Clothing for the Camino de Santiago
One of the most common questions that pilgrims ask themselves when preparing their trip to Compostela is what clothes to wear when doing the Camino de Santiago. In our article on what to bring to the Camino de Santiago, we have already explained some important things about how to prepare your baggage.
However, when preparing the clothes that we will take to the Camino de Santiago it is important to take into account at what time of year you will be making your pilgrimage. They won’t be the same clothes you should wear in your backpack if you’re going to do the Camino de Santiago in summer than if you’re going to do the Camino de Santiago in winter.
In this blog post we would like to explain what factors you should take into account to prepare your clothes for the Camino de Santiago, depending on the season in which you do the tour. Choose a route, choose your season and prepare your bag!
What clothing to take in spring
Spring is the best time of year to do the Camino de Santiago. At this time of year, you will find one of the most beautiful landscapes of the Camino, as well as pleasant temperatures. It’s not as hot as it is in summer, and not as cold as in winter.
If we have convinced you and you feel like making a pilgrimage during these dates, we recommend the Camino de Santiago from Sarria. Tell us details about your travel plan and we’ll be happy to help you with it.
However, like autumn, it is one of the times when it is more difficult to prepare clothes to do the Camino de Santiago. In spring the temperature is quite variable, it is not the same to do the Camino de Santiago in early spring, when temperatures will still be cooler, than at the end of it.
In May and June, the temperature is quite warm, so the clothing you must take to the Camino de Santiago is basically the same as you would wear in summer. However, during this season there is always more chance of rain throughout the Iberian Peninsula than during the summer months, so in spring, it is important not to leave your rain jacket at home.
Footwear and backpack
The ideal backpack for spring should have a capacity of between 30 and 40 litres. The best footwear for this time of year are trekking shoes, they are lighter than boots and withstand the rains of this time of year.
Ideally, your shoes be quite waterproof. And, since “It always rains in April”, don’t forget a waterproof cover for your backpack either.
Clothing list for the spring
- 3 breathable and easy-to-dry T-shirts. Short sleeves are recommended
- A light jumper
- A rain jacket, which also acts as a windcheater
- 2 trousers, at least one modular pair which can be used as both long and short trousers
- A pair of light trousers which would also be good for sleeping in
- Swimsuit
- 3 pairs of underwear
- A light sunhat
- Shoes for the shower and to rest in
What clothing to use on the Camino de Santiago in summer
Summer is the time of year when more people decide to do the Camino de Santiago. Not in vain, because in that season most people enjoy their longest holiday periods and therefore, it is the preferred season for pilgrims to do the Camino.
One of the main advantages of summer is that it is easier to prepare the backpack for the Camino de Santiago. The clothes used are much lighter and you hardly have to carry the extra weight of warm clothes. Therefore, preparing a bag that weighs more than 10% of your body weight will be much easier.
Two important factors
One aspect you should consider when preparing your clothes when doing the Camino de Santiago in summer is whether the route you choose crosses mountain passes or not. This factor is important because even if it is summer, in the sections that run at a high altitude you will have to have some warm clothes since the temperature will be much lower, even in summer.
Another question you should ask yourself is whether your tour crosses Galicia or not. Most pilgrims will answer yes, as most of them wish to conclude their pilgrimage at the tomb of Santiago the Apostle.
If so, you should know, as we told you in our article about the weather on the Camino de Santiago, where in Galicia, it always rains. Even in summer. Therefore, it will be essential that you include a rain jacket.
On the contrary, if you only perform intermediate stages, such as the stages that go through Castilla y León, or if you complete sections like the Camino Mozarabe, without intending to enter Galicia, you will not need a rain jacket at all. Not that the backpack is going to lighten up a lot by leaving the rain jacket at home, but it’s one less thing to carry.
Footwear and backpack
In summer if you organize well, you will have enough with a 20-litre backpack. Regarding footwear, you can wear trekking shoes as in spring or wear trekking sandals. The latter will allow you to keep your feet better ventilated.
