Your backpack is one of the most important things to consider when preparing for the Camino de Santiago, so it is essential to plan carefully what you are going to carry. Below, you will find recommendations for choosing the right type of backpack, as well as a list of essential items you should not leave behind, including a sleeping bag, footwear, clothing and other basic accessories. This will help you understand exactly what to pack for the Camino de Santiago and avoid carrying unnecessary weight.
What Backpack Should You Use for the Camino de Santiago?
These are the five backpacks we usually recommend to our customers. Before making your choice, make sure the model you are considering has the following essential features:
- An ergonomic and ventilated back panel.
- Adjustable shoulder, chest and waist straps.
- Padded shoulder straps.
- An included rain cover.
- Practical and easily accessible compartments.
Osprey Hikelite 32 L
A balanced, straightforward option. It features an AirSpeed™ back panel that keeps your back ventilated even on the hottest days and includes a rain cover as standard. It also has a padded hip belt, a key pocket, a hydration reservoir compartment and attachments for trekking poles. It is made from recycled materials and is PFAS-free.
Quechua MH500 38 L
Lightweight, ventilated and padded where it matters most: the shoulders, back and hips. It weighs 1,134 grams and features an adjustable frame and a back ventilation system that helps prevent moisture from building up. It offers several compartments, including bottle holders and pockets for a jacket, mobile phone and keys, as well as a ten-year warranty. Its only drawback is that the rain cover must be purchased separately.
Deuter Futura Pro 44 L
Designed for long stages and heavier loads. Its hip belt distributes weight effectively, while the ventilation system significantly reduces perspiration. It includes dedicated compartments for wet clothing, a sleeping bag and trekking poles. It is compatible with a three-litre hydration reservoir and is made from recycled, bluesign®-certified materials.
Pirineos 30 J30
A durable and practical alternative. It features an Air Space system to keep your back ventilated during demanding climbs, a divided main compartment, pockets in the lid, side compression straps and compatibility with a hydration reservoir. It also has attachments for trekking poles and wet clothing.
Alpinism 33 L
The most technical and lightweight option. The lid, hip belt, helmet holder and back plate can all be removed, reducing the backpack’s weight to 850 grams in its lightest configuration. It is made from double-ripstop polyamide, measures 65 × 35 × 20 cm and offers several attachment points for trekking poles, a rope or a helmet. One practical tip: if you tighten one side significantly, it is best to always close the zip downwards.
How Much Should Your Backpack Weigh and What Capacity Should It Have?
A fully loaded backpack should not weigh more than 10% of your body weight. If you weigh 70 kilograms, your maximum backpack weight should be 7 kilograms.
You should keep this in mind from the moment you purchase your backpack, as the greater its capacity, the more difficult it will be to stay within this limit. Available space tends to get filled.
Recommended Capacity According to the Time of Year
- 35 litres: Ideal for people who want to travel with only the essentials. It allows you to walk with a much lighter load.
- 40 litres: Still a relatively compact backpack, but the additional five litres mean you are less likely to need to attach items to the outside. This size is commonly used during warmer months.
- 45 litres: The middle-ground option and probably the most suitable for autumn or spring, when the weather can be unpredictable and you may need a wider variety of clothing.
- 50 litres: This is already considered a large backpack. It allows you to carry additional warm clothing and is therefore better suited to winter.
- 55–60 litres: The largest capacity. A backpack of this size only makes sense if you are walking the Camino in the middle of winter and in adverse weather conditions.
Our recommendation is to choose a backpack with a capacity of between 35 and 45 litres at most. It should also be anatomically designed, meaning that it adapts to your body, is lightweight and allows you to adjust its height.
How to Check Whether You Are Carrying the Right Weight
Before starting the Camino, perform the following test: take your empty backpack, secure it using only the hip belt and leave the shoulder straps loose.
If the backpack remains upright and in position, you have made a good choice. If it sags or folds over, keep looking. That backpack will eventually place the weight on your shoulders instead of distributing it across your hips.
What to Pack for the Camino de Santiago During the Warmer Months
This is the packing list we provide for a five- to seven-day Camino during spring or summer. It assumes that you will be able to wash your clothes almost every day at your accommodation, something we always remind our pilgrims about, so there is no need to bring duplicates of everything.
Clothing
- Two or three quick-drying technical T-shirts. We strongly recommend avoiding cotton, as it retains moisture and can cause chafing.
- Two pairs of lightweight trousers, preferably convertible trousers that can be worn as either shorts or full-length trousers.
- Three changes of underwear and three pairs of seamless technical socks.
- One lightweight warm layer, such as a fleece or technical jumper.
- A cap, visor or scarf for protection from the sun.
