The pilgrimage packing list
Everything to tick off, so your backpack stays light.
In short: A backpack, broken-in shoes, two sets of clothes, rain gear, a light sleeping bag, a first aid kit, documents including your pilgrim passport, and a phone with charging cable. Everything else is optional.
A good packing list for the Way of St James is above all a short list. The aim is a backpack you still want to carry after the third day. Almost every pilgrim packs too much the first time, and by the first long climb it is clear what that means.
Our list covers everything that has proved itself on long routes, in a form you can tick off. It works for the Camino Francés as well as for the Portuguese Way, the Via Francigena or a week in the Altmühltal.
Why a tick-off packing list helps
A fixed order helps when packing. If you just lay things out on the floor, you pack by feel, and your feeling often says: better take one more shirt. A list makes you justify each item.
There is a second advantage: on the evening before you leave, you won't forget anything important, such as your pilgrim passport or insurance card. Both are a hassle to replace on the way.
The six sections of the packing list
The PDF divides your gear into six sections, so you can see at a glance where the weight is.
| Section | What it includes | Typical mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Carrying and walking | backpack, shoes, sandals, bottle | new shoes, not broken in |
| Clothing | two sets, fleece, rain gear | a third set just in case |
| Sleep and hygiene | sleeping bag, earplugs, towel | a full toiletry bag |
| First aid kit | blister plasters, tape, sunscreen | whole packs instead of small amounts |
| Documents and money | ID, pilgrim passport, cards, cash | pilgrim passport ordered too late |
| Tech | phone, power bank, headlamp | several devices with their own chargers |
Keeping the weight under control
The best-known rule of thumb is no more than ten percent of your body weight, without water and food. It isn't a law, but it is a good starting point. The heaviest items are usually the backpack itself, the sleeping bag and your clothes. Choosing carefully here often saves more than a kilogram.
So weigh things one by one. A kitchen scale will do, and the PDF has a small table for this. Many people are surprised how much a supposedly small item weighs.
What can really stay at home
A lot of things end up in the backpack because of worry and turn out to be unnecessary. The rule of thumb: if you are packing something just in case and could buy it locally, leave it behind. On the major routes there is a bar every few kilometres, and the towns also have pharmacies and shops.
This includes heavy books, a third pair of trousers, a hairdryer, big tubes of cream and a large pocket knife. Clothes for an evening in town are unnecessary too, as you will be among pilgrims. It's different on remote routes such as the St Paul Trail, where you need more water and reserves.
Packing by season
In summer a very light sleeping bag and a fleece are enough. A hat and sunscreen become more important, and you drink more. There's more on this under pilgrimage in summer.
In spring and autumn you add warmer layers and a better sleeping bag. It rains in Galicia in every season, so rain gear always belongs in your backpack. In winter you also need a hat and gloves, as described under pilgrimage in winter.
Test packing: the most important step
Pack your backpack completely at least two weeks before you leave and go for a long day's walk with it. You will notice what presses and what you never touched. That is the most honest test of any packing list.
Heavy items belong close to your back, at about shoulder-blade height. Keep your rain jacket and blister plasters within easy reach.
The right backpack
The backpack is your first decision, because it sets the upper limit. In summer 30 to 35 litres are enough, and in spring and autumn 40 litres make sense. It shouldn't be much bigger, as a large backpack tempts you to fill it.
Fit matters more than volume. The hip belt should carry most of the weight, which takes the load off your shoulders. So try the backpack on when it's full, ideally in a shop and with help. A rain cover is part of the package, and it is often built into the base.
Shoes and socks
No other item on the list does as much to decide how your journey goes. Whether you choose hiking boots or trail runners depends on the route and your feet. Many people go half a size to a full size larger, as feet swell during the day.
With socks, the material pays off. Merino or blends wick moisture away, while cotton holds it and raises the risk of blisters. Three pairs are enough, as you wash every day. Light sandals let your feet breathe in the evening, and in many albergues your boots stay at the entrance anyway.
Keeping the first aid kit small
The kit can be small but must cover the most common problems: blisters, small wounds and sun. Decant creams into small pots and only take single strips of tablets. Your own medication belongs in it in sufficient quantity, ideally with a short plan.
You can get everything else at the farmacia. Spanish pharmacies know pilgrims' complaints very well and will help you even if the language gets tricky. You will find the right phrases in our phrase guide.
For women and men
The basic list stays the same. Women should look for shorter back lengths and shaped straps on a backpack, which many manufacturers offer specially. Women's shoes often have a narrower last. Hygiene products are easy to buy along the routes, so you don't need to carry a large supply.
Common packing mistakes
Most mistakes come from the same thought: better to have it than to need it. Typical examples are a second pair of shoes, cotton clothes that won't dry and big towels. Heavy electronics and thick guidebooks also cost more than they bring.
A second mistake is packing late. If you only gather everything together on the evening before your flight, you can't test anything. Start two weeks ahead, which leaves time to buy what's missing or to take things out again.
How to adapt the list
If you sleep in guesthouses, you can often leave the sleeping bag at home. If you use a luggage transfer service, you only carry water, a rain jacket and your papers in a daypack. By bicycle you add a helmet, repair kit and panniers. On routes in Germany or in the Altmühltal the list gets even shorter, as you often sleep in inns.
What's in the PDF
- Complete checklist by category to tick off
- Weight table to fill in
- List of things that can stay at home
For anyone packing for the first time, or who took too much last time. The PDF has 3 pages and prints well.
How to get the PDF
Enter your email address and confirm your sign-up using the link in the first email. We will then send you the link to the PDF by email. You can unsubscribe from the newsletter at any time.
Frequently asked questions
What should go on a packing list for the Way of St James?
A backpack, broken-in shoes, two sets of clothes, rain gear, a light sleeping bag, a first aid kit, documents including your pilgrim passport, and a phone with charging cable. Everything else is optional.
How heavy should your backpack be on a pilgrimage?
As a rule of thumb, no more than ten percent of your body weight without water and food. At 70 kilograms, that is around seven kilograms.
Do I need a sleeping bag in summer?
Yes, as albergues usually only provide a mattress with a disposable cover. In high summer in Spain a very light sleeping bag or a sleeping bag liner is often enough.
How many items of clothing should I take?
Two sets are enough. You wear one while the other dries. Wash every day at the end of your stage.
Can I buy gear on the way?
Yes. Along the major routes there are pharmacies and shops, and outdoor stores in the towns. So don't pack for every eventuality.
How do I get the packing list as a PDF?
Enter your email address and confirm your sign-up. We will then send you the link to the PDF by email.
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Everything to tick off, so your backpack stays light.