The running world's hottest shoe category is also the ideal choice for the Camino de Santiago. Here's why gravel shoes beat hiking boots for long-distance walking.
I remember the exact moment I became a gravel shoe convert. It was somewhere between Estella and Los Arcos on the Francés — my fourth time walking it — and I was watching a guy in heavy leather hiking boots hobble along a stretch of hard-packed dirt road whilst I practically floated past in what were essentially beefed-up running shoes. His feet looked like they were serving a prison sentence. Mine felt like they were on holiday.
That was a few years ago now, and the running shoe industry has since caught up to what Camino veterans have quietly known for a while: you don't need a tank on your feet to walk 800 kilometres. You need something light, cushioned, and versatile enough to handle the mix of terrain the Camino actually throws at you. Enter the gravel shoe — and honestly, it's about time.
The concept is simple. Take the cushioning and comfort of a road running shoe, add a slightly more aggressive outsole with shallow lugs (usually 2-4mm), beef up the protection a touch, and you've got a shoe that transitions seamlessly between tarmac, gravel paths, dirt tracks, and light trails. Sound familiar? That's literally the Camino de Santiago in a nutshell.
Most pilgrims don't realise this, but the Camino isn't really a "hiking trail" in the traditional sense. On the Francés, you're spending roughly 40-50% of your time on paved roads and another 30-40% on hard-packed dirt or gravel tracks. The genuinely technical, rocky trail sections? Maybe 10-15% of the total distance. And yet, most first-timers show up in heavy hiking boots designed for scrambling up mountain passes.
Gravel shoes nail this because:
They're light. Weight matters enormously when you're taking 30,000-40,000 steps a day. Every gram on your feet is amplified over the course of a full stage. Most gravel shoes come in under 300g, which is roughly half the weight of a mid-cut hiking boot. Your knees and hips will thank you by week two.
They cushion where it counts. Modern midsole foams have come an absurdly long way. The nitrogen-infused and supercritical foams in today's gravel shoes provide better shock absorption than hiking boots from five years ago — without the bulk. When you're pounding Roman roads and concrete paths through Spanish suburbs (every pilgrim's least favourite part), that cushioning is everything.
They grip without overdoing it. Those shallow 3-4mm lugs are the sweet spot for Camino terrain. They bite into loose gravel and packed dirt, drain mud reasonably well, and don't feel lumpy or unstable when you're walking through the endless small towns on tarmac. Aggressive trail lugs are overkill for the Camino and actually make road sections more uncomfortable.
They dry fast. Unlike heavy leather or Gore-Tex hiking boots, most gravel shoes use breathable engineered mesh uppers. When you inevitably walk through a puddle or get caught in Galician rain, they'll dry overnight. Try that with waterproof boots — you'll be walking in damp socks for three days.
They break in quickly. I've seen too many pilgrims limp into Pamplona on day three because they didn't break in their stiff new hiking boots. A good gravel shoe typically needs a few short walks at most before it's ready for full-day distances.
At around $150 and 297g, it sits in that perfect middle ground. The cushioning is plush without being mushy, the outsole grips gravel and dirt confidently, and it transitions to road sections without missing a beat. It won't handle deep mud or truly technical terrain (which, again, you rarely encounter on the Camino), but for the 85-90% of terrain you will see, it's superb.
Best for: Pilgrims who want road shoe comfort with trail shoe confidence. First-timers especially.
The GTX version adds Gore-Tex waterproofing, which is a double-edged sword. Great for early spring Caminos or the Via Podiensis through the Aubrac in France where you can get genuinely nasty weather. Less great in summer heat when breathability matters more. But if you're walking in shoulder season and want a bit more protection than a pure gravel shoe offers, this is the one.
One thing to know: they run a bit generous. Size down a half if you're between sizes, or you'll get that sloppy feeling on descents.
Best for: Pilgrims who want maximum cushioning and don't mind a touch more weight. Great for the Le Puy route and autumn/spring Caminos.
The big caveat with Salomon is fit. They run narrow. If you have wider feet, try them on in person before committing to 800km in them. But if they fit you well, few shoes transition between terrain types as seamlessly as a Salomon.
Best for: Pilgrims with normal-to-narrow feet who want a lightweight, fast-feeling shoe. Excellent for the Portugués Coastal where you alternate between boardwalks, beach paths, and road.
The idea that you need a high-cut boot to protect your ankles is one of those pieces of hiking wisdom that sounds logical but doesn't hold up in practice — at least not for long-distance walking on relatively gentle terrain. Your ankles get stronger from actually using them, and a low-cut shoe allows natural movement that helps build stability over the course of the walk.
