Preparing for rain when you’re about to embark on the Camino de Santiago may not seem like something you need to do all year round, but you’d be surprised.
Whilst it offers brilliant weather during most of the summer, there’s always the chance of rain – I have been caught in thunderstorms in July and August. That’s why deciding between a poncho and a rain jacket is really important if you want to stay dry and get the most out of your Camino.
Whether you are planning a trip to the wonderful pilgrim’s routes of the Camino de Santiago, going hiking in the Lake District, or perhaps any of the great wilderness trails in North America, it is essential that you have the best hiking gear to ensure a pleasant journey.
Microfiber towels aren’t the most exciting subject to talk about, but they are nevertheless vital. If you are heading out on a hike or are going backpacking, you’re going to need a microfiber travel towel.
Towels such as these make life on the trail so much easier. These little pieces of fabric are quick to dry, quite small and usually quite affordable too.
A sleeping bag liner is designed to go inside your sleeping bag. 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. In winter or where it is very cold, a sleeping bag liner helps keep your warmer and can save you having to wear your clothes while sleeping at night.
Having the right gear makes walking in such wonderful surroundings – whether you’re tackling the Camino or any other long distance hike – far more enjoyable. Well-fitting hiking shoes or boots are part of the deal, as is a light yet strong backpack, and for me, another essential is a set of trekking poles.
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. As I am generally a fair weather hiker I have good experience in buying lightweight hiking shoes that I use all summer long.
Hiking is a wonderful way of exploring the great outdoors, and as I live in a city it refreshes me every weekend when I get out onto a hill and get in a decent long hike.
Not many people would argue with the fact that your feet are the most important part of your body to take into consideration when hiking – only the best hiking socks will do.
If you want the best waterproof sock I recommend SealSkinz Waterproof Trekking socks.
Having the proper footwear is highlighted as a priority in many different articles, but it’s often ignored what type of socks you should wear or why they can make your hiking trip great or terrible.
Certain materials are to be avoided in the best vegan hiking boots and shoes. Leather, wool, silk or cashmere are among them. Vegan hiking boots are made with alternative materials such as faux leather, faux fur, and wool made from plants.
Protecting yourself from whatever Mother Nature throws at you while out on the road is vital. If you want to stay safe and well when you’re out in the wilderness, you need a backpacking rain jacket that works well.
Just in case you don’t want to read the full review, my favourite is this jacket from Outdoor Research my current jacket from them is 12 years old and still the one I want to carry most often – even though I have bought quite a few others during the last few years.
If you’re planning on hitting the trail any time soon, you’ll need some thin, light clothing if it looks as though the weather is going to be good. Wearing the right hiking shorts means you can have the freedom to move around as you please, but it also means you won’t overheat.
When you’re out hiking or backpacking, you need to make sure you’re prepared for all types of weather. When it begins to rain, you need to know that you’re not going to get soaked through. You need the best rain poncho that’s going to work well for you no matter how much it’s pouring down, ensuring you can carry on with your day.
If you are short of time or just don’t want to read all the reviews, I suggest that adventures world has the best rain poncho as it is light, won’t be so much like a tent and it has a peaked hood.
You are not going to have your umbrella with you out on a hike – stay warm and stay dry by having great waterproofs.
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.
The pilgrimage to Santiago is an adventure rich in breathtaking views and unforgettable moments. Still, some travellers prefer to completely unplug from the noise of civilization and leave all the tech gadgets behind. Others, like me, can’t resist documenting whenever possible, and because of that finding the best camera is important.
Whether or not you decide to disconnect completely and leave the camera behind is a matter of personal preference. I didn’t find it technology that distracting. In fact, I am glad I captured the special moments. You see, memories tend to fade and the Camino is definitely not short on capture-worthy moments.
Long distance hiking is a pursuit that is enjoyed by men, women and children of all ages. With many stunning trails to cover, from the glorious mountains of Scotland to the amazing and varied scenery of the USA and the long and windy roads of the Camino de Santiago, there is no shortage of destinations to choose from, and you may have plenty that you want to tick off your ‘must walk list.
There is much debate on whether you need a summer sleeping bag or a sleeping bag liner during the summer on the Camino de Santiago. Here I want to look at both side of that argument and help you how to choose a sleeping bag or liner; then which one and do you need it treated against bed bugs.
When you set out on a long backpacking journey, you need to always make sure you have the best gear available. You have your hiking boots or hiking shoes, your backpack, and you need to take with you a comfortable, lightweight and effective sleeping pad. This is a very important item when you are intending to camp, as it gives you a level of comfort that cannot be attained otherwise.
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 distance walk like the Camino de Santiago, (and the right backpack and waterproofs). Different styles are more suitable for different levels than others.
After choosing the best hiking boots or hiking shoes for your feet, a backpack is the second most important piece of equipment you need for walking any of the Camino routes (see Camino packing list). Bear in mind this humble backpack is going to hold all your belonging for a month, sometime more.
