Best shoes for Walking the Camino de Santiago 2026
The right shoes is very important to successfully walk the Camino de Santiago. Walking in the wrong shoes can result in terrible blisters, tired feet, and other injuries that can even end your Camino. Many pilgrims walking the Camino choose lightweight and comfortable footwear because the journey often involves walking 20–30 kilometers per day.
In recent years, trail running shoes have become the most popular option. These shoes are lighter than traditional hiking boots and provide good cushioning, breathability, and grip on mixed terrain such as dirt paths, gravel, and cobblestones. We like traditional hiking shoes with thick cushioning, a stiffer sole and roomy toe boxes. We found these to help reduce blisters and foot fatigue during long walks. Hiking boots are loosing popularity, but some pilgrims still prefer traditional boots for extra ankle support.
In this post I will give you my opinion on the best shoes based on our walking experience on various routes of the Camino de Santiago
Don´t underestimate the importance of wearing proper socks, it can make a huge difference to the comfort of your feet. To prevent blisters good hiking shocks must prevent chafing, keep your feet dry, and provide some cushioning. See our in-depth guide to the Best Socks for Walking the Camino de Santiago.
See our complete Camino de Santiago packing list guide.
Stingy Nomads participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program and other affiliate programs. If you click on the link and purchase the item or make a booking, we will receive an affiliate commission at no extra cost. Thank You for supporting us and assisting us to produce quality, free content.
Boots or shoes for walking the Camino de Santiago
Trail runners on the Camino
Nowadays many pilgrims walk the Camino de Santiago with trail running shoes. They look a lot like road running shoes, but trail runners are built more rugged to protect the shoes and your feet from objects like rocks, and sticks, so they are light and tough. Many pilgrims mention trail runners as their favorite shoes for the Camino in discussions on forums and in social media.
These shoes do sound like the best choice for hiking the Camino they are light, get dry quickly, and provide enough support for the kind of terrain that you will experience on the Camino. You will mostly encounter forest trails, some rocky sections, paved roads, and depending on the Camino route cobbled stone sidewalks.
Our experience with trail runners on the Camino was not great. We have walked with trail runners on tow shorter Camino de Santiago routes, the Camino de San Salvador (120 km/74 mi) and the Camino de Santiago de Gran Canaria (67 km/41,6 mi). We hiked in well-worn trail shoes that we use for trail running. The shoes were comfortable on the trail, but we both had problems with blisters walking in trail shoes.
In the Defense of Trail Runners
You do get many different brands and models of trail running shoes, maybe a different trail runner would be a good idea. We have however not had any problems running with our Adidas or Asics trail runners while running. Since we bought these shoes for running they were a comfortable fit, but not large enough to wear with our thick merino wool socks that was a problem walking long distances. We swear by Merino wool socks, they are fantastic!
Choosing the Right Trail Running Shoe for the Camino
With trail runners, the tread, fit, durability, and heel drop are important factors to consider when choosing new shoes.
- The durability of shoes is very important on long hikes. You do not want to walk in a pair of shoes and have them reach the end of their lifetime during your Camino. The best option is to buy one pair for training, and a second pair of the same shoe to break in a couple of weeks before you go.
- For proper fit of trail shoes check that there is no slipping, lifting, or rubbing in the heel, the toes have enough space, and there are no pressure points when walking
The Toe Box of the shoe is the front part of the shoe where your toes fit. A wider toe box means more room for your toes to move and a smaller chance of blisters due to friction. Check that you can wiggle your toes inside, but not so much room that your foot slides forward or back.
Heel drop - The drop of a shoe is the height difference between the heel and forefoot. The greater the drop, the steeper the angle from the toes to the heel. When standing barefoot and the heel and forefoot both touch the ground the drop is zero. When wearing high heels the drop will be very large. The drop has nothing to do with cushioning.
Drop is important to match your foot strike, which part of your foot hits the ground first: the heel, midfoot, or forefoot. The more you run/walk on your forefoot the lower drop you’ll want. A zero-drop shoe has a 0 mm drop, a low-drop shoe has 1-4 mm, and the average heel-to-toe drop trail running shoe is between 7 - 10 mm.
