Camino de Santiago Footwear - My Final Pick

Footwear is probably the most critical gear item you have to select for the Camino de Santiago.
After two years of trying to find something, here are my thoughts.
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I love to talk and share about all aspects of the Camino!
And hear your tips too!
TIMESTAMPS (in case you want to skip) 👇
0:00 Intro
1:54 Types of Footwear
Characteristics of Footwear
4:33 Basic Style Type
5:53 Sizing
7:08 Gore-Tex or Not
8:10 Drop
9:47 Width Fitting
11:10 Comfort
15:58 Insoles
18:10 Summary
19:05 My Final Pick
22:00 Outro
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For more details about each journey you can visit the detailed blogs at robscamino.com/
It includes daily videos, blogs and photos.
#caminodesantiago #caminofootwear

[@robscamino]

What footwear do you prefer? Or are you still searching ? 🙂

[@TrailerYacht]

Wife & I are flying out from Lake Macquarie next week to walk the Camino Frances. I am taking a pair of Lowa Z-8S goretex boots due to arthritis in a previously badly broken ankle. I will wear thongs (flip-flops) in the _albergues_ . Incidentally, I broke my ankle while bushwalking in a pair of trail runners. I just slipped over, the tread caught suddenly mid-slip and the lack of any ankle support did the rest. My ankle went "bang" like a gunshot. There were a spate of similar broken ankles when trail runners first came out for bush walking back in the late 1980's. Obviously they have fixed the design issue now. I'd be interested in the weight difference between your Salomon boots and the shoes you're wearing on Camino now. Some modern Salomon boots are so light now that I suspect it would only be 100 grams or so per boot.

[@robscamino]

@@TrailerYacht I loved my Salomon boots! I did 1800 kms in them on Camino. And they were Gortex. No wet feet! I felt I needed the ankle support more than a few times. But medical opinion from a few sources, was that they were too heavy for me now. I have very bad knees and the weight swinging on the end of my feet was going to make it worse. So I gave in. Finding new footwear was so frustrating! But the the trail runners I use now are good. for me. 1200 kms last time and no problems. Except the shoes started to fall apart! I had one day of heavy rain and walked all day with soaking feet. There was no point in changing socks. Within 10 metres my feet were soaked again. That is the one thing I don't like about these shoes. If I had to walk in 2-3 days of rain I would have problems. Weights? My Boots were 950 gms a pair. My Shoes are 658 gms a pair. Big difference. I didn't actually notice the lack of ankle support. There is a school of thought that says boots don't really offer any additional support. Maybe in shoes our ankles strengthen? Who knows. By the way, I tried the new Salomon boots last year. They were CxxP. Totally new design and materials, not comfortable at all.

[@TrailerYacht]

@@robscamino What a shame about the current Salomon boots. I've worn nothing but Scarpa SLs for all of my outdoor activities for probably 30 years. Unfortunately they don't make the BXX last any more & the current SLs have a narrow european fit. I bought a pair of Lowa Tibet Wides 12 months ago ($725 - ouch) when we first decided to walk the Camino, as they have unbelievable levels of support, and weigh about the same as the Scarpas. The Tibets are brilliant for day use but unfortunately I found they fatigued me too much after walking 20 km walks back-to-back over long weekends while training. So I tried the Lowa Z-8S (should have bought shares in Lowa) and they offer the same excellent support but are much lighter, and much more flexible. Their construction & durability is excellent. I've had them for 6 months now and look like new. Drawback is they are only _just_ wide enough - Lowa makes a wide version of the Z-8, but of course don't import it to Australia. Everything is a compromise. Ultreia et Suseia, Gavin

[@julierawlins5984]

Thank you for your excellent guidance.

[@robscamino]

Just the experiences of one person.... but if it helps, that's great.

[@annloudon674]

Topo shoes! Check them out! LOVE them. My husband and I both had them on walking the Camino del Norte last September! We have walked 5 other Camino’s wearing the other brands.

[@robscamino]

Haven't heard of those, but they look good. Similar to Hoka in many ways.

