Footwear
The choice of boots, trail shoes or sport sandals is purely personal. Some find boots are the perfect mix of support and cushion, while others find them far too heavy compared to a good set of trail runners. At least one person we know of crossed the Pyrenees from Valcarlos to Roncesvalles in a pair of sport sandals with socks and plastic shopping bags on her feet through 6” of wet snow. No, really...
So how do you know? The only way is to spend a lot of time working through the options for yourself. Find a good outdoor shop that carries quality gear and has knowledgeable staff. Let them know what you are doing and go through the process of a proper fitting. Remember, you will be walking on pavement, dirt, grass, mud, gravel, rocks, etc both uphill for 4-8 hours and downhill for 4-8 hours some days. Fit it key. Make sure your toes never hit the front of your shoe or boot or you may lose toenails on those long days walking downhill. Get out and use your choice for hours to make sure they work for your foot.
Consider a minimum of 100 miles breaking in period to really know if your footwear is appropriate for you or not. You should be able to complete a Camino with no blisters or severe foot pain if you find the correct shoe or boot for you!
We recommend REI or other such outdoor shops for footwear because of their liberal return policies. At least one contributor to the site has returned 5 pair of boots and trail runners in a row before finding the perfect fit and completed the Camino Frances with no issues.
Sandals and shower shoes
Once off the trail you are going to want something to wear about town and in the albergue. In fact, most albergue will demand that you leave your boots and hiking poles in a special, well ventilated room instead of taking them to your bunk. A good pair of sport sandals or flip flops can make this a tad easier.
When going to the bathrooms and especially the showers, please wear your sandals of flip flops. You don’t want a raging case of foot fungus and the rest of the pilgrims in yours.
Be sure your choice is light and quick to dry and very comfortable. You may just find you end up hiking for a day or two in them for a change.
