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Camino de Santiago is a life-changing expertise. The success of the stroll will depend on a number of elements. One in all them is selecting the best gear to your Camino packing record. We all know many individuals who deliberate this pilgrimage for years, getting ready, studying, and coaching. Packing gentle for the Camino is essential. It’ll assist to make your stroll simpler and extra gratifying. We’ve discovered it the exhausting means after strolling a number of Caminos de Santiago.
As of April 2024, we’ve accomplished many Caminos de Santiago routes. Altogether, we walked over 4500 km throughout Spain, Portugal, and a bit little bit of France following completely different Camino routes.


Camino packing record PDF
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8 Important objects to pack for the Camino
1. Backpack
It’s essential to decide on the appropriate backpack for the Camino de Santiago. I walked with a 36-40L backpack it was greater than sufficient particularly in the event you’re not planning on carrying a laptop computer as I did. Bear in mind, the larger backpack you get the extra pointless stuff you’ll slot in. If you happen to stroll in summer season you will get away with a smaller 30-35L backpack.
For mountaineering in winter or late fall/early spring once you want hotter garments a 40-45L backpack for women and men will probably be sufficiently big. Ensure that your backpack has a rain cowl or purchase a separate one it’s all the time nice, particularly in the event you stroll in winter months.
If you happen to use a backpack supply service on the Camino you possibly can convey an enormous backpack or perhaps a suitcase and stroll with a day pack carrying solely valuables, water, and snacks. Ensure that your daypack is comfy for lengthy strolling and has padded straps, and pockets to suit a water bottle. Osprey Talon 22 Males’s Climbing Backpack and even smaller Osprey Daylite 13L Daypack are nice choices for a day pack.
Instructed Camino backpacks for girls


Instructed Camino backpacks for males


2. Sneakers
Don’t underestimate the significance of packing an excellent pair of sneakers for the Camino. You’ll spend more often than not strolling in them. We suggest strolling the Camino, particularly longer routes, in correct sneakers and never sneakers. We tried on the Portuguese Camino to stroll in our trainers. At first, they have been very comfy however after a few days of strolling on cobblestones and exhausting surfaces, our toes have been destroyed.
For decent climate mountaineering sandals is usually a good various to sneakers. Trendy mountaineering sneakers often have good air flow however typically it will get too sizzling and it’s good to placed on sandals for some time.
If you happen to purchase a brand new pair put on them earlier than you begin the pilgrimage even good new sneakers would possibly trigger blisters. If you happen to’re planning on doing some Camino coaching one of the best is to coach in the identical sneakers you’re going to put on on the Camino.
Learn our suggestion for one of the best sneakers for the Camino de Santiago.


Instructed strolling sneakers for girls
I walked 5 Camino routes and a few treks in Nepal in Salomon Ellipse 2. They’re comfy and lightweight. My toes acquired moist a few occasions once we acquired pouring rain with robust wind on the Northern Camino and the Camino Finisterre. I didn’t get any blisters despite the fact that the sneakers have been new and I hadn’t worn them earlier than. This mannequin is a bit slender you probably have broad toes they may be too tight.
For strolling the Camino within the winter when it rains lots and on some routes, you possibly can even get snow I can suggest Salomon X Extremely 3 GTX boots. These sneakers are superb for tougher mountaineering routes and strolling in dangerous climate situations. I’ve achieved Everest Base Camp Trek and Annapurna Base Camp trek in them and for hours walked in deep snow and my toes stayed heat and dry.


I did a comparability on the Central Route of the Portuguese Camino final 12 months. I wore three completely different pairs of sneakers: waterproof mountaineering boots, mountaineering sneakers, and trainers to see which pair was essentially the most comfy. My mountaineering sneakers labored one of the best.
You’ll be able to see my comparability and conclusion in our YouTube video.
Instructed Camino sneakers for males
Campbell has walked a number of Camino and mountaineering routes in Canada in his Salomon X Extremely mountaineering sneakers. These sneakers are an important possibility; gentle, sturdy, comparatively waterproof, comfy, and have an excellent grip. For strolling low season when you will get lots of rain and occasional snow a high-cut mannequin may be a greater possibility.
Campbell similar to I purchased a brand new pair of waterproof mountaineering boots Salomon Extremely 3 Mid GTX for trekking within the mountains. He hasn’t achieved any Camino in them but however for mountaineering in heavy rain and snow and dirt, these boots are superb. They’re very comfy and lightweight, keep dry for hours, and preserve your toes heat particularly in the event you put on merino wool socks.


