September 14, 2026 · 2 min read
What to pack for the Camino: the 7 kg list
What to pack for the Camino de Santiago: the full 7 kg list, weighed gram by gram, with shoes, clothes and first aid, to walk without back pain.
Reviewed by the Xacobea team · October 2026
The golden rule: your pack should not exceed 10% of your body weight, and never more than 8 kg with water. This list weighs about 7 kg.
Yes
- Backpack of 35–40 litres with a hip belt (1.2 kg).
- Footwear: trail shoes or light boots already broken in, never new. Sandals for the evening.
- Clothes: 2 technical t-shirts, 2 pairs of trousers (one short), 3 merino socks, 3 sets of underwear, a thin fleece, a real rain jacket (it rains in Galicia).
- Sleeping: nothing heavy; your hotel or guesthouse provides bedding. A thin liner (200 g) and earplugs if you like.
- Washing: microfibre towel, solid multi-purpose soap, vaseline or anti-chafing cream.
- First aid: Compeed, tape, ibuprofen, needle and thread, plasters.
- Papers: credential, ID, health card, some cash (small guesthouses and village bars often take no cards).
- Poles, hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, a 1 litre bottle, charger and a small power bank.
No
Paper books, more than one pair of long trousers, cotton towel, hair dryer, a third pair of shoes. Anything you are unsure about stays at home.
The trick
Weigh everything the week before and walk with the full pack three or four afternoons. You will feel what is unnecessary in your back before you see it on the scale.
Frequently asked questions
How much should a Camino backpack weigh?
No more than 10% of your body weight and never over 8 kg with water; 6–7 kg is ideal.
Boots or trainers for the Camino?
Trail shoes or light boots already broken in; the key is that they are not new.
Do I need a sleeping bag?
No. With a room of your own in a hotel, guesthouse or apartment, bedding is provided; a thin liner is optional.
