Supplies for my Summer Camino

crystalkolt
May 17, 2021
31 min read

Updated: May 23, 2021

Rating for Value 1 - 5 (5 most valuable to me)

(Note: this rating system was based on what worked for me on my camino. Some items rated 5-3 means that they were important but I would have brought a better quality or different model Other lower ranked items may still be good for other people but they just didn’t work for me. Also note: these supplies were for a 2 month Camino in the months of July and August 2019).

HIKING GEAR RATE

Backpack 5

Rain Cover for Backpack 5

Rain Coat 5 - 3

Water Bottle 0

Hydration Bladder 5

Light Day Pack 5 - 2

Sleeping Bag 5

Camping Pillow 3

2 Walking Sticks 5

Sunglasses 4

Fork/spoon 4

Flash light 5

Head lamp 5

Portable Power Bank 5 - 3

Mini Bungee cords 5

Diaper Safety pins 5

Clothes pins 5

Ziplock bags 5

Power adapter 5

Pen, Rocket Book 4

Health and Wellness Supplies

Sunlight Soap 5

Iodine Swabs 5

Elastoplast Blister Pack 2

Owee Magic Ointment 2

Arnica Rescue Ointment 2

Sports Akileine Cream by NOK 4

Sunscreen 4

Anti itch ointment 4

Polysporin ointment 5

Hydrolyte 5

Magnesium 5

Shampoo bar (Lush) 4

Conditioner 4

Bar Soap and plastic case 4

Toothbrush/paste/floss 5

Deodorant 4

Brush/Comb 4

Razor 4

Contact Lens & Solution 5

Prescription Glasses & case 5

Makeup 3

Sleeping Mask 2

Pack Towel 5

Hypafix tape 5+

Leukotape 5

Compeed 5

Bandaids 4

Bluntnose Scissors 5

Needle and thread 5

Toilet paper 5

Paperback Book 4

Documents/Money

Camino Credential 5

Camino Badge 5

Passport 5

Birth Certificate 5

Photocopies of Passport & Birth Certificate

Money 5

Credit Card 5

Debit Card 5

Money Belt 5

CLOTHING

Walking Shoes 5+ - 4

Sandals 4

Light wind-jacket with hood 4

Compression socks 4

Socks - merina wool 5

Bras 4 - 2

Underwear 5

Pajama bottoms 4

Sarong 4

Capri leggings 5 - 3

Tank Top 1

T-shirt 4

Long sleeve shirt 4

Tilly Hat 5+

Long hiking pants 4

Hoody

HIKING GEAR

Backpack 18lb women small Rate 5

So I am not an expert at backpacks. This was the first professional backpack that I had ever EVER purchased. I had walked into MEC a year and a half earlier, saw it and fell in love instantly. I had tried it on empty and it felt perfect of course! I loved the colour, the pouches and the label said it was a lighter-sized women’s backpack which for whatever reason was what I thought made sense to buy. I didn’t ask for advice because I simply did not even know what to ask. AND it was on sale! I purchased it and told myself that it was a done deal. I was going to walk The Camino and I had a year and a half to get ready. My backpack and I patiently learned about each other from that moment on and I still love it as one loves a dear friend. It survived perfectly. Two months before my walk, when spring finally came to northern Manitoba I happened to be in Winnipeg and literally dragged my backpack into MEC loaded with my supplies and got the nerve up to ask a staff person to teach me how to wear it. A fellow, gratefully about my age, (I was 57 yrs old for what its worth) was there to help. He fitted the pack correctly onto me, showed me how to tighten and loosen it correctly, how to take it on and take it off and holy smokes it even had a security whistle!! WOW, how cool is that! He didn’t judge me or seem dismissive like the girl in the sock department, he took it all seriously and at the end took me by the shoulders and said ‘you are going to have such a great time! Buen Camino’. I am forever grateful!

There are many varieties of Backpacks on the market and it’s worth spending the time learning about the advantages of each. I saw many great packs out there and some (I hope mine isn’t listening) better than mine with fancy bungie cord features which I would have used. Find the best fit for you and enjoy. It will be your portable home , will mean the difference between a good or uncomfortable camino and can be such a wonderful way to travel.

Rain cover for backpack Rate 5

Raincoat Rate 5-3

(my raincoast was almost useless, I wished I would have purchased a backpack poncho instead, lots of good quality ones in St. Jean Pied du Port)

Water bottle Rate 0

I had considered bringing a small water bottle with me. It seemed to be highly recommended. I had actually purchased a high end stomach pouch that held 2 water bottles as well as a place for money and snacks but it was simply not comfortable for me personally so after practicing a few times at home I abandoned it.