3. Socks
We’re large followers of Merino wool socks. We put on them all the time once we stroll the Camino. I did a check run final 12 months on the Non secular Camino. I walked in the future in Merino wool socks and one in artificial mountaineering socks. I didn’t get any blisters sporting the Merino socks and my toes didn’t sweat although it was a sizzling and lengthy strolling day. I modified my artificial mountaineering socks after 2 hours as a result of my toes began chafing. I’ve 3 pairs of Danish Endurance socks that I’ve been utilizing for the final 2 years.
We just like the Merino wool socks a lot that we even wrote a separate article on them.


4. Sleeping bag
In our expertise, most albergues present blankets however often, with out covers, I favor to make use of my sleeping bag, and if it’s chilly I take advantage of a blanket over it. A light-weight sleeping bag with a consolation temperature restrict of +12°C/55°F will probably be ok.
If you happen to stroll the Camino in summer season (July, August) when it will get sizzling, you possibly can pack a silk liner as a substitute. We walked a few Caminos in June and typically it was too sizzling at night time to make use of a sleeping bag. If you happen to get chilly you possibly can all the time use a blanket over your liner.
If you happen to’re staying at lodges (non-public rooms) as a substitute of albergues you don’t want to hold a sleeping bag, all lodges and guesthouses present blankets and bedding.
5. Trekking poles
We use trekking poles lots when going trekking within the mountains. For strolling the Camino we don’t take poles however I do know many pilgrims use them. Trekking poles are nice you probably have knee or hip issues, shin splint, and many others. They assist lots to cut back stress on joints. For some Caminos with many ascents and descents e.g. the Camino Primitivo or some elements of the French Camino (strolling over the Pyrenees), the poles will probably be useful.
6. Fast-dry towel
We all the time take it once we go touring. A fast-dry towel is an merchandise so as to add to your Camino packing record. They’re very gentle, pack small, dry shortly (as you possibly can guess from the identify), sturdy, and are available many various colours. Attempt to decide on one with a novel sample to acknowledge simply on washing strains in albergues.


7. Water bottle
We favor carrying a water bottle over a hydration pack bladder. A bottle matches in a facet pocket, so it’s simple to take it out and refill it, even when it leaks it received’t make every thing inside your backpack moist. We like utilizing water bladders on day hikes although. Faucet water in Spain and Portugal is drinkable we often don’t use filters. I didn’t drink faucet water within the Meseta a part of the Camino Frances as I’d heard from different pilgrims that they’d abdomen issues there from consuming faucet water.
8. Headlamp
Having a headlamp on the Camino is sort of helpful. In albergues lights are often turned off fairly early if you wish to learn or discover one thing in your backpack you need to use a lamp. Within the morning if you wish to depart early whereas others are nonetheless asleep it’s useful.
8 important objects to pack for the Camino stroll


Ladies’s clothes for the Camino packing record
Rain jacket
We’d recommend having one. In northern Spain (particularly in Galicia), it rains quite a bit all year long. If you happen to stroll in July or August the probabilities of rain are smaller you will get away with a rain poncho, it’s small, gentle, and can shield you and your backpack from any rain. For the remainder of the 12 months, a rain jacket is a helpful factor to have.
We walked the Portuguese Camino in Might and didn’t have lots of rain however on the Coastal Route, it was fairly windy we have been glad we had our jackets. I used my rain jacket and a poncho lots on the Camino Primitivo in June and on the Camino del Norte in October.
Trekking pants
I favor mountaineering in yoga pants, they’re comfy and lightweight, stretch lots, dry shortly, and pack small. I all the time pack two pairs of pants: one pair of stretchy pants and one pair of regular mountaineering pants. For summer season you possibly can pack one pair of lengthy pants and a pair of mountaineering shorts or knee pants although I favor strolling in lengthy pants even in summer season for solar safety.
Climbing shirt
Relying on what you favor to put on for mountaineering it may be a mountaineering shirt or a operating T-shirt. I don’t like shirts for the Camino I often pack two operating T-shirts; one with lengthy sleeves and one short-sleeve. For strolling in summer season you in all probability received’t want a long-sleeve one, quite pack two short-sleeve T-shirts. I wouldn’t suggest strolling in a prime even when it’s sizzling. At all times make certain your shoulders and neck are lined or put solar cream in any other case you’ll get dangerous sunburns.


