Packing List: El Camino de Santiago

Here’s a list of all the items I brought (and/or recommend) when I hiked the Camino Frances route of el Camino de Santiago this May.

(Note: I’ll hyperlink the items in this list to my reviews as I write them; otherwise, the links are to product pages. Remember, you can probably find items less expensive than retail price – check the product site, but also outdoor retailers, Amazon, and thrift shops. Here’s my post breaking down my el Camino finances, gear included.)  

Pack:

• Gregory Jade 28 pack (includes rain cover)

Clothes:

• Jacket: The North Face Thermoball Full Zip Jacket (this goes with me everywhere)
• Mid-weight Base Layer: Icebreaker Merino 260 Top Long Sleeve Half-Zip
• Shirt: Short sleeve moisture-wicking shirt (I bought a Brooks race shirt at the thrift store; based on my AT experience, I knew I would be throwing it away after a month due to hiker funk. Product link is to general top.)
• Shirt: Ex Officio Give-N-Go Shelf Bra Camisole tank
• Sports Bra: Patagonia Women’s Barely Bra (also brought along a cheap sports bra in case my good one was stolen or lost)
• Underwear: Ex Officio Give-N-Go Bikini Brief (I go commando about 50% of the time, but I suggest bringing two pairs of these. One of mine got accidentally stolen off a clothes line. #knickersgotknicked)
• Shorts: UnderArmour 7″ Compression Shorts (because I do not have a thigh gap)
• Pants: Black yoga/sport capris (some cheap brand I bought years ago; product link is to general capris)
• Pants: Women’s NTS Mid 250 Pattern Bottoms (worn at night and when I was doing laundry)
• Ballcap
• Buff
• Socks: Injinji Liner Crew Socks (2 pair)
• Socks: Darn Tough Micro Crew Cushion Sock (2 pair)
• Shoes: Cheap flip flops for the shower
• Shoes: La Sportiva Ultra Raptor Trail-Running shoes
• Shoes: Superfeet Green insoles
• Rain gear: Backpacking poncho I found in a hiker box in Monson, Maine
• Dirty Girl Gaiters (flames, of course)

Health and Hygiene (definitely need more things than on the AT):

• Clothes pins and safety pins (for hanging laundry on lines and on pack)
• Bar laundry soap
• REI Co-op Multi Towel Lite X-Large (doubled as a blanket if the albergue didn’t provide one)
• Sawyer Permethrin Repellent (coated my backpack and sleep sack before I left)
• Toiletries: (travel size as much as possible) sunscreen, tiger balm, chapstick, hand sanitizer, shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, toothpaste; toothbrush; comb, emergency toilet paper, Febreeze (for hiker funk on pack)
• First aid: needle, thread, bandaids
• Dr. Scholl’s Moleskin Plus Padding – 3 Strips

Sleep:

• Eye mask and ear plugs (must-haves)
• Cocoon Hyperlight Air-Core Pillow
• Sea to Summit Premium Silk Liner (no need for a sleeping bag)

Technology:

• REI Co-op Adapter Plug E106 – Europe and Asia
• Cell phone and charger
• Headphones
• Nikon Coolpix S7000 camera
• SPOT Gen3 GPS tracker (didn’t use, but helps my mother worry less)
• Black Diamond Cosmo Headlamp (I have an older model)
• Batteries for headlamp

Miscellaneous:

• Sea to Summit Ultra-Sil Stuff Sack
• REI Co-op RFID Money Belt
• Journal
• Pen
• Swiss army classic knife (bought in St. Jean Pied de Port since my backpack was carry-on)
• Sunglasses (just cheap plastic polarized pair I’ve had a while; link is to a pair I want!)
• Platypus SoftBottle Water Bottle with DuoLock Cap – 34 fl. oz.
• Shell and credential (I brought a shell from home, but you can make a donation and get one at the pilgrim office. You also purchase your credential there; it’s like a pilgrim passport you need to have to stay at the albergues and get discounts at restaurants and museums.)
• Emergency Clif bar (everyone knows Sierra Trail Mix kind is the best!)
• Watch face (cheap watch with straps cut off so it fits better in hip pocket)

Optional (purchased at the H&M in Burgos when I realized I would be spending way more time in civilization than previously thought and wanted to look decent-ish in town and not stick out so much):

• Long sleeve cardigan
• T-shirt
• Flats

You’ll notice there are items in the picture that aren’t on this list. I always do a shakedown and CUT CUT CUT anything I probably don’t need. I encourage you to do the same!