[@1PZfan]

I went from Ultras to Topos and had the same problem with the heel drop. They are a great shoe I just can't handle the heel drop, make sure to check before purchasing

[@auzzygirl8175]

Great video as always. I've never heard about heel drop before so that was good to learn about thank you. Glad you found your new shoes. Solomon also make a trainer style shoe that you may like. My husband has it and its very lightweight and comes in all kinds of funky colors. Yes please to a lacing video.

[@robscamino]

Salomon are good. I just found the shoes a bit narrow for me. I'll aim for a lacing video.

[@ellyh4994]

You hit the nail on the head!! We all have different needs for our feet. This year, I'm wearing meindl lightweight boots with merino socks. On the last Camino F., I wore my older Northface lightweight boots. We set off in April and through all the wet my feet stayed cosy and dry. As it got warmer I changed to light hiker merino socks my feet remained comfy and cool all the way to Fisterra. No blisters - very happy feet hurrah! My after walk shoes were skechers superlight sandals. Northface have changed their new version of my boot, hence the change. I shall see what happens this year... Love your videos.

[@robscamino]

Any footwear choice that = no blisters = the right choice in my books 🙂

[@edwardmoran1739]

Thanks, very useful.

[@robscamino]

Glad it was helpful!

[@chuckhartman251]

Another great video Rob, as always. I did the Frances last year (from St Jean to Santiago) and was worried about the miles wearing my soles down as I tend to drag a heal. I wore a hiking La Sportiva TX4 Mid GTX with a Vibram sole and they did great. They are as light as a low top shoe and Gore-Tex lined, as you said in the video, they are a narrow shoe. I am still wearing them a year later and though they show signs of wear they are not to the replacement level yet. Thanks again Rob for your great and informative videos they made me better prepared for my Camino, I have recommended and sent links for your videos many times.

[@robscamino]

Glad to hear the shoes worked, and that you find the videos useful. Mine is just one perspective from a relatively newbie Pilgrim though. 🙂 A couple more under my belt this year hopefully.......

[@frankfurtonfoottours2361]

Sticking with my Meindl boots that have Goretex. Have worn them on 4 Caminos and ready for #5 this spring. I do get new ones each time because I continue wearing them for another year or doing my job as a tour guide. The thick soles is what makes a difference for me. Whether gravel, cobblestones, or asphalt, those soles protect my feet year round. Have never had hot feet or blisters. (I double sock) Thanks for presenting all the styles and Buen Camino with your new shoes!

[@robscamino]

Great that you have footwear that works well for you!

[@dodgerlong8358]

Good video Rob, I have used the Lone Peak 5 for my last Camino (Via de La Plata) last year. They lasted well over 1300Km, excellent dry really quickly after becoming very wet. I used them in conjunction with the Altar gaiters designed for the shoe. I fair portion of the Via de la plata has small gravel paths, and I hate little stones in my shoe. I have Lone Peak 6 ready for the Via Francigene (Italy), in June. I have tried the Hoka that you mention, I agree very comfortable with a good stack height, but I found that it was easier to be come unstable due to the overall height over rough ground. But at the end of the day, it's what is comfortable especially when you are walking over 1000kms. Buen Camino

[@robscamino]

Glad to hear the Lone Peaks worked for you. They are very popular.

[@jesperkjaer8268]

I love the footwear discussion😂. Nothing else can really rile up the camino vets. I have used Salomon gtx boots, shoes from meindl & ecco - and sandals from ecco. In 2017 I decided to go the barefoot way. So it's all zero drop, soles between 3-5 mm and wide toe box. Vivobarefoot primus trail & Gobi 3 being the current favourites It takes time getting used to walking with shoes like that - and would never recommend it to anyone going on a camino without atleast 4-6 months practice. PS: love your channel.

[@robscamino]

It's fun trying new stuff! with 3-5 mm soles, I'm guessing you are a not a heavy person?

[@elizabethsimons7121]

I'm doing the shopping around and so far with all the brands I've tried my heals come off a bit, afraid of getting nasty blister, loved the hoka challenger 7, super comfy, lots of cushioning, which is what I want, sadly had returned them cus of this issue, Altras lone peak 7 and timp 4 were too hard on my feet as well as assics, merrells moap too unconfortable, had same problem with new balance running trails, can't remember the model, will continue trying others, but I'm almost to the point of getting a pair of tevas and a pair of chacos and just do sandals with double socks, will see how that goes. Great video as always.👌

[@robscamino]

Sorry that it's proving hard to find what suits you......

