GUÍA VISUAL DEL CAMINO PRIMITIVO
* Do not use new footwear for The Way
Your feet will be grateful and you will avoid any problem like blistering
or chafing.
* Use footwear that is already well adapted to your feet. It will be your
support and protection.
Before starting The Way, train and walk with your footwear and put
into practice all the pieces of advice suggested in the website’s
section “Feet”
* If you use boots, you should tie the laces properly so that they are not
loose.
However, do not tie them too much, especially in the front part; you
are supossed to move your toes easily for a better support.
* When the boot is loose, the feet tend to go backwards when going uphill,
and forwards when going downhill. By following our advice, you will
minimise and reduce these movements and will avoid blistering and
chafing
* By using sticking plaster you will avoid blistering and chafing (go to section “feet”),
but bear in mindthe previous advice to adjust the footwear.
The Way has two parts:
The first one goes from Oviedo to Cadavo (Baleira).
The ground is more uneven, going uphill and downhill almost all the time.
The sole of your footwear should be hard but flexible. At the same time, you should be
well protected from stepping badly, sprained ankles, or water.
The second one goes from Cadavo (Baleira) to Santiago de Compostela. In these stages
you will find less slopes and if so, they will be longer. You will not find steep slopes, so
going uphill or downhill will not be such a problem; the ground is less winding as well.
Bear in mind the season in which your are doing The Way. You are likely to find water
or snow in most parts of Asturias during autumn, winter and spring.
Using footwear from the brand “Chiruca” (with goretex and polyurethane sole) can be a
good choice.
In summer you will find less water, although the weather in Asturias and Galicia might
be unpredictable at times. In this season you can use the abovementioned footwear or
footwear from the brand “Salomon”, which has a more flexible protection in the ankles,
but you will be protected from water anywa.
To sum up, no matter the season, footwear should protect you from sprains, water or
stepping badly.
Therefore, ease of cleaning is another important factor.
A moist cloth will be enough.
If it rains and you get wet follow the next steps: clean the mud with the moist cloth and
let it air dry.
Put newspapers or paper towel inside the footwear. DO NOT use a hairdryer.
Direct contact with hot air might damage the footwear.
FOOTWEAR
