Perhaps it should be all about soul, but I’ve got to start with my feet. The salesgirl told me today that your feet hit the ground 1500 time per mile, give or take. So what you put on your feet matters.
Including the socks, I come in at a whopping size 11.5 women’s shoe and a D width. Too bad women’s shoes come in B width and whole sizes after 10. Men’s shoes come in D width as the standard size, but are — well, they look like men’s shoes.
After my third “miss” on shoe trials today, I’m starting to feel discouraged. I’ve really tried.
A year ago, I went to REI and bought a pair of Keen’s — size 10, B width.
After wearing them hiking a few times, I decided that sore, numb toes and I were not going to get along very well.
Attempt #2 was about a month ago at the Shoe Mill. Thinking that the Europeans have their comfy footwear figured out, I’d be more likely to find something that works. After a clear review of the return policy, I took home these men’s 10.5 Merrills.
I walked around in them a bit at home, but they pinch the top of my foot — also not ideal.
So today I ended up at a local company, Gallagher’s Fitness. Something about the locker-room smell there told me I’m not their typical customer (while I drove, some people run to their store to buy running gear), but I was getting desperate.
Check out what I tried on:
Gah! What is WITH the running shoe colors right now?! I will admit, I liked these better than the Merrills or the Keens. They’re lighter, still water-resistant, and the right width.
I didn’t buy them today because they didn’t have my size in stock, but the NEW colors come out in 2 weeks so I will be able to choose from green/yellow (go Ducks!) or black/orange (go Beavs!).
If they’re not a go, I’m honestly at a bit of a loss. If you have big feet, or love someone who does, and have ideas for shoes I want to hear from you.
Jen's Journey - Camino de Santiago 2013, 2016, & 2019 
Hey Jen,
Would you consider getting a pair of Vibram 5 fingers?
My understanding is that each customer gets the pair that fits them best, not necessarily their ‘usual size’. Having a wide foot myself (also a D) and being a fan of hiking, I find I am also very picky about my footwear. For good reason.
I’ll admit, I’ve never tried on the Vibram’s but I’m fascinated by the concept. They’d be light, they’d be a bit more flexible in the toe area, and there are different styles so some of them are a bit more suitable to rough terrain. Of course, you probably wouldn’t have socks and really, I don’t know if they’ll withstand 500 miles but it might be worth doing a bit of research.
Hugs!
That’s a great suggestion — and one I’d consider at this point. I already have a pair of them for around town and have used them hiking. However, they’ve come out with a sturdier version with is ideal for trails and diffuses impact when a stone is underfoot (prevents bruising). I even have several pairs of “toe socks”.
Since I may be walking in the rain, my biggest concern is their lack of any water resistance. Even though the running store salesgirl got huffy when I mentioned Vibrams, I should look into them anyway. 🙂 Thanks for the suggestion!