to love your Oofos as much as I love mine. I began walking each day in my Merrells (purchased in Pamplona to replace the beloved Keen Venice which separated and started flapping) and would change into the Oofos as foot pain and terrain demanded. I suffered crippling foot pain due to the rocky, sharp stones so frequently encountered on the trail, and returned home with a raging case of plantar fasciitis which had begun to rear its ugly head prior to my arrival in SJPdP. I'll forever be the poster child for Oofos!
Buen camino!

 

[RuediG]

I'm taking a pair of trail runners and a pair of Keen's Newport for hiking.
I'm very comfortable in the Keen's, even on uneven and rocky paths. They are heavy, but I'll use them as end-of-day sandals and shower sandals as well.

 

[Pilar]

I had a pair of those (Birkenstock plastic). I carried them on the outside of my bag and let me just say they don’t like the heat. They shrank for lack of the scientific term. Comfortable until I couldn’t wear them anymore.

 

[Hiawatha]

Amazon has them for around $70 - $90

Typically Australian prices are much higher.
$154.
Still if they work , are supportive and can be used as an alternative footwear then the cost is worthwhile.

 

[blueskywa]

Typically Australian prices are much higher.
$154.
Still if they work , are supportive and can be used as an alternative footwear then the cost is worthwhile.

The EVA Birkies are only about $AUS 65. Just bought some in south west Australia. In Perth city around $70.

 

[Anamiri]

My feet are made for flip flops, I have enough space between my first two toes for another toe! So I can make space for a sock in there if I needed to, the toe post barely touches, and I have shortish toes. I think if I had to walk a Camino in them I probably could, my current ones have quite cushy soles. (my cousin walked the Camino for a week in his - even down to Molineseca). At one point a few years ago when I was working from home, I never wore anything but flip flops or barefeet for months. If I had to put on shoes for a client meeting I resented it. (Weirdly enough I love buying shoes - go figure)
I tend to take my shoes off as soon as I get back to the car, so I have a small collection of shoes in there.
I have tried hard to like Birkenstocks but just cant wear them. I find the edges of them quite sharp. If my foot isnt entirely inside the footbed they cripple me, digging into my foot.
When I left them around the house other people would also accidentally stand on them too, and curse me.
They become known as my "sharp shoes", I eventually gave them away.
I do think they look smarter than flip flops though.

 

[blueskywa]

My feet are made for flip flops, I have enough space between my first two toes for another toe! So I can make space for a sock in there if I needed to, the toe post barely touches, and I have shortish toes. I think if I had to walk a Camino in them I probably could, my current ones have quite cushy soles. (my cousin walked the Camino for a week in his - even down to Molineseca). At one point a few years ago when I was working from home, I never wore anything but flip flops or barefeet for months. If I had to put on shoes for a client meeting I resented it. (Weirdly enough I love buying shoes - go figure)
I tend to take my shoes off as soon as I get back to the car, so I have a small collection of shoes in there.
I have tried hard to like Birkenstocks but just cant wear them. I find the edges of them quite sharp. If my foot isnt entirely inside the footbed they cripple me, digging into my foot.
When I left them around the house other people would also accidentally stand on them too, and curse me.
They become known as my "sharp shoes", I eventually gave them away.
I do think they look smarter than flip flops though.

You might like birkinstocks new (I think) flip flops called Bonki $Aus15 or $5 if you buy a pair of the expensive birkies

 

[Meggie]

I have the one-strap Madrid version of the Birkenstock EVA sandals/slides. I wear them all the time at home, take them everywhere and use them as evening wear on the camino. Better than toe post sandals, because I can open the strap to allow for socks, easily slip them on to go to the loo in the night, and they are brilliant in the shower with no fabric straps getting wet. I think mine weigh 160g for the pair and they are virtually indestructible and very comfy with a contoured foot bed and EVA cushioning. For everything else I wear my Hokas.

How much do they weigh?

 

[Stivandrer]

I had a pair of those (Birkenstock plastic). I carried them on the outside of my bag and let me just say they don’t like the heat. They shrank for lack of the scientific term. Comfortable until I couldn’t wear them anymore.

- and not your feet swelling !!

 

[Portia1]

Oofos slides for me. Lightweight and the arch/footbed support is just right for me. I can wear light socks with them too. I use them around the house as slippers.

 

[Redvespablur]

I had the EVA birks for our Norte/Primitivo. Wore like iron and we found packed quite flat at sides of pack (inside) and feather light.

