I typically wear

• Long sleeve shirt, rolled the sleeves up when appropriate, but left them down in the hot sun!
• Trousers, but they unzip to shorts as frequently required.
• Hat, essential in the sun.
• Scarf, also needed in the sun, and sometimes early in the morning when it can be cool.
• Lightweight walking boots with 2 pairs of socks.
• Walking pole. Particularly helpful on descents.

Things I carry

• Summer sleeping bag. On the Camino de Santiago there are usually blankets available for colder nights.
• Karrimat: can be useful for sleeping on floors, or at lunch time!
• 1 to 2 litres of water.
• Camping stove: I carried this as I am vegan (strict vegetarian) and I like to cook for myself!
• Fuel bottle: for methylated spirits, alcohol de quemar, available in Ferretarias or some Pharmacies.
• Some food for evening cooking: typically some pasta, rice, and a few fresh veges like garlic, louis vuitton handbags onions, potato.
• Food for eating during the day: not much, typically some bread, barra, a banana, a tomato and some fruit.
• Spare Tee shirt.
• Pair shorts.
• Fleece.
• Towel.
• Guide and books to read.
• Note pad, diary and pen.
• Passport, money etc.
• Camera.
• Small fold up day sack for carrying things whilst wondering around in afternoons and evenings.
• Spare pair of thick socks: usually one pair being washed and dried each evening.
• Toiletries.
• Sun tan lotion, moisture lotion to massage sore legs, foot lotion!

This all comes to around 17kg. You need a good reliable back pack, I always use a Macpac.

 

Good guide books

Cicerone Press publishes a number of guidebooks to the Camino de Santiago.

The Way of St James – France

This book covers the route from Le Puy to the Pyrenees.

 

The Way of St James – Spain

This companion volume  describes the way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to Santiago de Compostela and onto Finisterre.

 

A Cyclists Guide

This covers the 1,570km cycle route from Le Puy in France to Santiago de Compostela in Spain in a single volume.

 

The Northern Caminos

This includes stage-by-stage descriptions to the Camino del Norte (800km), Camino Primitivo, Camino Ingles and the Camino de Finisterre.