[@peterfontaine4627]

Rob--thank you for this great episode. Trying to decide between hiking shoes (Merrell Moabs) and trail runners (Hoka). I have had many pairs of Merrells but never actually used them for major hiking or walking--more like travel, town, dog parks and very light hiking while on trips when I didn't want to bring my hiking boots. I have been using Hokas the last couple years for urban walking--but never done long distance in them past maybe 10 miles at a time. At the REI store it was explained to me that there are "trail" Hokas and "road" Hokas and that for the Camino I would need trail Hokas. On another topic--how long do insoles last (replacements, not the store ones)? You said you used one pair of insoles for a couple Caminos? I think maybe I have underestimated their longevity and got rid of them sooner than I needed to.

[@robscamino]

Hard to say about insoles. It really depends on their construction. Mine are hand made by my podiatrist at his home workshop. They seem quite 'hard' compared to the store bought ones, but they are custom made after scanning my feet and testing my gait. Mine were 4-5 years old with about 2,000 kms on them and still good to go. I just wanted a new pair in case my foot had changed at all and for any upgrades in construction technique. He actually 're-built' my old insoles for me to use in another pair...... It I was to guestimate. I'd say I would get 3,000 kms + out of them.

[@passportwalletphone]

Walked from St Jean to Santiago in your exact shoe. One pair. Only one blister from a day of walking in heavy rain.

[@robscamino]

Yes, they are not good when wet!

[@grantlong9279]

I used Hoka Speedgoats on Camino last year and had no problems. I'm going to be using Altra Olympus (tried Lone Peaks, didn't like them, not enough foot protection) this year with the Altra small gaiters when needed. I used the Olympus on a long walk in Western Australia and they were great. With such a light pack on Camino there is no reason to wear heavy hiking boots unless you have an ankle injury. People are walking 4,000+ km on the PCT and other trails with trail runners now. If buying Altra online, go at least one size larger, their sizing is very small. Buen Camino.

[@robscamino]

I agree, I have worn lightweight boots on my previous Caminos, but never again. It's all a question of finding something that works well for you..... I looked at Speedgoats but found them too flimsy for my old feet!

[@StepsbyKaatje]

I find it a hard one, the best shoes for the Camino. I bought some Altra mid all season boots. I hope to have the comfort of a trailrunner but still better for my ancles and waterproof. Still have to break them in... Thanks for the tips! Kaat

[@robscamino]

Good luck! It's not easy finding the right ones.

[@kenthompson5758]

Glad you made a choice of shoes 👞! It's really hard going though finding the right one, I found Hokas only lasted about 700km before issues happen. The Stinson has a better sole but I preferred the Olympus 4s from Altra. Have a great time on the silver way (Vdlp). Btw I think hyour hiking umbrella will be very useful. Buen Camino

[@robscamino]

On my first Camino, I bought the first pair of boots I tried on. They were perfect. Walked 2,000 kms in them..........

[@robscamino]

I have a 2nd pair of Hokas. I might have them boxed up at home ready to mail to me 🙂 Not sure if they are sold in Spain. I think I checked a while back.

[@johnturnbull2146]

Olympus has more cushioning than the Lone Peak

[@kennyhamilton2138]

Altra's seem to have gained huge popularity in the States, without doubt the most common shoe I saw on the Appalachian Trail last year. Saw a hell of a lot of people wear them, clearly not used to zero drop, leave the trail with foot and calf injuries. I wore North Face Hedgehogs on my last Camino and for a third of the AT. Great shoe, with Goretex and worked well for me. Moved on to Hoka Speedboats when the Hedgehogs broke down, and they actually won me over a bit - super comfy, dried quickly, but an incredibly ugly shoe - but comfort always wins out! As Rob says, you need to wear your shoes in before leaving for your hike as it takes time to see if your feet/calves are going to adjust.

