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Waterproof hiking shoes/boots?

emmarosegardner

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
May 2025
I am walking the Camino Frances for the whole month of May (April 22nd - June 1st), and am wondering whether I should opt for waterproof shoes/boots? I have seen mixed messages online - on the one hand, waterproof shoes can cause your feet to sweat which can cause blisters, on the other hand, if you encounter rain with non-waterproof shoes you might be in trouble.

Does anyone have thoughts or insights on this? Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Emma
 
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Blisters come from warmth and humidity.
Therefore avoiding blisters implies to dry your feet (getting your shoes and your socks off as often as you can).
Waterproof shoes (like rubber boots) are not a good idea for hiking.
You'd rather choose another solution:
- shoes suitable for rain
- when arriving at the albergue, ask for newspaper, and put it inside your shoes in order to absorb moisture.
 
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Blisters come from warmth and humidity.
Therefore avoiding blisters imply to dry your feet (getting your shoes and your socks off as often as you can).
Waterproof shoes (like rubber boots) are not a good idea for hiking.
You'd rather choose another solution:
- shoes suitable for rain
- when arriving at the albergue, ask for newspaper, and put it inside your shoes in order to absorb moisture.
Good to know. Thank you!
 
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I am walking the Camino Frances for the whole month of May (April 22nd - June 1st), and am wondering whether I should opt for waterproof shoes/boots? I have seen mixed messages online - on the one hand, waterproof shoes can cause your feet to sweat which can cause blisters, on the other hand, if you encounter rain with non-waterproof shoes you might be in trouble.

Does anyone have thoughts or insights on this? Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Emma
My opinion here, waterproof shoes/boots are not waterproof, you encounter enough rain, snow or whatever and your feet will be wet. They are hot and my feet sweat in them. I agree with @Pafayac that there are better ways to deal with this concern.
 
I have used Salomon Goretex boots the last 10 years, 1/2 size bigger than needed. I don't get blisters.

But stopping at a cafe or whatever, I take off my boots and rest a while.

What we learned in the Army in the Arctic: Put wet shoes in the bottom of your sleeping bag (stuff newspaper in them until you go to sleep, then remove), and put wet socks in your armpits over night. Will be dry next morning.

You may smell a bit different(...) next morning, but your feet, socks and shoes will be dry. :cool:

And I agree with @Juspassinthru : The Camino can be merciless, and your shoes may get wet, however "waterproof" they are.
 
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I am walking the Camino Frances for the whole month of May (April 22nd - June 1st), and am wondering whether I should opt for waterproof shoes/boots? I have seen mixed messages online - on the one hand, waterproof shoes can cause your feet to sweat which can cause blisters, on the other hand, if you encounter rain with non-waterproof shoes you might be in trouble.

Does anyone have thoughts or insights on this? Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Emma

This question comes up fairly often. It is very much a matter of personal preference. Generally you find more people against Goretex/ waterproof shoes than for. I recall one thread a few months back, I'll attach the link.
Personally I am strongly in the non-gortex camp for anything other than winter. And I only wear them then because they are a little warmer, & great for walking through snow or splashing through the puddles and mud on a day hike. They take far too long to dry once they do get wet - which, as many people testify, they often do during prolonged heavy rain.

 
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Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated.
With regards to the high arches you might consider getting arch supports, or even talking to your podiatrist and getting custom inserts.
As too wide fitting shoes there are a few brands that offer a wide option, it pays to ask a decent Sports store. Personally I wear Altra's (Loan peak), as do quite a number of both male and female hikers/pilgrims with wide feet. The Lone Peaks are zero drop which take a little getting used to, however Altra now also produce a few models that are not zero drop.
 
I wear waterproof boots, and have done so for most of my pilgrimage walks. I am not convinced by the arguments of those that say they are too hot in summer, etc, etc. Most appear to be repeats of myths and devoid of personal experience. Your feet will get hot, just like the rest of your body, which can be reduced as much by wearing appropriate, lighter weight, socks as anything else. When they are hot, they will sweat, just like the rest of your body, and you will want your socks to absorb any moisture that hasn't been transpired through the waterproof membrane, so your feet will get damp as well.

If you do want waterproof boots to work effectively in the rain, you need to be wearing rain pants or long gaiters under a poncho. If not, the place that will let most water in is the same large hole at the top of the boot through which you put your foot, and there is no waterproofing in the world that will stop the rain from running down your trousers (or bare legs) that will protect you then.

If you think of your protection from getting wet from rain, puddles, etc as a system that includes all the protection elements, hat, rain jacket and pants or poncho and gaiters, and footwear, that might help with this decision.

Remember that in Spain, in summer, you are just as likely to get soaked from the inside of your jacket or poncho as from the outside. I prefer to keep my warm sweat on the inside and the cold rain on the outside, but you might choose to just protect your torso, and not your lower body. Just accept that your feet will get wet, and will dry eventually. In that case, don't even bother with using waterproof footwear. Keep watch to ensure you don't blister, and seek medical advice if any skin masceration does not respond to simple airing during or at the end of the day.
 
