As any first time pilgrim, we were faced with what felt like a daunting task. Creating our final packing list. So we wanted to create this helpful Camino de Santiago packing guide to provide you with some information, suggestions and guidelines on how to create your OWN, ultimate packing list for the Camino de Santiago.
Now we have gotten pretty good at packing for weeks of travel in just our backpacks but our pack weight is usually more like 35 lbs with camera gear, laptops, etc. So we started doing a lot of researching and editing for what we wanted to carry when hiking 20-30km a day for over a month.
Prior to our trip, we read SO many other blogger’s posts with titles like “The Ultimate Camino de Santiago Packing List” or “The Ultralight Camino Packing List.” Now that we have successfully completed our journey, the problems we continue to have while reading these lists are:
- Lots of affiliate links to specific products like shoes that are a VERY personal choice item. Specifically, recommending an exact brand of shoes, socks or backpacks. Knowing how stressed out Camino lists make people, it’s best not to make them feel that they have to buy an exact brand for those types of items.
- The repetition of the statement (that totally stressed us out) about only bringing a pack weighing no more than 10-12% of our body weight. I started out super nervous that I was carrying 2.2lbs more than the recommended 10% of my body weight. Guess what? I was FINE! I had a good fitting pack and the extra weight didn’t hurt me. (Plus, no one told me I’d be carrying around an extra few pound of pack weight after the first two weeks anyway)
So on that note, below are our suggestions and overall Camino de Santiago Packing guideline on how to create your OWN, ultimate packing list for the Camino de Santiago:
Our Hiking Dates: August 12 - September 20
This is a critical piece to include because the gear/clothing in which you need is going to vary greatly depending on the time of year you hike. Specifically you want to be extremely cautious about the weather when crossing through the Pyrenees. We were very lucky in that we had sunny weather and a light breeze when we took the Napoleon Route up and through the mountains instead of the Valcarlos Route. But less than a week later we saw news reports that a group of 20 had to be rescued off the mountain, suffering from hypothermia and exhaustion after being caught in unexpected weather without proper clothing. It doesn’t matter the time of year, any day can start sunny and turn very quickly in the mountains. I don’t say this to scare you, I just want you to be prepared.
The Backpack
This is one of two things we feel need to be exactly perfect for YOU. The best thing we did was visit a gear store that lives and breathes hiking. For us, that’s REI. Find a store that specializes in hiking and explain to them what you are doing. They likely have heard of the Camino but it’s possible they haven’t so you may need to explain that it’s different from a thru-hike in the mountains. Mostly in the fact that you won’t be needing to carry camping and cooking gear so a smaller pack will suffice.
Trekking Poles
Another very personal item. Some people won’t hike without them, others don’t use them. It’s up to you. And if you decide to start without them and then change your mind, there are stores along the way that have them to purchase.
We read numerous articles (and stressed out) about whether or not our 3-piece collapsible poles could come with us in our carry-on packs. There was no definitive answer. Luckily, we had no problems getting them through security.
But honestly, if you don’t already have trekking poles and want them (or aren’t sure you want them) just buy them when you get to St. Jean Pied de Port. Or any of the larger cities along the way will have them if you change your mind.
Sleeping Bags / Bag Liners
You’ll see plenty of people that lug along a sleeping bag but I would say it’s not necessary in the warmer months. August it was definitely NOT needed. Just get a silk bag liner and sleep in that at night. If you are needing another layer, most albergues provide nice warm blankets you can throw over top too. I used them maybe once or twice. The silk liner will keep you warm and keep you separated from any bed bugs if you are worried about that too. I think I might have gotten bit one night but I’m not certain that’s what the little spots were from. Honestly, bed bugs aren’t as much of an issue as they were 10+ years ago.
Clothing
Cotton is definitely rotten in this case. It stretches and doesn’t dry quickly enough. Avoid cotton clothing! And jeans are not a good idea at all either. They are heavy and don’t dry quickly. Just don’t do it.
Lightweight, wicking and quick-drying clothing is best. You will sweat in one outfit pretty much every day so you need things to dry quickly after washing. We also spent good money on lightweight, UV protectant hiking attire and trust us, good stuff is worth every penny. Long-sleeve hiking shirts and pants are the perfect option for cooler starts in the morning and also for hot, sunny days when your sunburned arms and shoulders need an added layer of protection.
Keep in mind though you will be up at altitude three times during the Camino Frances route and the mornings can be VERY chilly if you are getting an early start.
Socks
Test out multiple pairs. Different styles, different thicknesses. Take long hikes in them so you can feel how they do when your feet are warmed up. I can tell you I can do plenty of shorter hikes in my cotton crew socks but as soon as you start talking 8-10+ miles, I NEED my taller toe socks. That’s what saves me from rubbing and blisters. Mark on the other hand found that while his feet do tend to get warm quickly, he was more comfortable in a mid-weight wool sock than a lightweight.
