For those of you lucky enough to have the time and resources
to hike the Camino de Santiago, I know you are excited and anxious to start, but first, you must prepare. I know when I was prepping for my trip, I scanned the internet for any information I could find on what to bring and what not to. Well, here is my preparation list. This is what I packed,
and perhaps what I didn't, but should have. Keep in mind, I went from early April to May, and it was unseasonably rainy and cold for that time of
year. So adjust accordingly for the time of year that you go. Hope this helps. Buen Camino!!
As far as packing goes, think versatility, think
light-weight, small capacity, sun and rain protection, and quick-dry.
Key, Key, KEY Items
Excellent
hiking boots/shoes: Your feet are going to be doing a heck of a lot of work on the Camino, so do them a favor and get some quality hiking boots. I could not have been more pleased with mine, by Lowa (German made, from R.E.I.). Everyone has their ailments with their feet on the Camino, blisters seeming to be the most common. I can proudly announce that in my Lowa's, I did not get a single blister! Whoo-hoo! Loved my boots!! In addition, although NOT advisable, I ended up purchasing these the day before I flew to Europe- WHAT?!- not smart, but just saying how amazing these boots are!
Well-fitting backpack:
Get a quality backpack as it will house your everything on this trip. Make sure it fits you properly. Go to a
sporting good store and have them help you if you are not sure how to do so,
it’s worth it! Mine was 50 liters and I
would NOT go any bigger than that. I thought 50 was
fine because I didn’t have it filled all the way, but many others had 30
liters, so that is another good option. Mine
was a women’s Gregory, the Jade50. Fit me like a glove. LOVED it! Also, very important! Make sure your pack does not weigh more than 12% of your body weight once you've got everything in it. Yes, 12% is just a guideline, so stick as close to it as you can, because believe me, if you overpack, you will regret it. Remember, that you also need to carry water and food for in-between meals, so your bag will end up weighing even more than whatever you put in your pack now, while at home. I think just about everyone I knew on the Camino ended up ditching something they had brought with them that they eventually found unnecessary. Stick to the essentials that I have listed below and you will be fine. A light pack equals a happy back! (and feet and legs and, and, and...)
TREKKING POLES!:
One pair, or just one if you prefer. I
thanked my lucky stars everyday for having brought these poles. They saved me from trips and stumbles and
secured my step through slippery, wet, muddy, rocky, and steep terrain. Also, they really helped when climbing and
descending stairs in the cities and villages- no joke! Your legs and back get so tired and sore from the
distance and the additional 20 pounds you carry, that stairs can be more
daunting than scaling a mountain!
HA! I had the R.E.I. women’s
trekking poles with cork handles. LOVED
them too!
Attire For Hiking
A faithful pair of pants: I had one pair of quick dry, roll-up leg, NorthFace brand. I wasn't planning on it, but I wore them EVERYday but one. Oh, and the key to selecting pants, they must
have a drawstring waist or belt-loops for a belt, because your waistline WILL
dwindle. Yes, even though you are
starting every day with a huge café con leche and a fatty fat croissant, your
pants will somehow magically get looser. Oh, the magic of the Camino!
Lycra
yoga/workout capris: Cute and comfy, but I only wore them once, on the one
warm day we had.
Cargo
shorts: One pair, quick-dry, and I never even got to wear them.
Short-sleeve tops: Packed 3, really only needed 2, that I rotated as a layering piece each day under my l/s
top.
Long-sleeve top: I had a Smartwool top. Another new love of mine. It's breathable, wicks away moisture, assists body temp in hot and cold, and
resists odor- a miracle shirt! I wore
this EVERYday, over my s/s tee, and under my vest and/or jacket.
Tank top: Was
too cold to wear on its own, so I ended up only wearing it a few times as a layering piece at
night.
Outerwear
Fleece vest: A
great layering piece during the day or in evenings, loved it.
Rain jacket: Indispensable.
Stocking cap: Threw
it in my bag last minute and am oh-so-glad I did.
Gloves:
I had a cheapy pair of black stretchy gloves that did the trick, but I kept
losing one every time I sent them through the wash, so I had to buy a pair while
there, and they were literally thread-bare by the end, but they did the job.
Scarf: I wore
day and evening, everyday. But I am a
scarf person. ;)
Sunhat: Get a
sporty one- that can roll up small, and has a chin strap, or that fits your head well enough to not blow away in the wind. I
initially had a cute, larger brimmed straw hat, and ended up ditching it. It was
lightweight, but was too bulky and a hassle to have in my bag. Plus, the weather hardly ever called for it. I ended up buying one there that was much
more appropriate.
