Shoes

[Redlory]

Hi all,
Shoes... Big topic, hey? I'm a regular hiker, but I'm thinking my SALOMON A PRO 3D, although great for stability on climbs, might not suit my need for more breathability and cushioning on dirt roads and long - sometime bitumen - paths of some of the Via Podiensis. I know there's always another hiking gear I 'need'.
Over to you: which model would you recommend/worked well for you on this type of walks (I'm going in autumn) ?
Thanks heaps and happy new year.

 

[roving_rufus]

If it's the Salomon XA Pro (a typo) - I have worn them on the camino a few times. I have also worn Hoka Speedgoats. The Hokas were lighter and more cushioned- but wore down much more quickly than the Salomon. The Salomon XA are definitely more grippy and suited to rougher paths than the Hokas. And this is probably why my old Salomons have still wear in them after 1000km but the Hoka Speedgoats are banished.
But while I wore my Hokas on my summer camino - I am back in Salomon XA Pro for my winter camino. And having been walking around in my old pair for the last few weeks I can see why I originally chose them.

There are pros and cons to every choice. But before you jump from a pair of shoes you already like- try them out on roads etc

 

[mikeatspokes]

I walked the CF during late Autumn/early Winter in my Merrell Moab 3 GTX shoes, and they handled the different terrains perfectly!

 

[Paul-CH]

Hoka Speedgoats

I used my comfortable Hoka Speedgoats 26 days for a trail running in Switzerland 601km 18'500hm up and down and then I had to put it into the recycle bin. How do your shoes look when you think they are worn out?

 

[henrythedog]

@Paul-CH

Paul - my footwear looks like yours when I retire it. It looks like you’re over-pronating a little, especially on your left foot. Have you tried corrective insoles?

 

[howardd5]

Hi all,
Shoes... Big topic, hey? I'm a regular hiker, but I'm thinking my SALOMON A PRO 3D, although great for stability on climbs, might not suit my need for more breathability and cushioning on dirt roads and long - sometime bitumen - paths of some of the Via Podiensis. I know there's always another hiking gear I 'need'.
Over to you: which model would you recommend/worked well for you on this type of walks (I'm going in autumn) ?
Thanks heaps and happy new year.

I have worn any number of shoes for different walks and found a jewel in Spain. I was on the Primitivo this year and lost a shoe and needed to buy something local , in Oviedo. Well the big “Dec” store had a good selection , but nothing a knew anything about. I tried a pair of Quechua 100’s and they felt good right off- light firm shape and good grip. Waterproof up to the tongue. Price was worrisome only $45 , but they turned out great. I don’t think there sold in the US- now I wear them nearly every day, can’t lose with these/

 

[Paul-CH]

Have you tried corrective insoles?

Thanks for the analyses. No as I don’t have any problems with my feets. Even after a long jogg not.

 

[roving_rufus]

I used my comfortable Hoka Speedgoats 26 days for a trail running in Switzerland 601km 18'500hm up and down and then I had to put it into the recycle bin. How do your shoes look when you think they are worn out?

View attachment 183356

I think this summer mine looked worse after about 1000km on camino- the tar roads seem to kill them more. But will probably be back in a new pair of Hokas again - they are very comfy.

 

[Joseph Carmona]

Hi all,
Shoes... Big topic, hey? I'm a regular hiker, but I'm thinking my SALOMON A PRO 3D, although great for stability on climbs, might not suit my need for more breathability and cushioning on dirt roads and long - sometime bitumen - paths of some of the Via Podiensis. I know there's always another hiking gear I 'need'.
Over to you: which model would you recommend/worked well for you on this type of walks (I'm going in autumn) ?
Thanks heaps and happy new year.

Giving advice on shoes is extremely difficult as we all are different but here is my take I am on off track hiker and I wouldn't wear any of my hiking shoes on a Camino, it's horses for courses.The surfaces on all the Caminos I have done are much harder you're either going in or out of large cities towns or small villages through bitumen sealed roads or you're using connecting gravel roads between villages most of the time.
Two years ago I came across trail runners much lighter than hiking shoes and more flexible I chose Hokas but they're is a variety of trail runners, I was drawn to Hokas because of their rocker action with a fair amount of drop as someone in their seventies the no drop offered by other trail runners didn't suit me. I chose Hokas Annacapa a slightly heavier model with goretex they come in a boot as well, they are 380 gms as opposed to lighter Hoka Speedgoats 280 gms. On my Camino Frances and Finisterre Muxia August 2023 I used it and they were great great cushioning I did quite a few 45 kms days and the whole Frances in 26 days and I had no issues. So for my five consecutive Caminos in April and May last year I decided that a pair of Hokas Annacapa would be my starting shoe for my Camino Frances 800 kms when I got to Santiago I had a pair of Hokas Speedgoats waiting for me to use for my other four Caminos 700 kms. The Hokas Annacapa I still use hiking and they have sufficient tread but the lighter Hokas Speedgoats were done after seven hundred kms.
In March I plan to walk from Tarifa southernmost point to Estaca de Bares northernmost point going through Santiago about 2500 kms of mainly Caminos and I have bought four pairs of Hokas , two pairs of Hokas Annacapa one which I am using just for training beforehand a pair of Hokas Bondi and one I am looking forward to using Hoka Kaha gtx this one I bought it as a boot I will start with Hoka Kaha then replace them with the others. Good luck on your Camino

 

[jrewins]

On both of my previous Caminos (Francés & Portuguese), I wore Merrell Moabs. They were fine, but I was curious about the lighter Trail Runners so many people have raved about. So I’ve tried several different brands (Hoka, Salomon, Altra), but the toe boxes on all of them were too narrow. Then I found Topos. The toe boxes are very roomy, the shoe is very cushioned, and overall very comfortable. I’m concerned however, about their durability. My next venture is the VdlP, and I don’t want to get halfway through It and find myself with a worn out pair of shoes. The Topos do have a Vibram sole, but it’s not nearly as rugged as my old Merrells.

Anyone have experience with durability issues of Trail Runners, specifically, Topos? Thanks.

 

[UtahHikingGal]

Giving advice on shoes is extremely difficult as we all are different but here is my take I am on off track hiker and I wouldn't wear any of my hiking shoes on a Camino, it's horses for courses.The surfaces on all the Caminos I have done are much harder you're either going in or out of large cities towns or small villages through bitumen sealed roads or you're using connecting gravel roads between villages most of the time.
Two years ago I came across trail runners much lighter than hiking shoes and more flexible I chose Hokas but they're is a variety of trail runners, I was drawn to Hokas because of their rocker action with a fair amount of drop as someone in their seventies the no drop offered by other trail runners didn't suit me. I chose Hokas Annacapa a slightly heavier model with goretex they come in a boot as well, they are 380 gms as opposed to lighter Hoka Speedgoats 280 gms. On my Camino Frances and Finisterre Muxia August 2023 I used it and they were great great cushioning I did quite a few 45 kms days and the whole Frances in 26 days and I had no issues. So for my five consecutive Caminos in April and May last year I decided that a pair of Hokas Annacapa would be my starting shoe for my Camino Frances 800 kms when I got to Santiago I had a pair of Hokas Speedgoats waiting for me to use for my other four Caminos 700 kms. The Hokas Annacapa I still use hiking and they have sufficient tread but the lighter Hokas Speedgoats were done after seven hundred kms.
In March I plan to walk from Tarifa southernmost point to Estaca de Bares northernmost point going through Santiago about 2500 kms of mainly Caminos and I have bought four pairs of Hokas , two pairs of Hokas Annacapa one which I am using just for training beforehand a pair of Hokas Bondi and one I am looking forward to using Hoka Kaha gtx this one I bought it as a boot I will start with Hoka Kaha then replace them with the others. Good luck on your Camino

Hi Joseph, incredibly helpful personal experience, thanks for sharing! I spent a couple of hours at REI last week...I love my Hoka Kaha's hiking boots for hiking the Utah mountains AND realize I definitely need to go up a 1/2 size (minimum). Walking 45km/day (!!!), did you go up a 1/2 or even full size? That's recommendations I'm getting form folks who have walked their Camino. Thanks for sharing! Cheers!

