No tale of the Camino would be complete without some words about gear.
At the outset I will acknowledge that I love preparing for journeys – setting myself the challenge of taking the least amount of clothing, and other items, as required to achieve the task. As an individual I like to travel light and move easily.
When the journey concerned has a more technical aspect to it and there are real benefits to getting gear right, such as for the Camino, I relish the process of doing the research, and evaluating the options before packing. It is my way of enjoying the lead-up time anticipation of the journey.
The following is the distillation of our collective experience and wisdoms about gear for walking the Camino at this point in time.
In addition to being a record for us to refer to next time, it is also an important aspect of telling a story about travelling The Camino and what you need to do it.
Gear – Our objective
What is the ultimate objective of selecting gear for the Camino? Each pilgrim will answer this question differently, and the gear outcomes will be unique, shaped by personal perspectives and experiences.
A few words about how we approached it, to inform what follows.
For us, the objective is to have the items we need to travel comfortably and sustainably for several weeks along what is a well-supported walking trail during which we could experience a very wide range of weather conditions.
‘Comfortably and sustainably’ means avoiding unnecessary injury or severe discomfort that will detract from, or even bring a halt to, an amazing experience.
In our view what you take should support the undertaking, not hinder it, nor indeed increase the challenge so as to make it a more worthy ‘pilgrimage’ undertaking in some way.
For our earlier Camino I had been led by an almost singular focus upon the lightest-is-best mantra that is popularised for the Camino. In doing so we took some items that saved a few grams but did not function well, and in some cases resulted in problems. Like most first-timers, we also took things that proved to be unnecessary, either not being used at all, or providing so little value that their usefulness was less than the effort to carry them.
Shortly into our first journey a box of such of items was shipped home from Burgos, others remained a dead weight in our packs until Santiago.
Our objective this time was to still keep a focus on being light to keep things comfortable , but also to make sure that what we were taking was actually what we required, that each item did indeed do what we needed, and to eliminate as many of the ‘just-in-case’ items as we could..
I am definitely not a minimalist, indeed my mental makeup is such that I take comfort from being ‘well prepared’ and having a degree of self sufficiency. I relish the opportunity to assist others, but am hopeless at asking for help myself. Accordingly, I probably included some things that some other pilgrims may not consider necessary.
I enjoyed searching far and wide for versatile and light solutions and o achieve our target base pack weight of 6kg to 7kg. Our gear ended up being sourced from many places and was not simply the result of a visit to the nearest outdoor store.
The following may not be the perfect list for anyone else, but will hopefully help others in their deliberations.
Our Gear
We have now completed two editions of the Camino Francés in temperatures ranging from -5°C to near 40°C, and through conditions including snow, wind-blown hail, rain and mud. From a ‘lessons-learned’ perspective we have used and refined our gear in most conditions likely to be encountered on the Camino Francés in ‘walking season’
Our gear was a combination of trusted old favourites – items that had performed well on Camino #1, and some new items arising from lessons learned. All items proved to be very functional and versatile, and we had what we needed for all the situations we encountered.
The following are the details of my kit, with one adjustment.
Before departing I made a last minute decision to change my hiking footwear to trail runners and, just in case they did not work out, I packed a heavy pair of hiking sandals as back-up. Ultimately the trail runners were a good choice and the trail sandals were not needed. I have omitted the trail sandals from the list.
Leo’s gear was almost identical. I have noted a few of his alternative items later.
All weights are actual as weighed. Many manufacturer’s listed weights are quite inaccurate.
The sizes of garments and equipment have been included as the weight difference between sizes of the same item can vary significantly (10% or more is not unusual)
Note that the following tables are not supported on some devices. Viewing on larger-format devices is recommended.
The stuff for walking in
The following are the base clothes and items that I typically ‘wore’ on most days. Walking poles have been included in this section as they were not carried but rather used.
| Item | Details | Weight (actual) |
|---|---|---|
| Sun glasses | Ray Ban 3001 Polarised Sunglasses | 21g |
| Hiking Poles | Leki Black Series carbon folding poles | 427g |
| Shorts #1 | Macpac Fast Track lightweight quick dry short (XL) | 203g |
| Long sleeve walking shirt | Macpac Travel Lite LS UPF 50+Shirt V2 (XL) | 182g |
| Sun hat | Tilley T3 Wanderer brim hat (XXL) | 176g |
| Socks | Injinji TRAIL Midweight Mini-Crew Running Socks (XL) | 58g |
| Underwear | ExOfficio quick-dry boxer shorts (XL) | 84g |
| Buff | Buff Camino sun buff | 37g |
| Footwear – hiking | Altra Olympus 4 Trail Shoes (US12.5) | 740g |
| TOTAL | 1,928g |
The stuff that was carried
This section covers everything else I took on the journey – typically carried on my back or in my pockets.
