Pilgrim Footwear
Foot Care
What you wear on your feet is arguably the most important bit of kit you’ll choose. A jumper or jacket can go a bit wrong and it doesn’t matter overmuch. But your feet are your most important assets on a pilgrimage journey.
Whatever shoes you wear, be sure to give your feet attention at the end of each day. Wash them, massage them, and carry a pot of lotion/cream to be kind to them. The skin on your feet takes more of a bashing than any other part of your body. Look after them! I recommend a foot salve. Your skin is the most important footwear you will carry…
Get Well Shod
Footwear choice depends on where you intend to walk, and the season of your going. Mountains vs canal-paths, deep winter vs high summer - there is no single piece of footwear for all conditions.
Barefoot is an option some people love - but it’s a deep commitment, and you will get injuries, and you will walk more slowly. A good compromise is to wear shoes, but be willing to take them off and walk without them at least once a day.
I would recommend boots in Autumn/Winter, shoes in Spring, and sandals in summer. But that’s just me. If you already have a pair of shoes you trust, stick with them. I have my brand and size that I stick with religiously, because I know it’s good for me (inherited from my pa). Footwear is a good place to be loyal.
Don’t fling money at an untested shoe. Be sure they have a solid returns policy if the fit is not good, or comfort fails. Different brands of shoemaker use different ‘lasts’ (the metal foot model around which shoes are made). So size is not a single universal standard. In particular, the width of shoes varies greatly. Italian shoes tend to be the most narrow, and Austrian the widest. British shoes are somewhere between. We are all made differently. So try before you buy, if you can, or be ready to return what doesn’t feel good worn around the house.
There has been a rise in popularity in recent years of ‘barefoot’ style shoes - zero drop - which have no rise at the heel. This has many anatomical advantages, but we are usually not used to it, and if you intend to use such shoes on pilgrimage, transition first. It can send your body into all sorts of confusion otherwise.
Pilgrim Sandals
In summer, you may feel comfortable in a sandal. These work fine, and prevent having to worry about getting wet feet. If you can hack it, wear a pair of socks with them on colder mornings. I’ve known someone hike the whole Old Way in a pair of pool slides, in the height of summer…
Chacos are one of the best reputed US hiking sandals, and are available on Amazon. The price and size and colour options vary tremendously.
If you are into zero-drop sandals (barefoot-style, where the heel is not raised), the best I have found are Xero Sandals. You may find these shoes are too lightweight for prolonged walking - but they make an excellent second pair for relaxing post walk.
A word of advice - if you are making the transition into zero-drop shoes, do so gradually before setting out on a pilgrimage journey, or your body may not cope very well. It’s a significant change to walking mode.
Proper Pilgrimage Shoes
Shoes offer more support and comfort than sandals. There is a massive range of materials and styles available.
Some of the best trainer-style pilgrim shoes are made in the USA - for trail running. The style favoured there is non-waterproof, with lots of mesh to allow rapid drying off. The US pilgrim’s method is to march through the rivers, and allow the shoes a mile to pump out the water and dry on your feet. They are exceptionally lightweight.
This probably works better throughout the year in the USA than the UK, but in British summer and drier seasons, these are a very lightweight and comfortable option. They are certainly not as durable as traditional pilgrim boots, but are comfortable straight out the box, and have great grip. They work best with merino socks, so that if/when your feet get wet, you will not feel cold.
For a full range of Altra trail runners, check their website here.
For a UK range of ‘barefoot’ trail running shoes (including vegan options), check out the Vivo Barefoot website.
Pilgrim Boots
I rate boots. They are solid and enduring, and although they take longer to wear in (if made from leather), they will outlast your pilgrimage journey and will give you a sense of reliability, which is important.
Modern boots often come with a Goretex inner. This can be great, but it also leads to less well made boots, as manufacturers rely on the waterproofing of the Goretex rather than the integrity of the boots’ structure.
My very favourite boots are made by Zamberlan. This is an Italian family company, and comes highly recommended. They offer a ‘norwegian welted’ boot that has two layers of leather, rather than goretex, which is the best winter boot I’ve ever worn. But they are heavy…
Zamberlan are a narrow fitting boot, and I always buy mine a size larger than normal shoes. Pilgrimage, being constant foot activity, makes feet expand, so be sure to go larger than you usually would. I am typically a 10.5 trainer, but I buy a 46 Zamberlan boot.
There are countless other (cheaper) bootmakers. Brasher was a favourite British manufacturer, recently bought by Berghaus. Their Hillwalker II boot is reliable and comfy straight out the box.
If you want a ‘barefoot’ boot for Wayfaring, Vivo Barefoot offer the best choice. They also allow a 100 day returns policy, which is pretty great.
Other makers of shoes/boots you may want to check out include: Scarpa - Meindl - Hanwag - Haglofs - Salomon - and Hoka One.
Rest Shoes/Slippers
If your pilgrimage is long, you may want to carry another pair of shoes to rest in. Boots that have slogged up mountains are not necessarily the best things to relax in.
The Hoka One One Recovery Slides are remarkably comfortable.
And my favourite wool slippers are from Haflinger…
