Letter Two · Preparing for the Camino

Camino Chronicles: Packing Your Way, Not Their Way

Your Camino. Your pace. Your way.

Hey you, it's me.

The second most asked question in my DMs is about packing. How much do I bring? What am I missing?

Those were my questions too. I asked on Instagram and Facebook. I asked again in the Camino groups. And I kept getting a different answer every time.

So I hear you, because I've been you. But instead of guessing, I wanted to actually pack, which is exactly what I'm doing right now, research it honestly, and bring you the best answer I can.

This letter is all about your backpack and what actually belongs in it. Not someone else's list. Not a packing checklist that tries to make everyone the same. Your Camino is yours, and your pack should fit you, your body, your route, your comfort, and your priorities.

Light enough to carry, complete enough to support you, and personal enough to feel like you.

Let's start with the most important part: the backpack itself.

Pick the Backpack for You

Before you start deciding what goes inside your backpack, make sure the backpack itself works for your body.

Size matters. Weight matters. Fit matters.

A pack that feels fine for twenty minutes in a store can feel very different after miles of walking. Try it loaded. Walk in it. Pay attention to your shoulders, hips, back, and how your body feels after an hour, not just after five minutes.

You do not need the biggest backpack. You need the backpack that fits your frame, your route, and the amount you can realistically carry.

People love to talk about ideal pack weight, but your body is the better measuring tool. Start as light as you reasonably can, then test it before Spain. If your pack starts changing the way you walk, hurting your shoulders, or draining your energy early, that is useful information.

If you're still unsure what size or style of backpack is right for you, go somewhere like REI and get fitted in person. You can try different packs, feel how they sit on your shoulders and hips, add some weight, walk around, and compare your options before you commit.

A backpack can look perfect online and still be completely wrong for your body.

• REI backpacking packs: rei.com/c/backpacking-packs

What Actually Goes In Your Pack

Now for what goes inside. Not a rigid checklist, just the honest basics, grouped so you can see it at a glance. Add what your body and your route ask for, and leave the rest.

• On your feet and body: broken-in shoes or trail runners, a few pairs of good socks, a rain layer, clothes you can layer up and shed, and a sun hat.
• Feet and first aid: blister tape or bandages before the blisters, a small personal kit, and any medications you take.
• Carry-day essentials: a refillable water bottle, snacks, sunscreen, your phone and charger, and a little cash.
• The pilgrim things: your credencial, the pilgrim passport you collect stamps in, and a scallop shell if it means something to you.
• Comfort and you: whatever helps you sleep, a journal, and one small thing that makes the whole pack feel like yours.

Pack for the pilgrim you are, not the one you think you should be.

Luggage and Backpack Transfers (Use Them If You Need Them)

You do not have to carry everything every day. Many pilgrims use luggage transfer services to send their main bag to the next accommodation. You carry what you need for the day. That is it.

I am using Caminofácil for my luggage transfers. They also offer daily backpack and luggage transport between accommodations, so you do not have to commit to carrying everything every single day.

• Caminofácil: caminofacil.net/en

If you change your mind along the way, that is okay. The Camino rewards flexibility. One easier day can be the reason you keep going the next.