Camino de Santiago – Gear list

The Camino de Santiago or Way of St. James, is the pilgrimage to the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela in Galicia in northwestern Spain. Here, legend has it that the remains of the apostle, Saint James the Great, are buried. It is difficult to define where exactly the Camino starts, as pilgrims used to start their journey from their own home and over the years, different Camino ways have emerged, but the most popular is the last 100km of the French Way.

An Adventurer’s Haven

The Camino de Santiago also provides outdoor adventurers with a one-of-a-kind opportunity. Modern-day pilgrims flock to the route to walk or cycle the hundreds of kilometres of trails. With routes and paths tailored to all difficulties, the Camino de Santiago is the perfect way to take a European outdoor holiday.
It’s important, however, to make sure that you’re properly packed. There’s nothing worse than setting off on a long adventure only to find out that you brought the wrong gear!
Have a look at our personalised Camino de Santiago gear list. At Great Outdoors, we’ve all tried and tested the gear we sell. Between us all, there’s a wealth of information to be had. We have compiled a list of our recommendations for things to bring along with you to keep you covered in your time away and help you get the most out of your adventure.

For your Head:

1 x warm hat (wool or fleece)
1 x sun hat
1 x Buff

For your Face:

Good quality category 2 sunglasses
Sunscreen – factor 30
Lipbalm with sunscreen

For your Hands:

1-2 x liner gloves
1 x waterproof gloves

Footwear:

3-4 pairs of walking/trekking socks (wool or synthetic)
If you are going in summer: Lightweight waterproof trail shoes
If you are going in spring or late autumn: Lightweight trekking boots
Trekking sandals for evening use/as a break from your primary footwear

Tops and Bottoms:

Underwear/baselayers (wool is recommended – no smell factor!) consisting of:
If you are going in spring or late autumn: 1 x base layer tights
2 x base layer long sleeve top
1 x base layer short sleeve top/short sleeve synthetic shirt (with SPF factor)
1 x Midweight fleece jacket/lightweight insulated jacket
2 x trekking pants (synthetic, convertible are ideal)

Waterproofs:

1 x lightweight jacket
1 x lightweight pants (ones with long side zips are recommended)
1 x poncho

Rucksack:

Self-guided trips: 35-40 litre
Guided/supported trips: 25 litre

Camping Gear:

Sleeping bag liner (cotton vs silk is personal preference, but silk is more comfortable and takes up less precious space)
If you are camping in spring or late autumn: sleeping bag with -5c comfort
If you are camping in summer: sleeping bag with 0 – +5 comfort
Earplugs (refugios can be noisy at night)

Misc Items:

Head torch
Water bladder – 2 litre
Hand sanitizer (alcohol wash)
Travel towel
Water bottle – 1 litre
Trekking poles (pair)
Spork
4 x dry bags
First aid kit (including blister kit)
Route guide book

Your Camino Pilgrimage Awaits

If you haven’t already chosen a tour guide or a group to go on your Camino de Santiago adventure with, we’d recommend Camino Ways details of their trip can be found by clicking here.