Hydration Bladder (1.5L) Platypus Rate 5

I loved this. I had also practiced a little bit with how to clean, fill, connect and attach the thing. It was invaluable. I could sip along the way whenever I wanted and the 1.5L was a perfect size for me. There were one 2 times in the 2 months that I ran out of water and even then it was only 10-30minutes away from my destination and I could have filled it up at a previous location but had forgotten to. Highly recommended.

Light day pack Rate 5-2

I wish I would have spent more time looking into this. I had brought a light sling kind of bag from home but it only lasted for about 3 weeks before it started to show signs of wear. Also the sling-type bag was not the best choice for me. Weight, no matter how light would be concentrated on one side of my body, then after an hour or two I had to flip it to the other side of my body. I liked having something big enough that I could store some food to snack on while walking, emergency foot treatment, quick cash etc. Later on, in Estaing, worried that my Flin Flon daypack was about to fall apart, and therefore worried about losing some precious supplies (wallet) along the trail I decided to purchase another light daypack. The only thing I found was a super-light backpack style bag that had totally uncool blue and red polka-dots! I ended up spending the next 6 weeks trying to figure out how to attach the thing on the front of my body while walking with my backpack on. It was ridiculous but I did manage to make it work and it is a fond memory now as I use it for little walks with my husband back home in Flin Flon. I really wished I had purchased something better for the job before I had left Canada. I certainly became recognizable on the trail though. sigh

Sleeping Bag Rate 5

So there is some debate about whether or not to bring a sleeping bag and I guess it depends on you. I really wanted to sleep in my own bedding. There are always reports about bedbugs, or not getting sheets or blankets and after thinking about it for a few months I decided on a super small sleeping bag that had a sheet on one side and light quilting on the other. If you were hot you slept on the quilted section and were covered with a sheet, if you were cold you slept on the sheet part and were covered by the quilt. I used my sleeping bag every day and loved it. This was another MEC purchase. I had bought a slightly heavier sleeping bag for my son Julian when he walked the Camino and he shipped it home a week or two into his walk. He had no problems finding blankets or sheets at the Gite or Albergue’s that he stayed in. We both walked in July and August which meant that the days and evenings were hot and he felt that his sleeping bag was simply extra weight and not necessary. For some reason I have little problems with heat and in all honesty I don’t remember having troubles sleeping because of the heat either. To each his own.

Camping Pillow Rate 4

I purchased a seriously compact inflatable pillow to bring with me because I know that personally I get a much better sleep with a pillow. I have to admit this pillow when inflated was quite wonderful. It wasn't too noisy which was important so as not to disturb other pilgrims trying to sleep and I enjoyed it. That being said most of the gites in France had pillows and honestly I was often too tired to think about blowing up my camping pillow.

Walking sticks (qty 2) Rate 5

I didn’t think I would like using walking sticks. During my practice walks I felt them to be a little annoying. I preferred walking hands free. However I decided to purchase walking sticks essentially because everyone said that I should. I purchased one of the more expensive sets of sticks because I didn’t have time to do a lot of research on them and hoped that they were the right choice. it took me about an hour and scouring youtube before I was able to figure out how to set them up. The gal at MEC did give me a demonstration when I purchased them 5 months earlier but on my own I could not seem to figure out how to set them up and once I accidentally set them up I couldn’t figure out how to contract them again. Well, I was wrong. The sticks are super easy to use (once you know how) and they were literally a lifesaver. I don’t think I would have been able to walk for two months without them. In fact I met a woman about a week before arriving to Santiago that was having a short walk along the Camino with her son. She was walking with sandals that had stretched in the rain and did not have walking sticks. The tiled road that we were walking on was extremely slippery. I lent her one of my poles to use through the slippery section which was absolutely the right thing to do. It was then that I really realized then how valuable they were. I can’t tell you how happy I was to get my second pole back later that day. They helped me up steep hills and prevented me from tumbling down mountains many times. I had to learn how to walk with them though. In the beginning I was walking with the straps around my wrist, like you do when you are downhill skiing. One hospitaliero explained to us that this is incorrect. He felt that when you have the wrist bands on, and when you trip your mind tells you to grab the poles as you would the reigns of a horse to halt. If you do not have wrist bands around your wrists, when you trip you tend to use the sticks to prevent your fall or else abandon your sticks to balance yourself. I can tell you that both times that I fell I had the wristbands on my sticks and when I tripped I instantly was on the ground. There might be other philosophies out there. I have not researched this but to me it makes sense and I didn’t have any other issues once I learned this trick. The other piece of information he shared was to use your sticks as extensions of your arms rather than using them like a walker. This made sense as well to me. Alternating one stick after another in front of me as I walked always gave me support.