Popular Trail runners for walking
Popular Trail runners for walking
- Hoka Speedgoat 6 (Speed Goat 5 Ladies) – "walking on clouds" is how many pilgrims describe their experience walking the Camino with their Hoka Speedgoats. You see the fat sole, bright colors of Hokas everywhere on the Camino these days. These super cushioned, trail runners have become extremely popular on the trail. Most pilgrims walk in the Hoka Speedgoat, with lots of cushioning; grippy outsole, and a quality upper. This is a low-drop shoe with a roomy toe box.
- Altra Lone Peak 6 (Lone Peak 6 Ladies) – a running shoe that has since become a thru-hiker favorite. These shoes are well known for their zero-drop design and large toe box. Very popular on the Camino with extreme comfort and thick padding. Unique design. The zero drop is similar to walking barefoot. If you have never walked in no-drop shoes before this can be time to get used to this type of shoe, so make sure you walk them in beforehand.
- Brooks Cascadia 16 (Cascadia 16 Ladies)- very popular with through hikers, feels like a comfortable road shoe, with good underfoot protection. Light quality built trail runners. These shoes have an 8mm drop
Walking the Camino in hiking shoes
Hiking shoes are designed specifically for hiking. With a lower cut, they are more agile and lightweight than hiking boots. Many boots are also available as lower-cut hiking shoes. For Alya and myself, we found hiking shoes to work the best and have worn several different brands and models of shoes in 1000s of kilometers we have walked on 10 different Camino de Santiago routes. We found shoes to be fairly lightweight, comfortable, stay relatively dry, and do not take too long to dry when getting wet. Hiking shoes have a stiffer sole which we found to be great on Camino where you spend a lot of time walking on cobblestones such as the Camino Portuguese.
Popular hiking shoes for walking
- Salomon X Ultra 3 GTX Hiking Shoe (X Ultra 3 GTX Ladies) – A very popular hiking shoe known for extreme comfort, great performance, and durability. Our mid-height Ultra 3 GTX boots are fantastic and this is just a lower-cut version. We really had only great experiences walking in Salomons, Alya walked 3000km (including the Camino Frances and the Camino Portuguese from Lisbon) in a pair of Salomon Elipse 2 Ltr. The Salomon X Ultra 4 has also been released. For a non-waterproof version with better breathability, you can also consider the Salomon Men’s X Ultra Pioneer Aero Hiking Shoes or the ladies’ version Salomon Ladies X Ultra Pioneer Aero Hiking Shoes.
- Merrell Moab 3 (Merrell Moab 3 Ladies) – The Merrell Moab series are probably the most popular hiking shoe ever released. Fantastic shoes we got brilliant service out of doing multiple hikes on varied terrain. A stable shoe with good support and protection a wide toe box, it drains and dries quickly. Also available in a Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof (Ladies Merrell Moab 3 Waterproof).
- Available in Great shoe, but a bit heavy the Salomon X Ultra 3 is significantly lighter.
- Oboz Sawtooth X-low (Sawtooth Ladies), a popular hiking shoe on the Camino de Santiago, is a stiff, stable hiking shoe with excellent support.
Wearing hiking boots on the Camino de Santiago
The two biggest problems many people have walking the Camino de Santiago in boots are weight and breathability. The higher the cut of the shoe the heavier it will be. Leather boots tend to be heavier and less flexible. With boots there are many different choices, the height of the boot and the material used for construction make a massive difference. Old-style, heavy, leather boots do not work well for us.
We both love our Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX (LADIES) mid-length, Gortex boots. Modern, light, and super comfortable we have done some distance in conditions varying from snow to hot dusty trails and have only had a great experience! Light and athletic with a mid-length design. I find them very comfortable and do not have a problem with breathability. I wear them with thick Merino wool socks.
Sandals for walking the Camino de Santiago
Most people pack sandals to wear around the Albergues after a long day on the road. I love my Havaianas flip-flops. They are not the lightest flip flops you can pack, but I find them good quality, very comfortable and have walked long stretches in these sandals on hot days on the Camino. They are not the lightest flip-flops, but they are super comfortable and I find them a good choice to carry in my backpack for wearing in the albergues and walking on the route.
