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Recommendations for presentable, smart looking walking shoes

Brightmore

Active Member
Time of past OR future Camino
Camino Frances
Hey everyone!

I am looking for a walking shoe that is presentable and can be worn for general travelling, restaurants and museums, in addition to the camino. I am not a fan of the approach, trainer like shoe.

I appreciate appearance is subjective and isn't the chief concern when purchasing a shoe, but I am looking for a balance, as these products are expensive.

I have previously worn the Scarpa Cyrus GTX shoe, which whilst decent but has a very poor sole, lasting a few months. I wore this shoe for my week long Camino Portuguese, so I know they do the job, I just wish they were better quality.

Recommendations appreciated!
 

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Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
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Train for your next Camino on California's Santa Catalina Island March 16-19
My choice for several years for a travelling shoe has been the Lowa Renegade III GTX . I don't use them for pilgrimage walks where I normally wear boots, but if I am sightseeing or doing short walks, these have worked well for me.
 
hawkeyepierce said:
There are no fashion awards on the camino. Personally I would reconsider caring how your shoes look—they’re going to get dirty and muddy anyways.
Click to expand...
Apologies if I didn’t make this clear in my post, but I’m looking to use them for travelling in addition to the Camino, so I would prefer shoes that may be used happily for both. I guess what I'm saying is not trainers, or trainer like shoes.
 
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The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
dougfitz said:
My choice for several years for a travelling shoe has been the Lowa Renegade III GTX . I don't use them for pilgrimage walks where I normally wear boots, but if I am sightseeing or doing short walks, these have worked well for me.
Click to expand...
My husband also wears these, but only for winter caminos. He found them too hot in the summer. He's also worn Keen's on at least one Camino that could be considered nicer than cross trainers.
 
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Some years ago I had a pair of Brasher leather walking shoes for similar reasons to yours. I have no idea if these will fit or be suitable but you could take a look at these Brasher shoes Vibram soles don't usually wear out too fast.

My first Brasher's are now my gardening shoes and still very comfy indeed. Unfortunately a second pair were never as comfy, the Nubuck was stiffer than the leather

You do want comfort to outweigh all other considerations if you are walking day after day in the same pair. But I'm sure you know that

Good luck and Buen Camino
 
Not formal, just not trainers thank you
Very helpful - thank you!
 
@Brightmore I read your OP and thought you were 'aving a giraffe but I've flicked through a bit of your previous and I think I have a feel for where you are coming from.

A decent leather boot / mid from the likes of Meindl, Brasher & the ilk should meet your needs comfortably. If you are in transition from Camino mud to Michelin grub you'll only need to give them a scrub up and apply some Dubbin. I carry a rag saturated in the stuff and it'll do my boots for 500 miles
 
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This is really helpful! Thanks so much!
 
Would recommend that you send your walking shoes home after the camino and get new ones for the standard travelling part of your adventure!
 
I buy all black trail runner shoes. I feel comfortable wearing them in churches and restaurants. I also try to avoid shorts and wear black long pants. Golfing brands of clothing sources have lots of offerings of lightweight, easily washed pants that are presentable in churches and restaurants.
 
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LOL. I chuckled when I read this question.

It brought to mind my first Camino - inches of mud due to cold wet downpours every day.

I have a photo of my doing something I never thought I would do, because I never thought it was possible. In this photo, I am standing by the sink in Pamplona, my hand inside one boot, holding my boot under the running water to try to rinse off an unbelievable amount of mud.

Were my boots going to dry by the next morning? I had no idea. But I could not continue with an extra pound of mud on each foot.

My boots, not waterproof, rinsed out completely, They dried completely by the next morning (insoles rinsed and dried separately).

This spectacle continued many, many more days on the Camino. Dirty boots on the Camino became my badge of accomplishment.
 
I second the view that you should go for Brasher's, which are super comfy (leather lined inside) and fine for hiking and general use. I used a pair of Brasher Ultralight on my first Camino, on my motorcycle and for social wear ... Very presentable. Berghaus took over Brasher but as far as I know they still make them under their brand.

I later switched to Salomon Ultra GTX, then to Merrell Flex Connect, neither of which I can wear socially . My heart is with the Brashers.
 
Altus BALI Sleeping bag liner
Ideal sleeping bag liner whether we want to add a thermal plus to our bag, or if we want to use it alone to sleep in shelters or hostels. Thanks to its mummy shape, it adapts perfectly to our body.

€46,-
I would recommend Arcteryx, the Konseal model is very lightweight and yet with toe caps that protect you against rocks/gravel etc. They are quite slim fit, hence avoiding the trainers look, but it won’t suit people with wide feet, I think. Vibram soles, which as far as I know, is the best/latest technology for outdoor soles.

Konseal FL 2 Leather GTX Shoe Men's

Nimble, supportive, GORE-TEX shoe for technical approaches and hikes.I FL: Fast and Light.
arcteryx.com

They have leather and non leather (mesh upper part) and gtx and non GTX versions.

The men’s model seem to come in beige or black, the Women’s are in dusky pink! More like pale beige really.

Dress it up n down with laces I put bright Camino yellow fluorescent laces so people can see me in the dark/foggy mornings, but will keep the original ones too. Oh in the second pic I was also holding a special hiking insole, I’m turning my smart footwear into sth very loud aren’t I
 

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I'm sure you'll find something, but as with any piece of equipment that is required to perform two different functions, it will likely do neither particularly well.

We travel post Camino, and just use our walking boots/shoes..... museums, fancy restaurants, hotels......

Many if not most long distance travellers these days wear very casual clothes and footwear.

Though on my next Camino, I have to stop off in Dubai on the way to speak at a conference.

I may take an old business shirt and pants that I can throw away afterwards. (or leave to be mailed home)
My footwear will probably be my trekking sandals.

I'll explain why I'm dressed in such a way as a bit of a joke...........
There's no way I'm 'carting' business attire with me.
 
Robo said:
I may take an old business shirt and pants that I can throw away afterwards. (or leave to be mailed home)
My footwear will probably be my trekking sandals.
Click to expand...
Tony Leung as Mandarin in Shanxi really rocked that look! (Suit, open collared shirt, and sandals)
 
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How things must have changed for you.

Back in April, you posted asking for advice for an immuno-compromised person walking the camino in mid July, and were given lots of useful suggestions. In one of your responses, you said that you would be 'planning rigidly ahead and remaining isolated, other than when outside'.

Now your concern is to look respectable when in museums and restaurants. Either a miracle happened back in July or your sense of perspective has changed. Whichever it is, I am so glad that you feel able to get back to living more normally.
 
As long as they're not covered in mud no one will care.
 
I have pretty much given up on having smart-looking feet. I accept that my shoes look rather like orthopedic shoes because, well, they are rather orthopedic. Coincidentally they might be considered rather sporty/athletic, too (although in my heart of hearts I know they are downright ugly). So don't assume that I am wearing them as my first style choice.

I wish you luck in finding the perfect shoes!
 
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My husband and I use Joyas, a Swiss brand of orthopedic shoes ... They roll you along, continually supporting your knees and back. Look past their obviously Ortho styles and you'll find fashionable ones, which are equally amazing for caminhos (and, for us, daily use). Check the weight tho: husband has a pair of featherlight topsiders, I have sandals which are heavier than my leather slipons. There are new styles every year, which is fun if you care about your footwear... And, being Portuguese, I do. Our Joyas recently walked the Portuguese Caminho and, with a wipedown, were ready for a few fine dining splurges along the Way. Bom Caminho!
 
Husband just walked by in his newest Joyas... Slightly perplexed when I photographed his feet.
 

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