Shoes and over the ankle imperative

[Nick Hayes]

Hello people.
I wrot e this on some site several months back but for those who didnt read it.

Last summer  on the Camino I observed in my own group (teenagers)
- flip-flops...and this on the climb up to O'Cebreiro from Villafranca...but
not all the way to Santiago
- Nike sneakers....definately not water proof....but definately all the way
from SJPP
- boots by Ecco  ( me)
and observed on others
- sports sandals .... much favoured by the Italians
- heavy boots ...prefered by Germans and some Dutch
- bare feet...by a very devout German who "wanted to relive the true pilgrim
experience" and did so for 2 weeks.
When I asked him how he coped, he said that he chose his path very carefully.

There is a lesson here I think.  = What ever works for you.   all the mud and
water is gone by July basically
so it gets down to a question of personal preference.  I guess the main thing
is to not get too uptight about
foot-wear

My personal preference was for light and flexible    but that was, as I said,
personal..

Nick

Sean Flavin wrote:

> Refernce low top shoes I have done some research via friends that have hiked
> the Sierra's extensively.  One friend hiked the entire Pacific Crest Trail
> in 5 months and did it in a low top shoe.  Gore tex was also discussed.
> What my inquires found was a comfortable very light weight shoe was best the
> quote " a pound on your feet is like ten in your pack" was used.  Gore tex
> is probably best in wet cooler conditions and may lead to sweating in a very
> hot dry climate.  Quick drying was also a consideration.  I have no
> experience on the camino and plan on hiking this summer during the hottest
> months, so my plan is lightweight and very comfortable.
>
> >From: "Robert E. Spenger" <rspengeraHOME.COM>
> >Reply-To: Road to Santiago Pilgrimage <GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu>
> >To: GOCAMINOapete.uri.edu
> >Subject: Re: Shoes and over the ankle imperative
> >Date: Fri, 25 May 2001 03:58:11 -0700
> >
> >Imperative is a rather strong word to use. I had low cut, lightweight
> >wlking shoes (not running shoes) and had no problems with the terrain. Any
> >foot soreness that I had was not really very much different than what I
> >have experienced hiking around home. This year I didn't even have a blister
> >problem. I had used the same make, model, and size of shoe last year and
> >had toe blister problems during the 2nd through the 4th week, but then it
> >cleared up. The problem was that size 13 was available only in medium
> >widtrh. I had them stretched once, but apparently that was not enough. This
> >year, I got a new pair and also increased the sock thickness by using very
> >thin inner socks. This time, I had the
> >stretching treatment done three times and that did the trick. Not a single
> >blister.
> >
> >I always used to use big, heavy, over the ankle boots backpacking in the
> >Sierra Nevada, which has much rougher terrain than anything I encountered
> >on the pilgrimage routes and I am convinced that the business of ankle
> >protection is a myth.
> >
> >Howard Mendes wrote:
> >
> > > After 5 days on the Camino in Estella, I will tell you all that it is
> >imperative to have medium to heavy weight over the ankle hiking boots.  The
> >terrain is very rocky and difficult to negotiate.  Forget about running
> >shoes my friend unless you want to wear them or sandals at night.  By the
> >way I am sorry that I didn¨t bring a second pair of hiking boots to
> >alternate with the pair I have.  Everyone complains about sore feet. It is
> >rougher than I imagined, but one of the best experiences of my lifetime.
> >The people you meet are extraordinary and the Camino is unbelievable.
> >There are free internet hookups in the library here in Estella, a beautiful
> >small city.  Ultreya.  Howard Mendes, NYC
>
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