I have met people walking the whole Camino in hiking sandals and saying after switching from shoes to sandals they will never go back! Packing sandals to alternate with your shoes is not a bad idea to keep your feet dry and blister-free. Walking your Camino in sandals is mainly an option if you walk in the dry season. Some popular sandals we have seen are made by KEEN and Teva; Keen Ladies Whisper Sandals, Keen Men’s Clearwater CNX 2 Lightweight, Teva Hurricane Xlt2, and Teva Hurricane Xlt2 women.
Walking the Camino Wearing Waterproof Shoes/Boots (Gortex)
Walking the Camino in Waterproof shoes is usually not recommended. Waterproof material does not only keep water out but also keeps water in. If your feet sweat a lot, leather or Gortex is less breathable and your feet can be wet in any conditions. If it rains enough any shoes will get wet. Waterproof shoes take longer to dry and are not a good option. Changing wet socks during the day in the warmer months is a good way to prevent blisters. Many Gortex shoes do claim they are well-ventilated. We have never had a problem with extensive sweating in our Salomon Gortex shoes.
Gortex shoes can be the right footwear in the rainy season. I will not recommend wearing heavy, waterproof hiking boots on a hot dry Camino in summertime (July/August). Walking in the shoulder season (May, June, and September), can be good, but rain is possible. We walked a very wet Camino Primitivo during this time and waterproof boots worked fantastically.
Walking the Camino del Norte in October and the Camino Finisterre in November when we got a lot of rain. Our hiking shoes got very wet on most days. We managed to dry the shoes on most nights by stuffing our shoes with newspaper (great tip for drying shoes). Struggling a lot we felt waterproof shoes would have been a good idea. If they would have stayed dry in these very wet weather conditions is of course not certain.
Choice of Camino Shoes for different Camino Routes
The Camino de Santiago is not a single route, but a network of pilgrimage routes ending in Santiago de Compostela. None of the routes are extremely rugged and they can all be walked in most kinds of shoes. No crazy mountaineering is involved, mostly hiking on relatively good trails and roads. On the different Camino routes, you will walk on many different types of terrain, a mix of sand, boardwalks, concrete, asphalt, Roman roads, rocks, rain, and mud.
- The Portuguese Camino involves a lot of walking on cobblestones. We do a lot of hiking in Portugal. The cobblestones can make your feet very tired and this surface gets slippery when wet. We prefer walking with a shoe with a stiffer sole for this terrain, hiking shoes are the best choice. The Merrell Moab 3 (Merrell Moab 3 Ladies) is a good shoe for the Portuguese Camino.
- The Camino Primitivo is probably the most rugged trail you will hike on any Camino. It can be walked in any footwear, but we have walked a very wet Camino Primitivo with long stretches of mud. Our mid-length Gortex boots worked fantastically. Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX (LADIES) is a nice shoe, perfectly suited for the Camino Primitivo. This nice, short, flexible, light boot is waterproof and we both find them very comfortable.
Walking in Running Shoes
We walked our first Camino after coming to Europe following a hiking season in Nepal. It was summer and Campbell decided to walk in his road running shoes rather than in his trekking boots. He has done a lot of running in the shoes (more than 1000 km) blister-free. He walked in his running footwear, thin running socks, and his Asics road running shoes. This was the wrong choice of footwear. After a couple of very long days (over 30 km) he got the worst blisters he has ever had. By the end of the Camino, his feet and the shoes both were destroyed. Walking and running are very different, especially long walks with a heavy backpack.
Good socks for the Camino
We are firm believers in Merino wool socks, this is a game changer. Hiking many thousands of kilometers on a variety of budgets we have used probably about every kind of sock you can imagine. Nothing comes close to Merino wool socks. They are simply fantastic at keeping your feet dry and blister-free. They just take much longer to start smelling bad than even the fanciest synthetic hiking socks. DARN TOUGH and Danish Endurance make excellent quality Merino wool socks.
Buen Camino! Good luck and take care of your feet!
