Camino del Norte Packing List

I’m 36 hours from departure for the Camino del Norte, and so this afternoon I gathered all the things to see what I have.

This is my third Camino, so certain things are familiar (same backpack, sleeping bag, pillow, towel, etc.)

But once again, “what to wear” was a question that needed some thought. In 2015, I packed for three months and temperatures that swung from “snow still on the ground” to “heat wave” (click here to see the list).  I was also gone for three months, so I gave myself latitude to splurge on a few extras. Last year, I was only going for 12 days in the heat of August, so I cut way back on the clothes (see Summer Packing List here).

This time? I’m somewhere in between. I have 17 days of walking, so I don’t need a lot of clothes. But the weather reports from Camino del Norte are full of rain and wind, so I’ve added some things I didn’t have before, like rain pants.

I’m still working out a few details, but here’s the plan, with brands listed and links to individual items where possible.

Supplies:

• Backpack (Gregory Jade 38L)
• Sleeping bag (REI Helio 55 sack)
• Travel pillow (ThermaRest small. Before you criticize, read Ode to a Pillow)
• Travel towel, 24×48”
• Water bottle (Camelback, .75 liter)
• 3 mesh laundry-style bags for organizing clothes
• Headlamp (LL Bean Trailblazer)
• Guidebooks: Camino del Norte by Village to Village Press

Clothes:

• Boots (Hoka One One Tor Tech Mids with Arch Rival inserts)
• 2 pair hiking pants (1 Kuhl Trekr and 1 Columbia Saturday Trail)
• Nylon sandals (Vionic Sage Dorrin, because arch support matters at the end of the day, too)
• 1 merino full zip jacket (SmartWool PhD, no longer avalaible)
• 1 hiking T-shirt (Sierra Trail Design)
• 1 merino tank top (Minus 33)
• 1 long-sleeved after walking shirt (Royal Robbins Noe)
• 2 pair wool socks (SmartWool)
• 3 pair of underwear
• 2 sports bras
• 1 pair merino leggings/long underwear (Ibex mid-weight)
• Rain shell (REI Rhyolite)
• Rain pants (Marmot)
• Sun hat (Outdoor Research)
• Buff merino scarf
• Buff headband
• Super-light scarf/sarong
• Sunglasses (plus case)
• Digital watch with alarm

 

Cosmetic/Supply Bag:

• Shower bag (REI with hook, no longer available)
• Bar soap
• Travel-sized toothbrush
• Travel-sized toothpaste
• Razor
• Travel-size hairbrush
• Travel-sized deodorant
• Travel-sized conditioner
• Travel-sized hair lotion
• Safety pins
• Hair elastics
• Eyeliner pencil
• Nail file
• Toenail clippers
• Q-Tips
• Ibuprofen tablets
• Feminine products
• Lotion
• Sunscreen

 Other:

• Passport
• Camino credential
• Small nylon cross-body purse to keep cash/passport/credentials
• Camera (Canon Powershot Elph)
• Cell phone (with Kindle app for reading)
• Journal and pen
• Headphones
• Charging cords for the phone and camera, plus a European outlet adapter
• Quart and gallon-sized Ziploc bags to store food and keep valuables dry in rain
• Tall kitchen trash bags to line inside of pack during heavy rain
• First aid kit: Band-Aids, antibiotic ointment, tweezers, needles and thread (for puncturing blisters), disposable lighter (for sterilizing needles), athletic tape, massage ball
• Granola bars (to get through the hangry moments in the first couple of days, until I get the rhythm of when and where to buy food).

When we arrive in Spain, we’ll buy a pocket knife and trekking poles, since we can’t carry those on a plane.

I haven’t weighed it yet, and probably won’t. These are the things I need and/or want, my luxuries are small (really, does an eyeliner pencil even weigh enough to register?), and I’m prepared to carry it.

But if you were me, is there anything you would add?