Sunglasses: Yes,
for sure.
Underwear
Sports bras: Definitely
do two rather than one, as you will need to hang it to dry each night if you
either wash it, or if it has gotten sweaty or wet from rain.
A ‘normal’ bra: A small luxury item I am glad I brought. It's nice to have a few things that make you feel normal and feminine after a day of tromping through mud and dirt. Besides, who wants to sport a "uni-boob" for an entire month?
Undies: Keep in mind that sometimes you won’t see a
washing machine for 4 days or more, and even with hand-washing, sometimes your clothes do not fully dry overnight (a lot of the albergues didn’t have dryers, or were damp,
and cold- often no heat), so often, I’d have to re-pack wet clothes in my bag in the
morning. Boo. So having a few pair is a good idea. Three or four pair is perfect. I had two wool pair-Smartwool and Icebreaker-LOVED these, and two skimpy, prettier, ‘quick-dry’ pair. Both styles were great for different reasons. This was my first experience with Smartwool and Icebreaker undies and I liked them so much I am going to get some more for ‘normal’
non-trekking life!
Socks: SO
important!!! Pack quality socks. I packed 3 pair of Smartwool. LOVED them. Again, moisture
wicking and odor resistant! And 3 pair was the perfect amount. If your socks get wet while
hiking, you may want to change them mid-day, or I had several occasions where
one sock would get lost in the wash-OH NO!- but thankfully only to be found
again! Phew!
For Evenings/Sleeping
Some people totally forgot to pack for this part of the
trip, and yes, they were fine, but I am glad I packed what I did. And everything listed below could be worn day
or night. Versatility.
Leggings: I had one pair of leggings that I changed into every evening after showering for dinner and to sleep in. Leggings also come in handy for layering
under your pants on a chilly day. I know
of some ladies who wore just leggings day and night.
A 2nd
Long-sleeved top: This I purchased along the way, as I hadn’t anticipated it
being so cold. I was wearing my one l/s
top everyday hiking, so it was often wet from the rain or from washing it, so I needed
a 2nd l/s for the evenings and to sleep in.
Romper/dress: Yes it might seem as if this were a splurge,
but it really was quite practical. It was
sleeveless, so I could wear it with a tank, s/s, or l/s underneath, depending
on the weather. I often wore it with my l/s tee, fleece vest, leggings, and scarf. And it
worked with my boots or my flip-flops.
And I looked cute. ;) Worth it.
Sandals: For showering in and to wear in the evenings
to give your feet a break and to let your boots air out. I had flip-flops, which I normally live in,
but the only problem I ran into, was again due to the cold weather. I CANNOT wear flip-flops and socks, feels too
icky. So my feet would freeze at night
while running from the albergue to the nearest restaurant. So if the weather is going to be chilly for
you, here are two possible solutions.
One, instead of flip-flops, bring sandals that you CAN wear socks with,
such as a pair of Teva’s or similar.
Many people did this. OR, as my
ingenious friend did, and I copied, we found legwarmers to wear, and we pulled
them down over our heels and over the tops of our feet, so our feet were
totally covered except for our toes.
Made a huge difference! So, just
a fair warning. If the weather is warm
on your Camino, then no worries, flip-flop it up!
Ear Plugs!!!: Did you hear me? Earplugs.
You cannot imagine how noisy an albergue filled with dozens of sleeping
peregrinos can be. Wow. You’ll hear
noises you’ve never heard before. Earplugs.
Miscellaneous Gear
Waterproof pack
cover: Absolutely necessary! The
last thing you want is wet clothes and a wet sleeping bag!
Sleeping bag: Think
small and compact. Forty-five degree Fahrenheit is plenty warm, since you can/will
always be sleeping indoors. Of
course, you always have the option to sleep outside, but if you do choose to, I
would assume the temp would be at least 45 anyhow. I had the R.E.I. Travel Down.
A teeny, tiny
flashlight: Used at bedtime, or early a.m. to not disturb others. Some people had headlamps and believe me I
am a HUGE fan of headlamps - seriously - but I’d say they aren’t necessary. Unless you can get one that has a very dim
setting. I thought the headlamps some people had were way too bright for albergue use.
Water reservoir:
I had a Platypus bladder bag and was pleased with that, except the fact that my
mouthpiece had no cover on it. Whenever I set my pack down, the mouthpiece landed on
whatever was there. So I have had my
fair share of Spanish germs along the way.
I had a 3-liter, but never filled it more than 1.5 liters. There are plenty of opportunities to refill
along the way. Some pilgrims had one or
two water bottles - any will do - fancy hiking ones to plain old plastic ones you
get at the convenience store. Personal
preference.
