Camino Packing List
What I carried in my backpack
Our living room floor was covered with gear, and backpacks were open with stuff everywhere. We used our food scale more than ever, weighing each item to help us decide what to bring. It was both fun and surprising to see how much everything weighed. We spent much of April packing, unpacking, and carefully sorting through things we’d gathered over the last two years.
The biggest thing we learned is how easy it is to over-pack and bring things you don’t need. The list below shows what we actually took. Some things were essential, like special bandages, arthritis cream, and our rain jacket. Others, like long underwear and a neck buff, or beanies weren’t needed. We bought a few things along the way, like ponchos for the rain. Near the end, I picked up face cream and more sunscreen. We planned to bring two pairs of tennis shoes but ended up taking one and buying another in Leon.
We try to buy most of our gear at outlets like Sierra or stores like Costco. For example, we got our trekking poles for $30 at Costco, while the same ones cost $80 at regular stores. We like to save money whenever we can. Shopping during holiday sales or looking for clearance items is another good way to cut costs.
We didn’t buy new backpacks and just used the ones we already had, even though they were bigger than recommended. Unfortunately, when the space is available, the tendency is to fill it. Our packs were also heavier than they should have been, a mistake we DO NOT recommend. Try to keep your backpack at 15% of your body weight. If you need help, there are services that can move your bag to your next stop.
I have a video somewhere of me hiking up the Pyrenees, out of breath. The high elevation and my heavy pack made me rethink what I really needed. It was a good reminder that less is more.
Everyone packs differently. Some people need less, others need more. Think about what kind of traveler you are. If you’re a minimalist, you might only bring two outfits. If you like comfort, you might pack extra things to make your trip easier. No matter where you fit, I hope this list helps you get started.
Backpacks - we already owned with rain covers. We carried water bladders that fit inside our pack. We usually carried about 1 liter of water since there were plenty of fountains and places to fill up. The public fountains were marked to indicate if the water was potable or not potable.
Women’s Backpack - Aura AG 65
Men’s Backpack - Stratos 50
Camera Chest Rig - As a photographer, I loved having my camera with me and easy to reach, and I never regretted bringing it. This chest rig fits just one camera with one lens, which is perfect for backpacking or hiking when you don’t want to carry a lot of gear. It also comes with a rain cover, which was great since it rained most days during the first weeks of our trek.
Hiking poles - We bought these at Costco
Women’s Rain Jacket - We already had these. Men’s jackets were Arcteryx and a North Face one
Glove Liners - Essential as it got cold on those rainy days.
Hiking Pants - 2 pairs each
Hiking Shorts - 2 pairs each. You could get away with one pair. I used a different pair for relaxing and for sleeping
Wool t-shirts - We each had one. I had an extra wool tank top for sleeping and for relaxing
Hiking shirts - Long sleeve and short sleeve. We bought the Columbia ones
Wool underwear - 3 pairs. The long underwear base layer we did not use
Socks - These socks made a huge difference and helped us not get blisters
Bombas compression socks and Injinji lightweight socks
Tennis Shoes - We feel our tennis shoes worked pretty good. We were called Team Hoka sometimes :)
Sandals - These were essential for showering, for after hikes and to use at albergues since you are required to leave your shoes in a common area. These sandals are extremely lightweight
Dresses - I packed two super lightweight Arcteryx dresses. I’ve had them for a while and I don’t see them at stores anymore. Best purchase ever!
Camping Towel - Essential. This towels absorb a lot of water and dry fast
Micro Fiber sleep liner - We used this rarely as we only needed it a couple times at albergues that don’t provide sheets
Pocket Hand Wash & Shampoo - This was Not super practical as it dissolves fast and sheets stick to each other when wet. We used shampoo that was provided at apartments we rented. We also used that same shampoo to wash our clothes in the sink
Wool - We used this a lot and it saved our feet
Moleskin - We used this a lot and shared with other hikers
Blister Bandaids - Hydroseal Blister bandaid to heal blisters. Life savers!
Generic Voltarin - Diclofenac Sodium Topical Gel 1% - Used a lot. When we ran out, we found it at a pharmacy in Spain
Silicone Super Absorbent Wound Dressings - My sister is a nurse and sent these to us. Life Savers!
IKEA Bags - We used them to pack our bags and check them in at the airport so our bags wouldn’t get damaged. They worked pretty good
Sun Hat or baseball hat - Essential
Headlamp - Used when leaving early which was not very often :)
Toothbrush & Toothpaste
Sunscreen
SmartWool Neck buff - Never used it
Packing cubes - Made life a lot easier
Sunglasses
Block chargers compatible with Europe - Worked really well
Plastic Foldable Collapsible Hangers - We used these a lot for drying our clothes. We bought these through Amazon but I don’t shop there anymore.
Some items we purchased there: Knee brace, rain ponchos, a new pair of tennis shoes, different kinds of shoe inserts (to help with the pain on my feet) Day packs for when we decided to ship our packs ahead. More shampoo, face cream and sunscreen. We saw vending machines that sold blister stuff,
Thank you for reading my blog! You can download a printable packing list HERE
