Shoe Question

[Mowat11]

Hi everybody! I'm planning on doing some of the Camino Frances in late March. I bought a pair of Merrell Moab hiking shoes today and I'm testing them out at home. After choosing to go one size up because I've read so much about feet swelling etc. So I'm walking around in them at home and I'm wondering if a small gap at the back heel area is a bad sign. It's because they are a size too big I realize but should I be worried, or wear a second pair of socks, or is there anything from your wisdom that comes to mind. I do think slightly bigger is better than being too tight. Any thoughts?

 

[mikeatspokes]

Hi everybody! I'm planning on doing some of the Camino Frances in late March. I bought a pair of Merrell Moab hiking shoes today and I'm testing them out at home. After choosing to go one size up because I've read so much about feet swelling etc. So I'm walking around in them at home and I'm wondering if a small gap at the back heel area is a bad sign. It's because they are a size too big I realize but should I be worried, or wear a second pair of socks, or is there anything from your wisdom that comes to mind. I do think slightly bigger is better than being too tight. Any thoughts?

I walked the CF in Moab 3's and they were a 1/2 size bigger for me. In retrospect, I probably should have gone a whole size up, as with walking socks they got snug, though not tight, after a day's walking. You could try a different insole with better heel padding, and/or lock lacing to counteract the heel issue?

 

[Damien Reynolds]

The back of the heal is the part for me that causes trouble when I try a new shoe and later abandon it. I've never walked in Merrel's, but tried a pair of Nike trail runners that put a quarter sized hole on the back of my heal that took about a month to heal. I wore a pair of Topos that dug into the same part for me.

My only advice is to wear and walk in a new shoe a lot before committing to a trek in them. I learned the hard way.

It is very personal and you just have to figure out what works for you.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I have a pair of Moabs a full size larger than my foot. On longer hikes I wear two pairs of socks, Coolmax under merino wool. On shorter hikes I just wear the wool. The back of the shoe does get worn down but I've not had any blisters or hot spots on my foot. Recently I covered the worn spots with duct tape but that may make things worse and I'll have to try something else.

There are different ways to lace your shoes and boots to fix different problems. You want to try the heel lock. I tried to find a good video or diagram for Moabs but that was difficult, most showed boots or shoes laced differently from Moabs. I'm attaching photos of what should work if you find you want to lock your foot into the shoe more tightly.

First you run the laces from the top loops straight up to the top hole and then down into the hole.


Then criss-cross the laces with the ends of the laces going through the vertical loops created between the last lacing loop and the top hole.


Tighten by pulling both lace ends down toward the shoe's toes.


Finish with the standard double bow knot where the loops go horizontally (square knot style) not vertically (granny knot style).


Good luck.

 

[Mowat11]

I have a pair of Moabs a size larger than my foot. On longer hikes I wear two pairs of socks, Coolmax under merino wool. On shorter hikes I just wear the wool. The back of the shoe does get worn down but I've not had any blisters or hot spots on my foot. Recently I covered the worn spots with duct tape but that may make things worse and I'll have to try something else.

There are different ways to lace your shoes and boots to fix different problems. You want to try the heel lock. I tried to find a good video or diagram for Moabs but that was difficult, most showed boots or shoes laced differently from Moabs. I'm attaching photos of what should work if you find you want to lock your foot into the shoe more tightly.

First you run the laces from the top loops straight up to the top hole and then down into the hole.
View attachment 183903

Then criss-cross the laces with the ends of the laces going through the vertical loops created between the last lacing loop and the top hole.
View attachment 183904

Tighten by pulling both lace ends down toward the shoe's toes.
View attachment 183905

Finish with the standard double bow knot where the loops go horizontally (square knot style) not vertically (granny knot style).
View attachment 183906

Good luck.

Wow! Never would have known that. Thanks so much!

 

[mikeatspokes]

I have a pair of Moabs a size larger than my foot. On longer hikes I wear two pairs of socks, Coolmax under merino wool. On shorter hikes I just wear the wool. The back of the shoe does get worn down but I've not had any blisters or hot spots on my foot. Recently I covered the worn spots with duct tape but that may make things worse and I'll have to try something else.

Not sure I'll be wearing my current Moabs on the VdlP as might opt for trail runners, but if I do wear the Moabs, I'll also be doing the double socks and likely swapping the supplied insoles for Superfeet or similar.

My previous Moabs also wore on the heel lining and I used duct tape in the same way. Never had any problems with it apart from having to replace the tape now and again.

 

[Mycenius]

...I bought a pair of Merrell Moab hiking shoes today...

Just on a vaguely related rabbit-hole (and not wanting to hi-jack the thread, but) I haven't seen Merrell Moabs myself and see a lot of people reference them. I have used Merrell Chameleon's (standard not the Stretch variant) for a long time (2 pairs over many years, still going); mainly on long and off-road day hikes and walks (and anythign more substantial). I've found them generally very good but I suspect they are a bit heavy & hot for a long Camino walk and would be hassle to dry out over night if wet...? Can anyone familiar with both advise (in a succinct way?) if they are comparable to the Moab's at all (as I see there a several different Moab variants to complicate things and some are goretex)?

My Chameleon's are the version similar to pictured and the and even older previous version:

 

[Bill905]

I am on a second pair of Moabs. The first one was apparently defective in the heel area, wore a hole in the heel lining, and started eroding my socks and skin. Duct tape (actually Gorilla tape) to the rescue! I put a few layers of tissue or napkin under the tape to cover the broken piece of the heel support. The tape and padding worked a wonder and the shoes fit better! On my return, I wrote to Merrell and included photos and they sent me a new pair to replace the defective one! However, with my second pair I still use some tape and padding because it helps my foot fit the shoe better (it's a personal thing )! I also like the fact that the shiny and slippery tape assists in putting on and taking off the shoes. I wear 2 pair of socks as well, one ankle high, and one regular height hiking socks. And thanks for the in-service education on that lacing technique Rick! Will try it out next trek.

 

[Bill905]

I'll also be doing the double socks and likely swapping the supplied insoles for Superfeet or similar.

The first thing to go for me are the factory insoles, and replaced with Superfeet insoles ...