Fleece
It’s all the time good to have a comfortable and heat fleece. Even in summer season in the event you begin strolling early within the morning it may be a bit chilly. We often put on fleece after mountaineering once we exit for dinner or drinks within the night.
Cap/hat
For the summer season season, it’s a must-pack merchandise. Many of the Camino routes undergo open areas with none shade, so you’ll have to shield your head from the solar. I don’t like hats and like sporting a cap it’s extra comfy for me.
Sun shades
For strolling the Camino in summer season you’ll undoubtedly want sun shades. You’ll be able to put on your informal sun shades or purchase a pair of sun shades for out of doors actions.
Ladies’s mountaineering garments for the Camino


Underwear and altering clothes
I’d suggest sports activities bras over regular bras – they’re extra comfy for mountaineering. I often pack two pairs of operating bras and three or 4 pairs of underwear. I wash my underwear and socks every single day, it doesn’t take lengthy and it dries shortly.
I all the time pack a cotton T-shirt and shorts for sleeping and altering after a bathe. For summer season shorts are one for sleeping however for the low season, I’d suggest packing lengthy sleeping pants.
Extremely beneficial to take a pair of flip-flops to put on in albergues, your toes must relaxation from sporting mountaineering boots all day. In summer season you possibly can put on them exterior as effectively it’s too sizzling to stroll round in sneakers.
Additional garments for girls to pack for the Camino


Males’s clothes for the Camino de Santiago
Rain jacket
Campbell often packs his rain jacket for the Camino. Within the sizzling summer season months, you will get away with out it however I’d nonetheless suggest bringing a rain poncho and a rain cowl to your backpack.
Trekking pants
I’d suggest packing trekking pants for the Camino. A pair of quick-dry gentle pants will work nice. For summer season you possibly can convey a pair of lengthy trekking pants and a pair of mountaineering shorts or as an possibility purchase a pair of convertible pants with zip-off legs.
Climbing shirts
Campbell often wears Columbia mountaineering shirts or operating T-shirts on the Camino. mountaineering. They’re nice; gentle, comfy, respiration, dry in a short time, and simple to scrub. Pack two shirts otherwise you’ll must do laundry every single day.
Fleece jacket
It’s good to have a comfortable fleece to put on in albergues or in the event you exit within the night. We often pack our fleece for the Camino. For summer season, Campbell brings a fleece vest for low season a long-sleeve one.
Climbing socks
Identical to me, Campbell wears merino wool socks for long-distance strolling and mountaineering. There are a lot of nice issues about them; they final lengthy, forestall blisters, preserve your toes heat and dry, and don’t get smelly even after two full days of strolling.
Headwear
For strolling in summer season a cap or a hat is a must have merchandise on the Camino. Sporting a hat works higher for solar safety because it covers your neck as effectively. Sun shades are one other essential factor so as to add to your Camino packing record.
Males’s garments for the Camino


Underwear
Pack 2-3 pairs of underwear for the Camino. Most albergues have washing basins and washing strains you possibly can wash your underwear and socks every single day if it’s mandatory.
Garments for sleeping
If you happen to’re planning to remain in albergues with many different folks I’d recommend bringing a cushty sleeping outfit. A pair of sunshine cotton shorts and a T-shirt will work simply fantastic.
Flip-flops are an important factor to pack for the Camino. It’s an incredible feeling when after a protracted day of strolling you are taking off your mountaineering sneakers and placed on flip-flops. They’re nice to have for sporting in albergues, on the seaside, and outdoors in summer season.
Males’s clothes objects for the Camino packing record




