Essential Gear for Hiking the Camino Trail

Walking the 800km Camino de Santiago from France to Spain may be the hardest thing you do in your entire life - but also the greatest. The rugged terrains, mountainous passes, long days and little sleep are all part of this life-changing experience that is as painful as it is beautiful.

That’s why it’s so important to take gear with you that supports you as much as possible. The more things you get right from the beginning, the more your body will love you at the end. The wrong-sized backpack or ill-fitted shoe can cause you a world of pain and absolutely ruin your walk. I researched beforehand and trialed each piece of equipment to see what worked for me. Remember, just because something is popular online doesn’t mean it will automatically be right for you.

The most important thing, other than your shoes, is your backpack. You’ll be carrying this for over 800km. It’ll practically feel like an extension of you by the end of the walk, so making sure this is both practical and comfortable is key. I chose a backpack on the smaller side because I knew that if I had more room, I’d try and pack more than I needed. People tried to convince me to go bigger, but I stuck to my guns, and I’m so glad I did. The Deuter Futura 30 SL Backpack was perfect. While I was trialing backpacks, the main problem I found being a bigger busted lady was that the straps felt really uncomfortable. With the Deuter, from the moment I put it on, it just moulded to my body. The chest strap was higher, so there was also no discomfort there, and I loved that I could tighten my waist straps so that my hips took most of the burden off my shoulders.

It also had a little hole for my bladder drink tube to fit through, which is another item I’d recommend. Instead of having to stop all the time to get a water bottle out, anytime I felt thirsty, I’d have a little sip from the tube that sat next to my shoulder. I found this really helped to keep me hydrated, as there’s no way I would’ve drank as much if I’d had to stop every time. When you’ve got upwards of 20km to walk each day, you want to be as organised as possible. You also have weight limits to consider, and the Ultimate Direction 1.5L Reservoir Bladder weighs close to nothing when empty. It was also easy to fill up and never leaked in my bag. However, you do need to be careful not to place anything heavy on the bite valve as that will mimic you sipping water and cause it to start flowing.

The next item is one that I originally wasn’t going to take, which is crazy because I end up using it every single night. The Sherpa Thermolite Sleeping Bag Liner is an absolute MUST on the Camino. I was under the impression that most accommodations would supply sheets and blankets, but that wasn’t the case at all. In most albergues it was a BYO situation, so having something to cover you at night was essential. The majority of nights were warm as I walked in August/September, so the sleeping bag liner was all I needed. On chilly nights, I wore my Sherpa Women’s Sona Lightweight Fleece Top, which kept me nice and warm. In fact, I wore that most evenings to dinner or whatever activity I was doing if it was a bit on the colder side. Despite wearing it regularly, I found that it hardly even needed to be washed as it didn’t retain any smells – perfect for when you don’t always have access to washing facilities.

The last essential item I recommend is a good pair of walking poles. I used mine every single day, in every single condition, over every single terrain and not once did they fail me. I couldn’t even imagine trying to do that walk without them – they, too, became an extension of me. Good poles can be super expensive, but I opted for the Leki Eagle Walking Poles, which are very affordable. They were lightweight, comfortable to hold and had great traction. The rubber tips showed hardly any wear after 800km, despite me having a second pair ready to go. They are super easy to adjust as well. Just be careful to tighten them fully so they don’t slip down while you walk.

I hope these suggestions help to make your Camino journey the best it can be. May you be blessed with blue skies and make many beautiful connections with your fellow pilgrims. It truly is the adventure of a lifetime, so best of luck and Buen Camino.