Sunglasses (I lost mine after week 2 and survived without) Rate 4

Fork/spoon Rate 4

(most places have utensils but there was the odd time when this came in really handy)

Flashlight Rate 5

(keep them small and light, I actually had 2 with me. When one ran out of battery and when my headlamp died I was super grateful in the dark at 5:30am to have another. Again I walked for 2 months) I ended up loosing one along to way and was happy to have a penlight handy. Don't buy one that has a hugely bright lamp, you may need it when other campers are still or trying to sleep.

Headlamp Rate 5

(I had heard and read that this was not necessary but I was glad that I slipped a cheap one into my backpack at the last minute. I definitely used it when I started walking at 5 or 5:30am). Unfortunately because it was a cheap one somehow it had turned itself on while in my backpack and it ran out of power halfway through my walk. I wish I would have learned more about what options are out there. What I did like about my little headlamp was that it was light and it had the red lamp as well as the white lamp. Sleeping pilgrims do not like bright lights in the room while they are trying to get some shuteye.

Portable power bank Rate 5-3

This was valuable to have but I didn’t have a good quality one I think. Anyways the first time I needed to use mine was on day 2 just before Saugues when I ran out of steam, confidence and my phone was about to die. I NEEDED to confirm which hostel I would stay at and where to find it. I pulled out the gadget, connected my phone to get and got 1 or 2% power, enough to get me to where I needed to go but it never seemed to help me more than that. I definitely would have brought a power bank for my phone but I should have done more research before hand and practiced using it in advance as well.

Mini Bungee Cords (qty 4) Rate 5

These came in so handy over and over again. For example at one point I forwarded my backpack to a location 30kms away. It would be the first time that I would walk that distance on my own. I wanted to bring my hydration bladder with me and with the bungee cords was able to fasten the tube to the handle of my daypack.

Large ‘diaper’ safety pins (qty 4) Rate 5

For sure! I had two cheap storage bags where the zipper broke and my safety pins were used to keep them closed. Also within a day or two I realized that my washed socks were never dry in the morning. I would use the safety pins to hang each sock on either side of my backpack and dry in the sun as I walked. Invaluable!

Clothes pins (qty 4) Rate 5

Yes! I wished I would have brought 6 pins because it is easy to lose a few along the way. When you arrive at your evening destination the first thing you do is have a shower then wash your clothes which means 1 shirt, 1 pair of pants, 1 underwear, 1 bra, 2 socks and you have to dry your towel and facecloth if you have one. Many gites or albergues have clothes pins available but many times they were used by other pilgrims. 4 was fine but 6 would have been great (again especially when a few get left behind after weeks of walking).

Zip lock bags (various sizes) Rate 5

A must. Everything should go in a ziplock bag. Eg. I had purchased a small jar of instant coffee. Great idea. Unfortunately it somehow opened up in my backpack and you have no idea what a gooey awful mess it made. That darn coffee should have been in a ziplock bag!

Waterproof bags for clothes Rate 5

These ultra-light dry bags are surprisingly resilient and have fold-up tops with fasteners that are quick, easy and do the job! I would put one set of clothes in each bag. They never got wet, even when I brought them into the shower. They also would easily hang from hooks in the shower or the shower faucet itself. Fantastic!

Cell phone and charger Rate 5

There is a bit of discussion about whether to bring electronics or phones or to disconnect from the world during your wonderful adventure. I loved having my phone with me. With Whatsapp I was able to maintain contact with my family on a regular basis, take photos and videos along the way, book my flights and a few hotels when needed, track down information, find my route and accommodations each day with Miam Miam Do Do and Camino Companion and one time, when I was feeling very mournful about wanting to hear the English language I watched a ½ hour of a Harry Potter movie before falling asleep.

Power Adapter Rate 5

There are a variety of adapters out there where you can charge multiple phones at once. I had intended to find one of those but simply ran out of time. I did bring a few different adapters with me which came in handy.

Pen and Rocket Book Rate 5

I was gifted a Rocket Book for my Camino and it had some real value to me. A rocket book is a thin note book, maybe 12 pages 4" x 6" with an erasable pen. The fascinating thing about this gadget is that each page comes with it's own QR code which can be assigned to your google drive. Take some notes, take a photo with your cell phone and voila it zips to your google drive and you can erase the page for use another time. It came in pretty handy a few times when I wanted to hand draw a map, or series of instructions for the day.

Health and Wellness Supplies

Sunlight Soap (2 bars) Rate 5

Because I was walking for 2 months I brought 2 bars with me. In my opinion it was a good call. About 6 weeks in I did need to open the other bar. I’m sure I could have found something similar in a store in Spain along the trek but truly after walking all day I had no interest in shopping for incidentals.

Iodine swabs Rate 5

I was given about 8 little pouches of these and they are important to have. If you get a blister you first clean the wound (blister) and the needle with one of these towelette disinfectants. Proceed with the needle and thread treatment and finish with a Compeed bandaid.