Our prime extras to pack for the Camino
GPS watch
I acquired my first Garmin Fenix watch as a gift from Campbell 5 years in the past and since then I’ve been utilizing them lots once we go mountaineering, strolling, operating, or simply coaching within the gymnasium. It’s superb how a lot info you will get from it: distances, velocity, elevations, energy, coronary heart charge, restoration time, maps, and many others. They’re nice if you wish to preserve monitor of your Camino stroll e.g. each day distance, coronary heart charge, energy burned, and many others. You’ll be able to join them to your telephone or laptop computer and have easy accessibility to details about your previous walks and different actions.
Neck bag
We advise having a neck bag or a water-resistant pouch the place you possibly can preserve your paperwork, telephone, cash, and bank cards. At all times take it with you once you depart an albergue, most albergues don’t have lockers. We now have by no means had any points however all the time attempt to take care of our useful objects.
Kindle
Campbell all the time packs his Kindle once we go touring or mountaineering. It’s an important factor to have on the Camino particularly in the event you’re strolling alone. Within the evenings you’ll have loads of time to learn.
With the Kindle, you possibly can obtain as many books as you need. I’d recommend shopping for a Kindle Paperwhite on this case you received’t want further gentle for studying in the dead of night. If you happen to learn lots it may be value becoming a member of the Amazon Kindle limitless program to get free entry to a whole lot of 1000’s of e-books and audiobooks.
Journey lock
Some albergues have lockers however don’t have locks if you wish to retailer your valuables in there convey a journey lock with you.
Toiletries
First help package
You stroll previous a number of pharmacies every single day and can purchase some medication or plasters on the way in which. If it’s good to purchase one thing with a prescription you possibly can ask your physician again dwelling to ship it to you through e-mail and print it someplace.
First Assist package – you should buy a ready-made package, take out some pointless stuff, and add no matter further you want. This package has plasters, bandages, a security pin, scissors, even a mini stitching package, and plenty of different helpful objects.
Good plasters (toe plasters) are one thing you’ll want on the Camino. Tip! When you’ve got spots in your toes the place you often get blisters, attempt to forestall them by placing in some Vaseline and a plaster. If you have already got blisters you need to use Compeed blister plasters, particular plasters that you could put in your blisters. It reduces the ache and protects towards rubbing. There are particular blister prevention patches for sneakers as effectively. We’ve by no means used them our merino wool socks work nice for us however the opinions are fairly good.
Alcohol pads for disinfection.
Imodium – in case you will have some abdomen issues.
Anti-inflammatory – to cut back muscular ache and swelling, e.g. Ibuprofen.
Aspirin – in case you get a chilly or flu.


Paperwork to pack for the Camino de Santiago
A passport or an ID for European residents – you’ll want it for touring and checking in to albergues and lodges.
The Credential (Camino passport) is a small paper e-book along with your identify the place you gather stamps from albergues, lodges, church buildings, eating places, and many others. alongside the way in which. You will get a Credential in one of many Camino associations in your nation or on arrival in some albergues, info workplaces, or church buildings on the Camino. You want it to remain at public albergues (the place solely pilgrims are allowed to remain) and to get your Compostela certificates in Santiago.
The Compostela is a certificates that pilgrims get for finishing any route of the Camino de Santiago. To get it, you need to stroll not less than the final 100 km to Santiago.
If you happen to want sensible info for planning the pilgrimage try our submit that accommodates helpful suggestions for planning and strolling the Camino.
Greatest Camino guidebooks
Here’s a record of one of the best guidebooks (for my part) for various Camino de Santiago routes.
A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino de Santiago (Camino Francés): St. Jean Pied de Port • Santiago de Compostela, John Brierley, 2022
A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino Portugués Lisbon – Porto – Santiago: together with Camino Central, Variente Espiritual, Camino da Costa, & Senda Litoral, John Brierley, 2022
A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino Finisterre: Together with Muxía Circuit: Santiago ― Finisterre ― Muxía ― Santiago, John Brierley, 2022
A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino Inglés: The English Means also called the Celtic Camino: Ferrol & Coruña — Santiago, John Brierley, 2021
A Pilgrim’s Information to the Camino Sanabrés & Camino Invierno: Ourense or Ponferrada ― Lalín ― Santiago, John Brierley, 2021
Camino del Norte: Irún to Santiago alongside Spain’s Northern Coast (Village to Village Map Information), 2019
The Vía de la Plata and the Camino Sanabrés – A Information to the Camino from Sevilla to Santiago [2022 Edition
Camino de Santiago planning resources
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The pretty half of Stingy Nomads, responsible for all our land adventures (hiking, climbing, walking the Camino) and following them write-ups. Alya loves walking since she was a child, she prefers to walk 1000 km with a backpack rather than to do a 10 000 km road trip (actually any road trip). Alya is a big fan of Latin America, the Spanish language, and dancing. Every time we go away she desperately misses our dog Chile.
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