If you’ve been considering walking the Camino del Norte or any other pilgrimage route to Santiago de Compostela, you might be wondering what exactly to pack for the way. While life on the Camino is pretty simple (walk, sleep, eat, repeat), most pilgrims carry all of their belongings on their backs. Every item you pack adds weight, and this can quickly add up to a grumpy pilgrim with back pain. Bringing the right gear and avoiding overpacking can help you stay comfortable and minimize aches and pains.

I walked the Camino del Norte in July and can share what worked (and didn’t) for me, including everything from blister-proof shoe and sock combinations to the soap that changed my life (before I lost it).

Before we get into packing list specifics, there are a couple of general points to keep in mind when deciding what should go into your backpack.

What Do You Need?

There’s a lot of information out there about packing do’s and don’ts, but overall it’s important to consider what your unique priorities and needs are when walking the Camino. If you feel happiest with a lighter backpack, focus on bringing just the necessities. If you’re worried about not having lavender essential oil by your side, by all means, take it along for the ride. There’s always the option to leave things you don’t end up using at an albergue for another pilgrim to pick up. And, there’s also the option to have your bag transferred between stops if that’s what’s best for you.

There were a few things that I pruned from my pack early on. For example, I left an old rain jacket and a trashy vampire-witch romance novel in an albergue free box, and felt magically lighter. However, I met pilgrims who traveled with some “luxury” items, including one with four different tarot decks and another with a glass bottle of olive oil, and this seemed to work fine for them. To each their own.

On that note, it can be a good idea to bring gear that you’re familiar with as opposed to buying everything entirely new. For example, if you already have a hiking backpack you know and love, but are worried it’s too big for the Camino, it may be better to bring it and just pack what you need inside.

When Are You Walking?

A summer Camino del Norte will naturally require different gear than a fall, winter, or spring walk. When I walked the Camino in July, I brought one warm sweater and a child-sized rain poncho as protection against unfriendly weather. On the two days it rained, I wore shorts and my legs got wet. This was perfectly fine, as the temperatures stayed fairly mild. However, if you’re planning to walk in November, you may want to bring a pair of waterproof pants, warm jacket, hat, gloves, and other cold weather gear to ensure you stay comfortable.

Camino del Norte Packing List

Without further ado, here’s a complete list of everything I packed for the walk, along with recommendations for what I would do differently next time.