 

[Paul-CH]

I did start from Cádiz with a Scarpa Mochito Planet-Fabric UK 8.5 and I had to replace them at Salamanca because my feet did change their size after 700km walking.
The Evadict XT8 UK9 €80.- from Decathlon Salamanca did last up to 800km.

My Saucony Peregrine 12 UK 8.5 did last only 660km.
The softer the rubber lugs the faster the go away on the roads, but there are a lot of unpaved farm roads on VdlP.

 

[mikeatspokes]

On both of my previous Caminos (Francés & Portuguese), I wore Merrell Moabs. They were fine, but I was curious about the lighter Trail Runners so many people have raved about. So I’ve tried several different brands (Hoka, Salomon, Altra), but the toe boxes on all of them were too narrow. Then I found Topos. The toe boxes are very roomy, the shoe is very cushioned, and overall very comfortable. I’m concerned however, about their durability. My next venture is the VdlP, and I don’t want to get halfway through It and find myself with a worn out pair of shoes. The Topos do have a Vibram sole, but it’s not nearly as rugged as my old Merrells.

That's very interesting @jrewins, I have worn Moab GTX shoes on my recent adventures too, and in general found them excellent. If I was to pick a fault however, it is that for my feet at least, the toe boxes are not roomy enough, and I have not found a wide fitting version. I too am planning to do the VdlP in the Spring, so the Topos sound interesting, especially if they are as hard wearing and long lasting as the Merrells?

 

[Redlory]

On both of my previous Caminos (Francés & Portuguese), I wore Merrell Moabs. They were fine, but I was curious about the lighter Trail Runners so many people have raved about. So I’ve tried several different brands (Hoka, Salomon, Altra), but the toe boxes on all of them were too narrow. Then I found Topos. The toe boxes are very roomy, the shoe is very cushioned, and overall very comfortable. I’m concerned however, about their durability. My next venture is the VdlP, and I don’t want to get halfway through It and find myself with a worn out pair of shoes. The Topos do have a Vibram sole, but it’s not nearly as rugged as my old Merrells.

Anyone have experience with durability issues of Trail Runners, specifically, Topos? Thanks.

Good to know thanks. What's the VdlP?

 

[mikeatspokes]

Good to know thanks. What's the VdlP?

The Via de la Plata or Silver Way is the Camino starting in Seville, and is longer than the CF at around 1000km.

 

[CTLawGal]

My experience relates to a single Camino of 42 days (Norte/Primitivo/Finisterre/Muxia), I wore trail runners by On-Running, which provided cushioning and enough grip on rocks or slippery surfaces. Some of the pilgrims I was walking with had more traditional hiking boots and were regretting the choice on the long stretches of road. One of the downsides, as others have mentioned, is that they won't last as long and the soles will start to break down around 300 miles. I brought two pairs, but knew before I made it to Lugo that they weren't going to make it all the way to Muxia. I found a pair of Hokas in Lugo, but kept the old shoes tied to my pack - glad I did, the Hokas made the soles of my feet feel like they were burning, I could only wear them a couple of hours and would switch between them during the day; however, I did like the loop on the heel of the Hokas, it made it easier to attach the shoes to my pack with a carabiner. This spring I'm walking the Gebennensis and Podiensis and will bring 3 pairs for the 50 or so days of walking, and will ship two pairs ahead.

This is the second pair, they made it Muxia, barely, by alternating with the Hokas (why did I think a white shoe was a good idea, hahaha!)


I have wide feet (I buy the men's shoes), and the On-Running brand works well for me (except for the durability issue). I order them directly from the company on their US website (they are Swiss-engineered but have a strong US presence), I would order several different kinds and sizes, try them all out, return the ones that didn't work for my feet within 30 days, then order a backup supply of the ones that work. I wish they would last longer, but I have problem feet and I feel like the shoes are my most important piece of equipment on a long walk; the plus side is they need almost no breaking-in period once you find a model that works. I've tried some of the other options people have mentioned on the forum, but they didn't work for me. You just have to find something that works for your feet and stick with it.