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I wear waterproof boots, and have done so for most of my pilgrimage walks. I am not convinced by the arguments of those that say they are too hot in summer, etc, etc. Most appear to be repeats of myths and devoid of personal experience. Your feet will get hot, just like the rest of your body, which can be reduced as much by wearing appropriate, lighter weight, socks as anything else. When they are hot, they will sweat, just like the rest of your body, and you will want your socks to absorb any moisture that hasn't been transpired through the waterproof membrane, so your feet will get damp as well.

If you do want waterproof boots to work effectively in the rain, you need to be wearing rain pants or long gaiters under a poncho. If not, the place that will let most water in is the same large hole at the top of the boot through which you put your foot, and there is no waterproofing in the world that will stop the rain from running down your trousers (or bare legs) that will protect you then.

If you think of your protection from getting wet from rain, puddles, etc as a system that includes all the protection elements, hat, rain jacket and pants or poncho and gaiters, and footwear, that might help with this decision.

Remember that in Spain, in summer, you are just as likely to get soaked from the inside of your jacket or poncho as from the outside. I prefer to keep my warm sweat on the inside and the cold rain on the outside, but you might choose to just protect your torso, and not your lower body. Just accept that your feet will get wet, and will dry eventually. In that case, don't even bother with using waterproof footwear. Keep watch to ensure you don't blister, and seek medical advice if any skin masceration does not respond to simple airing during or at the end of the day.
I second that.
 
I am walking the Camino Frances for the whole month of May (April 22nd - June 1st), and am wondering whether I should opt for waterproof shoes/boots? I have seen mixed messages online - on the one hand, waterproof shoes can cause your feet to sweat which can cause blisters, on the other hand, if you encounter rain with non-waterproof shoes you might be in trouble.

Does anyone have thoughts or insights on this? Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Emma
This topic and backpack research have been the most time-consuming prep issue for me. Ultimately, I'm going with the Topo Mountain Racer 3's, not waterproof. After spending hours at REI (an outfitter) they fit better than the others that I researched, and I've have done enough hiking to agree that there's no such thing as a waterproof shoe... I've always hiked in light weight boots and have never done the Camino, so I hope I've made the right choice. If I haven't, I'm sure I'll find out quickly and luckily will have access to other option while on the trail.
 
Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated
I need wide fitting shoes due quite problematic feet. Last year I walked 700 kilometres in Altra Lone Peak 7s. I found that the women's fit weren't roomy enough for me so chose men's wide fit and they were perfect. I will add that I placed homemade metatarsals pads under the insoles (which I had my podiatrist nephew check). The Lone Peak 7s aren't waterproof and I wondered how I would get on but it wasn't a problem as they dried quite quickly. I have since replaced them with Lone Peak 8s (men's wide) and they're just as comfortable for me.
 
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I always wear Meindl boots with Goretex.
Never get blisters because I double sock with nylon knee highs. My feet are always dry, no need to change socks or air out my feet during the day. Have trudged through enough deep puddles, mud and all day rain to appreciate having dry feet.
 
I made my first camino wearing waterproof Vasque boots. Overall they worked well, but on a rainy day from Orisson to Roncesvalles, the rain found a way to get in and the boots were soaked. Thank goodness they keep stacks of newspaper in Roncesvalles to dry boots and shoes. The rest of the trip they wre great. For the Portugues, my next camino, I switched to trail runners and could not find any waterproof shoes in wide sizes. I encountered horrendous downpours. In most cases, they did not last more than an hour, but the shoes were soaked. In one case, while crossing from the coastal the central, it started to rain when I was 100 meters from the town.on the central. In the time it took to reach the town, the water was over my ankles as it raced down the road. From that point on I stopped obsessing over not having waterproof shoes as my feet were going to be wet no matter what. I use my old walking shoes to take the dogs out in the morning. On damp days I wish I had waterproof shoes to keep my socks dry, but for a camino, if you are going to walk in a hard rain, no shoe will stay dry.
 
I am walking the Camino Frances for the whole month of May (April 22nd - June 1st), and am wondering whether I should opt for waterproof shoes/boots? I have seen mixed messages online - on the one hand, waterproof shoes can cause your feet to sweat which can cause blisters, on the other hand, if you encounter rain with non-waterproof shoes you might be in trouble.

Does anyone have thoughts or insights on this? Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Emma
These two vids should give you some useful ideas:

Buen Camino!
 
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 am walking the Camino Frances for the whole month of May (April 22nd - June 1st), and am wondering whether I should opt for waterproof shoes/boots? I have seen mixed messages online - on the one hand, waterproof shoes can cause your feet to sweat which can cause blisters, on the other hand, if you encounter rain with non-waterproof shoes you might be in trouble.

