The Fishermen's Trail is spectacular (easily in my top 3 trails in Europe), but it comes with very specific challenges: sand, intense UV exposure, and sometimes tricky ground conditions. If you hike the full trail in roughly half the usual stage schedule like I did, you notice quickly: a smart gear list is everything if you want to keep the experience fun.
After my SOBO thruhike, I reviewed my full setup. These are my top essentials that made the biggest difference for an ultralight setup on this trail.
1. Trail Runners Instead of Boots
Forget heavy hiking boots. Period. On the Fishermen's Trail, you spend a huge amount of time in deep sand. Heavy boots restrict natural foot movement and fatigue your legs much faster. Trail runners are lighter, far more breathable, and way more agile in sand.
- Why: Less weight on your feet saves energy, and better ventilation helps prevent your feet from getting soggy in the heat. Fun fact: 1 kg on your feet can feel like 5 kg on your back. They also dry much faster after water crossings, which happen more often than you think.
2. Gaiters
If I had to pick one absolute must-have for the Fishermen's Trail, it would be lightweight trail gaiters. The sand in Portugal is super fine. Without gaiters, it gets into your shoes nonstop and acts like sandpaper. That is the fastest way to get serious blisters in the first couple of days.
- Tip: Go with lightweight trail gaiters like the ones from Tidygear.
3. Tents: Single-Wall vs. Double-Wall
Do not be afraid of single-wall shelters. The weight savings are huge and fit perfectly into an ultralight setup on the Fishermen's Trail. That said, do not underestimate the local climate. Depending on your camp spot (sheltered from wind, near the coast, damp ground), condensation can get heavy overnight.
- Recommendation: Double-wall tents are often more forgiving in humid conditions, while single-wall shelters are clearly lighter. If you run a single-wall shelter, be intentional about ventilation and campsite selection, and carry a Buff to wipe down condensation in the morning. On hard, rocky ground, a semi-freestanding setup or solid big-rock-little-rock anchoring makes pitching much less stressful.
4. Multi Use MVP: The Buff
In an ultralight pack, every item should do more than one job. My Buff was one of the most useful pieces in my kit:
- Towel: Drying feet after water crossings.
- Shelter care: Wiping morning condensation from a single-wall tent.
- Hygiene: Quick evening washcloth. It weighs almost nothing, dries in minutes in the sun, and saves a lot of hassle over multiple trail days.
5. Sun Hoodies (Long Sleeve with Hood)
I hiked north to south, which meant the sun was blasting me from the front or side for most of the day. UV load is intense because of reflection from the Atlantic.
- Benefit: A UPF 50 sun hoodie protects your neck, ears, and arms more consistently than sunscreen alone. It also reduces how much sunscreen you need to carry - truly ultralight ;).
6. Sunglasses
I underestimated this one at first and started without sunglasses. Mistake. Constant glare from bright sand and the ocean is hard on your eyes.
- UL tip: Use lightweight polarized sport sunglasses. They cut surface glare and reduce eye strain.
7. Injinji Toe Socks
Combined with gaiters, these are top-tier blister prevention. Even if some sand gets into your shoes, it cannot rub directly between your toes. Each toe is protected individually. Since switching to Injinji, toe blisters have basically disappeared for me.
8. Water Filter: Not Needed on This Trail
On the Fishermen's Trail, you pass through villages and small towns so frequently that most hikers do not need a water filter. I had zero issues refilling regularly along the route. For me, the smarter move was staying light, topping up in town, and only carrying the amount of water needed for the next section.
9. Stove System: Often Better to Skip It
I carried a BRS-3000T and planned one dehydrated meal for every evening. I would not do that again. You pass so many great restaurants, cafes, and snack spots that a stove is often just extra weight.
- My takeaway: If you are not wild camping, you can usually leave the stove at home. And if you are wild camping, a solid evening snack is often enough instead of a full cook kit.
10. Power Bank Management and Electronics
I carried two cameras and edited YouTube videos during the hike. Biggest lesson: I brought way too much power gear (batteries and cables).
- Reality check: A quality 10,000 mAh power bank (for example Nitecore NB10000 or FLEXTAIL Zero Power) is enough for most thru-hikers. You can find outlets in cafes or restaurants very frequently on this route.
Conclusion
My biggest Fishermen's Trail takeaway: less is often more, but only with the right priorities. Protect yourself from sun and sand, choose lightweight multi-use gear, and question every extra item honestly. That is how a tough coastal route turns into a trail you can truly enjoy.
Have fun planning and happy trails!
