Camino de Santiago Footwear Guide

Footwear is the one piece of Camino gear I changed between my two walks, so I can tell you what each choice felt like over hundreds of kilometers. I have walked the Camino de Santiago twice, both times on the Portuguese Coastal route. The first time I wore waterproof hiking boots. The second time I wore trail running shoes. This guide covers what the boots did well, what the trail runners did better, and how to decide.

My Boots: Camino 1

For my first walk, from Porto to Santiago over 21 days, I bought waterproof hiking boots months ahead of time and broke them in at home. That was the right call. They held up for all 21 days.

The weakness was the sole. Small loose stones along the route came straight through to my feet, and I kept stopping for short rest breaks to ease the pressure. A boot can be sturdy and waterproof and still be hard on your feet over a long day, so do not assume a stiff boot is the safe choice.

My Trail Runners: Camino 2

On my second walk I switched to ASICS trail running shoes with a stone-blocker layer in the sole. They were lighter than the boots and much better against those small stones, which was the problem I most wanted to fix.

They are not waterproof off the shelf, so before leaving I treated them with a waterproofing spray. That helped, but a sprayed shoe is not a sealed boot, and you should expect wet feet in sustained heavy rain. Reapply the spray if you are on a long trip with a lot of wet weather.

Boots or Trail Runners: How to Choose

Boots make sense if you want ankle support, expect a lot of wet weather, or carry a heavy pack. The trade-off is weight, and a sole that may not block small stones as well as you would like.

Trail runners make sense if you are carrying a light load, and they are what I would choose again for the Portuguese Coastal route. I used luggage forwarding on my second walk and carried only a small daypack, which suits a lighter shoe. If you carry your whole pack every day, a boot may suit you better.

Whichever you pick, look for a protective layer or stiff enough sole under the forefoot, because small stones are a constant on the trail. I can only speak to the Portuguese Coastal route. Other Camino routes, such as the Camino Francés, have different terrain and weather, so check route-specific guides before choosing.

Rain Gear

Footwear is only part of staying dry. On Camino 1 I carried a small umbrella and a reusable poncho and used both, but the poncho left me wet from sweat and humidity anyway. On Camino 2 I left the poncho at home and carried only the small umbrella, in an easy-to-reach outside pocket of my pack. That worked better for me.

Practical Tips for Your Camino Footwear

• Buy early and break them in. I bought my boots months ahead and walked in them at home before the trip. Do the same with trail runners.
• Walk in them with your real load. A trial walk with a loaded pack tells you more than a trip around the block.
• Treat non-waterproof shoes before you leave. I used a waterproofing spray on my ASICS.
• Keep a blister kit in your daypack. It was one of the few things I always carried within reach.
• Consider forwarding your main bag. A lighter load changes which shoe makes sense. See our guide to where to stay on the Camino for how I handled luggage and lodging.

If you are also deciding about poles, I covered when I used mine in Hiking Poles: Worth the Hype?.

Conclusion

The best Camino footwear is the pair that works with your load, the route and your own feet. After 21 days in boots and a shorter walk in trail runners, I chose the trail runners for the lighter load and the better stone protection. Pick yours early, break them in properly, and pack a way to deal with blisters.

This article is for informational and educational purposes only. Always verify current travel information, visa requirements, entry rules, and health guidance with official government sources and qualified professionals before making travel decisions.