This list includes incidental items which often don’t appear on gear lists. When you look at all the miscellaneous items it can be seen these can be quite numerous and contribute a significant amount of the total weight.
Some items will not be on everyone’s must-have list – including a bluetooth keypad for connecting to my phone for writing my blog (this saved 700g compared to the iPad I used last time)
I have also included items required for travelling during the COVID-19 pandemic which, hopefully, will not be required forever.
I have not included the weight of water, food and snacks which typically added +1kg to +1.5kg to the overall weight at any given moment in time.
| Item | Details | Weight (actual) |
|---|---|---|
| Backpack | ZPacks Arc-Blast 55L pack DCF waterproof backpack (Med) + accessories: shoulder pads, lumbar pad, belt pouch, strap shoulder pouch & Water bottle pouch | 696g |
| Day pack | For plane travel carry-on, sightseeing and food shopping carry-all etc + dirty laundry. Day pack if forwarding main packs for a stage of walking. (carried in main pack when hiking) Osprey 18L Ultralight stuff pack | 110g |
| Front Pack + Valuables Bag | Waterproof bag for phone, pilgrim passport, wallet, guidebook – clipped onto front of pack when hiking. Over shoulder all other times. Zpacks Front Utility Pack Accessory bag with shoulder strap | 79g |
| Water Bottle | 750ml generic supermarket water bottle – empty (re-filled at fountains etc) | 48g |
| Phone+Camera | iPhone 13 Pro Max incl case (in Front Pack) | 232g |
| Reading Glasses | Lightweight reading glasses + case (in Front Pack) | 40g |
| Guidebook | John Brierley Camino Guidebook (in Front Pack) | 275g |
| Notepad + pen | Notepad + pen (in Front Pack) | 75g |
| Wallet | Travel wallet with cards, cash and coins (in Front Pack) | 145g |
| Head Torch | Nitecore NU25 Multi-light 360 lumen rechargeable LED headlamp (in pack shoulder pouch) | 55g |
| sunscreen | SPF50+ Squeeze bottle with carabiner (clipped on pack) | 62g |
| Hand sanitiser | Squeeze bottle with carabiner (clipped on pack) | 59g |
| Sun glasses case | Ray Ban Sunglasses case (25g) (in pack belt pouch) | 25g |
| Hiking Umbrella | Hands-free lightweight hiking umbrella for sun and rain (attaches to backpack harness) Zpacks Lotus UL Umbrella | 193g |
| Backpack travel bag + liner | Waterproof lightweight carry bag used for transporting packs to secure attachments and straps & as pack liner when hiking. ZPacks Airplane Case waterproof bag 95g + Travel TSA padlock 60g | 155g |
| Backpack Organising Sacks | For organising and separating items in single compartment backpack: Sleeping Bag Waterproof bag – ZPacks Medium-Plus Dry Bag (23g) Clean Clothes Waterproof Bag – ZPacks Medium-Plus Dry Bag (23g) Dirty Clothes Bag – ZPacks Medium Plus stuff sack (9g) Misc Items bag – ZPacks Medium Plus stuff sack (9g) | 64g |
| Sleeping bag | Enlightened Equipment Revelation +5°C down quilt (Reg x Wide) + bag | 450g |
| Pillowcase | For albergue pillows. Generic silk pillowcase | 66g |
| Sleeping Bag Liner | For sleeping in hot conditions and base sheet for sleeping bag in cold conditions. RAB Traveller silk liner | 143g |
| Sleeping Socks | ZPacks Goose Socks | 53g |
| Shorts #2 | Nike Tennis lightweight quick dry short (XL) | 160g |
| Long pants | Patagonia Terrebonne Jogger pants (XL) | 186g |
| Short sleeve walking shirt | Macpac Limitless SS Tee (XL) | 135g |
| Base layer shirt | Icebreaker merino Tech lite 150 Ultralight Crewe T-shirt (XL) | 155g |
| Waterproof Over Pants | Zpacks Vertice Rain Pants (XL) | 96g |
| Warm mid layer Jacket | Macpac Uber Light Down Jacket (XL) | 268g |
| Waterproof Shell Jacket | Enlightened Equipment Visp Rain Jacket (XL) | 182g |
| Towel | Sea to Summit Pocket Towel travel towel (L) | 126g |
| Beanie | Icebreaker merino 150 lightweight beanie | 25g |
