Tag: packing

Camino Francés, Spring 2025

I have several family members who did the Camino before me, so I took their advice rather than doing my own research. My packing list is heavily based on the list my mom gave me, with small changes, such as the addition of EpiPens and the elimination of an emergency blanket, headlamp, and cork ball. (Still not sure what that last one is supposed to be for.) It’s a pretty tight list. I borrowed a lot of the items from my mom, aunt, and sister, plus one shirt from my brother that I’m pretty sure he still doesn’t know I took.

I’ve crossed off a few small items that I didn’t use or wouldn’t pack next time. An explanation of each of those is below the list along with some things I bought (or should have bought) on the trail. Obviously there’s a lot of personal preference involved, so take that into consideration if you decide to use this as a packing list for your own Camino.

Things to Consider

Season – I started my Camino in April, 2025. My family members who did it previously all started in September which is comparable weather and temperature-wise. Summer or winter would be totally different games.

Weight – My total pack weight was about 7 kg (15 lbs.), not including the clothes I was wearing of course.

Personal Health – I’m allergic to everything, so it was very important for me to carry EpiPens.

Gender – If you’re a dude, you probably don’t need to bring a bra or pads.

Luxury Items – Every pilgrim carries something that they know they can live without but don’t really want to. You’ll probably spot mine on the list.

Original Packing List

Main Pack:

• Backpack (Osprey Sirrus 34)
• Pack Liner Compactor Bag (a big plastic bag)
• Sleeping Bag
• Water Bottle
• Quick-dry Towel
• S-hook (for hanging toiletry bag)
• Plastic Bags
• Zip Bags
• Clothes Line
• Clothes Pins
• Safety Pins
• Grocery Bag (ultralight foldable Ikea bag)
• First Aid Kit – Alcohol Wipes, Band-aids, Magnesium, Allergy Medicine (Benadryl and 2 Epi Pens)
• Nuun Electrolyte Tablets (4 containers)
• Small Ultralight Backpack (to carry around town after checking in to lodging)
• Packing Cubes (for organization)
• Electronics Charging Cube/Converter
• Kindle
• Kindle Charger
• Phone Charger
• Journal
• Pen
• Stone (to take to the Cruz de Ferro)
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Sandals (Tevas)
• Shower Flip-flops (AKA thongs)
• Hiking Shoes
• Puffy Jacket
• Rain Poncho and Cord
• Windbreaker
• Mid-layer Jacket
• Hiking Pants (2)
• UV-blocking Over Shirt
• Quick-dry T-Shirts (2)
• Wool Socks (4 pairs)
• Toe Socks (1 pair)
• Quick-dry Underwear (4)
• Bra
• Buff
• Jammies (AKA Pajamas)
• Toiletry Bag
• Shampoo Bar
• Conditioner Bar
• Body Wash
• Toothbrush
• Toothpaste
• Dental Floss
• Face Moisturizer
• Deodorant
• Nail File
• Nail Clippers
• Sunblock
• Vaseline
• Hair Ties
• Menstrual Pads

Fanny Pack (AKA Bum Bag):

• Fanny Pack
• Passport
• Credit and ATM Cards
• Cash (Euros)
• Coin Purse
• Phone
• Chapstick
• Tissues
• Wet Wipes
• Hand Sanitizer/Soap
• Bobby Pins

Items I Wouldn’t Pack Again

Nuun Electrolyte Tablets (4 containers) – I did use these, but they were heavy and I don’t particularly enjoy the taste. In Spain there is a mineral drink called Aquarius that is delicious and available everywhere. If you order water, they’re generally going to bring a bottle and charge you for it, so you might as well have an Aquarius.

Kindle and Kindle Charger – My Kindle stopped charging very early on the trip which turned out to be because the charging cube was dying. Generally I prefer to read off of an E Ink screen, but I downloaded the Kindle app on my phone and it was fine as a short term solution.

Buff – I encountered wind, but it wasn’t cold or harsh enough for me to ever put this on.

Shampoo and Conditioner Bars – I used these once before I lost them. I washed my hair with body wash a few times and didn’t stress about it since I was wearing a hat all the time. If I ever do a long through-hike again I will have my hair tightly braided so I don’t have to deal with it.

Sunblock – I put it on my face a few times before realizing that it was unnecessary. I don’t burn easily and the sun was not very harsh even when it was out. If I had needed it, I could have easily bought some.

Items I Bought (or Should Have)

Pilgrim Passport – Most important item! I got mine at the start, but learned that some people got theirs in their home country.

Trekking Poles – I should have bought these at the start, or at least any other point along the trail that I had the opportunity.

Pocket Knife – This would have come in handy to open snacks and other miscellaneous things.

Zinc Tablets – I bought some when I got a cold in Pamplona. Zinc is actually better for your immune system than Vitamin C. Look it up if you don’t believe me.

Compeed – A blister treatment patch I tried before I discovered that needle and thread is the one true way. Seriously, don’t waste your money.

Needle and Thread – Absolutely necessary for treating blisters. I was given mine in Sahagún by a nice pilgrim named Pedro.

Lighter – To sterilize the needle. Very important to prevent infection.

Small Scissors – To cut the thread.

Painkillers – I thought I was a big baby until I found out some people were only making it through each day because they were hopped up on meds. I’m allergic to most painkillers except Tylenol. The equivalent available in Spain is Paracetamol.

Eye Drops – I picked some up at a pharmacy in Galicia when my eyes got really itchy due to seasonal allergies.

Items Restocked/Replaced

Toe Socks – I already had one pair but I bought another at a hiking store when I got blisters between my toes.

Journal – I started with a thin, ultralight journal from REI which I filled up. I bought a cute little Camino-themed one at a gift shop.

Pen – My pen ran out of ink, so I bought the only one I could find at another gift shop.

Toothpaste – “Travel size” doesn’t seem to be a concept they recognize in Spain, so when my 1 ounce tube ran out, I had to buy a huge one.

Body wash – The best option when I lost mine was another bar. Later I bought a small container of liquid soap at an albergue, but, like the toothpaste, travel size wasn’t available in any stores I saw.

Vaseline – I only brought a tiny amount, but I got a larger, partially-used tub from an exchange box at an albergue.

Tissues – I used these up really fast and quickly developed the habit of stuffing my pockets with toilet paper.

Hiking Shoes – I went through three different pairs of shoes. It’s a long story, but the moral is be very careful what shoes you buy.