What I Wore on the Camino de Santiago (And What I'd Do Differently)

I didn't plan to walk the Camino de Santiago.

I showed up in Europe with half my backpack packed for Thailand — Hawaiian shirts, beach clothes, and nothing remotely meant for hiking. Then a friend told me: "Just go. Don't think about it." So I listened.

A few days later, I was in Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port about to walk 800km across Spain with a pair of Adidas running shoes, Under Armour gym shorts, a few t-shirts, and zero real hiking gear. Looking back, it was one of the best decisions of my life… but also one of the worst packing jobs.

This is exactly what I used — and what I'd recommend instead. Every recommendation links to my full Camino gear hub where you can see the specific picks I stand behind today.

👟 Shoes (the most important thing you'll bring)

What I used: Adidas running shoes. What happened: they got me through the entire Camino… but barely. No ankle support, not designed for long-distance walking, wore down fast, and constant foot fatigue. I was lucky I didn't get worse injuries.

What I'd recommend instead: trail runners, NOT heavy hiking boots. Lightweight, breathable, with good grip for wet terrain. Look for Salomon trail runners, HOKA hiking shoes, or Merrell lightweight hikers. See my full picks in the Camino footwear guide and the best Camino shoes for 2026.

Lesson: shoes will make or break your Camino. Don't wing this like I did.

🧦 Socks (underrated but critical)

What I used: basic athletic socks. What happened: blisters, chafing, constant discomfort.

What I'd recommend: merino wool hiking socks with anti-blister design and moisture-wicking. Pair them with the prevention routine in how to prevent blisters on the Camino, and grab my sock picks in the foot care section of the gear hub.

Lesson: good socks are cheaper than dealing with blisters for 800km.

🩳 Shorts and clothing

What I used: Under Armour athletic shorts, random t-shirts, and a bunch of useless "travel clothes." What worked: lightweight gear and quick-dry material. What didn't: overpacking and bringing clothes I never wore.

What I'd do now: 2–3 athletic shirts, 1–2 shorts, 1 lightweight long sleeve, and minimal everything. My current shortlist lives in the clothing section of the gear hub.

Lesson: you'll wear the same 2 outfits on repeat. Pack less.

🎒 Backpack

What I used: a standard travel backpack. Too big, too heavy, wrong straps for daily walking.

What I'd recommend: a 30–40L pack max, lightweight, with comfortable straps and a real hip belt. See the backpack picks and the ultimate Camino packing list for what to put inside it.

Rule of thumb: your loaded pack should be under 10% of your body weight.

🌧️ Rain gear

What I had: basically nothing useful. Reality: you WILL get rained on — especially heading into Galicia and toward Santiago, where we walked through a full storm. The whole story is in my best day to Finisterre.

What you need: a lightweight rain jacket and a backpack rain cover. Both are in the rain protection section.

🩹 Blister and recovery kit

What I had: nothing prepared. What I wish I had: Compeed blister pads, foot tape, and an anti-chafe balm. The full kit is in the foot care section.

Lesson: you don't need much — but you NEED this.

🧴 Extras that actually matter

Keep it simple: flip flops for showers, a small toiletry kit, a portable charger, and a lightweight microfiber towel. The tech and small essentials sections cover the few extras worth carrying.

❌ What you DON'T need

This is where most people mess up. Don't bring too many clothes, heavy hiking boots, "just in case" items, or bulky gear. Every extra item becomes pain after 20km. If you want to see how little is actually possible, read I walked the Camino with almost no gear.

🧠 The biggest lesson I learned

I went into the Camino completely unprepared. Wrong shoes, wrong clothes, no real plan. But I adapted — and that's part of what made the experience so powerful. That said: if you can avoid unnecessary pain, you should. The Camino isn't about suffering through bad gear. It's about the journey, the people, and what you discover along the way. More on that in why the Camino de Santiago still matters.

🎒 My recommended Camino gear setup (simple version)

If I did it again, I'd bring: trail running shoes, 3 pairs of merino socks, 2–3 lightweight shirts, 1–2 shorts, a rain jacket, a small 30–40L backpack, and a basic blister kit. That's it. Simple beats perfect. The full curated list with current picks lives on the Camino gear hub.

Final thoughts

You don't need perfect gear to walk the Camino. I proved that. But having the right setup will make your experience 10x better — less pain, more enjoyment, more energy to actually experience what the Camino is about.

If you're thinking about going, don't overthink it. Just don't pack like I did. Start with the Camino gear hub, then read the [complete guide to the Camino Francés](/blog/complete-guide-camino-frances) to plan the rest.

Buen Camino.