This article on choosing clothing for the Camino de Santiago in autumn is part of a long series dedicated to the Saint James pilgrimage. You'll find plenty of practical advice on how to organise and prepare your hiking trip (routes, gear, season, clothing, physical preparation, tips… and more). Find the full list of links to the other articles in the series at the bottom of this page!
If you've decided to walk the Camino de Santiago in autumn, you're choosing a period that can be wonderfully pleasant — mild temperatures and sunshine (particularly in late September and October) — but also one that can turn cool and wet towards the end of the season. Before you pack your rucksack, you'll need to select your clothing carefully to be ready for all eventualities. Here are our tips and our clothing selection for the Camino de Santiago in autumn, to help you face any bad weather and complete this journey in the best possible conditions.Clothing for the Camino de Santiago in autumn: upper body
In autumn, the one constant across the entire route will be temperature variation throughout the day. You'll experience much wider swings than in other seasons, and to tackle this you really need to use the 3-layer system.
You should therefore prioritise warm, breathable thermal base layers that wick away moisture. These are worn as a base layer directly against the skin. You can then add short-sleeve shirts, long-sleeve shirts, and warm mid-layers. Finally, over all of that, make sure you have a jacket that can stand up to the elements (wind and rain): it needs to be waterproof and breathable. If you choose one that packs down small enough, you can easily stow it in your bag when the weather doesn't call for it.
Finally, for the coldest spells, consider bringing along a lightweight fleece jacket that will give you effective protection against the cold.
Clothing for the Camino de Santiago in autumn: lower body
In autumn, it's best to set off with lightweight full-length trousers and a slightly warmer pair of trousers. You can drop the lightweight trousers if you're travelling mainly in November, where they'll be less useful. Convertible trousers can also be a smart choice — they'll save weight and volume in your rucksack and let you switch to shorts when it gets warm. Choose a technical garment designed for walking, offering good freedom of movement and minimising friction zones. The benefit of flat seams is paramount here for clocking up hours of walking without any issues.
Finally, if you're bivouacking or even sleeping in some poorly heated refuges, a thermal long underwear will be welcome at night. It will protect you from the cold and you can pull it on right after your walk to keep your muscles warm after the effort (cold can quickly lead to muscle tightness).
Clothing for the Camino de Santiago in autumn: socks and shoes
Choosing the right socks and shoes for the Camino de Santiago pilgrimage in autumn is crucial: cooler temperatures and persistent moisture create increasingly tough conditions for your feet as the days go on, so gearing up properly is essential. Your feet will be put through their paces throughout the entire route — they are the foundation of your wellbeing and endurance. It can be tempting to walk without specialist socks, but that's a mistake you'll regret. Blisters will appear quickly, and your feet won't be adequately protected from impacts, grass, or stones along the path. Whether it's shoes or socks, you should also have broken them in over several weeks before you set off, making sure everything fits well and causes no discomfort whatsoever. First and foremost, footwear is of course essential: you need to set off in walking or hiking shoes — not standard sports trainers. Depending on your habits, you can opt for mid-cut walking shoes or lightweight low-cut hiking shoes, though the latter offer less security on wet terrain. When it comes to socks, don't make the mistake of setting off with ordinary everyday socks. Over a single day you might not notice the difference, but after a week it would be a disaster for your feet. You'll need to choose lightweight hiking socks — and ideally, double-skin anti-blister socks would be perfect blisters which are ideal for long days of effort. You can also opt for high-performance, durable hiking socks with a right foot/left foot ergonomic design and a good proportion of merino wool in their composition to keep odours in check.
Pack enough pairs to change every day if you can't wash your socks each evening. A minimum of 4 or 5 pairs is a sensible recommendation.
Finally, to aid recovery, you might want to consider setting off with some compression recovery socks which genuinely help reduce the feeling of fatigue and significantly lower the likelihood of cramps and calf pain. They're easy to use — simply slip them on once you've reached your stop for the day and wear them for 2 to 4 hours to re-energise blood flow.
Other articles in the Camino de Santiago series:
