best shoes for loooong walks

[Anonymous]

I did the Great Saunter this weekend in New York. It's 32-mile walk around the perimeter of Manhattan. I trained for it, but I still wound up with some crazy blisters once the miles hit 20+. If I do this again next year, are there better shoes to wear (I was wearing Brooks running shoes), or is a 32-mile walk inevitably going to result in blistered feet? If you have found magic shoes, please share!

[Anonymous]

So you were walking, not running? Did you consider looking for walking shoes? There are some On Clouds made for walking.

[Anonymous]

Oh wow that sounds amazing! I want to do it!!

I did the One Day Hike in DC about a decade ago - 50k in one day - wearing Brooks trail runners. I got them a half size bigger than usual, wore thin wool socks, and preemptively put moleskin on the back of my heels and spots on my feet where I thought I might get blisters. With that, didn't get a single one! I'd broken them in pretty well before the hike.

Since you're walking Manhattan, not going on a woodsy hike, could you find a spot to swap out your shoes next time? I think having different shoes could help your feet, in addition to all that other stuff.

[Anonymous]

What were you wearing for socks? I find that socks can really make a difference. I like wrightsocks or smartwool.

[Anonymous]

OP here. Yes, walking, not running. I am a former runner and naively assumed running shoes would do the trick, but maybe i need to look more carefully at walking shoes. I wore bombas wool socks.

To PP who mentioned the One Day Hike in DC -- thank you! I hadn't heard of it, but I will check it out.

If anyone is interested in the Great Saunter, here's the link: https://shorewalkers.org/great-saunter/

Entry is in February and this year it filled up in 3 days, so sign up early if you want to do it!

[Anonymous]

Also, since we're talking about long walks/hikes, here's the link to the Hike Across Maryland (41 miles):

https://www.mcomd.org/the-hike-across-marylan...member-registration/

[Anonymous]

I've wanted to do the Cotswalds Way for years. It takes 5-10 days, depending on how much you stop to explore villages.

https://explorethecotswolds.com/walking-the-cotswold-way/

[Anonymous]

This sounds awesome! I walk every day, but did you train for it?

[Anonymous]

Sorry I reread and see you did train…what did that entail? I’d love to do this!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Sorry I reread and see you did train…what did that entail? I’d love to do this!

OP here. I probably didn't train purposefully enough, but I tend to walk a lot just in the natural course of my day, and I did at least one 17 mile day, and a few 12-14 mile-days in the months leading up to it. Plus a lot of shorter (5 mile) walk days.

[Anonymous]

I use running shoes.i like NB with wide toe box. Double layer socks like Wrightsocks make the difference. No blisters ever.

[Anonymous]

Yes, it's the socks that make a difference. I have sensitive feet, that blister with even the slightest friction.

Now I only wear Feetures. They are amazing, have a life time guarantee and worth every penny (look for sales and discount codes).

In addition I prefer Brooks Ghost or Glycerin line of shoes.

[Anonymous]

Go to a running store and ask them what to get

[Anonymous]

When I did a breast cancer walk I switched out my socks a couple of times during the day at the breaks (I just had one extra pair and alternated). I have sweaty feet and having dry socks helped. No blisters.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Yes, it's the socks that make a difference. I have sensitive feet, that blister with even the slightest friction.

Now I only wear Feetures. They are amazing, have a life time guarantee and worth every penny (look for sales and discount codes).

In addition I prefer Brooks Ghost or Glycerin line of shoes.

I'm the one who did the One Day Hike - I wore Brooks Ghost. I got them at REI - the people there helped me pick out a pair. I wore thin Smartwool socks. Brought extras to change out if I wanted but didn't end up using them.