- Clothing for resting. One tip that many experienced pilgrims recommend is sleeping in the clothes you plan to wear the following day. This reduces the amount of clothing you need to carry and means you can start the day in dry clothes.
Footwear
- Well-worn trekking shoes or boots. If you only remember one thing from this entire article, let it be this: never wear brand-new footwear on the Camino. Use it for at least a month beforehand so that it can adapt to your feet.
- Lightweight sandals or flip-flops, which are essential for showering at the albergue and allowing your feet to breathe at the end of each stage.
Personal Hygiene
- A solid bar of soap or multipurpose shower gel that can be used for your body, hair and washing clothes.
- A toothbrush and toothpaste, comb and roll-on deodorant.
- A microfibre towel, as it takes up very little space and dries quickly.
- SPF 50+ sunscreen, tissues and toilet paper.
- Clothes pegs or safety pins for hanging up clothes.
First-Aid Kit
This is the area where we always advise against trying to reduce too much weight, as a poorly treated blister can ruin several stages of the Camino:
- Antiseptic, sterile gauze and medical tape.
- Plasters and blister dressings such as Compeed.
- A needle and thread for draining large blisters, the traditional Camino technique.
- Petroleum jelly or foot cream. We recommend applying it before each stage, rather than afterwards, to prevent friction and chafing.
- Painkillers such as paracetamol or ibuprofen, and a small pair of scissors.
- Earplugs, which can be a blessing when sleeping in a shared room.
Essential Items We Check with Every Pilgrim
- A valid national identity card or passport.
- A health insurance card, European Health Insurance Card or travel insurance.
- A Pilgrim’s Credential, the document that officially identifies you as a pilgrim. Without it, you cannot stay in most pilgrim hostels or receive the Compostela when you reach Santiago.
- A bank card and some cash. You can withdraw additional money from cash machines in the towns along the route.
- A mobile phone and portable power bank.
- A reusable water bottle with a capacity of at least one litre. You will find fountains where you can refill it, so there is no need to carry a larger amount of water.
The Sleeping Bag
This is one of the areas where we see people carrying the most unnecessary weight. A sleeping bag is not always required, and our recommendation depends on where each pilgrim plans to stay:
- If you are staying in accommodation that provides bed linen, you can leave your sleeping bag at home and take a lightweight sleeping bag liner instead. This can easily save you half a kilogram.
- If you are sleeping in basic pilgrim hostels, travelling during colder months or sleeping outdoors, you will need one.
When choosing a sleeping bag, opt for one with synthetic filling, which is lighter and easier to maintain than down. It should also be water-resistant, compact and have a comfort temperature suitable for the time of year. This information appears on the label in accordance with European standard EN 13537.
What to Pack During Winter
From November to March, the basic packing list remains the same, but you will need to add warm clothing without increasing the weight too much. We recommend wearing several thin layers instead of a small number of thick ones.
- A waterproof and windproof jacket.
- An ultralight down or insulated jacket.
- A hat, thin gloves and a scarf or thermal neck warmer.
- Thermal socks and a thermal base-layer top.
During winter, a waterproof outer layer is no longer optional. It should protect both you and your backpack.
What to Carry in Your Daypack When Using Our Luggage Transfer Service
We recommend luggage transfers from one accommodation to the next for many of our pilgrims, particularly on long or mountainous stages. This means you can walk with only a lightweight daypack and enjoy the scenery without carrying a heavy load.
The system is simple: you leave your main backpack at reception before setting off, and it will be waiting for you at your next accommodation. Contact one of our specialists and they will recommend the Camino route that best suits your needs.
When using the luggage transfer service, your daypack only needs to contain the essentials required during the hours you will be walking:
- Water, with a minimum capacity of one litre.
- An energy-boosting snack, such as nuts or energy bars.
- Sunscreen and sunglasses.
- A lightweight rain jacket or poncho.
- Identification documents, money and your mobile phone.
- A foot-care kit containing petroleum jelly and blister plasters.
- An additional warm layer, even when the morning is sunny, as the weather can change quickly.
Additional Items We Recommend Packing
These items are not compulsory, but they are the extras we recommend most frequently:
- Telescopic trekking poles: They distribute the physical effort across the body and provide valuable support on climbs and descents. Choose folding poles with ergonomic handles. One important warning: trekking poles cannot usually be carried in cabin luggage when flying and must be checked in.
- A head torch: Useful when setting off early or moving around a shared room at night without disturbing other people.
- A reflective band: Essential if you are walking early in the morning or in foggy or rainy conditions. It makes you more visible to drivers and cyclists.
- A pillowcase for hygiene and a plastic bag for dirty or wet clothes.
