The big 3 things to take for any hike is: shoes, backpack and sleeping gear. The general rule everyone keeps saying is that all of your gear in total should not be more than 10% of your bodyweight. Ideally that also includes water that you will be carrying.
I have seen what happens to the feet and knees of pilgrims that are packing twice that much with them. A heavy backpack and wrong shoe choice are common reasons why people quit the Camino.
If you really do not know how to pack less, then take 2 backpacks and have the big one sent forward to your next albergue for 5 Euros (https://www.elcaminoconcorreos.com/en/). Carry only snacks, water and a jacket in your daypack in that case.
Shoes
I have done a separate blog post going into detail on shoes. My general recommendation is to wear boots between November and February. March, April and October are for hiking shoes. Warm months like May, June, July, August and September are for trail runners. I prefer shoes to be non-waterproof so I could comfortably walk longer distances. Instead, I have one pair of waterproof socks in my backpack for those crazy rain days.
Backpack
Most pilgrims use around a 32L to 40L size backpack. It really depends on the season you are hiking, because something like a sleeping back will take a ton of space inside the bag.
I did my last Camino with the 24L backpack above and still had spare room to carry some snacks in the belt pocket and side net. I am more of an extreme example, since I do not carry a sleeping bag with me in the Summer and rather find comfort with other combinations.
Sleeping gear
You will want a sleeping bag from October to April. May, June, July, August and September when most pilgrims are doing the Camino a sleeping bag will not be necessary. A sleeping bag liner or a sleeping blanket will be fine.
Every day on the trail you will finish up in an algergue, hostel or hotel depending on your choice and budget. These places are all usually equipped with warm extra blankets for pilgrims in case they feel cold. Just ask.
My first Camino I did mid summer with a sleeping bag liner and it was somewhat cold inside with just underwear on. The second Camino I took with me a sleeping bag and felt too hot in most of the ablergues in May. The third Camino I chose to use a sleeping banket combined with a set of clothes for sleeping. This is by far the best option. It takes hardly any room in your backpack and the clothes can be used as part of your evening wear.
I use a silk and merino wool mix blanket. Silk will keep the bedbugs away from you and regulates body temperature really well. The blanket adds only 3 to 5 degrees of warmth, therefore you will need to have some additional clothes on. My choice is to have thin socks, long leggings and a t-shirt additionally for sleeping. Just add a pair of hiking shorts and you can go around the village in the same setup.
Hiking poles
Cheap flight tickets in the EU have only cabin luggage without extra fee. So no hiking poles are allowed. You can have poles in the drop-off luggage if you really feel like you need to carry your own pair around, but it will cost you quite a lot. Its cheaper just to buy a pair of poles at your starting destination.
In Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port there is a pilgrim store in the old town where you can get your seashell and classical wooden walking stick. In Irun, Pamplona, Leon, Seville, Lisbon or Porto you will find a sporting goods store with a pair of modern sticks for sale.
There is actually a good chance that an albergue you are passing by will have sticks that are left behind by other piglrims. Just ask the hospitaliero person if there are any pairs that are okay to take. There is so much stuff people donate or forget during their Camino that others can use.
Other stuff
When it comes to clothes you will wear then that will come best with personal experience. You will need a pilgrim passport with you for stamps. Those you can buy at churches or albergues for 2 Euros. Hygene and medical needs you can easily buy along the way. There will be several pharmacies you pass every day. Please do not take something like jeans with you as “airport clothes”, because you will be carrying useless clothes for hiking with you for hundreds of kilometers. Keep it minimalistic, but do not forget to protect yourself and your backpack from rain.
My packing list for Camino Norte in May
Daily wear (1205 grams / 2.7 pounds)
- 1x Altra Torin 5 trail runners – 510 grams
- 1x TCA Waterproof running jacket – 255 grams
- 1x TCA Flyweight running shorts – 120 grams
- 1x Under Armor Vent 2.0 synthetic T-shirt – 80 grams
- 1x Under Armor Heatgear boxers – 75 grams
- 2x Bridgedale Train Run lightweight merino wool socks – 2×65 grams
- 1x Buff Coolnet UV neck gaiter – 35 grams
Backpack items (2654 grams / 5.9 pounds)
- 1x Salewa Ultra Train 22L backpack – 430 grams
- 1x Plastic water bottle 1L – 5 grams
Evening / sleep clothes
- 1x Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme Liner – 400 grams
- 1x Adidas Men’s Entrada 22 Training Pants – 280 grams
- 1x Xero Z-trail sandals – 240 grams
- 1x Jack Wolfskin Infinite stretch fleece long sleeve – 195 grams
- 1x Jack Wolfskin Prelight tanktop – 80 grams
- 1x Under Armor Heatgear boxers – 75 grams
- 1x Bridgedale Train Run lightweight merino wool socks – 65 grams
- 1x Osprey Dry Sack 6L – 35 grams
Rain / sun
- 1x Doppler Zero umbrella – 100 grams
- 1x Bridgedale waterproof lightweight socks – 90 grams
Electronics
Hygene
- 1x Sea to Summit Airlite XL microfiber towel – 68 grams
- 1x Dry Soap in a can – 60 grams
- 1x Small set of different sized plasters – 30 grams
- 1x Nail scissors – 30 grams
- 1x Toothpaste 20ml – 25 grams
- 1x Toothbrush and travel cover – 20 grams
Small stuff
- 1x Passport – 42 grams
- 1x Camino seashell – 34 grams
- 1x Camino passport – 23 grams
- 2x Plastic grocery bag – 5 grams
- 1x Small wired headphones – 3 grams
- 2x Pairs of earplugs – 4 grams
+ Food & Water
Camino Pilgrim 
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