Sandals???

[Kerrie Littlejohn]

The first time I walked the camino was in the spring and I had very heavy gortex hiking boots which were perfect for keeping the water out as it did rain everyday. This summer I was also planning on walking with those and two days before I left I decided to leave those and I bought a pair of merrill light weight hiking boots. There were very flexible and even though I knew it was a big gamble I took those and a pair of flipflops. I was very pleased with those shoes except when my feet were very sore and I could feel every rock and bump under my feet. I would say the most important thing is to have then be very comfortable and the better the sole the better your feet will feel. I met one American who started in Le Puy. I met her in Pamplona and she had walked the entire time in one pair of Tevas, with a bag that looked like a over the shoulder school bag for a lap top or something and a large walking stick that looked far too big and heavy. So it just depends. Many people walked in running shoes and had less feet problems than I did, and some people walked in light hiking or sport shoes back home and when they got on the camino and hit the hills and mountains their toe nails started to fall off so they threw away the shoes and bought some other sandals or sports shoes like Nikes. I don't think there is one answer, just like what to do with blisters. Everyone has their own ideas and theories and they will tell you something entirely different than someone else. So you have to listen to your body and try to learn and know what it best for you and your feet. Sorry that there is no clear cut answer, but I would recommend above all that if something works for you then keep doing it, even if someone else says they don't think you should do it. 
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jilek, Glenn 
  To: GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU 
  Sent: Wednesday, August 06, 2003 1:53 PM
  Subject: Sandals???


  Kerrie mentioned in the recent message on her Camino experience that some walkers were in sandals (tevas, etc).  This makes me wonder again how essential are hiking shoes/boots?  Can a good grade of walking or running shoes work on the Camino?  Those types of shoes are much more flexible, lighter, and therefore more comfortable and should cause less blisters.

  I walk as a hobby and log in about 30 miles per week in good weather and much more when I don't work.  The surface is mostly paved and and sometimes hard packed earth.  I have gone through many walking shoes.  Since I am planning on walking the Camino, I have tried various hiking shoes and they all seem so rigid and heavy in comparison.  Are their advantages in stability worth their disadvantages?

  Glenn
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