Elastoplast Blister pack Rate 2

Hypafix, Leukotape and Compeed are the answer to all foot related problems. I didn’t use this once. That being said it might work for some people.

Owee Magic Ointment Rate 2

I just never really needed to use it. Although I was happy enough to have it around and it was small enough not to be a burden.

Arnica Rescue Ointment Rate 2

I was gifted both of these natural ointments that I brought along, and was happy to have on occasion but I rarely used or needed them.

Sports Akileine Cream by NOK - anti chafing - prevents blisters cream Rate 4

Learned about this in France and came highly recommended. Trekkers rub it on their feet before walking. I only used it a few times… I didn’t have any blisters for the rest of the Camino though, so maybe it helped.

Sun Screen Rate 4

Super important. There were a few days of 40C+ sunshine for hours on end and I had only an hour or 2 of rain in the two months that I walked. It is for this reason, in addition to Sun Screen that I loved my Tilly Hat and light and cool long sleeved shirt. Aside from the first day when I foolishly wore a tank top when I walked and burned to a crisp, I was fine for the rest of the camino.

Anti-itch ointment for bug bites Rate 4

I did have a few bedbug bites which this helped alleviate the itching

Polysporin ointment Rate 5

Hydrolyte Rate 5

I didn’t have any problems with dehydration but I was happy to have it along

Magnesium Rate 5

I didn’t pick this up until the final few weeks of the Camino. Along the way I had suffered with what I called ‘crazy legs’ when before going to bed by legs would not relax and were utterly restless to the point of spasming. All would be fine in the morning but there would be many times when I would once again find myself stretching them in my bunk trying to relax them for an hour before falling asleep. I had just assumed that the problem was that they were over-worked from the walk. I later realized from another pilgrim, Moira, who had walked 2700km from Germany, that I was lacking magnesium. Moira gave me some magnesium tablets and it made a world of difference. After that I tried to find a banana during the day while I walked and finally purchased some magnesium when I was close to Santiago.

Lush Shampoo (bar) Rate 4

Oh yeah, I loved this. I left my Lush shampoo container with my bar shampoo in a shower in Estella. So sad. I mourned its loss for days on end. I had to make do with little shampoo bottles that I scavanged from a hotel that I stayed at in Burgos. (every couple of weeks I would treat myself to a hotel) I gave my shampoo bar a rate of 4 because I’m certain there are other similar products out there like it but I really enjoyed not having to worry about liquidy shampoo opening up in my backpack.

Hair Conditioner Rate 4

I didn’t bring conditioner with me other than the little tube that I nabbed from my flat in Paris. I really wished that I would have brought some kind of Lush - Conditioner (bar) just to untangle my hair after my shower. After a few weeks it really needed a good conditioner. That being said I survived with what I was able to grab along the way.

Bar Soap and plastic case Rate 4

Toothbrush/paste Rate 5

I found a wonderful little toothbrush, toothpaste gadget at MEC that I purchased for the Camino. The handle of the toothbrush has a compartment that holds a small refillable tube for the toothpaste. It took a little practice before I was able to get the toothpaste easily refilled but all in all it was a really useful item to have on the walk. When you want to wash your face or brush your teeth you truly want to bring as few things as possible to the washroom. Often there are several people wanting to use a sink or a mirror and it’s much appreciated if you don’t need to take over the sink with soap, towel, soapdish, toothpaste, toothbrush, hair brush etc. My toothbrush/toothpaste combo was super handy. Also make sure to bring a small amount of floss or tooth picks too!

Deodorant & Pepperment Halo Rate 4

I found a deodorant bar made of essential oils in my gift shop back home. I loved this! It not only served as deodorant but sometimes was almost like a calming perfume.

Pepperment Halo is a roll-on essential oil purchased at Saje. It was wonderful if I had a headache or simply wanted to have a peppermint lift.

Brush/Comb Rate 4

I did bring a tiny brush and comb with me.

Razor (if it's important to you) Rate 4

Contact Lenses and Solution Rate 5

Prescription eye-glasses and case Rate 5

This was yet another thing to think about. I wear contact lenses during the day and glasses at night. Some people report not wanting to be bothered with dragging along contact lenses and contact solution while others didn’t want to worry about losing or breaking their eye-glasses. I decided to bring both along and it worked well in my case. My little travelling bottle of contact solution lasted me about a week and then I had to worry about carrying a full bottle of solution in my backpack, of course in its own ziplock bag. Other than the extra weight and room that it took in my backpack which was annoying, I was happy to have both along with me.