| Socks | 2 pairs Injinji TRAIL Midweight Mini-Crew Running Socks @ 58g 1 pair Wigwam Merino Comfort Hiker Crew Unisex Socks @ 104g | 220g |
| Underwear | 2 pairs ExOfficio quick-dry boxer shorts (XL) @ 84g ea | 164g |
| Gloves | Macpac Stretch Glove V2 fleece gloves (XL) | 54g |
| Footwear – apres-hiking | Back-up hiking footwear + apres-hiking footwear + shower shoes – Crocs Classic UK11 | 450g |
| Clothes washing Kit | wash powder in ziplock bag, 5m spectra cord clothes line, pegs, and nappy size safety pins | 73g |
| Foot care & Blister kit | Ultra-Hiker Blister Pod + needles, lighter, betadine, tape, dressings, hikers wool, anti-chafing cream | 264g |
| Electronics Bag | Neoprene Pencil case containing: | 45g |
| 1 x Apple ‘Lightning’ charging cord (iphone+keypad) | 37g | |
| 1 x USB-C charging cords (charger pack+ head torches) | 11g | |
| 1 x Euro Apple charger wall plug | 27g | |
| 1 x Nitecore 10,000mAh NB 10000 charger pack(151g) | 151g | |
| 1 pair iPhone Plug-in ear pods | 6g | |
| 2 x SanDisk iXpand USB Drive (Photo back-up) | 15g | |
| Apple Magic keyboard – Bluetooth connect to phone for blogging (225g) | 225g | |
| Toiletries + Medication bag | Sea to Summit zip-up packing cell | 48g |
| travel toothbrush – bamboo | 7g | |
| toothpaste (small half-empty) | 35g | |
| roll-on deodorant | 71g | |
| small cake of soap in carry container | 41g | |
| sleeping earplugs | 5g | |
| dental floss | 27g | |
| Razor + shaving oil (15ml) | 56g | |
| prescription medications | 56g | |
| Panadol + Ibuprofen capsules | 15g | |
| Gastro-stop tablets | 12g | |
| Emergency Toilet Bag | Ziploc bag containing Toilet paper, carry-out bags (dog poop bags) and lightweight titanium trowel | 62g |
| Misc Items | Sea to Summit zip-up packing cell | 67g |
| Covid-19 RAT test kits @24g | 96g | |
| N95 and Surgical Masks @5g | 50g | |
| Stone from home for Cruz de Ferro | 46g | |
| Kangaroo pins – gifts | 32g | |
| Pilgrim Scallop Shell (hanging on pack) | 32g | |
| Swiss Army knife (with scissors, corkscrew and tweezers) | 97g | |
| Documents | A4 waterproof sleeve | 36g |
| Australian Passport | 39g | |
| Pilgrim Credentiale | 29g | |
| Paperwork hard copies: Australian Int. Vaccination Certificate European EU-PLF form éOS-Passager form Australian exit PCR Test Result Travel Itinerary incl hotel, tour and train bookings | 96g | |
| TOTAL | 7,110g |
The best stuff
Shoes
My change from the boots used in Camino #1 to trail runners proved to be a great decision and my feet finished the journey in far better shape.
US brand Altra are highly popular with hikers who walk the extreme distance thru-hikes which encompass travelling through all conditions, including crossing snow-bound mountains and fording rivers.
The trail runners had several significant advantages including lower weight and ample toe space.
A key benefit was their ‘breathability’ The ventilation holes meant my feet got wet for a day or two when walking through melting snow (but still stayed comfortably warm when wearing wool socks) More importantly, for the rest of the journey they kept my feet cool and reduced build up of perspiration moisture – a key cause of foot problems.
The ample cushioning was also superb on the hard paving and gravel pathways that make up a significant proportion of the total distance. This critical ingredient was missing from my boots on Camino #1 and my feet soles really suffered, and indeed still do suffer, from that journey.
The shoes really were a game changer for my Camino this time.
Leo once again wore the same model Scarpa Morraine GTX boots, just a few sizes bigger. He did get a some minor blisters, but acknowledged that foot preventative maintenance was not always what it could have been, and on balance would take them again.
Macpac & ZPacks
As for our first Camino, a good portion of our gear came from outdoor gear specialists Macpac and ZPacks. Indeed, a few more items from these guys crept onto our list.
