Hike-footwear shoes

[bhemphill]

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

 

[trecile]

Are these what you mean?

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Have you tried them on hikes and walks at home?

 

[Robo]

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

Selecting shoes is always a bit of a nightmare.
I had to upgrade mine last year and ended up trialling 5 different shoes.

It's always good to hear what others think and what is popular. So a good question.

But buyer beware. We all have different requirements, different feet, etc etc. It's a very personal thing.
One of my trial shoes last year is probably the most popular shoe on the Camino.
They felt great in the store.
But after I walked 2 kms in them my feet hurt!

Those shoes look interesting.
I presume you are used to hiking in barefoot shoes,

Happy shoe hunting.

Will be interesting to see if anyone has used these.

 

[Lexicos]

Nope. I’ve always worn hiking shoes with a thick sole. Lately I’ve also used open hiking sandals, again with a thick sole.
Keen brand shoes and Ecco brand sandals. They’re good for rocky and uneven trails. I once wore hiking runners and got blisters all over both feet. But, we’re all different. If the barefoot type work for you, great. But I’d certainly put them through their paces first.
Buen Camino!

 

[Sue127]

I'd be a little concerned about apparent lack of grip on the sole, but that, of course, is also dependent on type of terrain and time of year.

 

[GaryRobArms]

I have used barefoot shoes on two Caminos — Portugal & Del Norte — but not that brand. I used models in the trail line of VivoBarefoot. They worked very well for me, but I wear minimalist shoes all the time.

You don’t need as much tread with a barefoot shoe as you do with a stiff soled hiker because the flexible sole conforms to the ground surface shape, providing better contact that way. So you benefit from the lighter weight.

But I would not recommend using them unless you’ve adapted to them before the trip.

 

[Sue127]

I have used barefoot shoes on two Caminos — Portugal & Del Norte — but not that brand. I used models in the trail line of VivoBarefoot. They worked very well for me, but I wear minimalist shoes all the time.

You don’t need as much tread with a barefoot shoe as you do with a stiff soled hiker because the flexible sole conforms to the ground surface shape, providing better contact that way. So you benefit from the lighter weight.

But I would not recommend using them unless you’ve adapted to them before the trip.

Did you have any problems when you first started using them? I do like the idea but had tendonitis in my Achille after using zero drop Altas

 

[GaryRobArms]

Yes, I did. But the reason I started using them was because I was getting hip pain from running and long walks, and the theory is that by using barefoot shoes your gait changes and you don't heel strike, and therefore the impact does not travel up the leg to the hips.

It worked for me. Quite quickly I stopped heel-striking (cuz it really hurts to do that in barefoot shoes) and the hip pain disappeared. However, I did get pain in other parts of the leg -- knees, tendons, etc. -- until I developed the foot strength and changed the mechanics up the leg and hips. That has taken a few years, but I persevered, and things are really good now. I run, hike, cycle, rock climb without any recurring body problems.

It took a long time, and I really had to be willing to evaluate and change my gait and work on strengthening the body parts that had atrophied after 50 years of life in civilization. It is not an easy transition to make, but I'm glad I did it.