Makeup Rate 3

Because I was spending a few days in Paris I decided to bring 1 coloured lipbalm and 1 eyeliner with me. It made me happy sometimes to gussy up a bit sometimes but I rarely took them out during my camino. In Roncesvalles I saw gorgeous young women running to the bathroom in the morning with their make-up, curling iron, hairdryer, brushes, the whole nine yards. That was ridiculous in my opinion.

Sleeping Mask Rate 2

I brought a beautiful lavendar infused sleeping mask with me after hearing some pilgrims complain about being disturbed by flashlights and stinky roomates. Honestly, aside from on the plane while crossing the ocean I rarely used it aside of as an experiment. This would be one of those personal items that you will know whether you want or need for a comfortable night's sleep. I usually had little to no trouble falling asleep after walking for 8 hrs or more.

1 Pack Towel Rate 5

I brought a compact - fast-drying but full sized towel with me. There was quite a bit of discussion about this online and with people that I knew who walked the Camino. Many preferred to bring a smaller towel with them and some actually cut their towel in half or purchased a smaller camping towel instead. I actually loved my large towel. It did indeed dry quickly and was always dry and ready to be folded back into its little pouch each morning.

Hypafix 1 pkg Rate 5+

This was recommended to me by a woman in town who had walked several Caminos and it is so valuable that I gave it a 5+ ranking. Hypafix is a type of light medical tape in a large roll with adhesive on one side like a bandaid. It is absolutely the most perfect thing to put on your toes or ‘hot spots’ before you walk each morning or around an injury such as a healing blister or callus. I brought the whole darn role with me, which was probably too much but I was happy to have it and shared a lot of it with suffering pilgrims along the way. I was able to purchase it at a sports clinic.

Leukotape 1 pkg Rate 5

This tape was valuable, especially early on in my Camino and later on near the end of the Camino when my tendons were struggling. I had spoken to a physiotherapist before leaving about how to bind my tendons should they become tired or sore. I had had plantar fasciitis a few years back and had actually severed a tendon in my foot 15 years earlier so I was concerned about this. The tape really helped. I paid close attention to my ankles and tendons especially the first week or two. If anything was sore I would stop and deal with it.

Compeed (2 different sizes) Rate 5

So this is a magical blister treatment which I think is not available in North America but is everywhere in France and Spain. When you have a blister (and there is a description of that in my blog), you drain it with a needle and thread then put the Compeed bandage on the blister/thread. Compeed has a product in the center of the bandage that absorbs the fluid and prevents infection. You do not remove the bandage for about 6 days or until it naturally falls off. At that point the blister is healed and new skin had grown over the wound. It is a wonderful product.

Bandaids (5 - 10 various sizes) Rate 4

It’s good to have a few of them just in case, but I rarely used one. Compeed was the way to go for blisters but a bandaid was good for other little injuries that might happen.

Bluntnose scissors Rate 5

They always came in useful, especially cutting thread for the blister treatment. Blunt-nosed so that you can take them on the plane.

Needle/thread - for blisters and quick repairs Rate 5

I brought with me a small traveling sewing kit

Toilet paper (remove cardboard inner roll) Rate 5

For what it’s worth, one roll got me through 2 months of walking

Sandwich ziplock bags for your used toilet paper

Paper Back Book Rate 4

DOCUMENTS/MONEY

Camino Credential - what it’s all about Rate 5

Camino Badge Rate 5

I loved my Camino badge with the little Canada flag in it. It reminded me of home every time I saw it. Before leaving I tried to figure out how to secure it onto my backpack. Oddly I found few recommendations. First I thought that I should sew it onto my backpack like I sewed my kids Brownie and Scouts Badges onto their uniforms but it became immediately obvious to me that that would damage the backpack. I finally glued it on with fabric glue which lasted the full 2 months of the camino. Unfortunately it fell off my backpack when I put my entire pack in the washing machine when I returned home, oddly never to be seen again. Maybe it will show up on a sheet or towel one day. I’ve purchased another badge for my next camino (fingers crossed) and this time glued it with Gorilla Glue. I’d be interested to know from you experts out there what other people are doing.Rosary - what can I say, I’m Catholic

Passport Rate 5

And don’t lose it! I had my passport in a pouch around my stomach every day for 2 months. During the night I would put it in my sleeping bag while I slept putting it back on the moment I woke up. Keep it in a ziplock bag too. My son had carried his passport in a pouch around his neck and it was so sweaty but the time he got to Santiago he was worried that it would be indecipherable.

Birth Certificate Rate 5

I carried that with my passport

Photocopies of Passport and Birth Certificate Rate 5

Of course this was kept in a separate pouch in my backpack. I also scanned these documents and had it readily available on a Google Drive if necessary.

