Every forum recommends carrying no more than 10% of your body weight on the Camino. While “letting go” has been my mantra for the last 3 years, deciding on 16 pounds of gear for all types of weather was particularly challenging. At first, I thought it would be a good idea to shed a few pounds during my eight weeks of training. It made sense that I would be used to carrying the added weight. But the training made me hungry! I also thought I could keep my gear to a minimum and not need the full 10%, but last minute reports of bad weather caused me to panic and throw in a couple of extra items.
Wendy’s List:
Brierley’s Guide Book (this is heavy so may be the first thing to go)
Headlamp
Rain poncho
Emergency TP
Small bottle of liquid laundry soap
Earplugs
Extra pair of glasses
2 pairs zip-off pants, one pair base layer pants
Toiletries and medicine
Quick-dry towel
Visor with headband
2 buffs, 1 handkerchief
Personal ID, cash, cards and Pilgram’s Credential
Compressible pillow (Ok, not necessary but I have a bad neck!)
Silk sleeping bag liner
Scrubba for laundry
2 sport bras
iPad, iPhone and various chargers (We’ll need to work.)
Hooded jacket
Long-sleeve shirt, long-sleeve base layer, 2 short-sleeve wicking shirts
3 pairs of socks, 3 pairs underwear
Flip-flops for shower
Chaco MJ’s for evenings and for a change
Brooks trail runners – forgot to put in photo as they were on my feet!
36L backpack and nylon string bag for evenings
Not pictured – hiking poles, because they were packed away in the suitcase we are checking with our liquids as well as clothes for after the Camino. We’ll send the suitcase ahead to wait for us in Santiago de Compostela.
I love my Boy Scout! If I weren’t 100% confident that he is prepared for any situation, I may be too scared to embark on this journey. While walking this pilgrimage solo has some appeal, like solitude, reflection, facing challenges, I can’t imagine not sharing this experience with my best friend.
Ray’s List:
36 L Backpack
Nylon string pack for evenings
Teva’s for back-up and evenings
Salomon hiking shoes
Cheap shower shoes
iPad with keyboard case
iPhone
Solar charger
Various charger
Headlamp
2 handkerchiefs and 1 buff
AA patch to be sewn on in his spare time
1 long-sleeve shirt, 3 short-sleeve nylon polos
3 pairs underwear and 3 socks
2 pairs shorts, 1 pair zip-off pants (packed in baggies before photo – my bad!)
1 jacket, 1 rain poncho
Quick-dry towel
Extra baggies
Plastic sheeting (in case we need to set our packs down on mud)
Gloves and hat
Blow-up pillow
Sleeping bag liner and nylon sleep sheet
Various ID’s, cash and cards
Pilgram’s credential, pen light, pen
Plastic jar with first-aid supplies
Plastic jar with clothes pins, rope, carabiners
Knife
Container with earbuds and earplugs
Extra pair of glasses and sunglasses
Toiletries in tackle box
Total weight – 22 lbs, 11.5% of his body weight. He tells me he has items marked for dumping if it becomes too much of a burden. He also reminds me that he wandered around New Mexico for 2 weeks with our son on a Boy Scout High Adventure carrying 50 pounds on his back, but that was 10 years ago!
Buen Camino dear friends! You have worked hard to prepare and we know your experience will be amazing and that there is nothing like your own Camino Experience. It is a lifelong memory for us and we’ll be for you. We look forward to following along from afar!! Buen Camino mis Amigos y Dios te bendigas!! Bill and Gina Brick
?? It will be great!!
Hi, thanks for your blog, I enjoy reading your experiences on the camino. I am fussing about packing too much.
Can you please tell me
What is
nylon string bag for evenings??? Both of you brought it for what purpose?
And did you bright a sleeping bag???
Thanks, would really appreciate your help. Juliet
P.s. I am walking the same route in September.
Hi Juliet! Thanks for reading the blog.
We bought the nylon string bags for $2 each, just a simple backpack to carry our credentials, electronics and $, things we didn’t want to leave in the albergue. Ray ended up purchasing a bag in Saint Jean that he wore over his shoulder. He liked the shoulder bag better and you can see it in many of the photos. Our friend Jeri wore a fanny pack on the front which worked well also.
I did not want to carry a sleeping bag because it put me over the 10% of my weight recommendation. I did wear by leggings and coat to bed a few times when blankets were not provided. Ray wished that he had a sleeping bag and would take one with him again.
Hope that helps. Buen Camino!