Questions or Comments?
Got any questions or comments? We would love to help! All questions and comments will be answered by us personally in Buy Me a Coffee. Click below and ask away.
Feel free to support our site by buying us a coffee!
The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
I am starting the Frances route mid September 2023. I typically where Oboz low cut and Hoka trail running shoes. Is it very rainy during these months? Doesn't appear to be. Also, do you need to carry much cash or are their ATM's. Also, how is cell service/wifi? I've heard that many buy a SIM card for the trek.
Hello Rick, thanks for reading. Alya walked the Frances the same time of the year in hiking shoes and they worked great. ATM´s are not a problem. Cash withdrawals are always expensive in foreign countries, so we pay by card where possible. I always withdraw the maximum amount possible (about EUR 300) to save on withdrawal fees and top up when needed. Private Albergues mostly have wifi. Many public albergues, especially those that are in bigger cities or towns, have wi-fi as well. Between bars, restaurants and cafes frequent wifi access is not a problem. Sim cards, data and talk time are not crazy expensive and is easy to buy. If you want to be sure you can be online whenever you want or to be able to phone albergues if you want to book a place or find out if places are open it is good to buy a sim card.
Thank you for all your advice, walking the Camino English way end of September and looking for recommendations on shoes and clothing.
Hello Iliana, thanks for reading, for more recommendations on clothing and general packing for the Camino, you can take a look at our content on packing for the Camino, https://stingynomads.com/camino-de-santiago-packing-list/ Buen Camino!
I plan on going mid-april until mid-end of May. Some people say Gortex and others no to Gortex. Anyone have experience at that time of year? Thank you so much for sharing your experiences.
Hello Jill, I assume you are going to walk the Frances. You will definitely get some rain, but I think you will have more dry days. My opinion is that Gortex is not really necessary. All Gortex shoes are obviously not the same. We tested Gortex and non-Gortex shoes on the same route on warm days and did not have problems with overheating and wet feet from sweating in the Gortex shoes as many people fear they might have.
Hi, just completed the English route in Lowa hiking boots and 1000 mile socks. I tend to blister badly but the socks worked, except for one little toe blister which got progressively worse. So much so that I completed the last 10 miles in flip flops. That was wonderful and pain free. One thing I noticed with boots is toe compression on down slopes. I actually preferred going uphill. I would not wear boots again although I suspect toe compression can be a thing with any footwear.
Thanks for sharing your experience, glad you had relatively few blisters on your walk. That is a long stretch for flip flops! Buen Camino
Along the Camino from Bilbao to De Santiago July 9- August 7 this year coastal route
This question is not related to shoes but rather accommodation. I don’t want to spend more than £50 per night for a twin room or hostel is this possible and is there a website I could book these on?
Hello Ruth. Thank you for the comment. From your following comment, I assume you will walk the Camino del Norte? If so we have a detailed post on the route where you can find a PDF (in the second paragraph of the post) that contains a list of places to stay on the Camino del Norte. Here is the link https://stingynomads.com/camino-del-norte-stages/. Most of them can be booked online. You can check prices and book them in advance. I'd suggest doing so as July and August are the peak holiday months for the area well-priced places might be booked out.
Buen Camino
Walked Camino from st Jean last year wearing altra’s; this year walking the primitive route; should I wear a shoe with a firmer sole given this route is the most rugged?.
I think the sole of the Altra Lone Peak 6 is good for the Primitivo (it is a trail shoe designed for running on rocky terrain). The Primitivo can be very muddy and wet, a mid hight waterproof boot like the Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid Gore-tex Hiking Boots works well. Buen Camino
Hello, walking the French Way in mid-May to June and wondering if I went with the Hoka Speed goats, would I need the Gortex version or not? I am currently trying to break in Solomon Cross Hike 2 before I saw your blog and they are not comfortable.
Hello Griffin, I have no personal experience with the Salomon´s that you mention, but if they are not comfortable it does not sound like a good shoe for you (it is an excellent brand). I would have gone for the non Gortex version. You will probably have more hot, sunny days than rainy days that time of the year. Buen Camino
@Griffin, don’t wear gortex! Your feet will sweat and cause blisters. If your shoes get wet, pull the foot bed out and stuff with newspaper over night. Just my opinion after 4 caminos, 2 of which I got no blisters.