The Basques looked upon my evening footwear with a mix of amusement and disdain.

Unlike keens probably not something I could wear for a day of hiking if need be - but otherwise worked great for us.

 

[ParrisPair]

Nothing like getting your feet out after a day’s hiking. Just paid £22 for these babies. Lightweight, practical,

 

[ParrisPair]

FitFlop iQusions

 

[Robert Nystrom]

Look what I found for walking around the Albergue, using in the shower, walking around town etc shoes! Amazingly lightweight (pair weigh only 7 oz) and they are comfortable Birkenstock’s with cushion support and great traction soles! View attachment 53407Mine are lavender and my hubby got black. Oh the things that get us thrilled preparing for our second Camino

I use Chacos - yes they are heavy as been mentioned by others but they are hiking sandals and many a day I just hiked in them (with a smart wool sock). Also saved my ‘hiny’ when I has a foot injury on the Portugués route as they allowed me to continue walking.

 

[ClaireJJ]

Look what I found for walking around the Albergue, using in the shower, walking around town etc shoes! Amazingly lightweight (pair weigh only 7 oz) and they are comfortable Birkenstock’s with cushion support and great traction soles! View attachment 53407Mine are lavender and my hubby got black. Oh the things that get us thrilled preparing for our second Camino

I'll check them out. I've been considering bring my oofos flip-flops (seriously). i know flip-flops are supposedly not good for your feet but i find oofos very comfortable. last camino i took some sandals that were heavier than I would like AND a little challenging to put on. As a result, I

 

[ClaireJJ]

......rarely used them. So, I'm on the look-out. Thanks for the tip.

 

[Deleted member 86885]

I'm taking a pair of trail runners and a pair of Keen's Newport for hiking.
I'm very comfortable in the Keen's, even on uneven and rocky paths. They are heavy, but I'll use them as end-of-day sandals and shower sandals as well.

hi there. please let us know how this goes. i plan to do the same thing with the keens- use for walkingwhen i can and double as
shower shoes. buen camino!

 

[Sparrow in Texas]

A few people have mentioned Tevas, specifically which style for women?

 

[trecile]

A few people have mentioned Tevas, specifically which style for women?

The style that fits your feet best!
I tried several styles of Tevas and also other brands. I found some Merrell sandals that worked well for my long narrow feet. I have them in black, but they have a new tan color that I'd be tempted by, since it's the color of dust and dried dirt.

Siren Strap Q2

Designed for wild and women. This comfortable strap-in is engineered for the way women move, offering support, alignment, and gender-specific stability.

www.merrell.com

 

[anthikes]

I was a big fan of Crocs, but I dont hike with them anymore because they are too bulky and a little heavy too. I use Flippers brand flip flops/jandals because they are feather light, even more than Haviannas.

The most important thing for me is to be able to slip on any night footwear without having to bend down!

 

[amocatnerak]

I switched out my Vasque hikers in Pamplona for Teva hiking sandals, but I had also brought along my Xero sandals for my “evening” footwear. Yes, I like sandals

 

[SacredSteps]

If I may, my end-of-day for the Florida Trail and AT are the Xdrain Cruz water shoes by Aleader. There are mens and womens sizes / fits on Amazon. Each shoe weighs about 4oz / 115g so the pair is rpuhly a half-pound. Very light. Good tread and much different pressure points than my trail runners.

 

[Swift3]

I recently read of a PCT thru hiker who praised a sandal I'd not heard of. They are light weight, slightly over 1 lb each, versus, for example, a Chaco Z/2 Classic at about 2 lbs each, with a really good resolable Vibram outsole and a Teva/Chaco type footbed. But they are not inexpensive. They are Bedrock 3D Cairns. REI has them for about $120. I'm happy with my standard issue Crocs or original Tevas, but was interested in these for the weight savings. I'd probably have a break-in period with the "Y-yoke" and between the toe post, but figure I could adjust. Has anyone tried these, like them?

See here for mens: https://www.rei.com/product/129682/bedrock-sandals-3d-cairn-pro-sandals-mens
here for womens: https://www.rei.com/product/129629/bedrock-sandals-3d-cairn-pro-sandals-womens

They another model, the Cairn (not the 3D Pro Cairn), that is similar, at around $105 from REI.

