Alpaca wool for the Camino and pilgrimage
Anyone walking the Camino de Santiago or a multi-day trek covers many kilometres day after day. With light, lanolin-free alpaca wool you reduce friction on sensitive spots, so you get through each stage more comfortably.
Day after day without pressure points piling up
The tricky thing about a pilgrimage or long trek is that the kilometres add up. A small hotspot on day one can be an unpleasant blister by day four. That is why experienced pilgrims look after their feet: good socks, broken-in shoes and prevention on the spots they know.
Alpaca wool – also known as walking wool or foot wool – fits that perfectly. You place a tuft on a sensitive spot, pull your sock over it, and the wool reduces the friction and pressure right there. The fibres are naturally lightweight, water-repellent and lanolin-free, so they are pleasant on warm feet and also suitable for anyone who cannot tolerate wool grease.
How to prepare your feet for a long walk
- Break in your shoes. Never set off on a multi-day walk in brand-new shoes.
- Choose seamless walking socks that wick away moisture, and take a spare pair to change into dry ones.
- Keep your feet dry. Damp skin blisters more easily; change your socks in good time along the way.
- Apply alpaca wool preventively on your known weak spots, every morning before you set off.
- Listen to your feet. If you feel a warm, chafing spot, stop for a moment and place a tuft of wool on it.
- Carry a small supply. A bag of alpaca wool weighs almost nothing and lasts a whole trail.
Which amount do you take?
- 20 grams of alpaca wool (€18.50): for a short multi-day walk or a long weekend.
- 40 grams of alpaca wool (€29.99): the supply bag, ideal for the Camino or a longer trek.
We ship with PostNL within the Netherlands (€4.95, usually within 1 to 3 working days), or you can collect the wool in Malden by appointment. Not sure which size yet? Read the buying guide on the right amount of alpaca wool.
Training closer to home first? Have a look at alpaca wool for runners and the general guidance on alpaca wool against blisters.
Questions about alpaca wool on a long walk
Why take alpaca wool on the Camino?
On a pilgrimage you walk day after day, often with a backpack and in the same footwear. That is exactly when small pressure points add up. A tuft of alpaca wool reduces friction on sensitive spots, so you walk more comfortably day after day. It is a natural aid for comfort, not a medicine.
How much alpaca wool do I take on a long walk?
For a pilgrimage or multi-day trek, 40 grams of alpaca wool (€29.99) is the handiest choice: a generous supply that packs light and small in your backpack. For a shorter walk, 20 grams of alpaca wool (€18.50) is enough.
Is alpaca wool light enough for my backpack?
Yes. Alpaca wool is naturally very light and takes up hardly any space. A bag weighs almost nothing, making it one of the lightest items in your pilgrim kit.
Can I use the wool for several days?
You use a fresh tuft per spot. Because the wool is dry and lanolin-free, you simply carry a small supply and take a new tuft each morning for your weak spots.
Comfortable through every stage?
Choose a bag of 20 or 40 grams in the alpaca wool shop. Pay online straight away with iDEAL, Wero, Google Pay or Apple Pay.