Thanks for your comment, good advice about the newspaper, it works great! Buen Camino
Planning to run the Portuguese central route in May. Wondering if trail runners would be the best option ? What sort of weather should we be prepare for? Thanks!
Hello Lola, the weather should be warm, not too hot with little rain. There are many people that do complete this route successfully with trail runners. On the Portuguese route, you do a lot of walking on cobblestones which can be tough on your feet. For such a hard uneven surface I prefer using a hiking shoe with a stiffer sole. If you go for a trail shoe, I would recommend you use shoes with good underfoot protection and a rubber sole (not foam). We really believe in Merino wool socks and can not recommend them enough. Buen Camino
Hi, Walking the coastal Camino Portuguese (280km) this June with my wife. Wondering what the best footwear would be. Looked at everything from walking boots to hiking shoes to trail running shoes, gore tex and non. Any advice would be great. Thanks
Hello Nick, thanks for reading. The weather should be nice and warm/hot with little rain. On the Portuguese route, you do a lot of walking on cobblestones which can be tough on your feet. For such a hard uneven surface I prefer using a hiking shoe with a stiffer sole. If you go for a trail shoe, I would recommend you use shoes with good underfoot protection and a rubber sole (not foam). Since you will not do much walking in wet and muddy conditions and your feet might sweat in the warm conditions I would not go for a Gortex or other waterproof shoe. I like the Merrel Moab 2 Vent, but get something you find comfortable and train in them before your Camino. We really believe in Merino wool socks and can not recommend them enough. Buen Camino
We're going to start the Camino French route in mid-June, what shoe would you recommend? thank you for your help!
Hello Clarissa, thanks for reading. You should have good weather and a hiking shoe like the Merrel Moab 2 or trail runners like the Altra Lone Peaks should work well. I would recommend you buy a shoe that is comfortable for you and trained while wearing them before the Camino. Buen Camino
Hey! Thanks for all this information. I will be walking the Camino Portuguese in September. I'm looking into getting Merino socks and saw you recommended US brands. Could you recommend any European brands or do you know if those brands are sold anywhere in Europe? (also any specific shoes you would recommend for this time of year and route?) Thanks so much!
Hello Olivia, DANISH ENDURANCE is a good European brand of Merino Wool socks for hiking. It is unlikely that you will have a lot of rain and muddy conditions, so hiking shoes or trail runners should work well. In the post, we discuss a couple of popular models. Buen Camino!
@Olivia, I wear Icebreaker socks. Icebreaker is a New Zealand brand but readily available overseas. Their motto is “Think don’t stink”. Corny but true.
Hello Clare, thanks for your comment. We have never used Icebreaker, it looks like a reputable brand of merino wool socks.
THANK YOU for knowledge sharing about the Camino de Stantiago! I'll do my first walk this coming May - Portugal Central - and you instruction video on packing is invaluable. Thanks again!
Hello Mitch. Thank you for the feedback. We're sure you'll enjoy the Camino walk it's an incredible experience.
Buen Camino
Hello! First timer and just doing the last 100 km starting in Sarria. We are going first week of October. Do we need to consider waterproof shoes for that time of year? What do you recommend for this portion? Thank you!
Hello Michelle, thanks for reading. It is still relatively dry in October and the route you are planning to walk is not particularly muddy. You should be fine walking in trailrunners or hiking shoes that are not waterproof. Buen Camino
Hello, I am walking the Camino del Norte between Santandar and Gijon in May. What shoes or boots do you suggest?
Hey Bets, you can expect some rainy days. We did not have too much mud on the stages between Santander and Gijon. I think a hiking shoe like the Merrel Moab 2 or Salomon X Ultra 3 will work well.
I intend to walk the Camino de Santiago (Primitive) from 25 Sept 2023 to 10 Oct 2023; what type of footwear will be relevant? Thanks.
