Shoes

"I could walk a mile in your shoes, but I already know they're just as uncomfortable as mine. Let's walk next to each other instead." Lynda Meyers.

We thought a few musings about the most important pieces of our "stuff" would be appropriate.

You don't need hiking boots to walk the Camino.  We just find them best for us.  Ruth has new Oboz Bridgers. She calls them her Ruby Slippers (see the picture below). We've read good reviews, and on several hikes this summer they have performed excellently.

Mike is planning to wear the 2012 Vasque Breeze boots he walked in then.  He could not find any he liked better.  They have new inserts in them to provide a little more cushioning.  They are a little worn, but no signs of eminent failure.

Both sets of boots will be treated with "camp-dry", a silicone spray, to repel the water.  The rain and mud of the Camino is the main reason we choose light hiking boots instead of tennis shoes or trail runners.  Even with hiking boots our feet will get wet, but we found they stay dry much longer in the boots (compared to regular shoes) and in a brief rain they will not get wet at all.

As her second set of shoes, Ruth will take Crocs. Mike will take a set of flip-flops, and a light set of tennis shoes.  After walking all day in the boots, it is very nice to have another set of footwear.  In fact, most albergues will not let you wear your boots past the entrance area (due to the mud).  Both the Crocs and flip-flops can also be used as shower shoes. Some of the refuge showers are less than cleanly.

People walk the Camino is all sorts of footwear.  If you ever do this, be certain that whatever you wear is well "broken-in".  Every evening there will be pilgrims tending to painful blisters.  We are confident that our feet will be safe in these boots.