[@robscamino]

Yep, gotta try them out...........and if they don't work, try something else! 🙂

[@1PZfan]

Great choice. I wear the Stinson when I am out on easy, level trails, and the Speed Goats when I have bigger distances to go. Also have the Trail Code GTX for winter hiking Hoka has been the only thing that solves my plantar fasciitis problems, and the cushioning is amazing. Another model I would suggest for people looking into this brand would be the Anacapa

[@robscamino]

I just bought 4 more pairs of Stinsons. Long story. Video coming soon.

[@1PZfan]

@@robscamino looking forward to this tale😉

[@woody6658]

Hi Robo! You might have read this on the forum. Like you i brought and tried several shoes fitted in a running store that felt great but after 6 or 7 miles they didn't ! The Stinson ATR6 are my shoes literally I wear nothing else. Yep defo an old mans shoe so so comfy; my old hiking boots feel like bricks on your feet. The Stinson's wear pretty good you might get more miles out of them than you think! My original pair lasted the Portuguese and the Espiritual and i wore them everyday at home for at least 4/5months on footpaths and tarmac before they gave up the ghost/died ! (About another 700 miles) This is my best advice be very wary of slick surfaces in wet or damp conditions: manholes,wet boulders ,cobbles etc but if you are aware of this you know what to expect! Start the Frances in about 8 weeks;my only prob now is i have put the 40lb i lost back on again;no bloody willpower😀 Woody

[@robscamino]

Good to hear the Stinsons may last a whole Camino.... I'm a bit the same with weight. Last year I lost 20 kgs, then 12 went back on, which I have just about taken off again now. I'll try not to eat like 'Joost' when I'm walking. I usually do 🙂

[@Bettys_Eldest]

I have not done a camino yet. hope to do the new English section (Reading to Southampton) this year as a training walk for Camino Frances next year. I bought a pair of Karrimor hiking shoes which I started wearing in September. To date I have walked up to 30k in a day, and walk 8-10k everyday in them. They are sized 9, my feet are 8 1/2, but usually wear 9 due to availability issues. To date they are showing very little sign of wear and have been comfortable through the winter. I should buy another pair whilst they are still available.

[@robscamino]

Sounds like they might be the right ones then........

[@Bettys_Eldest]

@@robscamino I hope so. I ordered a second pair last night, please let them be identical to the first. With around 1000k so far in the first pair I would like to keep using them in order to start the camino next year with a relatively fresh pair that I know to be comfortable and have confidence in.

[@joefernandes1359]

Thank you that was interesting and ofcourse informative as all of your videos. I have a question from one of your points towards the end. You said your next Camino will be 1000K+ and you mentioned something amounting to having to dump your shoes inbetween as it would be worn at a certain point. Can you tell me how do you determine that your shoes are at a certain point not functioning? What are the indicators that make you decide that? Thank you again. I will be on my first Camino and I have decided 'Frances' end Aug 23 running into early October 23 and I am in preparation for that event. A big one for me.

[@robscamino]

I think it would be unusual for shoes not to make it 700-1,000 kms. I was only concerned that the Hoka Stinsons being of quite a light construction might not make it. So it's worth considering a replacement strategy. I could have a new pair mailed from home, mailed from Hoka, or buy locally. Mailing would require me to estimate my location 10 days ahead, to provide a mailing address. I did that once before with a resupply of hikers wool. As for 'when' to replace? Probably two main things for me. (1) If the sole wore down quickly and started to lose traction. That would worry me. (2) More likely in a lightweight shoe I think, that the uppers might give way. Maybe tear or start to come apart. I have never had either happen, as I normally wear heavier style footwear. But just thinking it through this time as my footwear will be a lot lighter. But.........I fully expect the shoes will make it all the way. I have used another pair in training and these will be almost new.

[@jesperkjaer8268]

Congratulations with your choice - I'll be there at around the same time. Buen Camino.

[@robscamino]

Update. I used the Hoka Stinson ATR 6. They started to fall apart at 600 kms. THe lining inside the heel started to breakdown. But duct tape held it together. I have to say Hoka customer support was useless! I kept emailing asking where I could buy a replacement pair and days later I would get a reply asking me to submit a warranty claim! I wasn't interested in a warranty claim, just wanted to buy new shoes. I just made do fixing them each evening with tape.........and I made 1200 kms in them. They worked well for me, and I bought three more pairs when I got home. Why? Because the footwear companies keep changing the design! i.e. I can't wear Salomon anymore, as the design no longer works with my feet. Best of luck in you footwear choice....... 🙂

[@stephenreid_66]

I met another Aussie gentleman on the Camino last year and he was wearing flip flops (ouch) my own personal choice is Salomon X ultra shoes with superfeet insoles,works great for me. Very informative vídeo as usual Rob, good luck on the VDLP, when are you going??

