The Ultimate Women’s Packing List to Hike the Camino De Santiago

Oh my god.  Are you seriously thinking about doing this?  Holy moly!

If you click on this page, you will see my very brief summary of the Ultimate Packing List to Hike the Camino de Santiago, which I did in 2018 (~900km over 33 days).

In 2019, I walked the Camino with eight women, and I asked them for packing advice. Below is a summary of what they told me.

The Best Packing List for Women for the Camino De Santiago

Vanity

After miles and miles and miles and miles and miles and miles of hiking, you will begin to meet parts of yourself that could give zero fucks about what you look like. Tears come and go on a daily basis and you realize the concern about your appearance begins to fade. With that being said, one of us couldn’t go without waterproof mascara, another had to have her lips perfect before we set off, and another liked her hair a certain way. If this makes you more comfortable in the unknown of this terrain, do it - just don’t waste space with too much. Take a good bar of soap. Face wash and moisturizer and you’re good. We were able to shower daily.

Sunscreen, always.

Some chose hats and a moisture-wicking long-sleeve uv protective shirt daily but others preferred slathering up daily.

Your feet.

There is a lot of feet and talk about feet. You will see people pop blisters. You will help people tape their feet. You will learn EXACTLY how much time you need to dedicate to prepping your body daily, and you will get damn good at it. So there’s that. While on the topic, THESE ARE INCREDIBLE.

Pooping!

It is supposed to happen but it’s not easy while you’re there. Greens are hard to come by, you are eating a ton of carbs and,damnit, you’re just in new spaces all the time. Prepare as best you can. Magnesium helps in so many ways: sore muscles, stress relief and pooping.

Bodies.

We all have them. There’s not a lot of privacy when it comes to the Camino. Try and be prepared with the fact that you will see and be seen (we experienced a lot of private bathrooms but time and sharing space becomes very limited at times).

Periods.

Two of us began bleeding on the walk. GET COMFORTABLE WITH A DIVA CUP. They take up way less space and let’s be honest, are better for the environment.

Back to feet.

Did we mention feet? Don’t overwhelm yourself with too much. The pharmacies have soooo much amazing foot gear that couldn’t be found anywhere else. The absolute must haves are: Vaseline, Lamb’s Wool (take extra because people will borrow it), and Smart Wool socks. Do not, I repeat do not, fall for blister prevention socks - you will regret your life quickly. Socks are everything. Different thicknesses, and multiple pairs. You cannot read too much about feet. Truly.

Shoes

Shoes are also pretty important. Terrain varies from highway, to gravel, to boulders, to trails, to you name it. Make sure you’re comfortable. And know your body. Some of us did well with trail running shoes and some with hiking boots with ankle support. (I wore these ones and loved them.)

Buy and test your shoes multiple times a week at least a few months in advance. Hike miles and miles and miles in them. And when you think you’ve done enough walking and testing, do more. Find mountains, lots of them. Walk uphill for 10 miles. Do it. I’m serious.

Don’t hang onto callouses, blisters can form under them and - holy shit - will you hate that. Get pedicures often before you go. Some got a gel pedicure and swear that saved their toenails (but don’t hold us to that - they also had the right socks and great shoes). Rock tape was also very popular in our group. Worth the weight and the funny tan lines.

Clothing and laundry

There were plenty of places to do laundry. So, take out that extra shirt and those extra leggings and take only what you need. Seriously. No, really. You’ll end up leaving it behind anyways. The outfit you want to hike in and what you want to wear after you hike and your jammies is all you will need.

We did laundry everyday. Either in a machine or wearing it in the shower and then drying it. Don’t worry, nobody cares and nobody ever smelled.

Take an extra pair of shoes for nightime (most of us wore sandals of some kind).

Two pairs of undies is totally enough. Again, socks are THE most important. Stay away from cotton, especially for undies and shorts. This is a really good way to upset pH and ask for a yeast infection.

Self-care

Bring a super-light foam roller, and a massage ball of some sort.

Follow this and Jeremy’s list here and you will be golden. Have fun. You’re in for one of the greatest and hardest experiences of your life.

Oh, and try and leave expectation at home - it weighs too much.

Be Prepared to Hike El Camino

I think that’s it.  Maybe?

Oh, you’re going to want to train for this.  Walk up hills. Walk far. Build up to walking 20km whilst wearing your pack.  Your future self will honor and thank you greatly.

And don’t forget to check out this page, too, which has a list of everything you need to hike the Camino de Santiago.

Have fun!

=)