Money Rate 5

I heard a variety of recommendations regarding how much money one should carry when walking the camino. The primary suggestion seemed to be to carry 300 euros on you and to top up the money when needed. Quite accidentally I had more money than I had intended on my person when I left Paris. I had been gifted money from my family and friends just before leaving Canada and so I believe I had about 800euros in my money belt and 100 - 200 euros in my wallet easily accessible for use. I didn’t need to grab more money for weeks later. I think it was once I was in Estaing when I needed to find a bank. One thing that completely surprised me was that in Europe, people do not exchange money from inside a bank. When traveling overseas I had about 200 euros in small bills and the rest were 100euro bills. I went from one bank to another expecting to find a teller that would help me change the money into smaller bills and was told that they could not help me. I had not anticipated that. Finally I found a couple of police officers and asked them what I should do. Their only suggestion was to exchange the money at a store. I did find that most gites and albergues were able to accept a 100euro and provide change. This was easier in France where often rooms and meals cost 40euros, but in Spain when rooms might be as low as 10euros this might be a bit of a challenge. My money belt, credit/debit cards and ID never... and I mean NEVER left my person. I took it into the shower stall with me and slept with it each night. I had no issues although at Roncesvalles we were told when entering the Abbey and it was confirmed in the morning that there were thieves among us and so I was especially aware of my surrounding there.

Credit Card Rate 5

Debit Card Rate 5

Money belt Rate 5

What I had decided to do was keep my credit card, surplus money, passport and birth certificate in my money belt which was on my person at all times, and my debit card and immediate money in a small wallet in my daypack which was easily accessible. If I did need to withdraw money from an Interac debit machine it was much less conspicuous to take my debit card from my easily accessible wallet in my daypack rather than rummaging under my shirt, opening my money belt and digging around for a debit card on the outside of a bank in broad daylight. Never a good look for anyone but especially not for a middle ages worman. My reasoning was that if my wallet was stolen with my debit card and the bit of cash I had in it, I could easily cancel the card and use my credit card for the rest of the journey.

CLOTHING

Walking Shoes Rate 5+ - 4

So this was one item I spent a lot of time and money researching. For the year leading up to the walk I knew selecting the correct footwear was important and that it would need to be an individualized choice. Throughout my adult life I had never purchased an expensive pair of runners not to mention hiking boots for myself. Like most of us out there most of our money went towards things for the kids or the house. I had heard about Merrell and Keen but that was about all I knew. I first purchased a pair of Merrells thinking that all good quality walking shoes are made the same but after a few months my feet ached. I made an appointment with a podiatrist who explained to me that the shoes I had purchased did not have enough support on the sides of the foot. They needed to be completely stable. I also told me that I need orthotics to help align my toes, arch and by extension the rest of my body which I did. Next I tried a pair of Keens which seemed to match the description of what the podiatrist had suggested I need. I had been told that I could try them out for a day and return them if they did not work for me. Unfortunately these did not feel great around the toe. When I tried to return them the next day I was told that I could only exchange them, no refund. That led to a purchase of a $250 winter coat. Buyer beware. The third pair were Sauconys. This soft leather runner was featured as being a good shoe for walking on cement or semi-uneven surfaces. I still love wearing these around town although the stitching in the toe started unraveling after a few months. I tried on a pair of Solomons but I decided to keep looking because I knew that I would be walking through some pretty rugged territory and also I had decided to purchase a boot to help support my ankle during the 2 months that I would be walking. My fourth pair were Vasques which I finally settled on. I ordered them online as I started doing with other items, happy to be able to return them if they did not work for me. The boots were advertised as being great for walking in the heat, preventing feet from becoming overheated or sweaty and I have to say that that worked well for me. My only issue with the shoe is that there is a rib or seam right behind the tendon above the heel that would cause me problems with that back tendon. If I massaged the stitching I sometimes was able to alleviate the problem but I think I will still search for another boot next time. That being said, I did love my boots. They were as important to me as my backpack.

Sandals (Teva - shoc pad) Rate 4

It is common practice to bring a pair or sandals or flip flops along the walk for a number of reasons. 1) they are a blessed relief for your feet after they are released from 8 hours of walking in a boot, 2) they are hygienically important to use when moving around the Albergue or Gite and 3) sometimes if people have problems with blisters they are an alternative footwear to boots or runners. I saw many pilgrims using sandals for the latter often abandoning their runners or boots along the side of the road. I was amazed at how they were able to walk through rocky or pebbly paths with sandals, even hiking sandals but if your feet are chewed up enough with blisters you will try just about anything and a stubbed toe or kicking tiny pebbles out from under a foot is better than dealing with another blister. I was fortunate not to have to resort to that and only used my sandals for inside the hostel or a few times walking around the town after I’d settled into my home for the night. The sandals that I purchased were a good enough quality that I could have used them for walking but I was happy that I didn’t need to do that. These were heavier than a light flip flop but not as heavy as a pair fo Keens that have a toe protection that I also purchased. I ultimately selected the Tevas because they came highly recommended by the Camino crowd and they were lighter than some other sandals.