[@robscamino]

Flip flops! Wow. I think I would last about 2 kms in those 🙂 I tried the Salomon x Ultra shoes, as a natural lighter weight option to my boots. Sadly I found the fit a lot narrower than the boots. VdlP is coming up 'soon' this year. I'd rather not share the exact date 😉

[@jldelta-.-]

@@robscamino As a very young man in 1975, I was hiking through the Helambu region north of Kathmandu. My friend and I were "well-equipped", meaning we actually had basic backpacks and old leather boots. We met a really nice hippy couple near the high point of the trek, over 3,000m: all they had were the clothes they stood up in, cloth shoulder bags & flip flops... they looked like they were just hanging out... but had somehow walked 3 days over relatively tough terrain! They didn't even have a map, we discussed the route back with them...

[@martink8080]

On a related topic, walking, the actual putting of one foot in front of the other in a continuous way. During my practice hikes I've been averaging about 4.8 kph which translates into almost 13 minutes / km. At 1.8 m tall, I have a naturally long stride and cover a lot of ground rather quickly. But. Should I slow my pace? Better a tortoise than a hare? I've heard many people say it's not a race, it's a journey. Could my Camino be a better experience if I slow down a bit?

[@robscamino]

Whatever pace is comfortable for you, is the right pace....

[@julianlord5366]

Traditional old-fashioned leather rambling shoes have become hard to find, and extremely difficult at my extreme foot size, and also not suitable for me personally, but have you tried them at all ? And I mean rambling rather than hiking, the rambling shoes are lighter. There is a brand called Outvie that does something like them.

[@robscamino]

I haven't come across those. I did spend over 20 years hiking in leather boots, in my Military days. We always had blisters. And the wet boots would be really painful and abrasive to wear. I do have a pair of my old leather Military shoes still, and they are really comfortable, though heavy.

[@cltinturkey]

I tried the Hoka Stinson 6 shoe and found it like walking on a bubble. My fear was that I couldn't feel the path and would easily misstep, so I returned them. I'm trying the Altras that are quite wide, and I think I agree that they're not cushioned enough. I have wide feet and want to find the perfect match for me. My system is to lock on the right pair and wear them in for 100 miles or so before the trip. That way I know they'll be perfect. Would welcome any suggestions from those with wide feet who want just the right amount of cushion and support. Thanks!

[@robscamino]

Just keep trying .......I'm sure you'll find the right shoe.

[@Squirrel200]

As a old person with Neurological issues I Prefer shoes that I can feel the ground It helps my body translate so that I can walk somewhat Normally. Just one more thing to Consider. How much tactile feedback do you need from your feet / ground to your brain To be able to walk safely ? Just a simple question everyone is different. Get out there and enjoy life.

[@robscamino]

Good point!

[@timdettmann4067]

I wore Hoka Speedboats on my shirt Camino At home I wore them everyday and went on several 3 mile/5km walks with no problem. When in Spain walking 25km a day was a different story. The Speedboats did not work for me at all, causing a lot of foot pain and blisters. I have a pair of Altra Lone Peak which did not have enough cushioning. I have been testing some Skechers and they feel great however they wear out quickly. If I were leaving for Camino tomorrow I would take the Skechers. I will next be testing some Asics as recommended by my podiatrist.

[@robscamino]

Always worth talking to a podiatrist I reckon ........ Age, weight, fitness, gait. There are so many factors.

[@elizabethalexander6141]

Are the hokas you picked waterproof? If not, how will I deal with wet feet? Does changing socks do the trick when feet are soaked?

[@robscamino]

Mine are not waterproof. When it was wet, I got wet feet, end of story. I would prefer to have waterproof footwear of course. But it's hard to find footwear that ticks all the boxes and is comfortable. I didn't bother changing socks. They would be soaked within 10 minutes. Thankfully I only had one really wet day out of 60 on my last Camino! It I was walking in a season with a lot of rain, I would 100% get waterproof footwear.

