Camino de Santiago: What You Actually Need to Pack — Honest Lessons From My First Camino
Key Takeaways
- Your backpack and shoes matter more than almost anything else.
- A good night’s sleep is survival, not luxury.
- Waterproof gear matters more than extra clothes.
- Most people overpack for their first Camino.
- Recovery items for your feet are more important than “just in case” gadgets.
- Quick-dry clothing changes everything.
- You do not need to carry huge amounts of food on popular Camino routes.
- The Camino teaches you how little you actually need to feel alive.
Why Most First-Time Pilgrims Overpack
Before your first Camino, it feels like the biggest challenge is forgetting something important.
You read packing lists, watch YouTube videos, save recommendations from experienced pilgrims, and slowly begin to believe you need almost everything: a sleeping bag, towel, trekking poles, medical kit, rain gear, backup shoes, extra clothes, cosmetics, and endless “just in case” items.
Then the Camino starts — and you quickly realize preparation is not about bringing more. It’s about understanding what actually supports your body, sleep, feet, mood, and sense of safety day after day.
I walked around 25–35 kilometers daily on my first Camino. Some things became lifesavers, some were completely useless, and some I will absolutely buy before my next route.
What Are the Two Most Important Things on the Camino?
If I had to simplify everything into two items, they would be:
- your backpack
- your shoes
These two things can either save your Camino or ruin it.
How Should a Camino Backpack Fit?
Your backpack does not need to be expensive, but it must fit correctly.
For most people, 35–38 liters is the ideal size. It’s enough space for essentials without turning you into someone carrying half their apartment across Spain.
The most important thing is not capacity — it’s weight distribution.
A proper hiking backpack should transfer most of the weight through the hip belt into your pelvis and lower body, not your neck and shoulders.
That sounds minor until you walk 25 kilometers with the wrong backpack.
Then your entire body feels the difference.
What Shoes Work Best for the Camino?
The Camino is not a casual park walk.
Even on technically easy routes, your body absorbs repetitive stress every single day:
- asphalt
- rocks
- hills
- descents
- rain
- wet ground
Your shoes need:
- good cushioning
- comfort for long distances
- enough room for swelling
- preferably waterproof protection
Never wear brand-new shoes on the Camino.
Break them in for at least several weeks before your trip. The Camino exposes shoe problems very quickly.
One thing I deeply regretted not bringing was waterproof gaiters or shoe covers.
They protect the top of your shoes and lower legs from rainwater entering inside. I saw many experienced pilgrims using them during heavy rain, and I’ll definitely pack them for my future Portuguese Camino.
Do You Really Need Trekking Poles?
Many people treat trekking poles like mandatory Camino equipment.
My experience was completely different.
I walked roughly 30 kilometers daily without poles and never regretted leaving them behind.
Most people I saw using poles were older pilgrims or experienced hikers already accustomed to them.
If you have never used trekking poles before, the Camino may not suddenly change that.
They can also become another thing you constantly carry, fold, unpack, and manage.
On the Camino, even an extra 100–200 grams becomes noticeable surprisingly fast.
My advice: don’t buy poles just because the internet says you should.
If you truly need them, you can always buy them during the route.
Why Are Sleep Masks and Earplugs Essential?
Some items weigh almost nothing but completely change your Camino experience.
For me, those were:
- a sleep mask
- earplugs
If you spend even one or two nights in albergues or shared rooms, you will understand why immediately.
People snore.
People arrive late.
People pack backpacks at 5 AM.
People rustle plastic bags and switch on lights while you desperately need recovery after walking 30 kilometers.
Good sleep on the Camino is not luxury.
It’s physical survival.
Your mood, motivation, energy, recovery, and even enjoyment of the route depend on it.
I especially loved this sleep mask and earplugs kit because it became my small personal space even in noisy shared rooms.
Even private rooms are not always quiet.
One room had a blinking green light all night. Another had loud bar noise outside the window.
Those two tiny items made a massive difference.
Do You Need a Sleeping Bag and Travel Towel?
I carried both a sleeping bag and a quick-dry travel towel.
I used neither of them once.
Before the Camino, many people imagine “real pilgrimage conditions”:
- uncomfortable sleeping situations
- no facilities
- survival-style travel
- minimal comfort
Reality is usually much softer.
Even simple albergues often provide:
- beds
- showers
- blankets
- towels or towel rentals
Only once did my friend feel cold enough for me to lend her my sleeping bag as an extra blanket.
Modern Camino routes are highly adapted for pilgrims.
The experience is challenging, but not necessarily about suffering.
Still, there’s a psychological side to this.
I’m an anxious person, and sometimes a “backup plan” helps me feel calm.
So even now, I’m not completely sure I would leave the sleeping bag behind next time.
Not because it’s necessary — but because some objects create emotional comfort simply by existing.
Why Is a Second Pair of Shoes Important?
Many first-time pilgrims assume one perfect pair of shoes is enough.
Your body may disagree.
I brought hiking sandals mainly for evenings and city walks after the route.
On day two, they became essential.
My feet swelled during descents, my toes hit the front of my shoes repeatedly, and eventually the pain became unbearable.
I switched to sandals and walked another 10–15 kilometers comfortably.
Yes, they take up backpack space.
But the Camino teaches you quickly that some items are not “extra weight.”
They are backup safety and comfort.