Clothing list for the Camino de Santiago in summer
- 3 breathable and easy-to-dry short-sleeved T-shirts.
- Two pairs of short trousers. If you are a person who feels the cold easily, take one modular pair, just in case
- A very light jumper
- Shorts to sleep in. You could wear one of the trousers used for walking
- Swimsuit, very important in this season, regardless of the route you choose! You’ll find beaches, rivers and municipal pools where you can cool off
- A rain jacket, if you’re going through Galicia or section of the del Camino del Norte or the Camino Primitivo
- 3 pairs of underwear
- A light sunhat
- Sandals for the shower and to rest in
What clothing to use on the Camino de Santiago in autumn
Autumn is another of those seasons in which it is quite difficult to prepare clothing to take on the Camino de Santiago. In the Iberian Peninsula, autumn begins on September 22nd and ends on December 22nd.
This implies that in early autumn we will find a temperature very similar to that of summer and in late autumn the temperature will be almost winter. Therefore, doing the Camino de Santiago in autumn involves getting ready for all seasons of the year, especially if you plan to take a long route, such as the Camino Frances for example. Because throughout the pilgrimage you will feel how the weather changes and the days become fresher and fresher.
Footwear and backpack for the autumn
For autumn a 40-litre backpack is suitable. It will allow you to wear some warm clothes, but it will limit you enough so that you do not end up carrying a lot of extra weight.
At this time of year, it is better to wear waterproof trekking boots. You can choose low or high ankle boots, it’s a matter of taste.
Clothing list for the autumn
- 3 breathable and easy-to-dry short-sleeved T-shirts, one or two short-sleeved and the rest long-sleeved.
- Two long trousers, if you wish you could take one modular in case there are warm days
- A warm jumper
- Comfortable trousers to sleep in
- Depending on which route you choose, take your swimsuit. In the north in autumn the temperature is already quite fresh
- A rain jacket, no matter what
- Thermal leggings to use under trousers
- A plastic protector for your trousers if those that you’re wearing are not waterproof
- 3 pairs of underwear
- A light sunhat and a woollen hat, in case the mornings are cold
- Some gloves and a neck protector
What to take in winter
To do the Camino de Santiago in winter, the clothes must be much warmer. To prepare your backpack for winter properly, you must study whether you will cross sections where you will find snow or not. This will greatly influence what type of clothing you will need; it is not the same to wear warm clothing to prepare withstanding temperatures below zero degrees.
Footwear and backpack when doing the Camino de Santiago in winter
In winter you will need a 50 or 60 litre backpack. Warm clothing, besides being heavier, takes up a lot more space in the backpack. At this time of year, there is no doubt about the footwear, it is best to wear mountain boots. If you cross mountain passes where you will find snow, get a high-ankle mountain boot that allows you to walk through snowy areas, safely.
Clothing list for the winter
- 3 thermal t-shirts for walking. They should breathe well and maintain body temperature
- One or two cotton t-shirts
- Thermal leggings to use under trousers
- Two pairs of long trousers. Ideally waterproof
- A thick warm jumper
- Comfortable sleeping trousers
- A rain jacket
- A windcheater or warm jacket
- Thermal leggings to use under trousers
- A plastic protector for your trousers if those that you’re wearing are not waterproof
- 3 pairs of underwear
- Woollen hat
- Gloves
- Neck protector
With the above lists, you will no longer have any doubts about what clothes to bring on the Camino de Santiago, depending on the season in which you are making your pilgrimage. If you want, you can also take a look at this blog post where we describe some of the features of the clothes that you must take to the Camino de Santiago and we detail other things that will be useful for you on your pilgrimage.
Remember that you always have the option to do the Camino de Santiago by hiring a backpack transport service between stages. In winter, given the heavy weight of your backpack, it could be a very good idea.
Finally, tell you that you already know that in Santiago Ways we are an agency specialized in the Camino de Santiago and that if you want us to help you organize your trip, you only have to tell us. Leave us a comment, call us or write on our Facebook. Our team will be more than happy to help you and of course, without any compromise!
Buen Camino!