Note: when it was all said and done, between boots, sandals, podiatrist, orthotics and socks I must have spent about $2000 on footwear before settling on my final selection.

Helly Hanson light wind-jacket with hood Rate 4

Walking though July and August I was faced with heat. There were days when the temperature was over 40c but sometimes the evening were a little chilly and the light windjacket that I brought along was more than adequate. However climbing over the Pyranees I had every piece of clothing on that I could and when I arrived in Roncesvalles through rain and fog I was chilled through the bone. Even huddling in my sleeping bag didn’t help. After warming up in the shower for a few minutes I put on the few pieces of dried clothing that I had left and searched for a blanket to borrow in a lost and found. Fortunately Roncesvalles has a gift shop with unbelievably the most cuddly hoody imaginable. I purchased on on the spot grateful to have it any evening after my shower. I’m not sure what was happening to my body but after about 6 weeks of walking I would often have almost convulsive sweats and shakes after arriving at my destination. By then I was pushing myself pretty hard and I think my body was starting to shows signs of stress. I learned that once I settled myself in the Albergue I would immediately need to take a hot shower and put on my Roncesvalle Hoodie, have a nap and then I would be good to roam around for food. Unfortunately this hoodie was heavy. During the day I would try to fasten it to my backpack with my bungee cords but one week before Santiago my back started to really strain from the effort of this additional weight so I shipped it with quite a few other items by post back to Canada. After 1400kms this was not the time to break down so close to the finish line.

Knowing what I know now, I would have searched for a light hiking jacket that is also warm.

Compression socks (qty 1) Rate 4

A year earlier I had traveled to Scotland with my husband on vacation and I felt lightheaded on the flight. Doing a bit of research I thought that perhaps I was not ‘of an age’ where I should consider compression socks for the flight. I was measured for the correct sock at the sports clinic and I have to say they worked well on the flight but what surprised me was that they were wonderful for the walk as well. There were times when all socks seemed to be wet at the same time and I resorted to wearing my compression socks when walking while the others dried. The socks that I had brought with me were knee highs and when wearing them I enjoyed the support that it gave my calves. I didn’t wear them often on the trail because my main concern was my feet and my Wright Socks were perfect for the job but I thought I should share with you my experience with my pair of compression socks.

Socks -Merina Wool (qty 3) Rate 5

Finding the right sock for you is a must. There are a few choices out there but the ones I settled on were a brand called Wright Sock. Others that I tried that were good were Darn Socks and Camino Sock. Wright Socks fit my feet perfectly and I’m not sure whether it was the merino wool or simply my feet, but they really didn’t sweat that much. There are other ‘smart wool’ brands out there that are good and once you find a sock that you love, you will happily throw $20 down to get more. I chose the double lined sock and they worked great for me.

Bras (qty 2) Rate 4 - 2

So for you gals out there, you’ll know how tricky and how important it is to get the right bra for any event. In the year leading up to the Camino I tried more bras than shoes which says a lot. I wanted something light, something comfortable and something with support and just a reminder that we are talking about a uhhum slightly overweight middle aged woman. I settled for a fancy sport bra and a high tech bra advertised online as the most comfortable and best fitting bra since they were invented. I won’t mention brands because it really doesn’t matter. The sports bra that I purchased was one of those really cute and comfortable multiple strap pull on over your head deals which after a few test runs seemed to be a good choice and the other had wide comfortable thin shoulder straps with the ‘easy’ strap attachments and your regular hook wide waistband which seemed a smart choice for when carrying a backpack. Both were awful. Often the showers are tiny, and I mean tiny in the hostels. They also often don’t have shelves to rest your dry clean clothes on. While I took a shower my clean dry change of clothes would be hanging in the special waterproof bag sometimes on the shower faucet, sometimes on a stool if there was one and sometimes on the shower curtain if that seemed like a good idea. After I showered I needed to put my soap and shampoo back in it’s bag, grab my camping towel, dry myself adequately and then try to get dressed in a compartment that is smaller than a phone booth. My wet body would get stuck in that damn sports bra every time, head through hole, forearms stuck halfway through bra straps and when I finally struggled through the thing the back strap would be twirled into a knot just above where I could reach. Many times I would have to struggle the thing off and try a second or third time to get it on. After 8 -10 hrs of walking I was not in the mood to do this. The other bra was easier but the ‘easy’ strap attachments would become inverted somehow after each wash and it took pulling and tugging before they were forced back into position. Finally when I was in Leon, Spain, and found a department store I plucked up my courage and entered the lingerie department. After 6 weeks of walking I looked pretty bedraggled but the salewoman did throw a bra my way and it was a perfect fit. So ladies, just get something comfortable and easy to put on in micro-spaces. See if you can practice in something a little bigger than a school locker. (I’m exaggerating slightly but you get the picture).

