Shoes

[Elizabethanne]

Hi everyone,
Having a bit of a dilemma about shoes. I having being wearing minimalist shoes or barefoot for a number of years now. Up until three years ago I wore two years ago I wore scarpa hike shoes. I can no longer wear these as they are two rigid for my knee which rebels massively if I wear it. I much prefer to hike in Gortex shoes as I hate wet feet - i have tried wearing sealz under my topos but my feet froze. I start walking on the 20th September - how important is it to wear Gortext shoes - and I am planning weather permitting to go through the pass in the Pyrenees. My search for minimalist gortex well soled trail shoes is proving very difficult . I have also read the that the Galcia region can be very wet which I will be walking in October. Any advice would be awesome.
Anne

 

[Angelo]

A well fitted pair of Gore Tex trail shoes will suit you as you will be walking in Autumn.
In September last year, it only rained 3 days out of 28 during my Camino. But...as I entered Molinaseca, my rain gear (yes, Gore Tex jacket and Salomon GTX shoes) was no match to the stormy weather and torrential rain.

 

[petitewalker]

Anne, I walked last September and October and also went through the Pyrenees. I wore BROOKS Cascasia trail runners and they were great. We had rain the last week in Galicia, but they dried pretty quickly. Gore tex tends to make your feet sweat, so I would stay away from it.

 

[Rajy62]

Merrell Moab ventilator gtx is a lighweight shoe with excellent vibram outsole, comes in mid cut also. If you need a bit more durable and leather upper, try Lowa Renegade gtx which is a bit pricey but you can get them at 20% off. Good luck.

 

[Elizabethanne]

Thank you for this. It looks like trail runners will be fine the time of year I am walking. Going up to Melbourne to have another look at two possibilities.

 

[Rajy62]

Thank you for this. It looks like trail runners will be fine the time of year I am walking. Going up to Melbourne to have another look at two possibilities.

I thought you were looking for a gtx shoe. Trail runners are a whole different category. I walked the Camino in October. Expect lots of rain in Galicia by end of October. If you can manage wet feet with merino wool socks (or plastic bag) trail runners would be great. I have not used one. But, keep hearing models like Brooks cascadia and Hoka one stinson etc...Here is a review/comparison of trail runners for women by outdoorgearlab.

 

[Elizabethanne]

I thought you were looking for a gtx shoe. Trail runners are a whole different category. I walked the Camino in October. Expect lots of rain in Galicia by end of October. If you can manage wet feet with merino wool socks (or plastic bag) trail runners would be great. I have not used one. But, keep hearing models like Brooks cascadia and Hoka one stinson etc...Here is a review/comparison of trail runners for women by outdoorgearlab.

I am wanting gortex trail runners and they are hard to find and in Australia we don't have the range you have in the colder wetter countries. Thanks

 

[Rajy62]

I am wanting gortex trail runners and they are hard to find and in Australia we don't have the range you have in the colder wetter countries. Thanks

I don't know when you are walking, if you like a specific model, can you not order it on line and have it shipped to Australia.

 

[uniQ]

I personally wouldn't recommend GTX (Goretex) shoes as they are less breathable and when they do get wet, i.e. water will come in from your ankle, they take much longer to dry. My preference is a light weight, breathable shoe combined with merino socks which do a good job at keeping your feet warm while wet. Then leave your shoes to dry out overnight at the albergue.

 

[gerardcarey]

I wore gtx merrell moab mids in Sep/Oct 2014. No probs with sweat and wuverly dry tootsies when it poured in Galicia.
I hates wet feet.
Regds
Gerard