Does anyone have thoughts or insights on this? Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Emma
Hi Emma.
I walked the full Camino Frances in May/June 2022 and here is what I did.
I used light waterproof hiking boots for the predicted wet days and Hoka Trail runners for non rainy days.
I also wore double lined Wright socks.
I wore sandals in the evenings.
No blister issues !
This worked very well for me but of course it’s your decision.
Buen Camino!
 
Gortex lined boots and shoes are good for a short 'walk in the park' where you stop often to listen to the birds. To 'work' the foot ware, as in the Camino, I would stay away from Gortex, it is like walking with garbage bags on your feet. I have thrown away perfectly functional Gortex boots. I am reminded of two pilgrims removing low Gortex shoes, to pour out water.
 
No specific recommendations for boots, since there seems to be contradictory information re: Goretex versus non-Goretex (for example), but one thing I haven't seen mentioned on these forums is the use of antiperspirant on the soles of your feet. I had an acquaintance back in Uni who suffered from a syndrome known as "hyperhidrosis," that is, excessive sweating on areas of your body we don't normally think of as particularly sweaty, under conditions we don't normally think of as sweat-inducing. Underarm antiperspirant is something which forums for these poor folk regularly recommend for other body parts, particularly hands and feet.

If you have an antiperspirant which you like and already works for you, perhaps applying it to your feet prior to the day's walk might help. I can't believe I didn't think of this for my recent Camino, but I'm gonna give it a go next year.
 
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.
I am walking the Camino Frances for the whole month of May (April 22nd - June 1st), and am wondering whether I should opt for waterproof shoes/boots? I have seen mixed messages online - on the one hand, waterproof shoes can cause your feet to sweat which can cause blisters, on the other hand, if you encounter rain with non-waterproof shoes you might be in trouble.

Does anyone have thoughts or insights on this? Also, any shoe recommendations for women with high arches/wide feet would be much appreciated.

Thanks!

Emma
I have VERY wide feet. And I couldn’t get on with Altras or any of the recommended shoes that I tried. On the advice of a sports shoe fitter I bought Saucony Goretex trail runners (men’s for extra width) one size up. I did swap the insoles for gel ones (underfoot pain had been an issue) . We walked in very wet weather and I did get very wet feet. What I didn’t get was blisters. Not one. And yes, my shoes were very wet inside. One day I just put them on like that: they dried pretty quickly. On another occasion I used a borrowed hair dryer…
 
Gosh. I have big wide feet. Keen has been amazing for me. I wear waterproof boots. They are lightweight and give great ankle support and traction and accommodate my orthotics. I am sick of the nonsense about waterproof boots. I train in them year round (10km min at least every second day) and have no issues. They are not synthetic they breathe. That one day it's wet and I'm skating through mud I wouldn't be without them. Downhill in the rain/blizzard from the iron cross - priceless. Yes with a good drenching gortex ( or Keen-Dri) will give, but they dry out fast. And you've had dry feet for longer. My rain pants (yes I don't use a poncho) covers over the top preventing water entering round the ankle.

Like everything try it out and find what works for you rather than being put off by opinions not rooted in experience or fact.

Everything is a trade off. Weight savings come often at the expense of comfort and longevity yet for many its weight first. For older me it's about comfort and what works for me over years of trial and error. As a wise man once said to me: "any fool can be uncomfortable in the bush."

Good luck with experimenting. Like many topics on here there is no silver bullet.
 
I like to walk in cooler/cold weather, which can also mean cold rain or even snow. Non-waterproof Altras have been my preference for years. One-half size larger than my normal size allows for insertion of a foam insole for extra cushioning. Occasionally I have covered my sock feet in a plastic bag, which doesn’t keep my shoes dry but does help my socks and feet stay a bit more dry. Waterproof footwear makes my feet feel suffocated; my feet feel better with some air circulation.
As to high arches and wide feet, I second the above advice about a custom orthotic. Also men’s shoes tend to be wider, something I have resorted to when my shoes wore out on one Camino and I had to buy new ones.
 
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I have both gortex and non waterproof trail runners. I like the non waterproof runners for long stretches of hard surface, and wear the waterproof shoes on the more uneven surfaces. The waterproof runners are a little heavier with more support. I always have a dry pair of socks in an outer pocket of my pack, and change socks if my feet feel wet/damp. I sometimes carry a spare pair of insoles also. Walking in the rain is doable, I just walk a little slower. I use the newspaper to take any moisture away, even if it's not raining. I walk in early spring and late fall, and if I get completely soaked I look for accommodation with heat!
There are lots of great trail runners out there, I like Brooks cascadia and Nike wildhorse trail runners, both have lots of cushion.
Buen camino
 
I walked the full Camino Frances in May/June 2022 and here is what I did.
I used light waterproof hiking boots for the predicted wet days and Hoka Trail runners for non rainy days.
I also wore double lined Wright socks.
I wore sandals in the evenings
So you brought three pair of footwear?

That's quite a bit of extra weight to carry.
 
Two pair of trail runners and an extra pair of in soles, that fit both shoes. One pair of trail runners is waterproof, one isn't.
 
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