Footwear
Another very personal item! Honestly, don’t ask the general public for help here. Go to a store that specializes in hiking, like REI. And you don’t have to go with their recommendation if you feel something else might work better. Mark wears a trail running shoe, I wear a hiking boot. You need something that is going to give your toes room to breath but gives you the amount of support you need. Another key element in avoiding blisters and hot spots
It was also suggested to me that I get the weather-proof version of my footwear. I recommend NOT doing this. They don’t breath as well and my feet get much hotter, much faster. We only got caught in the rain one time and not for long enough that my shoes soaked through. And honestly, chances are if it’s raining hard, you’ll pull over at a bar or something and wait it out. This isn’t mountain hiking where there isn’t shelter.
Pharmacy Items / Foot Care
I HIGHLY recommend starting with a bare minimum number of supplies. A small container of ibuprofen, a few band-aids and some first aid. Don’t lug along a lot of extra “just in case” items right from the start. It’s not worth the weight and honestly, you don’t know what types of issues you will encounter. With all the hype around blisters and recommendations on blister care products to bring along, neither of us had one. Not ONE! But we had 3 rounds of shin splints (me two and Mark one), 1 annoying, recurring case of heat rash on my foot and lower back and plenty of reasons to take ibuprofen.
So plan for a little bit of room for pharmacy items but don’t pack what you aren’t sure you will need. There is a Farmacia in nearly every town you go through. They are super helpful for pilgrims and there you can buy any items you need along the way.
Outerwear
Not much needs to be said here. A lightweight waterproof jacket was nice for us, a hiking hat was a MUST to protect from the sun and we wore our sunglasses probably 75% of the total days.
Bathrooms/Showers
You won’t always have hooks or a shelf to put your stuff on in the shower. Our recommendation is to put the bare minimum needs for a shower in a small sling bag and bring a hook so you can hang it over the door/wall. This will help keep your stuff off the wet/dirty floor. If you are traveling solo, this also gives you a dry place to keep your important items with you. (Passport, credentials, cash, etc.)
Likely you won’t be given a towel either so consider a quick-dry microfiber towel.
Supplies for Washing Clothes
We started off by buying an $8.00 bottle of travel wash. Totally unnecessary. We ended up using that up and simply going with cheap shower gel and once or twice even shampoo, simply because it’s all I had. And honestly, the liquid soap of any kind will do just fine.
There were a few times we could have made use of having our own clothes pins. Most albergues will have some available and a clothesline. But on the busy days, they may all get used up. We brought a stretchy clothes line with clips. It did come in handy but I think we could have done without it too.
Things You May Forget
Here’s a few things that may be obvious to list but they are the first items that I will forget 🙂
- Travel Toothpaste and Toothbrush
- Contact Case and Spare Contacts
- Phone charging cable
- EU power adapter
- Sunscreen – small bottle to start you off. This is easy to buy more of along the way
Packing Cubes
Get acquainted with packing cubes! They make life so much easier on the Camino. The main pouch of my backpack had 4 packing cubes. One cube was everything I needed for the shower/bathroom, one was all my shirts and shorts, another for underwear and socks and the last for the “other” items (see below).
Other Random Things To Remember / Consider / Know Ahead of Time
As you can tell this was a hard section for me to title as this is the point where I’m getting to some individual items you either need to definitely remember to bring, consider bringing or know about ahead of time so you can decide for yourself 🙂
Get your pilgrim’s passport – You can get one in St. Jean Pied de Port and many other starting cities along the way. But you can also request one to be mailed to you ahead of time
Cash – You will need plenty of euros along the way as many places and small shops do not take credit cards. But you definitely don’t need to bring this from home. There are ATMs all along the way with reasonable fees (if your bank doesn’t refund them). Santander ATMs were the ones we like to use.
Baggie for your passport/credentials/money – they will give you one when you check in at the pilgrim’s office in Saint Jean Pied de Port. Nice to have to keep important things together and dry.
Good quality water bottle – some people advise against metal saying it’s too heavy. But we highly recommend a high quality bottle like a HydroFlask. It may have been a few ounces heavier but it keeps water (and ice) cold all day long. And it also is a key component in one of our favorite Camino travel hacks!
Ear Plugs – many people highly recommend having ear plugs. If you are a light sleeper, you likely are going to need something more substantial in the albergues. We had many nights with very loud snorers around us and ear plugs were not enough.
Shell – if you have a significant scallop shell from home, bring it to use. Otherwise you can get one for a donation at the pilgrim’s office in Saint Jean Pied de Port.
Rock – It is tradition for pilgrim’s to drop a small rock at Cruz de Ferro. You bring it from your home and drop it off here as a symbol of your journey and letting go of a burden you’ve been holding on to.
Again, don’t go too crazy worrying about bringing all the “what if” items but I will say for us it was helpful to have a small packing cube with a few items. We had and used: tweezers, shaving razor, tape, and band-aids. This is also the cube I used to store some of the Farmacia items I had to pick up along the way.
"What if I forget something?!"
Don’t freak out. There are many sporting stores, clothing stores and Farmacia’s along the way where you can pick up what you need. Buying stuff in Spain is inexpensive.
“Don’t come to the Camino looking for answers. Instead, come with an open heart and you may be surprised by what you find.”
Have you walked the Camino de Santiago? What other recommendations do you have for items to pack? Tell us in the comments!
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