Woo hoo! I finally found evening shoes for my second Camino, with a little over a week to spare!
Okay. I know what you are probably thinking…evening shoes!?! For the Camino? As it turns out, finding just the right evening shoes is really important. Are they comfortable? Are they safe on wet cobblestones? Are they lightweight?
They are Hounds women’s Z Sandals and cost only $9.99 at Walgreen’s, although online they seem to be running two or three times that amount. This was the last pair in this color and size and they were tucked away behind a bunch of aqua shoes. At 8 ounces for the pair, they are a dream weight.
I first encountered this style/brand when I was visiting my mom this spring. She had a pair at her condo that she uses essentially like house slippers and I thought that they were both cute and comfortable. I’ve been trying to find a pair ever since.
On last summer’s Camino I started out with my old Teva Hurricanes, which I love, and which are great to hike in, but which weigh 1LB 2.6OZ for the pair. So I mailed those on to Santiago from Viana and bought a pair of knockoff Crocs, which were lightweight and comfortable in one regard and used those for the remainder of my trip. What I didn’t love about them though was that, as my friend Jen said one day while we were hiking in Oregon, it felt like I had a sauna on each foot.
So this year, the hunt for the perfect shoe has continued. I’ve tried multiple types of Tevas; some don’t fit comfortably and others have been more weight than I’ve wanted to carry. I have tried finding a good pair of lightweight flip flops that have enough traction to walk safely on wet cobblestones in the evening but haven’t been very successful with that either.
Needless to say, I am very happy to have found these!
By the way, this is my first attempt this year at creating a blog post on my iPhone; a bit of a trial run before I head off for Camino #2 in a week and a half. I have to say, I’m pleased with the ease of using the WordPress app and with the results…
Love the sandals…. I began to load up my pack this weekend and I understand what it feels like!
I’m on my Camino on August 10, 2015…. I’ve still got weeks to obsess over every ounce!
Thanks Kathy…I’m pretty happy with them. I remember loading up my pack for the first time! How’s it feeling? Does everything fit? Those weeks until your Camino are going to fly by!
Ohhh! I am starting my second camino next 16th june from Oviedo! I am going alone also! When are you starting? Hope to meet you there! Write me if you want to get in touch or if you are leaving the same day, so we can meet! Huge hug!
Hi Cinta! We are starting our second Caminos at the same time! I will be walking the Camino del Norte first though, so am starting from Irún next week. Thank you for getting in touch with me on Facebook! Let’s definitely keep in touch and exchange stories! Un besazo!