There are dozens (more likely hundreds) of resources on the web for what you should pack for a Camino pilgrimage. So why am I doing another? Well, because what you bring is very personal and while I’ve seen lots of good advice, I haven’t yet seen a packing list that matches exactly what I intend to take along. My objective isn’t to tell you what to bring, but rather what I chose to take and why and the corollary of what I decided to leave behind.
There is an adage that we pack our fears. We take along things we MIGHT need, as opposed to the essentials. On a Camino hike – unlike a wilderness thru-hike – you are passing through towns daily. So rather than bring along a bunch of “just in case” items, the objective is to stick to the things you know you’ll need and make purchases along the way as needed.
The general rule for Camino hikers is to carry no more than 10% of your body weight – excluding water and snacks. For me, that translates to 7.8 kilograms. I hope to come in under that number so my total pack weight with water will be under that number.
I will cover my packing list in a series of entries covering the following topics.
- Daily wear
- Outer wear/layers
- Pack and related items
- Electronics
- Toiletries
- Sleeping
- Miscellaneous
Full disclosure: I live a few miles from the Columbia Sportswear headquarters, and their employee store has free access for seniors every Tuesday. You’ll see a lot of Columbia and Mountain Hardwear gear on my list because I can purchase it deeply discounted. That said, I think their products are fantastic and would not buy them simply because they were cheap. I just consider myself lucky to be getting great gear for a great price.
More disclosure: while I didn’t set out to monetize this site, I have registered as an Amazon associate and if you click on a link on one of my posts and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission.