My Camino de Santiago Packing List: What I Brought & What I’d Leave at Home

Packing for the Camino de Santiago is one of those things that seems pretty straightforward until you realize you’ll be carrying everything on your back for hours every single day. Before starting my six-day Camino along the Portuguese Route from Vigo to Santiago de Compostela, I thought I had packed relatively light. My backpack weighed around 6–7 kg with water, which didn’t sound that bad at first. After walking for eight or more hours a day, though, I started questioning every unnecessary item I had brought with me.

By Day 2, I basically wanted to ditch everything except my water. While there were plenty of things I was SO glad I packed, there were also things I never used, items I brought way too much of and a few things I would absolutely do differently next time.

Since I already shared my entire experience in my 6-Day Camino de Santiago Experience on the Portuguese Route, I wanted to create a separate Camino de Santiago packing list covering exactly what I brought, what I actually used and what I wish I had left at home. Hopefully, some of my packing mistakes will save your shoulders from making the same ones.

A Quick Note About My Camino

Before getting into my Camino packing list, it’s important to mention that I walked the Portuguese Route from Vigo to Santiago over six days and stayed in Airbnbs rather than traditional albergues or hostels. Most of our accommodations had washing machines, and surprisingly, they were very well equipped with things like shampoo, conditioner and soap. Some even left snacks, coffee and tea for us, which was such a nice surprise after spending the entire day walking.

Because we had access to laundry almost every night, I could have packed significantly fewer clothes than someone who doesn’t plan on doing laundry along the way. Your packing list will obviously depend on your route, accommodations, season and how many days you’re walking, but one lesson applies no matter what: everything you pack eventually has to be carried.

My Camino de Santiago Packing List at a Glance

Here’s the short version of what I’d consider packing again after completing my Camino:

What I Packed	Would I Bring It Again?
Hoka walking shoes	Yes — 100%
Wool socks	Yes
Lightweight walking clothes	Yes, but fewer
Hoodie/warm layer	Yes
Poncho/rain protection	Yes, just in case
Hat	Absolutely
Sunscreen	Absolutely
Vaseline	Yes — and I’d reapply it
Hydration bladder	Yes
Electrolytes/energy snacks	Yes, but fewer
Power bank	Yes, but a lighter one
Trekking poles	Depends on the person
First-aid supplies	Yes
Hand sanitizer	Yes
Mini toiletries	Yes
Universal adapter + cords	Yes
Bath in a Bag	Depending on accommodations
Small journal	No
Towel	No
Bar soap	No
Instant coffee	No
Six days of snacks	DEFINITELY no 😂

What Clothes I Packed for the Camino

For six days of walking, I brought two pairs of shorts, one pair of pants, two sports bras and one top. Looking back, I definitely could have packed less. Because we had access to washing machines in our Airbnbs, I really only needed one pair of shorts, one pair of pants, one sports bra and one top.

You’re walking, sweating, washing your clothes and putting them back on again. Nobody cares if you’re repeating an outfit on the Camino. If I did the same route again and knew I’d have laundry facilities, I’d focus on bringing a tiny number of lightweight, quick-drying pieces rather than packing a different outfit for each day.

One thing I didn’t bring but ended up buying was a hoodie. I had originally packed a poncho for rain but didn’t really have a proper warm layer, and the mornings were chillier than I expected. I ended up buying a basic black hoodie from Primark, and it was absolutely worth carrying. Ironically, I carried my poncho the entire Camino and never actually used it because it didn’t rain once. I’d still bring lightweight rain protection again, though, because I definitely wouldn’t count on getting that lucky twice.

Hoka Shoes: One of My Best Camino Purchases

One of the things I was happiest about buying before my Camino was a pair of Hoka shoes; I bought their Hoka Clifton 10. Several of my friends loved them, and after seeing so many positive reviews while researching shoes for long-distance walking, I decided to finally try them for myself. It was my first time wearing Hokas, and they genuinely felt like I was walking on a cloud.

Funny enough, I accidentally ordered a slightly bigger size than I normally wear, but that ended up working in my favor. I wore thick wool socks, and my feet also became swollen from walking for so many hours each day, so having the extra space was actually helpful. If I walked the Camino again, Hokas would absolutely be coming with me.

+ Shop my exact pair of Hoka Shoes here.

Tip: Break In Your Shoes Before the Camino!

One thing I cannot emphasize enough is to break in whatever shoes you decide to wear BEFORE starting the Camino. My friend Geleen ended up with a lot of blisters, and one of the problems was that she hadn’t really broken in her shoes beforehand.

You don’t want Day 1 of your Camino to also be the first time you discover what your shoes feel like after walking for several hours. Wear them on long walks at home first so you can figure out whether they rub anywhere, whether you need different socks and how your feet feel after several hours in them.

Wool Socks

The wool socks I brought were another packing decision I was happy with. Mine were thicker than regular socks, which worked particularly well because I had some extra room in my shoes. They were comfortable during the long walking days and especially helpful once my feet started swelling.

Good socks are one area where I wouldn’t necessarily try to save weight by bringing something super thin. Your feet are doing most of the work on the Camino, so taking care of them becomes VERY important very quickly.

+ Shop my exact wool socks here.

Vaseline for Preventing Blisters

Before our Camino, we read that applying a layer of Vaseline to your feet before walking could help reduce friction and prevent blisters. We tried it, and it actually did help. Where we went wrong was applying it in the morning and thinking we were done for the day.

Geleen eventually developed quite a few blisters, partly because of her shoes, and I started getting them toward the end of the Camino as well. Looking back, I wish I had reapplied it throughout our longer walking days instead of just thinking the morning was fine, lesson learned.

+ Shop for vaseline here.

A Hat and Sunscreen Are MUSTS

I normally don’t wear hats very often, but my hat became one of my Camino essentials. You’re spending hours outside every day, and there are stretches where you’re completely exposed to the sun. Having something protecting my face helped tremendously and also kept me from feeling quite as hot throughout the day.

Sunscreen is equally important. Even if you’re walking during a cooler season, you’re still outside for hours at a time. I’d recommend bringing a smaller bottle that’s easy to reach so you can reapply it throughout the day instead of having to unpack your entire backpack every time.

Shop the Essentials I Brought With Me

My 2-Liter Hydration Bladder

For water, I brought a 2-liter hydration bladder, which is basically a water reservoir that sits inside your backpack with a drinking tube attached. It allowed me to sip water while walking instead of constantly stopping to pull out a bottle.

When completely full, this was obviously one of the heaviest things I was carrying. Two liters of water is around two kilograms of weight, so you definitely notice it. However, water is also one of the things I would never compromise on just to make my backpack lighter. I loved being able to drink throughout the walk without stopping, and I would definitely use a hydration bladder again.

+ Shop my exact 2L hydration bladder here.

Snacks, Energy Bars and Electrolytes

This is where I made one of my biggest packing mistakes. Before we started, I bought a LOT of snacks: energy bars, protein bars, dates, dried mango, gummies and other little things to keep us going throughout the day. Having snacks and quick sources of energy was absolutely useful. Carrying enough snacks for practically the entire Camino was not.

We quickly realized that the towns where we finished each day had grocery stores where we could easily stock up for the next day. Instead of carrying six days’ worth of food on my back, I could have brought enough for Day 1 and bought whatever I needed each evening. When you’re trying to shave weight off your backpack, even a collection of little protein bars and snack bags starts adding up.

If I walked the Camino again, I’d still bring energy snacks and definitely electrolytes, but I’d only carry what I needed for the next day or two. This was one of those packing lessons that seemed SO obvious once we were already walking.

The Backpack I Would NOT Use Again

This was probably my biggest gear mistake. I used my augustnoa backpack because I already owned it and, quite frankly, I didn’t want to buy another backpack specifically for the Camino. I love it for regular travel and everyday use, but it isn’t a proper hiking backpack designed to distribute weight across your body for hours of walking.

I wasn’t able to properly use the additional support strap, which meant a lot of the weight ended up sitting directly on my shoulders. After hours and hours of walking, my shoulders were HURTING. Did I survive and make it more than 100 km all the way to Santiago with it? Yes, yes I did. Would I recommend doing the same thing? Absolutely not.

If I did another Camino, one of the first things I’d invest in would be a lightweight hiking backpack with proper shoulder, chest and hip support. When you’re carrying several kilograms for eight or more hours every day, how that weight is distributed matters way more than I realized before starting.

Here are some I recommend and wish I brought instead – [and it all depends on how long you plan on doing the camino, if it’s for a short one like ours, the smaller the better]:

+ Shop: Hikelite 28 Backpack by Osprey, Unigear Hydration Pack Backpack, Osprey Tempest 33, The North Face Borealis Mini Backpack

Power Bank

A power bank was another Camino essential for me because I used my phone constantly for navigation, photos and other things throughout the day. I had recently purchased a new power bank that had more capacity than my older one, but it was also significantly bulkier and heavier.

At home, that extra weight seemed insignificant. On the Camino, I noticed it. I would absolutely bring a power bank again, but next time I’d look for something lightweight that could still keep my phone charged throughout a full walking day.

+ Shop my exact charger here, and if you want a less bulkier version, this one is another I recommend!

Trekking Poles: Helpful or Unnecessary?

We didn’t originally start the Camino with trekking poles. We ended up buying them on Day 2 because we thought they might make walking easier, and this is definitely one item where Geleen and I had very different experiences.

They were helpful for her, but I personally found them more tiring. Using trekking poles meant my arms were suddenly involved in the workout too, and considering my upper-body strength isn’t exactly my strongest asset, I felt like I was using MORE energy instead of conserving it. I eventually preferred walking without them.

This really comes down to personal preference. A lot of people on the Camino use trekking poles and love them, particularly on hills or uneven terrain, while others don’t feel like they need them. If you can, I’d test them on a longer walk before your Camino rather than automatically assuming you need to buy a pair.

First-Aid Kit and Medications

Geleen carried most of our first-aid supplies, while I brought the medications I normally travel with for things like headaches, stomach issues and allergies, along with some Band-Aids. I would definitely recommend carrying a small first-aid kit, particularly anything you might need to deal with blisters.

You don’t need to bring an entire pharmacy with you, especially when you’ll be passing through towns, but I personally always travel with the medications I know I might need. When you’re already exhausted after walking all day, the last thing you want to do is search for something basic that you could have easily carried with you.

Bath in a Bag

One of the more unusual things I brought was a Bath in a Bag, and I actually think it can be really useful on the Camino. When you’re walking for 8+ hours a day, there may be times when you just want to quickly freshen up but there isn’t a convenient shower nearby, and you don’t necessarily want to wait until you finally reach your accommodation.

You only need to add a little water to activate the sponge, which turns soapy and lets you clean and freshen up without carrying a full bottle of body wash. It can also be useful if you’re camping, staying somewhere without easy shower access or simply need a quick refresh along the way.

Since we stayed in Airbnbs with showers, it wasn’t something I desperately needed every day, but I still think it’s a handy Camino item depending on your accommodation and how long you’re spending on the trail each day.

+ Shop the Bath in a Bag here.

Toiletries and Hand Sanitizer

For my regular toiletries, I kept everything as small as possible: mini toothpaste, toothbrush, deodorant, lotion and the other basics I needed. I’d definitely recommend choosing travel-size products wherever possible because this is another category where five little things can suddenly become more weight than you expected.

Hand sanitizer was also a definite yes for me. You’re walking all day, stopping in different places, eating snacks and using public facilities, so this is one tiny item I’d absolutely keep in my backpack.

Universal Travel Adapter and Charging Cables

If you’re traveling to Spain or Portugal from outside Europe, make sure you have the appropriate plug adapter. I travel with a universal adapter anyway, so this was something I already had with me.

I’d also bring the charging cables you need and potentially one lightweight backup. One of Geleen’s cables actually broke during the Camino, and luckily I had another one she could use. I wouldn’t bring a giant collection of electronics and cords, but having one backup saved us in that situation.

+ Shop Universal travel adapters, also check out my latest Travel Essentials blog post for more options.

Do You Need Cash on the Camino?

I didn’t find myself using cash nearly as much as I thought I might. In the cities and towns where we stayed, we could generally pay by card, so I wouldn’t carry a huge amount of cash with me.

There were a few occasions when cash was useful, particularly if we wanted to buy small souvenirs or get some of the unique Camino stamps along the way. I’d still carry a small amount of euros just in case, but I personally wouldn’t want to walk around with a large amount of cash.

Things I Packed for the Camino But Never Used

A Towel

I brought a towel specifically for the walk, thinking I might want something to sit on during breaks or use to wipe off sweat along the way. However, I never ended up using it. Eventually, I got tired of carrying the extra weight and ditched it. If you’re staying in hostels or albergues, check whether towels are included before deciding to leave yours at home, but with our accommodation setup, mine was completely unnecessary.

Bar Soap

I also brought a bar of soap because I worried that one of our accommodations wouldn’t provide any. Not only did all of our Airbnbs have soap, but surprisingly, most had shampoo and conditioner too. Some of the places we stayed even left coffee, tea and snacks specifically for guests, which was such a nice touch after a long day of walking.

Maybe accommodations along the Camino are particularly accustomed to exhausted pilgrims arriving with nothing left in them. Either way, my emergency soap traveled all the way to Santiago without doing much.

Instant Coffee

Apparently, I was also very concerned about the possibility of being stranded somewhere without caffeine because I packed instant coffee packets. I didn’t need those either. Our Airbnbs had coffee, and we could stop for coffee along the route, so I would absolutely leave these at home next time.

My Small Journal

I had this cute idea that I’d sit down at the end of every walking day and write about my Camino experience in a little journal. In reality, after walking all day, I ended up typing things into the Notes app on my phone instead.

If you’re someone who genuinely loves physically journaling, then bring one. For me, it ended up being another small piece of unnecessary weight. The romantic image of me journaling about life after walking 20 km was apparently much more appealing before I actually walked the 20 km.

How Heavy Was My Camino Backpack?

With water, I believe my backpack weighed somewhere around 6–7 kg. At first, that didn’t seem like a ridiculous amount of weight, but the Camino completely changed my perspective on what “heavy” means.

You’re not carrying your backpack for an hour. You’re carrying it for hours and hours, sometimes walking for most of the day. Then you wake up the next morning, put it back on and do the same thing again. After several consecutive days, you start feeling every unnecessary item you decided to pack.

That’s why seemingly tiny things matter. A journal isn’t heavy. Neither is an extra shirt, a towel, a handful of protein bars or a slightly bigger power bank. Put all of those things together with your clothes, toiletries, electronics and two liters of water, though, and suddenly your shoulders are asking why you thought you needed instant coffee. 😂

What I Would Pack If I Walked the Camino Again

If I walked the same six-day Portuguese Camino again, I would keep my packing list considerably simpler. I’d bring a proper lightweight hiking backpack, my Hoka shoes, a few pairs of good wool socks, one pair of shorts, one pair of lightweight pants, one walking top, one sports bra, a hoodie or lightweight warm layer, a poncho, hat, sunscreen and Vaseline.

For the practical items, I’d bring my hydration bladder, a lightweight power bank, phone charger, universal adapter, hand sanitizer, mini toiletries, necessary medications and a very small first-aid/blister kit. I’d also bring electrolytes and enough energy snacks for the first day, then restock along the route instead of carrying everything from the beginning. I’d keep a small amount of cash on me and, of course, bring my passport/ID and Camino credential.

And yes, I’d leave the towel, soap, instant coffee and journal at home.

My Biggest Camino Packing Lesson: Less Really Is More

Before walking the Camino, I logically understood why everyone tells you to keep your backpack light. After walking more than 100 km carrying mine, I really understood it.

Everything adds up, and something that seems insignificant when you’re standing in your bedroom packing becomes considerably more annoying when you’ve been carrying it for eight hours. By Day 2, my entire body hurt and I genuinely wanted to get rid of almost everything except my water.

If you’re planning your own Camino de Santiago packing list, my biggest advice is to pack for what you know you’ll actually use rather than every possible situation that might happen. Also think about what you can buy along the way. You don’t necessarily need to leave your starting point carrying everything you’ll use for the entire trip.

Despite the heavy backpack, sore shoulders, eventual blisters and several packing mistakes, I still made it more than 100 km all the way to Santiago. 🥹 And yes, I would absolutely do another Camino, I’d just do it with a MUCH lighter backpack next time.

Planning your own Camino? Read my full 6-Day Camino de Santiago Experience: Portuguese Route for our route, accommodations and what walking more than 100 km to Santiago was actually like.

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