I have worn out a pair of Garmont boots on each of my caminos but have been very lucky, apart from a lost toenail and a few blisters at about the halfway point. I would not be keen to wear sports shoes in mud but I suspect that I could probably have got away with them in my two Autumn caminos. For this Camino I have bought some Keen Targhees. Like my other boots they were on sale. Sock theories also vary and I like 3 pairs of socks, the first being short sports socks with the tiny loops on the sole, the second are thin Cool Max and outer socks being more traditional tramping socks like Smart wool socks. This of course means that my tramping boots are a bigger size than I would normally wear, but it means that when my feet swell in the heat and with the constant walking, I have plenty of room and can always take a layer off, although I have never done this.
Yesterday we climbed Mount Te Aroha. It was a bit of a shock.. I had hoped that I was fitter than I proved to be.. I think I was passed by about 20 people and am very tired and sore today, despite a good soak in the Te Aroha hot springs afterwards.While I have done quite a bit of walking, Hamilton is a bit short of hills. I think I see some more climbs in my future before I leave. At least my shoes held up well and I had no blisters!