Underwear (qty 4) Rate 5

That seemed to be enough. Make sure they are completely comfortable. There were a few people, male and female that suffered with poor fitting uncomfortable underwear. At 5 am nobody cares what you\re wearing.

Pajama bottoms Rate 4

This item I thought long and hard about. Although the last two weeks I would sleep in the clothes that I was going to wear the next day so that I could jump out of bed at 5:30am, not disturb anyone still sleeping and hit the road, for most of the camino I wanted to sleep in something ultra comfortable, light and different from either the clothes that were still drying and the clean clothes that were set out for the morning. I brought with me a super light pair of pajama bottoms and wore an extra large t-shirt that I brought along just in case, for bedtime. It worked well for me.

Sarong Rate 4

This was something that was recommended by several people on the Camino forum and I have to agree that it was useful. Sometimes I would use it as a blanket to put on the ground while I was resting. Once I used it as a pillowcase and sometimes it was an extra towel or covering when coming out of the shower. I don’t think it was essential but I was glad to have it.

Lululemon Capri pants/leggings Rate 5 - 3

Well, I had them, I wore them, they were fine but for someone my age I think the next time around I would try something a little different. They did have a handy pocket to put my phone in. I noticed a few people with them but most wore shorts instead. These were light though and did dry quickly which was the reason that I bought them. I had a difficult time finding sportwear that fit middle aged ‘curvy’ women. It’s too bad because it is precisely at this moment in our lives with kids leaving home to pursue their own lives that you have the opportunity to take on these grand adventures. Also we now have the money to purchase quality items. There probably are brands out there specifically for us but I had a challenging time finding them... believe me I looked!

Lululemon Tank Top Rate 1

This was a mistake. Not because it was a tank top, not because of Lululemon which is a wonderful brand but because I was walking for 8 - 10hrs a day in 30c sun. I wore the tank top once...on the first day. Got burned to a crisp even though I tan easily and had my sunblock on and that was that. It was mailed home asap.

Helly Hanson Loose T-shirt (qty 1) Rate 4

This was a better choice, except for the colour. For some reason I purchased a white shirt. When I fell the second time (major nose bleed over EVERYTHING, my white shirt suffered. When walking the camino I washed the clothes that I was wearing each evening. No matter how hard I tried my handwashing never really took out all of the stains. Sadly this shirt got forgotten on a line in Condom France. I hope someone enjoyed it.

Lululemon Long-sleeved T-shirt (qty 1) Rate 4

This long-sleeved shirt worked a lot better for me. It was light, washed and dried and easily protected me from the sun. I was happy to wear it even in 30+c days.

Tilly Hat Rate 5+

Absolutely as good as they say they are. I had never owned anything as high quality as a Tilly Hat before, in fact I had rarely, if ever, purchased a hat in the past. I felt a little ridiculous trying to figure out how to order one on line or even decide on the style that I wanted to purchase, am I Texas Belle, Calamity Jane or African Queen? but the website had great instructions and the hat fit me perfectly. I love this product as much as my backpack. I was surprised at how few people wore hats in France and as a consequence how many people suffered from sun stroke. At one point my walking buddy Moira had shown me how to tie my backpack when I didn’t need it. I had tried it on my own one day and simply couldn’t untie the hat while walking. I was only about a ½ hr away from a town where I was planning to stop to eat so decided to wait before unraveling it. I absolutely felt at the mercy of the elements without my Tilly Hat. It is a wonderful product and worth the investment. After a month I didn’t feel ridiculous in it either. I think one has to grow into one's hat.

Long hiking pants - Prana (qty 1) Rate 4

Yup, another struggle. I purchased 6 or 7 styles and models of hiking pants and none of them were comfortable or flexible enough for a person my age and shape until I was told about the Prana brand. I rightly assumed that I would lose some weight after walking all day for two months and wanted something that I could tighten up as I lightened up. These were pretty good. The only issue was that the pockets were a little small and I could only fit my phone in without it’s protective covering. I sadly forgot these pants in Porte del Reine. How tragic! Now in actual fact at this point they were too loose on me but they were like an old friend by that point and finding a replacement was a challenge while on the road. I did purchase another pair of pants by another brand, selection was limited, but they were not as good as my beloved Prana pants. I purchased another pair as soon as I could when I returned home.

Buffs Rate 4

Buffs are a tubular material items that you can use as a scarf, or a bandana, or a hairband, or one woman mentioned that if some pilgrims next to her were a little stinky she would put some perfume on it and pull it over her face like a balaclava.

Warm clothing: Later on purchased a warm hoodie in Roncesvalles (see above)