Supplies on the CdN

zimmecp said:

Hello fellow pilgrims! How easily can one obtain supplies on the CdN? (Specifically, trekking poles, Swiss Army Knife, and Aleve painkiller). I am inclined to get the first two AFTER a plane ride...and the last is the most effective pain killer I've dealt with for a recent injury to my knees.

Just trying to plan...any advice would be helpful!

Best!
Christine

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Christine, both Irun and Bilbao have numerous sporting good stores (tienda de deportes), including a Decathlon in each. I think your plan is a good one - my poles were destroyed in checked baggage on arrival in Madrid in May.

There are pharmas everywhere and they have resources to find the Spanish name for whatever medication you're looking for in another language. Buen Camino to you!

San Sebastian/Donastia has a great shop right on the beach on the eastern end of town.

I would say the Norte is very good for supplies, as you are walking through coastal tourist cities, towns and villages and they are prepared for the tourists.

Hiking is also an everyday past time for the people in Northern Spain, they are out walking on the weekends, so I did not find it hard to find equipment.

Zim, I'll offer a different take. After the long travel to get there, it's kind of a drag to have to top off supplies. My recommendation is to get the poles, swiss army knife, Alive and Compeed here in North America. Then put everything in a very cheap checked bag, enjoy your flight over without having to haul around any of your gear Then when you land, take your backpack and all your gear out of the cheap stowed luggage and throw away or donate the cheap luggage you sent it over in. Just less stuff to do when you get there.
My first "gear purchase" was in Bilboa - it was diaper rash cream!

An old thread... but these days the costs for checking a bag can be so high, I think it reverses the equation for some of us, leaning toward buying poles and other non-carry-on-able things after arriving in country. Also, the last time I checked my pack on the way to a camino walk... a baggage strike delayed its arrival until the day I was supposed to begin walking, with friends. I had already started buying all my gear again, when it did show up.