I've walked the Francés six times, the Via Podiensis twice, the Norte, and the Portugués in both directions — all in low-cut shoes. Not a single ankle injury. The biggest risk on the Camino isn't ankle rolls; it's blisters, knee pain, and overuse injuries. All of which are better addressed by a lightweight, well-cushioned shoe than a heavy boot.
Don't forget the insoles. The stock insoles in most gravel shoes are fine for a few hours but not ideal for 25+ kilometres a day. A pair of aftermarket insoles — I like Superfeet Green — can transform a good shoe into a great one.
Compeed blister plasters are non-negotiable. Even with the perfect shoe, you'll likely get a blister or two in the first week whilst your feet toughen up. Compeed is the one piece of gear every single pilgrim I know swears by.
Test before you go. Whatever shoe you choose, walk at least 100km in it before your Camino. Do back-to-back long walks. Walk on different surfaces. If something feels off at kilometre 15, it's going to feel catastrophic at kilometre 150.
Something light. Something cushioned. Something versatile. Something that doesn't make you dread the road sections or fear the dirt tracks.
A gravel shoe. That's the answer.
And if you're still unsure about what to put on your feet, ask My Camino Guide. I've walked enough Caminos in enough questionable footwear to steer you right.
---
Try asking My Camino Guide:
- What shoes should I bring for the Camino?
- How do I prevent blisters on the Camino?
- Help me create a packing list for the Camino Francés
That was a few years ago now, and the running shoe industry has since caught up to what Camino veterans have quietly known for a while: you don't need a tank on your feet to walk 800 kilometres. You need something light, cushioned, and versatile enough to handle the mix of terrain the Camino actually throws at you. Enter the gravel shoe — and honestly, it's about time.
What Even Is a Gravel Shoe?
If you've been following the running world at all, you've probably noticed that "gravel" has become the hottest category in footwear. It's the road-to-trail hybrid — a shoe that doesn't commit fully to either world but instead does both remarkably well. Think of it as the mullet of running shoes: business on the pavement, party on the dirt.The concept is simple. Take the cushioning and comfort of a road running shoe, add a slightly more aggressive outsole with shallow lugs (usually 2-4mm), beef up the protection a touch, and you've got a shoe that transitions seamlessly between tarmac, gravel paths, dirt tracks, and light trails. Sound familiar? That's literally the Camino de Santiago in a nutshell.
Most pilgrims don't realise this, but the Camino isn't really a "hiking trail" in the traditional sense. On the Francés, you're spending roughly 40-50% of your time on paved roads and another 30-40% on hard-packed dirt or gravel tracks. The genuinely technical, rocky trail sections? Maybe 10-15% of the total distance. And yet, most first-timers show up in heavy hiking boots designed for scrambling up mountain passes.
Why Gravel Shoes Are Perfect for the Camino
I've walked over a dozen Caminos across four different routes, and I've tried everything from proper hiking boots to road runners to trail shoes. Here's what I've learned: the best Camino shoe is the one that handles variety without punishing your feet for 25-30 kilometres a day, every day, for weeks on end.Gravel shoes nail this because:
They're light. Weight matters enormously when you're taking 30,000-40,000 steps a day. Every gram on your feet is amplified over the course of a full stage. Most gravel shoes come in under 300g, which is roughly half the weight of a mid-cut hiking boot. Your knees and hips will thank you by week two.
They cushion where it counts. Modern midsole foams have come an absurdly long way. The nitrogen-infused and supercritical foams in today's gravel shoes provide better shock absorption than hiking boots from five years ago — without the bulk. When you're pounding Roman roads and concrete paths through Spanish suburbs (every pilgrim's least favourite part), that cushioning is everything.
They grip without overdoing it. Those shallow 3-4mm lugs are the sweet spot for Camino terrain. They bite into loose gravel and packed dirt, drain mud reasonably well, and don't feel lumpy or unstable when you're walking through the endless small towns on tarmac. Aggressive trail lugs are overkill for the Camino and actually make road sections more uncomfortable.
They dry fast. Unlike heavy leather or Gore-Tex hiking boots, most gravel shoes use breathable engineered mesh uppers. When you inevitably walk through a puddle or get caught in Galician rain, they'll dry overnight. Try that with waterproof boots — you'll be walking in damp socks for three days.
They break in quickly. I've seen too many pilgrims limp into Pamplona on day three because they didn't break in their stiff new hiking boots. A good gravel shoe typically needs a few short walks at most before it's ready for full-day distances.