[@rpratt5383]

Hello Rob, I just watched this video for the second time and have a question that has stayed with me. You mention that you had 2 pairs of the Hoka, 1 for training and another for the walk. How many did you actually take for the walk? Did one make it all the way through?

[@robscamino]

Because they are a fairly lightweight construction, I was concerned that they may wear out too much in training. So I took a 'new' pair on the Camino. (I wore them a few times to ensure they were OK). Part of the reason was that I was walking a longer Camino this time. About 1200 kms. I would never plan to carry two pairs. My backup plan was either to have a new pair mailed from home, or just to find a store with them along the way. Did they make it? Kind of... The soles and main shoe structure held up, but at about 600 kms the heel lining on one shoe started to come away. I patched it with strapping tape at first, but this would 'ball' up as it was a bit sticky against my socks. So I tried duct tape. Adding or replacing the tape got me to the end OK. Whilst the shoes are not 'perfect' they worked for me well. So I bought three more pairs for future Caminos. One of the challenges with gear, is that manufacturers change design, materials etc frequently. That's why I still wear my hiking pants from 2015! I can't find anything similar. (They've been repaired twice so far) Hope all that makes sense

[@robscamino]

Just another aspect to your question that it worth highlighting. Did I take more than one pair of shoes? 100% No. I never carry anything extra 'just in case'. OK, I made that mistake on my first Camino. The aim should be to travel as light as possible with the minimum of gear. That way you can easily carry all your stuff in a backpack and hardly notice the load. Plus. You are walking through a civilised country with lots of places to buy stuff that you might need. Over packing, is probably the biggest mistake new Pilgrims make. And they end up never using all the extra stuff, feeling they are over burdened and might resort to shipping their pack. Every Camino I manage to take less and less. If you think about the bare essential. (and some people take less than this) You need the clothes you are walking in. And I travel to the Camino in these. You need one spare set of clothes, pants, tops, socks etc, to wear at the end of the day, whilst you wash the clothes you wore that day. You need something to keep the rain off. A hat for the sun. A toothbrush/paste. A tiny bar of soap and a mini towel. A sleep bag (if staying in Albergues). Anything after that really, you have to carefully question and justify. My pack last time (excluding food and water) was 6kg. I could probably get it down to 5 kg, but I carry stuff like a foam roller and knees supports that I know I'll need at some stage. You probably know all about packing light, but it was an opportunity to highlight it for others. This video shows what I pack. I've dropped a few items since. kzbin.info/www/bejne/oIi6aJyefddkrKMfeature=shared

[@laurap.5804]

Hi, maybe the best thing to do is going for a good walk keeping the shoes all day and go to buy the new one in the evening?

[@robscamino]

I wear hiking sandals in the evening to give my feet a break and let them breath. That works well.

[@laurap.5804]

@@robscamino yes, I agree. My comment was about going to buy shoes for such a long walk like the Camino after one's feet are swallow and tired, just thought it might be a similar feet sensation, and so, buy the right one:)

[@bethhill591]

Is there a ready-made insert you have tried and recommend?

[@robscamino]

I have used these, but that was a few years ago. www.vasylimedical.com/

[@gemshadowsong]

Do people ever wear galoshes or rainwear for their shoes?

[@robscamino]

Never seen it. Would be very uncomfortable I think

[@martink8080]

Does the outer tread design / material make any difference? Given two identical shoes with the only difference the part that touches the ground, what would be the deciding factor?

[@robscamino]

For me.......it makes a difference. For example the Hoka Stinson does not grip well on wet cobblestones. My Salomon boots grip well on everything.

[@goldenwarrior5664]

Can you just use trainers ?

[@robscamino]

I'm sure some people do. But it's a very personal choice and lots of things to consider. We are all quite different. Age. state of health, state of feet and joints, body weight etc etc

[@jill5977]

I guess it's the toe nails falling off, and not the toes... sounds pretty brutal...poor pilgrims 😂❤

[@robscamino]

LOL. Slip of the tongue 😉