What’s the most common injury experienced on the Camino de Santiago? Without a doubt, foot blisters!
They’re painful.
They’re frustrating.
They take precious time, effort and skill to look after.
They make you walk differently and that can stir up other aches and pains.
They can get infected, and wind you up in the hospital!
Blisters have the potential to spoil your Camino experience!
Thermoflask and Hydro Flask offer some of the best bottles on the market. If you’re a serious hiker looking for
Fifty/Fifty vs Hydro Flask: two of the biggest players in hiking water bottles. They make expertly-insulated products that are capable of keeping your liquids both cold and hot.
My typical day on the Camino de Santiago started about 6am. I was a mature student before hiking the on the Camino de Santiago for the first time; at that time I would have been doing well if I was awake before 9am, (I had got into student life and loved it). So six in the morning was initially shocking, however, I easily got used to the early morning.
If I am in a situation where my sleeping bag might get wet or damp I would normally choose to use a Synthetic Sleeping Bag. Down sleeping bags are best for ultralight and warmth to weight ratio.
If your search for ideal trekking footwear has boiled down to boots and shoes made by Salomon vs Oboz, this comparison will be of great help.
If you can’t decide which brand to go for, this detailed Keen vs Oboz hiking shoe comparison will undoubtedly help you make the right choice.
When planning the Camino, we are often faced with a choice of going for it alone or as a part of a group.
This is a transcript of a talk I was asked to give at an information session on walking the Camino, presented in September 2016 and sponsored by the Albuquerque, New Mexico Chapter of The American Friends of the Camino.
Merrell vs Salomon – Who Makes the Most Comfortable Hiking Shoes? Two of the top brands fight it out in this review. Read which one comes out the best. You must read this before going to buy new hiking shoes.
A quick trip is not something you can expect from Camino de Santiago. With routes going up to several hundred kilometers, a pilgrimage typically lasts 4 to 6 weeks on foot.
If you don’t have the luxury to travel for extended periods, or if you’re unable (or don’t want) to walk long distances, you can still do the Camino.
The pandemic canceled many hikers’ plans to walking Camino, but you can still enjoy a new adventure walking one of the alternatives to the Camino de Santiago.
I think I am a terrible example of getting fit before walking the Camino de Santiago. I walked only once for about 3 hours, with a rucksack, to see how I would be walking before going to Spain. I did have some hill walking experience, though not a lot. I would have walked in the Wicklow hills about twice per month in the two years previous to my first Camino, that was it in total.
With a population of just over 13,000, Sarria can feel very busy and noisy after the last few days in the remote countryside, though minor …
Sarria Spain: The Start of the Final Stage of the Camino Frances Read More »
Like many small rural towns, the population has nearly halved since 1960; from 2,057 to 1,182 in 2013. However, the town has all the facilities …
Finding the best hiking shoes within your budget can sometimes take quite a while. However, I have hiked 1,000’s of miles and can almost tell …
Semana Santa (which translates to Holy Week) is a Spanish festival that takes place in the days immediately preceding Easter. The final day of Semana …
Semana Santa Spain: What it is & Why You Need to Experience It Read More »
There are many different Camino de Santiago routes. The routes in Spain are the most popular with varying different lengths. The four main routes in France are becoming more popular.
These two drinkware brands are held in high regard by hikers. Want to know which one is better for you? Check out this Hydro Cell vs Iron Flask comparison.
If you are not sure which of these two water bottle brands to go with, this Iron Flask vs Takeya comparison will be of great help.
If your search for the best stainless steel bottle brand has narrowed down to Iron Flask vs Thermoflask, you’re in the right place.
If the search for your first stainless steel bottle has narrowed down to only two brands – Iron Flask vs Yeti, you’re in the right place.
I was given my Scallop Shell as a present before walking my first Camino. It is one of the mementoes I have kept.
This is the third post in my series about walking gear for the Camino, the first is how to choose the best hiking boots or lightweight hiking shoes, the second is how to choose a backpack. This is a general article on waterproofs – the age-old discussion about a waterproof jacket or poncho continues on the forum.
Can’t decide whether to get Chaco or Keen hiking sandals? This product comparison will help you pick the best pair of hiking sandals for your needs.
We will be taking an in-depth look at trail runners vs hiking shoes and explain to you the key differences between these two types of hiking footwear.
Backpacking Quilt vs Sleeping Bag which is the best for camping? It depends – is it one night, a long hike, is it warm weather, cold weather, inside or out. It really does depend.
If there’s one thing that makes camping and hiking trips appealing, it’s the summer nights around the campfire or lying outside watching the night sky …
Best Summer Sleeping Bags for Hiking and Backpacking Read More »
A pilgrim’s passport is a must on any of the Camino de Santiago routes, (also known as a credential), you must have one to stay in the municipal and parish Albergues, some of the private albergues do not require one.
The passport will have spaces for sellos, (stamps), this proves that you have walked that day and are entitled to stay in an Albergue, (pilgrims only hostels), if there is space, they are valid for walkers and cyclist.
Due to their open-ended design, hike sandals are breathable, extremely packable, and also weigh a lot less than your regular hiking shoes or hiking boots.
The Way of St James, or St James’ Way, often known by its Spanish name the Camino de Santiago, is the pilgrimage to the cathedral …
The best sleeping bag liners can be used all year in different situations. If it is very hot, you only need the liner and not a sleeping bag.
This is one of the questions I get asked most frequently, what is the best time of year to walk the Camino de Santiago. Usually, though people are asking about the Camino Frances to Santiago, and for that reason that is the route this post refers to.
When you’re an outdoor enthusiast, you often spend nights under the stars. For this, you need a sleeping bag – it’s a common part of …
Next to roasting marshmallows over a fire and fishing down at the lake, it’s hard to come up with a more iconic outdoor activity than hiking.
It’s important to have the right footwear for your level of hiking, more so if you are going on a walking holiday or a long …
The Camino to Santiago might be a spiritual journey, but it’s not exempt from common earthly troubles like bed bugs. Who would have thought that such little creatures could be such a huge pain in the neck? In the past decade, bed bugs have infested some albergues along the Camino causing trouble not only to pilgrims but also hospitaleros.
Although bed bugs on the Camino de Santiago are inconvenient, the problem is being handled and should not be a reason to give this one-of-a-kind journey. In fact, bed bugs are not exclusive to the Camino or the cheap albergues. You can equally come across them in a five-star hotel. Their widespread reign was not brought about by uncleanliness as much as by the massive increase in international travel.
Santiago de Compostela, the capital of Spain’s northwesternmost region called Galicia (as well as of the province of La Coruña), is among the most important …
Depending on the terrain and the weather I like to have a good choice of hiking shoes, walking boots, or trail running shoes for my many treks.
One of the most common questions I am asked – is it safe to walk the Camino de Santiago alone? This became a question being asked more again recently when someone went missing on the Camino. However my opinion remains unchanged – yes, it is safe to walk the Camino de Santiago alone. I would think it safer than most local walking routes in most countries; safer than walking home from Dublin or any large city on a Friday or Saturday night.
