My Summer Camino Packing List

Well, almost packed.

I’ve been working intently on The Book all month (that’s a mild way of saying I’ve been up until 2 or 3 every night for at least two weeks), but yesterday I finally let it go, sending it off to a group of beta readers.

And while they’re reading, I’ll be re-living Chapters 11-13. I leave in just over 36 hours for the airport, and Camino 1.3!

Time to put the computers away and start packing.

The last time I packed for a Camino, there was still snow in the ground in places. This time, I’m planning for lots of sun and temperatures in the 80s most days. That means I can cut back on the wool shirts and scarves.

But still, when it’s all spread out like this it doesn’t feel like a minimal trip. What IS all this stuff?

My 2017 Summer Camino Packing List:

Supplies:

• Backpack: Gregory Jade 38L
• Sleeping Bag: REI 55 Sack
• Travel pillow: ThermaRest small (Read: Ode to a Travel Pillow)
• Travel towel, 24×48”
• Guidebook: Brierley’s A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago (my 2015 review)
• Water bottle: 750 mL

Walking clothes:

• 1 trail tank (Sierra Designs)
• 1 roll-up pants (Columbia Saturday Trail)
• 1 Buff (headband or neck wrap)
• 1 sunhat (OR Sol)
• 2 pair socks (SmartWool)
• 1 pair boots (Salomon X Ultra Mid) with Powerstep inserts

Evening/Off Days:

• 1 dress (NorthFace Getaway)
• 1 Vionic Dorrin backstrap sandal

 

Other:

• 3 pair underwear
• 2 merino sports bras (Ibex)
• 1 merino zip-up shirt/jacket (SmartWool )
• 1 pair merino leggings (Ibex)
• 1 pair shorts
• 1 tanktop
• 1 raincoat (REI Rhyolite)
• 1 pair sunglasses (plus case)
• 1 lightweight scarf/sarong
• Digital watch with alarm
• 3 mesh laundry-style bags for organizing clothes

Cosmetic/Supply Bag:

• REI travel case
• Sunscreen
• Soap in a quick-dry mesh bag
• Travel-sized folding toothbrush
• Travel-sized toothpaste
• Travel-sized deodorant (1.2 oz)
• Travel bottle hair conditioner
• Travel-sized body lotion
• Razor
• Travel-size hairbrush
• Q-Tips
• Safety pins
• Hair elastics
• Eyeliner pencil

Other:

• Passport
• Camino credential
• Small billfold
• Small nylon cross-body purse
• Camera (Canon Powershot Elph)
• Headlamp
• Book: Paulo Coehlo’s The Pilgrimage
• Cell phone
• Journal and pen
• Chargers and European outlet adapters
• First aid kit: Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, needles and thread (for blisters), disposable lighter (for sterilizing needles), massage ball
• Bottle of Ibuprofen tablets
•  Variety of Zip-Loc style plastic bags (for storing food, keeping books and electronics dry)
• Tall kitchen trash bags (to use as liners inside the backpack if it rains)

 

Whew, that is a lot. I haven’t decided yet whether to weigh it…the number seems arbitrary, if this is what I’ve decided I want/need.

I’ve got another day to figure out what I’m missing. Any suggestions?