Pairing knife: So
glad I brought this. I had a Zyliss
knife with a blade cover that I picked up at a grocery store here at home. So sharp, came in handy on many occasions.
Travel belt/money
pouch: You’ll need a place to keep your passport, your peregrino credentials,
and your cash and credit/debit card. No
need for an actual purse, ladies. And as
far as a “travel belt” goes, I had one, but I never “wore” it. Peregrinos are warned of the dangers of
theft, but for the most part, this is probably the safest travel environment
you could possibly be in.
Miscellaneous Hygiene/Cosmetic/First Aid
Truly, most anything on this list, you CAN find in any
pharmacy or grocery store in Spain.
Granted, you will probably have to buy a brand you have never heard of
before, but if you are ok with that, then you will be fine. Pack travel-sized everything, and you can
replenish there.
Toothpaste: Travel-sized
– Tom’s!- did have to buy an additional toothpaste along the way.
Toothbrush: First
item I have nothing additional to say.
It’s a toothbrush.
Comb/hair brush: Although, I did have a friend with equally long hair as mine, and she chose to not pack a brush, so she didn’t brush her hair the entire month.
Make-up: Yesss, I
know. I said make-up, get over it. I packed a mascara and concealer. So shoot me.
I did, however, only wear it on ‘special’ occasions.
Shampoo: Travel-sized,
I did have to replenish while there. I
skipped conditioner for the month.
Deodorant: No
explanation needed. Just please pack it,
and use it.
Razor: True, this
is the Camino, and some women chose to not shave their legs the entire
time. So razor…optional. As for men, duh, this is your chance to release your inner
Grizzly Adams.
Body wash/bar soap:
I had both, which was not necessary. I
brought a half of a Bronner’s bar soap, and two 2-oz Bronners liquid soap. I could have skipped either the bar or one of
the liquid soaps in hindsight. But the
liquid was versatile, as I used it for my laundry detergent as well- when
hand-washing AND machine-washing. My
clothes came out so great, I am going to use it at home now as well! These 2 liquid soaps and half a bar lasted
the entire trip, with some to spare.
Travel towel: I
loved mine, from R.E.I.- go figure- the MultiTowel Lite. Some people had a normal towel, but they take
longer to dry and are bulkier in your bag.
A travel towel is the way to go.
First-Aid/Misc. –
Band-Aids, self-stick medical tape/wrap,
anti-bacterial cream, small scissors, tweezers, safety pins, needle and thread,
etc.: Again, all of this can be purchased there easily, but I think it is
good to have a few items on hand if the need arises. And as far as Band-Aids go, pilgrims near and
far swore by Compeed, which is prevalent in Spain. It’s a heavy-duty type Band-Aid, great for
blisters and other foot ailments. I
tried them once or twice, when I thought
I might be getting a blister- but thankfully was a false alarm- and I
personally wasn’t a huge fan of them because they kept getting stuck to my
socks, like permanently stuck. So now one pair of my Smartwools have little
chunks of Compeed stuck to them. Ha! But other pilgrims seemed to love the Compeed. :)
Lotion/Sunblock: Yes,
you definitely need to apply sunblock everyday, and a thick lotion to apply to
your feet every night. Again, you can
find these at a store in any village.
Bug
spray/lotion/allergy meds, etc.: I
will save this story for later, or stories
actually, but bed bugs are a reality on the Camino. I am sorry to have to say it, but it is
true. Be prepared. Try to prevent getting them by spraying your
bag and/or yourself before you settle in for bed. And bring meds if you have any allergies to
insects, or you can easily buy it there too.
You have been warned.
Things I Didn’t Pack But Should Have
Nail clippers!: I
didn’t realize how fast my nails grew, and I swear my toe nails grew faster
than normal. Yes, you can buy this at a
store, but who wants to spend money on something we all already have 5 of at
home?
Poncho: Yes, you
already have a rain jacket, but in a really heavy rain, a jacket just doesn’t
cut it. One huge downpour is all it
takes to soak you to the skin, and unless the sun comes out, you’ll stay wet
all day. I, for some silly reason, held
out, then bought a poncho once I got to Santiago. But even then, it came in handy several times-
especially in Finisterre.
Guidebook: I put
this under this list tentatively. I
arrived without a guidebook, and left with one only because the grace and
kindness of a South African friend I made gave me hers when she left, as she
was only doing the first portion of the Camino.
I saw many different guidebooks along the way, but I really think the
best was the one she left me. It was by
John Brierley. Could I have made it
without a guidebook? Yes. Did I NEED it? No.