Macpac from NZ offers a great balance of performance and price. With intelligent design and great material selections their products are very functional and often individual items were the lightest that we could find, without venturing into the Über exotic.
Another bonus was Macpac’s regular seasonal sales and its generous returns policy. We went shopping during the summer sale, when all items were 40% off normal price or more, and purchased items could be returned for a full refund within 60 days. We took full advantage of this and bought several sizes and options to assess more closely before finalising our choice.
As a designer who really appreciates attention to detail, ZPacks (pronounced Zee-packs) are one of those types of companies I love and gladly support. A small, boutique outdoor gear specialist who are passionate about the activity of hiking, They design and make most of their items in their workshop in Melbourne, Florida, USA. All items are made to order, but generally have a quick turnaround time and the online service is extremely friendly and helpful.
ZPacks is very popular with thru-hikers doing the big 4000km+ trails in North America such as the Pacific Crest Trail (PCT) and Appalachian Trail. These trails are true frontier environments that place much higher demands on hikers and equipment than the Camino ever will.
Thru-hikers are famous for their obsessiveness about light gear – their packs are filled with tents, cooking gear and sleeping pads, in addition to the normal Camino items, and yet usually weigh little more than an average Camino pilgrim’s pack. ZPacks specifically creates gear for the thru-hiker crowd and it is generally both lighter, and of higher performance than the norm. It is a perfect option for those wanting to lighten their load on the Camino, for a price of course.
We selected ZPacks for some key items that offered notable weight and/or performance benefits to justify the investment.
Backpacks
A key piece of kit was our ZPacks Arc Blast backpacks. I took the same one I had on our 2019 Camino. Leo had grown and needed a new one in a larger size.
These innovative 560g full-harness packs are half the weight of even the lightest mainstream options. Even with extra accessories added – pouches for water bottles and other items etc, our empty packs were 1kg to 1.5kg lighter than typical items. A very significant weight benefit when you are targeting a total weight of 6kg or 7kg.
The main compartment is 42 litres, the balance of the designated 55 litre capacity being side pockets and a large mesh pocket. We found this to be a perfect size.
Whilst 30 litre-ish small packs are promoted by some, many of the lightest sleeping bags and jackets are made from materials such as down that benefit from not being crushed. We also appreciated having space for buying and storing the day’s food and snacks in the morning, and being able to access things without having to empty a tightly packed pack on the ground in wet weather. In my view, if it is light, there is no downside to having a pack with more capacity.
Made of waterproof Dyneema Composite Fabric (DCF) with taped seams, ZPacks designates them as highly water resistant. However, like most users and reviewers, we found them to be virtually waterproof – experiencing about a tablespoon of water ingress on one day only. Consequently we did not take pack rain covers, which typically add another 100g.
These are ultra-light class packs that reward a degree of care. The fabric is more susceptible to damage if repeatedly dropped on stony ground for a month. Similarly, the framed harness does not offer the initial cushy feel of some standard pack harnesses. However the ZPacks ‘Arc’ design harness is fully adjustable and supports the load well, especially if only carrying 7kg -8kg, less than half the packs’ recommended design limit.
A month before we left ZPacks started offering its packs in a new ”Ultra” fabric which is more abrasion resistant than DCF as part of The company’s well-known continual product improvement approach.
Front Pack
Sometimes it is the small things that make a big difference and on this journey my new front pack was appreciated day after day.
On Camino #1 I found that there are items that I wanted to access frequently without diving into pockets or packs – iphone for photos and navigation, wallet, passport, credentiale, and guidebook.
This trip I tried the Zpacks Front Utility Pack Accessory – a small pack with pouch and zip compartments which I could attach to the front of my backpack by threading my backpack sternum strap through its loops so that it was on my chest.
One thing I particularly appreciated was that the pack was supported by my backpack straps when hiking, rather than having a shoulder strap and a 750g weight bearing on my neck and shoulder all day.
Being effectively waterproof I wore it in all conditions. It has a shoulder strap and I wore it slung over my shoulder when not wearing my backpack, and hung it in the shower cubicle when showering. It didn’t leave my side for the journey. A core bit of kit for me now.
RAB ‘Pulse’ Long Sleeve Top
Leo nominated his RAB ‘Pulse’ zip-up long-sleeve hiking top as his absolute favourite item. We had purchased these tops mid-way through our 2019 Camino to replace our uncomfortable shirts at the time. In fact the top Leo wore on this journey was mine from 2019, as Leo had outgrown his.
