Keeping Shoes Dry

[cmk033]

It seems that rain is inevitable on the Camino. I had a waterproof, Keen brand, mid high hiking shoes when I was walking the Francis last month (Feb of 2019) and it got wet when it rained. When shoes get wet, drying overnight is always a problem and feet are suffering as well.

Anyone has resolution on keeping feet dry? I guess the ankle gaiters may be a solution if water is seeping in through the lace area but I would like to get to the root of the problem. Or it may be that when it rains all day the keeping shoes dry may not be possible...

 

[Becoming]

I am starting the Camino in two weeks and am anticipating rain. On past hiking ventures plastic grocery type bags around your feet inside your boots helps.

 

[cmk033]

I am starting the Camino in two weeks and am anticipating rain. On past hiking ventures plastic grocery type bags around your feet inside your boots helps.

You are putting plastic bags between shoes and shock, right? Not sure if you have tried this and had success but I would think this will cause your sweat moisture to be trapped inside, resulting wetness on your feet. But I would not know if this for sure. Did this method work for you?

I got this waterproof shoes thinking it will prevent feet from getting wet but it seems there are more disadvantages with this thpe of shoes. First, waterproof only prevents from stepping on shallow water, not from rain, as a result the water gets in the shoes when in rain. Two, it does not breath so with all day of walking, your sweat causes the feet/socks with moisture. And three, once it is wet, it is harder for shoes to dry.

 

[alexwalker]

In order to dry your shoes, place them in the bottom of your sleeping bag overnight. Will be warm and dry in the morning. Old army trick.

 

[KJFSophie]

You are putting plastic bags between shoes and shock, right? Not sure if you have tried this and had success but I would think this will cause your sweat moisture to be trapped inside, resulting wetness on your feet. But I would not know if this for sure. Did this method work for you?

I got this waterproof shoes thinking it will prevent feet from getting wet but it seems there are more disadvantages with this thpe of shoes. First, waterproof only prevents from stepping on shallow water, not from rain, as a result the water gets in the shoes when in rain. Two, it does not breath so with all day of walking, your sweat causes the feet/socks with moisture. And three, once it is wet, it is harder for shoes to dry.

I have to agree with you on the waterproof shoe observation...your feet get wet anyway if you have strong rains dripping into your shoe/boot or if you have no way to avoid stepping into deeper puddles/runoffs. After they are wet, they absolutely do not dry overnight ( keep in mind that if it is raining that hard, there won't be a piece of newspaper to be found to stuff inside the shoe, and this only works if you keep putting fresh dry newspaper inside and pulling the wet paper out...also if there is no sun, nor heat...it all stays wet ) You also mentioned sweating...true. After two camino in waterproof hikers, I switched to lightweight, non waterproof. Yes, your feet get wet, but it's easier to regroup afterwards. I brought along an extra pair of innersoles and had dry sox handy. I tote a 'handy wipe' which is an ultralight reusable kitchen wipe that is ultra absorbable. When I see the rain has subsided, I remove wet innersoles and sox, wipe up insides of shoes as best I can and refit everything with dry pieces. The shoes will dry in time if rain has stopped, and at worst they will dry overnight.

 

[cmk033]

In order to dry your shoes, place them in the bottom of your sleeping bag overnight. Will be warm and dry in the morning. Old army trick.

Do you mean inside the sleeping bag, near feet area? How do you deal with mud on the shoes/boots getting inside the sleeping bag? Also the the moisture will be transferred to sleeping bag and will have damp sleeping bag? Or may be I misunderstood....

 

[alexwalker]

Do you mean inside the sleeping bag, near feet area?

Yes.

How do you deal with mud on the shoes/boots getting inside the sleeping bag?

If so, put them in a plastic bag, but keep it open.

Also the the moisture will be transferred to sleeping bag and will have damp sleeping bag? Or may be I misunderstood....

No. Your body heat will dry everything

 

[t2andreo]

We have a saying..."the rain in Spain, falls mainly on...Galicia!" But, at times, it does rain, and a lot, all over northern Spain. That is why it is so verdant and vividly green.

If you walk a Camino, you WILL get wet, including your feet. Get used to it.

If you are going to get wet, try to remain wet and warm if you can. Being wet and warm is good and can, at times, be very good. However being cold and wet is NEVER good.

To dry wet footwear, once you reach your destination, remove the insoles and towel dry as best you can. Place these somewhere they can dry. In your sleeping bag, liner or with you in bed is a very good place.

Also, shake excess water from your shoes or boots, towel them out to remove excess water, remove laces. Use the laces to hang the boots someplace where there is air circulation. Avoid icy cold window sills, unless you want to put on frozen footwear the next morning... yikes!

Yes, that does tend to wake you up. I have personally hung boots from the underside of a bunk above me, or over my bunk so air circulates around them all night.

Avoid placing them on a radiator. In the slim likelihood the proprietor turns the heat on for a blast in the middle of the night or just before wake up time, it will get hot enough to melt your soles. Do NOT take that chance.

Also, scrounge around for newspaper, not glossy paper, the regular stuff. Make loose balls of newspaper and stuff lightly into your boots, shoes. As if by a miracle, the newsprint tends to wick the wetness from the inside of the footwear. This is a tried and try 'trick' that has worked for me my entire life...I am 65.

Worse case, the footwear is still damp the next morning. However the insoles are dry. Your fresh socks are dry. Your feet are dry. The footwear will normally dry out within the first hour or so from your body heat. If your boots are breathable, like if they are made of Gore Tex, they will dry out even better. Don't forget to relace properly...

Hope this helps.

 

[cmk033]

Found a good link in foum on the subject:

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/rain-covers-for-shoes.59844/

 

[t2andreo]

Rain covers and gaiters are just more excess weight IMHO. If I plan on getting wet at some point and learn how to mitigate it, then I've saved the weight.

Curiously, my shoes have also gotten a usually needed wash and refreshing...

 

[Mugatu]

They are going to get WET, what you can do is plan your hike accordingly.

 

[pitztop]

You may find @davebugg's write-up very interesting. I plan on acting on his advice during my next camino. No more waterproof boots for me https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...en-walking-while-it-is-raining-and-wet.54565/

 

[RJM]

When it rains, a lot, and you are walking in the rain and you are walking in the rain through puddles etc of standing water your shoes/boots/feet will just plain get wet no matter what. You just have to deal with it. The only thing that would prevent it is wearing 100% rubber footwear with some type of barrier at the top, but of course that would not be practical for long distance walking the Camino and while your feet would be dry from the rain, they will be soaking wet from perspiration.
Do not wear plastic bags over your socks. works fine for short periods of time and distances, but wearing all day for several hours, perhaps several days, you have a good chance of getting trench foot from the perspiration trapped inside.
Do not put wet, dirty boots inside your sleeping bag in the albergues or even bring them in the sleeping area. I believe most albergues do not want you to.
Take out the insoles of your footwear, stuff them with newspapers if possible and carry on the next morning. The rain will eventually stop and your footwear will be dry once again.

 

[Saranger]

I second the newspaper stuffed into the shoes. Dry overnight. It's a miracle. I did this on the Portuguese when it rained 3 straight days. While my feet were always soaked by noon, at least they were dry when I started each morning.

 

[Delphinoula]

Had no gaiters pulled my hh long pants over the boots so nothing would come in from the top worked. To dry instead on paper which i didn't have used my shirt