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<DIV>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. </DIV>
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<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message ----- </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>From:</B> <A
href="mailto:Glenn.JilekaFHWA.DOT.GOV">Jilek, Glenn</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>To:</B> <A
href="mailto:GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU">GOCAMINOaPETE.URI.EDU</A> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Sent:</B> Wednesday, August 06, 2003 1:53
PM</DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial"><B>Subject:</B> Sandals???</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>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.<BR><BR>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?<BR><BR>Glenn<BR></BLOCKQUOTE></DIV></BODY></HTML>