Three Gravel Shoes I'd Walk the Camino In
Let me be specific. Here are three shoes from the current crop that I think would be brilliant Camino companions:Brooks Ghost Trail
The Brooks Ghost Trail is the shoe that inspired this post. Brooks took their legendary Ghost — one of the best-selling running shoes of all time — and gave it a gravel makeover. The result is a shoe with an 8mm drop, DNA Loft V3 foam midsole, and a TrailTack outsole with 3mm lugs.At around $150 and 297g, it sits in that perfect middle ground. The cushioning is plush without being mushy, the outsole grips gravel and dirt confidently, and it transitions to road sections without missing a beat. It won't handle deep mud or truly technical terrain (which, again, you rarely encounter on the Camino), but for the 85-90% of terrain you will see, it's superb.
Best for: Pilgrims who want road shoe comfort with trail shoe confidence. First-timers especially.
Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX
Now, I know I just said gravel shoes, and the Hoka Anacapa 2 Low GTX is technically a hiking shoe — but it's the hiking shoe that thinks it's a running shoe, and that's exactly why it belongs here. Hoka's signature oversized midsole gives you ridiculous cushioning for long days, whilst the Vibram outsole provides genuine hiking-grade traction.The GTX version adds Gore-Tex waterproofing, which is a double-edged sword. Great for early spring Caminos or the Via Podiensis through the Aubrac in France where you can get genuinely nasty weather. Less great in summer heat when breathability matters more. But if you're walking in shoulder season and want a bit more protection than a pure gravel shoe offers, this is the one.
One thing to know: they run a bit generous. Size down a half if you're between sizes, or you'll get that sloppy feeling on descents.
Best for: Pilgrims who want maximum cushioning and don't mind a touch more weight. Great for the Le Puy route and autumn/spring Caminos.
Salomon Aero Flow Grvl Gore-Tex
Salomon basically invented the trail running-as-hiking movement, and their Aero Flow Grvl Gore-Tex is their latest gravel-specific offering. It uses their Contagrip rubber outsole with a tread pattern that looks like it was borrowed from a gravel bike tyre — smooth enough for pavement, grippy enough for dirt. The optiFOAM² midsole provides solid cushioning without adding bulk.The big caveat with Salomon is fit. They run narrow. If you have wider feet, try them on in person before committing to 800km in them. But if they fit you well, few shoes transition between terrain types as seamlessly as a Salomon.
Best for: Pilgrims with normal-to-narrow feet who want a lightweight, fast-feeling shoe. Excellent for the Portugués Coastal where you alternate between boardwalks, beach paths, and road.
But What About Ankle Support?
I hear this from almost every first-timer: "Don't I need ankle support?" Short answer: no. Not on the Camino.The idea that you need a high-cut boot to protect your ankles is one of those pieces of hiking wisdom that sounds logical but doesn't hold up in practice — at least not for long-distance walking on relatively gentle terrain. Your ankles get stronger from actually using them, and a low-cut shoe allows natural movement that helps build stability over the course of the walk.
I've walked the Francés six times, the Via Podiensis twice, the Norte, and the Portugués in both directions — all in low-cut shoes. Not a single ankle injury. The biggest risk on the Camino isn't ankle rolls; it's blisters, knee pain, and overuse injuries. All of which are better addressed by a lightweight, well-cushioned shoe than a heavy boot.
A Few More Tips
Bring a second pair. I always carry lightweight sandals (Xero Shoes or similar) for evenings and rest days. Giving your feet time in something open and flat after a full day of walking makes a massive difference in recovery.Don't forget the insoles. The stock insoles in most gravel shoes are fine for a few hours but not ideal for 25+ kilometres a day. A pair of aftermarket insoles — I like Superfeet Green — can transform a good shoe into a great one.
Compeed blister plasters are non-negotiable. Even with the perfect shoe, you'll likely get a blister or two in the first week whilst your feet toughen up. Compeed is the one piece of gear every single pilgrim I know swears by.
Test before you go. Whatever shoe you choose, walk at least 100km in it before your Camino. Do back-to-back long walks. Walk on different surfaces. If something feels off at kilometre 15, it's going to feel catastrophic at kilometre 150.
The Bottom Line
The gravel shoe revolution isn't just a running trend — it's the answer to a question Camino pilgrims have been asking for decades. What's the best shoe for walking 800 kilometres across a mix of terrain that's mostly gentle but occasionally challenging?Something light. Something cushioned. Something versatile. Something that doesn't make you dread the road sections or fear the dirt tracks.
A gravel shoe. That's the answer.
And if you're still unsure about what to put on your feet, ask My Camino Guide. I've walked enough Caminos in enough questionable footwear to steer you right.
---
Try asking My Camino Guide:
- What shoes should I bring for the Camino?
- How do I prevent blisters on the Camino?
- Help me create a packing list for the Camino Francés