I also highly recommend lightweight shower sandals.
I found ultra-light swim slippers at Decathlon and they became one of my best Camino purchases.
Why Does Self-Care Matter on the Camino?
After long walking days, basic self-care stops feeling cosmetic.
It becomes recovery.
A solid shampoo bar became surprisingly useful during my Camino.
It:
- never leaked
- saved space
- refreshed my hair quickly
- restored a sense of normality after exhausting days
I also used this Soap Sponge daily because it worked as soap, scrub, and sponge simultaneously.
Camino is not about abandoning care for yourself.
Long-distance walking actually makes you appreciate:
- hot showers
- clean hair
- healthy skin
- proper sleep
- quiet evening moments
more than ever before.
What Socks and Recovery Gear Should You Bring?
Good hiking socks are non-negotiable.
The difference between regular socks and hiking socks becomes obvious very quickly.
They:
- reduce friction
- improve support
- manage moisture better
- help prevent blisters
Bring at least two pairs.
Compression calf sleeves also help enormously, especially on descents.
The Camino constantly stresses your knees, calves, and feet through repetitive impact.
Compression improves circulation, supports muscles, and reduces fatigue.
Your recovery kit should include:
- blister plasters
- regular bandages
- ibuprofen gel
- SPF
- painkillers
Compeed blister patches can genuinely save your next walking day.
Yes, you can buy them along the Camino.
But they’re usually more expensive there.
What Clothing Works Best on the Camino?
Camino clothing should serve your body — not your Instagram photos.
You need:
- lightweight shirts
- leggings or hiking pants
- hiking shorts
- extremely comfortable underwear
- warm layers
I avoided regular bras and used sports tops with wide straps instead.
Backpacks constantly press against your shoulders, and thin straps become painful surprisingly fast.
Warm layers matter too.
Camino mornings can be cold, wet, and windy.
My fleece became essential almost every day.
The Camino is less about heavy clothing and more about smart layering.
Why Are Quick-Dry Clothes So Important?
Laundry becomes part of daily life on the Camino.
You constantly:
- wash clothes
- dry them
- wear them again
- repeat
Quick-dry fabrics matter because evenings are often too short for complete drying.
This becomes especially difficult in:
- humid rooms
- cold weather
- crowded albergues
Even good hiking socks sometimes stay slightly damp by morning.
That’s normal.
Many pilgrims clip wet clothes onto backpacks during sunny walking days to finish drying them naturally.
Are Running Arm Sleeves Worth It?
I bought lightweight running arm sleeves one day before my Camino.
Unexpectedly, they became one of my most useful items.
They are perfect if you:
- sweat easily
- overheat in jackets
- feel cold without layers
They keep your arms warm without overheating your core.
They also double as sun protection during hot days.
How Important Is Rain Protection?
Rain on the Camino is not a possibility.
It’s part of the experience.
A proper poncho or rain jacket is essential.
For me, a poncho covering both myself and my backpack worked best.
I also had a waterproof backpack cover, but honestly could have survived without it.
Later on the Camino, I noticed specially designed hiking ponchos made specifically for pilgrims.
They were more streamlined, better ventilated, and adapted for backpacks.
That’s what I would buy next time.
Why Is a Small Foldable Bag Surprisingly Useful?
A lightweight foldable bag became unexpectedly valuable during my Camino.
I used it for:
- shower items
- cosmetics
- sandals
- clean clothes
After the Camino, I upgraded to an ultralight foldable backpack and realized how convenient it was for evening walks, cafes, showers, and city exploring after leaving the main backpack behind.
Why Should You Bring Evening Clothes?
Almost nobody talks about this.
But the Camino is not only walking.
In the evenings, you:
- visit cafes
- explore towns
- meet people
- sit in plazas
- want to stop feeling like a hiker for a few hours
Bring one very light outfit specifically for evenings.
A simple dress, lightweight shorts, or comfortable casual clothes can improve your mood dramatically.
Sleepwear matters too.
Personally, I needed separate sleep clothes to recover properly.
What Small Items Are Easy to Forget?
Most Camino locations accept cards.
Still, cash matters for:
- small cafes
- pilgrim stamps
- donations
- roadside shops
- souvenirs
Other genuinely useful items include:
- power bank
- waterproof zip bags
- sunglasses
- soft water flask
- anti-chafing balm or Vaseline
Should You Carry Lots of Food?
Honestly, I almost never carried large amounts of food.
Popular Camino routes regularly have:
- cafes
- breakfast stops
- grocery stores
- restaurants
Most days, we only carried small snacks like bananas or leftover food from earlier stops.
The main exception is if you have:
- dietary restrictions
- a sensitive stomach
- strict meal timing needs
- specific medical requirements
Otherwise, the Camino is not full wilderness trekking.
Food is usually available regularly.
What Did the Camino Actually Teach Me?
Before your first Camino, you think success depends on packing perfectly.
But somewhere along the route, your perspective changes completely.
The Camino is not about the perfect gear list.
It’s about:
- adaptation
- simplicity
- listening to your body
- realizing how much unnecessary weight we carry — not only in backpacks, but also mentally
And maybe that’s why the Camino stays with people forever.
Because after enough kilometers, rainstorms, sore feet, early mornings, coffee in tiny Spanish towns, and conversations with strangers, you suddenly understand something very clearly:
Human beings need far less than they think to feel fully alive.