Walking the Primitivo Sept/Oct you are likely to get a lot of rain and some very thick mud on the trails. If you walk in trail runners your feet will most likely get wet. Many pilgrims say your feet will get wet anyway, irrespective of what shoes you wear, and with well-ventilated shoes at least they dry quicker, this is one option. In rain and mud we prefer to hike in our Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid Gore-tex Hiking Boots. The waterproofing is good, they are light and fairly well ventilated. Buen Camino!
I walked the Camino de Santiago from St Jean in May and June in 2022. This year I am walking the Camion from Oviedo to Santiago (ie Primitivo) Late May to Late June. Last year I used the Ultra Lone Peaks. What would you recommend this year for me to where given that the Primitivo is the most rugged course.
Hello John, the Lone Peaks are good shoes and since you have completed the French route in them it will again be a good choice, mud and rain are the biggest factors to consider. We did get a lot of rain walking the Primitivo in May/June. We had some very thick mud on the trails. Walking in trail runners your feet will most likely get wet. Many pilgrims say your feet will get wet anyway, irrespective of what shoes you wear, and with well-ventilated shoes at least they dry quicker. We have done many hikes in Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid Gore-tex Hiking Boots in snow and rain with dry feet. I found them comfortable and light for a boot. Buen Camino
Hi! I came across your blog by researching about the camino de compostella. Im planning to walk all the way from the Netherlands to Santiago de compostella, so quite some distance.
I want to start to walk the trail in about 2-3 years when Im done with my study.
Do you have any advice or recommendations for hiking shoes for about 2400 kilometers?
Thanks for the detailed information about the trail, it really helps.
Kind regards,
Brand
Hello Brand, running shoes (including trail runners) I usually replace after about 1000 kms. We have walked between 2000 and 3000 km with Salomon Elipse 2 Ltr and Merrell Chameleon 2 due to circumstances. I would say do not aim to hike more than about 1800 kms with a pair of shoes. Hiking in good quality shoes with a bit of luck and depending on your weight and way of walking shoes can certainly last longer, but by this time the soles will be compressed and hiking in these shoes can be hard on your knees and joints that can lead to a variety of injuries. Good luck, safe travels!
Hello! I came across your blog after researching about Via de la Plata Camino. I’m planning on hiking it in April 2023. I’ve been reading so much about which type of shoe to bring & it’s bit overwhelming.
I have hiking boots and as an avid runner i have Ascis trail running shoes.
I’m curious after reading this post about which shoe to bring, which shoe did you both decide to go with when hiking the Via de la Plata? The Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX mid?
Is the VdlP trail relatively flat?
Thanks for your help! Great blog by the way!
Hello Shalley, thanks for reading. April is a good time with warm weather, but not hot, and usually not much rain. The Via de la Plata is a very long and challenging route, the route is relatively flat. I would recommend that you walk in shoes that you are comfortable in and have done significant milage with (training or other hikes). We walked this route wearing Salomon Elipse 2 Ltr and Merrell Moab 2 hiking shoes. We have done a lot of hiking in our Salomon X Ultra 3 Mid GTX. For both of us our favorite hiking boots we have ever owned. For the Via de la Plata walking long distances in April with most likely little rain also consider the non-gore tex versions of these shoes. You will not need the waterproofing so much and they are better ventilated and thus cooler.
How do I contact you for a future travel related question? Re: upcoming Schengen Visa / ETIAS requirements and proof of accommodations?
Hello Annette. You can contact us through our FB page or e-mail. Just to let you know that we're not a company or a travel agency therefore we don't provide any assistance with visa applications. If you need any advice on the Camino de Santiago we'll be happy to help.
Buen Camino
@Stingy Nomads, Hola! Thank you so much for all the useful info - great blog! I’m doing part of the Camino - from Sarria to Santiago the last week of April. I don’t have suitable shoes (only running shoes) - what shoes would you recommend?
Hello Katherine, it is good to buy the shoes asap to make sure they are comfortable and ´walk them in´ before the Camino. Make sure the shoes are a good comfortable fit, wear them, and do your training walks in them. Hiking shoes, such as the Merrel Moab 2, or trail runners like the Hoka Speed Goats should work well.