• Osprey Aura 50, vintage edition: About 8 years ago, I went to a local outdoor store in Portland with my dad and browsed through the secondhand section for a good and affordable traveling backpack. We found a slightly used Osprey and while the tan color wasn’t exactly to my liking, I haven’t parted with it since. I like that it has an ample amount of compartments and hip-belt pockets for stowing easily accessible snacks. The size might be a bit larger than you need for the Camino, but it worked fine for me. Osprey also offers 34 and 40 L packs, among other sizes. It’s also recommended to get your pack, whether it’s new or old, fitted to your body at an outdoor store like Decathlon or REI in the states.
• Hoka Speedgoat trail runners: These shoes were amazing! Lightweight, comfortable, an eye-catching color scheme, and I didn’t have a single blister. It also helped to have them fitted at an outdoor store and go two sizes too large, as feet swell when long-distance walking. Many people were sporting Hoka trail runners on the Camino and had nothing but positive things to say. One woman started with her hiking boots, but found they were too heavy and not really necessary for the route, so she switched to Hoka and felt a lot better. Lightweight trail runners are your best bet for the Norte. Note that they will probably get soaked on rainy days, but you can always fill them up with newspaper to dry overnight.
• Darn Tough socks: If you want to avoid blisters, these Merino Wool socks should be on your list. The Darn Tough brand has a lot of positive reviews, so you can’t go wrong here! The socks have a breathable mesh on top so your feet won’t get too hot and there are different profile options available.
• Flip flops: I used a $10 pair of flip flops as shower and evening shoes. Many people also bring walking sandals like Tevas, which can definitely be a nice option and probably offer better support than flip flops. However, if you’re on a budget, flip flops should get you by just fine.
• Summer sleeping bag: I brought the sleeping bag I already had, but wish I had opted for a silk liner or something similar because it was often warm at night. It’s still a good idea to bring something for sleeping, as many albergues just offer a disposable pillow and mattress cover.
• Rain poncho: There was a child-sized rain poncho in my closet and I brought it for protection against the elements. It rained a few days so I was glad to have it but wish it had covered the entire length of my arm. It also doubled as a raincover for my backpack, which was convenient. However, it’s probably best to pack a separate raincover for those rainy days.
• Warm sweater: I brought my favorite sweater for comfort and warmth. I rarely needed it while walking but it was great for the evenings when the temperature dropped.
• Two pairs of shorts: An old pair of Lulu Lemon shorts and a new pair of hiking shorts. Both were breathable, comfortable, and easy to wash and dry.
• Lulu Lemon leggings
• Flowy pants: Lightweight and versatile enough to throw on after walking for dinner or being in town in the evening. Many pilgrims brought a nice summer dress for the evenings, and I wish I had as well. It’s nice to dress up a little after being sweaty and grimy all day.
• Two shirts, two tank tops: There’s probably a way to cut back on weight here, but the tank tops I brought weighed practically nothing and it felt luxurious to have some wardrobe options (or at least the illusion). One tank top used to belong to my grandmother, and one shirt came from my mom, so it felt like they were both with me a little in spirit. With that said, cotton shirts are not the best material to pack, as they absorb moisture and can cause chafing when wet (learned this one the hard way). Merino Wool is the superior option here.
• Two sports bras
• Six pairs of underwear: Again, I probably could have brought less here, but I didn’t have to worry about doing laundry every day which was nice.
• Swimsuit: There’s a lot of beautiful beaches on the Norte, so you’ll probably (definitely) want to take some swim stops along the way.
• Quick dry towel: It wasn’t so quick at drying, but it was affordable and a good size.
• Toothbrush and toothpaste
• Shampoo bar: I thought this was a smart idea but was wrong. I ended up with waterlogged pieces of shampoo soap in my toothbrush container. Think a small bottle of shampoo is probably a better option for next time.
• Moisturizer: Lost my little bottle early on in the trip and was recommended a great moisturizer at a pharmacy in Basque Country. No idea what it’s called, but I really wish I had brought some home with me because my skin liked it a lot.
• Sunglasses: It was great to put these on when I needed protection from long stretches of boring roadwalking and too many cars.
• Hat for protection from sun
• Sunscreen: It also might be a good idea to pack bug spray or a natural alternative like lemon eucalyptus oil because there were lots and lots of mosquitoes.
• Dr. Bronner’s 18-in-1 Natural Lavender Soap: I love this soap. There’s a little travel-sized bottle available and it has so many uses. Need to wash your hands? Check. Need to wash your body? Check. Need to wash your dirty clothes? Check. There are probably many more uses I have yet to discover. Unfortunately I lost mine about halfway through the walk and things were never the same afterwards.
• Deodorant: I was still stinky but this was good to have. One fellow pilgrim told me that we shouldn’t use deodorant at all because it’s better for our bodies, but I’m only at the level of buying natural deodorant so far.
• Phone and charger: Don’t forget a converter if you’re traveling from outside the EU.
• Ankermake Nano Powerbank: Honestly, a powerbank is probably not a must-have for the Camino, as albergues and other accommodation types typically have places to charge phones. However, it actually really saved me one day when I was walking alone and my phone died. The Nano is relatively affordable and lightweight, so it might be a useful item to add to your pack.
• Headphones and charger
• Journal and pen: Necessities!
• Four clothes pins: These will come in handy for pinning clothes to the outside of your pack to dry while walking.
• Ear plugs: Oh, these are really important. They will help drown out the symphony of snores that awaits you in the albergues.
• First aid kit
• Camino del Norte guidebook: While not a must-have if you have apps like Buen Camino or Gronze on your phone, I liked having a paper guidebook to thumb through at the end of the day. I’m not recommending mine, however, because a hospitalero told me it was terribly outdated and many of the included accommodation didn’t exist anymore.
• Passport and cash
• Pilgrim passport: Don’t worry about bringing this with you. I picked one up on my first night at the albergue in Irun and you should easily be able to find one during your first days as well.

Honorable Mentions

• Trekking poles: Many people were using poles on the trail and loved them. They help take some load off your joints and muscles and improve balance, among other benefits. I’m not a trekking pole person, but to be fair I haven’t really given them a try yet. If you’re not sure about investing in poles, you can also find a walking stick while on the Camino and see if it feels right for you.
• Rain jacket (and other warm clothing gear, depending on what time of year you’re walking)
• Headlamp: Some people had headlamps and used them in the shared sleeping rooms. I found that the flashlight on my phone worked just fine.
• Reflective vest: If you need to walk in the evening or early morning in low-light conditions, this will help you stay safe.
• Eye mask: I would bring this next time for better sleep. I used the sleeve of a shirt and while it was sufficient, it could be improved.

Well, that’s probably enough about packing for now. If you’re preparing to set off on the Camino del Norte, you’re in for a great adventure, no matter what you have in your backpack. Buen Camino!