Technically actually a base layer garment, they are supremely comfortable and breathable. Weighing just 132g in XL they are also incredibly light. Unfortunately they are no longer made by RAB, but can occassionally be picked up on clearance websites.
Things we would change
There was nothing in our gear list that did not perform, but, if doing it again there would be a couple of tweaks we would make purely based on personal preference and changes on the trail.
Sleeping Bag + Thermal Jacket
Despite the very cold conditions my down sleeping quilt (+5°C EN Limit rating) and down thermal jacket proved to be almost too warm in some instances and forced me to choose between being too hot or going without and being too cold on some occasions.
In part this was due to the near obsessive desire of many pilgrims to sleep with windows closed and the heating on high.
Given the ‘wardrobe’ you have with you is very limited, and the ‘washing cycle’ may mean some items may be awaiting washing at any point in time, it does take a bit of trial and error to find individual items that meet your personal comfort needs through a wide temperature range (rather than bringing another garment)
For full disclosure, I am a hot-bod and tend to be wearing Tee shirts when others are rugging-up.
Next time I would look at items with lower thermal performance.
The manufacturer of my sleeping quilt, Enlightened Equipment, another US-based boutique supplier, also makes a +10°C rated version (325g) which might be a better option.
As an aside, the sleeping quilt format, effectively a sleeping bag with no zip and a drawstring to create an enclosed footbox, proved to be very comfortable.
Leo used a One Planet +2°C Nitrous down sleeping bag and Macpac Pisa hooded thermal jacket and was perfectly happy with both of these.
There is a train of thought that sleeping bags are overkill on the Camino, particularly during warmer seasons. For many a sleeping bag liner, and sometimes reliance upon blankets in albergues is enough.
From a personal perspective I think I would always carry a sleeping bag or quilt. In 2019 we stayed in a couple of albergues that were near-freezing, despite being a warm spring with day temps nearing +40°C. This journey emphasised that the Camino Francés can experience very unseasonal weather – even the locals were completely amazed at the late snow we found ourselves in.
With the advent of COVID many albergues also no longer offer blankets as a contingency as they once did.
I would always make sure I have a combination of items that will enable me to stay warm when sleeping in cold conditions. For me that is likely to include a three-season or summer-weight sleeping bag, particularly as now the light sleeping bag and quilt options are as light, or lighter than some of the sleeping bag liner options.
Shell Jacket
My Enlightened Equipment Visp shell jacket performed very well and is perfect for those who primarily use their shell jackets to stay dry when it is raining or snowing. The lightweight fabric has equal water pressure rating and higher breathability than many alpine shell jackets. It also has ‘pit zips’ under the arms which worked well to release a bit of heat out of the jacket when working hard.
However, I like to wear a shell jacket a lot, they are my go-to street wear at home and I wear them in dry conditions to keep warm. I missed the slightly more structured construction and the pockets of my previous Macpac Traverse shell jacket (340g).
I would take my Traverse next time, even though it is 160g heavier than the Visp.
Leo used a Macpac Traverse jacket on both Caminos and was very happy with his.
Changes of clothes?
On this journey we were pleasantly surprised to encounter far more albergues and towns with washing machines and dryers than in 2019.
On our earlier journey well over 75% of our washing had been done by hand, and then hanging items to dry – often on the back of our backpacks the next day if items weren’t dry. This time it was possible to access washing machines and dryers if required almost every day. The ability to dry clothes without hanging things to dry whilst travelling through cold and wet conditions was especially appreciated.
In practical terms, the speed and drying certainty provided by the new laundry arrangements would probably lead us to re-evaluate our approach to having three complete sets of clothes. One change I think we would make confidently is to reduce the number of pants from 3 to 2, particularly as these garments are not usually washed daily.
The ZPacks bottle pouch was great as well – water bottle at your fingertips and very easy to clean properly and refill when passing fountains.
The oversized pant cuffs allowed boots through and also provided some rain cover for footwear.
Our preference over Ponchos.
James, rocking his Altra trail runners and lightweight Patagonia pants, and Leo with his RAB hiking top – especially favored items
Air travel mode. We used ZPacks Airplane Case lightweight waterproof bags and a travel padlock for our backpacks when being checked-in to prevent straps getting snagged and things going missing.
When hiking they served as extra waterproof liners inside the packs, and on standby as bags for our packs if there were any concerns about bedbugs at albergues.
The stronger fabric, larger size and handles and lock loops add 45g over standard lightweight pack liners.
Leo shows The Way 
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