I just hiked 500 km of the Camino de Santiago — 8 hiking essentials I always remember to pack

These Keen sneakers are as practical as they are cute. They're comfortable right out of the box, and their studded bottoms are a dream, especially if you're traversing unstable terrain (or slippery rocks, as was my experience). The shoes come with two sets of laces, so you can customize your look. Better still, they're PFAS-free and feature Eco Anti-Odour for natural, pesticide-free odour control. 

Members on any hiking forum tout the benefits of Merino wool socks, and as someone who hiked wearing a pair from Icebreaker in mid-30s heat, I can attest that they're worth their weight in gold. These ultra-high-quality socks are what you want to wear on long-distance hikes, from +30 to -30. They're breathable, odour-resistant and durable — after 500km, they looked brand new, with no holes or signs of wear. I love them and own several pairs.

In the not so distant past, I was the girl who would wear old T-shirts to workout in, rarely donning materials designed to wick sweat — not anymore. I cannot stress how much of a difference a sweat-wicking tee makes when you're in the middle of a hot and sweaty workout. Rather than suffocate your skin, the material, like that of this Lululemon tee, effortlessly breaths and helps cool you down. I'm partial to black as it hides your sweat stains, but the light vapor colour is also cute.

If you are someone who burns easily (or cares about your skin health, for that matter), a sunscreen stick like this one from Glow Recipe is great. It's super compact, so it doesn't take up a lot of room in your backpack or pocket and goes on without any white cast. I went through two sunscreen sticks on my Camino: this one and another crowd-pleaser (and fellow Yahoo editor-favourite) from Shiseido.

In a perfect world, everyone would have perfectly broken-in shoes when they go for a hike, but I'm sure many of us can agree that doesn't always happen. This chafing stick was great for chafing relief on blister-prone areas like your toes and heels. It's not a perfect solution, you'll still need Band-Aids for those stubborn spots, but it does help ease the discomfort.

As the saying goes, there's no such thing as bad weather, just bad clothing. While this Kathmandu Trailhead Stretch Jacket is made for bad weather, it's certainly not a bad piece of clothing. The seam-sealed jacket is waterproof and breathable and packs into its own pocket — a convenient trick for when you're short on space in your backpack or carry-on. The jacket came in handy more than a few times on my Camino and truly does what it promises: "keeps you dry through soft showers and Fiordland-like downpours."

This water bottle sling is honestly the coolest thing since sliced bread. If you're hiking and not carrying a backpack or water bottle-accommodating bag, then this little gizmo is fantastic for keeping your water bottle out of your hands. Throw it on as you would a crossbody bag, and you're good to go. Also, it fits a wine bottle, in case you were wondering.

Nothing will hamper a hike quite like a gnarly blister or sore spot — trust me — I have had many of them. I packed a first aid kit when I hiked the Camino de Santiago, but it only came with one roll of medical tape and a few bandages and I found it lacking. This 41-piece kit, on the other hand, is packed to the brim with first aid supplies, including wound dressings, gauze pads, a tick remover and disinfectant wipes.