It’s All About The Feet

So much goes into the planning and execution of a successful Camino that it’s hard to pick out what’s most important. On my first Camino Francés, I started developing blisters on both feet near Santo Domingo de la Calzada and by the time I reached Astorga, blisters covered the entire ball areas of my feet. In subsequent Caminos, proper foot care prevented the problems that I had walking the first time. For me, in addition to my daily foot care rituals, carrying as light a pack as possible (about 6 kg), helped ensure healthier feet and happier walking. I can’t emphasize enough the importance of the right shoes and socks for “your” feet. And most important, when a blister or problem area begins, quickly addressing it will yield great rewards on down the trail as blisters won’t become the painful reminder of every step you take.

As my personal recommendation, check out Merrell’s Moab GTXs. They’re a low-cut, lightweight, waterproof hiking shoe that is more than enough for any terrain along The Way. I’ve also walked in a trail running shoe by Saucony with great success.