Was it helpful? Yes. So, having a guidebook is entirely up to you,
but I do now (still a bit reluctantly) lean towards having one.
Things You Don’t Need
Pillow: I brought
one to start, and ended up ditching it.
Every albergue will have pillows, most have blankets too. And in the off chance if they don’t have one,
a few rolled up clothing items will suffice for one night.
Umbrella: Just
don’t. And if you suddenly decide you
can’t live without one, buy one there. I
saw some people with them but I think they’re more of a hindrance than a help
on the Camino.
Jeans: Jeans, too
heavy and not versatile. If it rains,
good luck with your wet jeans. There
were several people on the Camino with jeans, and even nice sweaters, and they
all were German men, oh and one Austrian man.
No one else had jeans. Leave them
at home. Once when my Slovakian friend
asked a German guy why he had jeans his response was “We’re not in the
jungle.” Alright then. True, we are not.
Books: Not
necessary, unless you prefer your book to nature and to meeting international
travelers. Lol, wow, ok, sorry, that was
a bit harsh. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE books, just not on the Camino. I know, some people like to
read before bed, alright, of course that is fine. I did see a few Kindles on the Camino. It’s
personal preference. I guess I can’t
smack talk bringing books too much, as I did bring my journal. Writing is how I like to process, and it was
an intimate way to remember my journey.
So, I do, however, recommend a journal.
;)
Fancy packing
tubes/bags: I was tempted by these and did not purchase them solely because
I didn’t want to spend the extra money.
I ended up using gallon-sized Ziploc bags to separate my clothes and
keep my pack organized. Shirts in one,
bottoms in another, socks and undies in another, etc. I highly recommend doing this. Especially if you have a top-loading backpack
where you need to pull everything out in order to find one item, having
everything compartmentalized is a lifesaver.
Laptop/iPad: If
you do not HAVE to have it for your
work, and if you are not a paid writer, or whatever, leave it at home. Some people used this time on the Camino as
an Internet cleanse. As far as writing
goes, what’s the matter with a good, old-fashioned journal? Believe me, it’s not worth the extra weight
to lug it around for how much you are going to use it.
That brings me to…
Technology: To Bring or Not to Bring
As I just mentioned above, some people took this time on the
Camino to CLEANSE from whatever it may be.
Some peregrinos chose to not use the Internet at all. I, however, was not one of those people, and
I loved to get the Internet when I could.
I used my trusty iPhone, as
so many others did as well (any smartphone of course). So, so grateful to have it with me. Yes, some albergues will have computers to use for a Euro or two, and
true, not everywhere has Wi-Fi, but I was able to connect online with the
outside world at least a few times a week, and that was plenty enough for
me. So, as I mentioned above in the
Things You Don’t Need list, do NOT bring your iPad or laptop. I know of several people who did who wished
they hadn’t. But then, I think I knew of
2 people who did bring notepads who seemed
to be glad they did, but I don’t understand why. The last thing you want is to be glued to a
computer, you’re on the Camino for heaven’s sakes. There is so much beauty to see and so many
wonderful people to meet. :) Enjoy it.
ALSO my iPhone came in handy, more than handy, it was
actually amazing for taking
photos! I do have the 4S, so I imagine
its camera technology is up there,
but so much so, that I ended up taking probably 98% of my photos on my iPhone
rather than my small Panasonic camera I had brought with me! I was especially amazed by its ability to
take scenic landscape shots (which were most of my shots). I took - get this - over 2,000 photos. Yes, over 2,000. And every single one is more beautiful than
the last. Next trip I take, I am leaving
the camera at home.
As far as an actual phone
goes, I went without. Yes, I had my
iPhone, but that will be another story for another time, about U.S. phones and
travelling. Ug. So, no I did not have a local phone, or any
working phone as far as texting or calling go, and I was perfectly fine
without. Don’t forget, if you have Wi-Fi,
you can always Skype!
As for music, bringing your iPod is up to you. I have my
music on my iPhone, so I did bring headphones to listen to music, which I did
on the planes travelling there and back, and I listened to music some nights to
fall asleep. But my advise to you is to not
use it while walking. Try it if you
like. I did. I walked maybe two days with music when I
realized the sounds of nature were far superior. On the Camino, you will find the extra
distractions of technology to be just that, a distraction.
Buen Camino!
Again, all of this is based simply on my own experience, from
my Camino. Yours will be your Camino, so it is sure to be a unique experience
from mine. No matter what you
decide to take or leave behind, as long as you bring the Camino spirit with
you, all will be well. And all will be
exactly as it should be. Enjoy the
journey. Buen Camino, my friend!