 

[SacredSteps]

I recently read of a PCT thru hiker who praised a sandal I'd not heard of. They are light weight, slightly over 1 lb each, versus, for example, a Chaco Z/2 Classic at about 2 lbs each, with a really good resolable Vibram outsole and a Teva/Chaco type footbed. But they are not inexpensive. They are Bedrock 3D Cairns. REI has them for about $120. I'm happy with my standard issue Crocs or original Tevas, but was interested in these for the weight savings. I'd probably have a break-in period with the "Y-yoke" and between the toe post, but figure I could adjust. Has anyone tried these, like them?

See here for mens: https://www.rei.com/product/129682/bedrock-sandals-3d-cairn-pro-sandals-mens
here for womens: https://www.rei.com/product/129629/bedrock-sandals-3d-cairn-pro-sandals-womens

They another model, the Cairn (not the 3D Pro Cairn), that is similar, at around $105 from REI.

The Bedrocks weigh a little over a pound per PAIR, not each. Light and good sole if you like a thong style sandal. If you get them wet, they take a LONG TIME to dry, so they are not good "shower shoes".

 

[trecile]

The Bedrocks weigh a little over a pound per PAIR, not each.

That's good. I wouldn't call any shoe, especially a sandal that weighs a pound each to be lightweight!

 

[Swift3]

Good to know about the drying time. And the 1lb per pair. Oops. Thanks.
The generally rave reviews on them don't mention the drying time. If not good for
"shower shoes", my guess would be, despite the weight savings, not good Camino shoes for
post-walking afternoons/evenings, but maybe good for a sandal style hiker.

 

[Mark Barnes]

Croc Swiftwater

 

[holhum]

Look what I found for walking around the Albergue, using in the shower, walking around town etc shoes! Amazingly lightweight (pair weigh only 7 oz) and they are comfortable Birkenstock’s with cushion support and great traction soles! View attachment 53407Mine are lavender and my hubby got black. Oh the things that get us thrilled preparing for our second Camino

I clicked on your question to comment and recommend these exact shoes! I have bad plantar fasciitis and these are the only non orthotic sandals/slides/flip flop type footwear I can wear. So good!

 

[Reija]

I clicked on your question to comment and recommend these exact shoes! I have bad plantar fasciitis and these are the only non orthotic sandals/slides/flip flop type footwear I can wear. So good!

The same here. Birkenstocks are the only shoes that seem to help with plantar fasciitis. I am now pretty much recovered from PF but I still wear Birkenstocks all the time. I have their winter boots, sneakers, shoes and several pairs of Arizonas. Unfortunately they don't have hiking boots or running shoes! But yes, before my next camino I will add the shower slippers into my collection.

 

[mminalaska]

Look what I found for walking around the Albergue, using in the shower, walking around town etc shoes! Amazingly lightweight (pair weigh only 7 oz) and they are comfortable Birkenstock’s with cushion support and great traction soles! View attachment 53407Mine are lavender and my hubby got black. Oh the things that get us thrilled preparing for our second Camino

I used those on our recent Camino - worked perfectly for me! Excellent choice!

 

[Hiawatha]

I have heard of new trekking sandals called ' Xero' , but haven't been able to lay eyes on them yet .

Yesterday I managed to get to the only stockist of Xero trekking sandals in Melbourne to be able to try a pair .
I must admit to be very disappointed but also relieved since I almost bought a pair online , I'm glad I waited and made the effort to try them first .
Frankly I can't imagine where all the positive reviews have come from , surely they were not written by anyone who has actually worn a pair .
They are thin , have no arch support , the straps are far to short for comfortable adjustment , are also thin and 'bite' into the flesh , the sandals are only available in full rather than half sizes . Claims that '' You will want to throw your boots away '' and '' the support given to feet while carrying loads is exceptional '' are purely marketing hype .
Trying to put them on was a puzzle at first , there is no top strap catch , you must loosen the heel strap , extend it to its maximum length, then slide your foot into the front straps while holding them up so they don't catch your toes .
There is an appreciably aggressive tread on the sole , they are light and they are flexible , but for the sale price of $140. Aus I thought that they were not only overpriced but fairly useless as well .
If you want to get a feel for what they are like without having to go to a retail outlet just get a hard soled pair of flipflops and attach them to your feet with some shoelaces , the result will be fairly close but may just be a little more comfortable .

 

[Swift3]

Croc Swiftwater

Awesome. Thanks for the tip. I checked them out and bought a pair. Terrific. Light weight, mesh top, arch strap makes a secure fit, great sole and footbed, and they pack almost flat.