Packing for the Camino

We have a tendency to overpack

There are two extremes of people in this world: those who pack for a long trek like they’re heading out for a brisk stroll through the park… and those who pack like they’re preparing for a three-year expedition across the Andes with a side quest to summit Everest.

We like to think we fall closer to the “light and nimble” end of the spectrum… but let’s be honest, temptation is a powerful thing. As our departure date for the Camino Portuguese creeps closer, it’s time to face reality, open the backpacks, and take a hard look at what’s actually making the cut.

The 20-Pound Rule (a.k.a. Dreams vs. Reality)

We have two goals: first and foremost, everything must physically fit into our backpacks. Once that is accomplished, our second goal is to keep our loads to under 20 pounds. This seems deceptively simple. "We'll only take a change of clothes," and "Just the essentials," we say. Then we eye that third pair of pants,  the "extra just-in-case outfit", or the “you never know- we might need it" toiletries, and before you know it, we're carrying the equivalent of a medium-sized pit bull on our backs.

On our first long trek several years ago - hiking the entirety of the Thames River from the Thames Barrier in London to its headwaters 185 miles upstream, we didn't quite make our goal. My pack weighed 22 pounds while Marcie's was right at 20 pounds. We packed too many clothes, a few other things we didn't need, and the clothes we did pack were heavy - Levi's, Carhartt pants, and sweat shirts - all items that weighed too much and took forever to dry after washing.

On our really long trek, the 1300+ mile Via Francigena pilgrimage route from Rome to Canterbury, England, we tried to do better. We packed lightweight, moisture wicking layers that were easily hand-washed and which dried quickly. But on that trek we had to pack for four seasons… everything from the rainy, cold days in parts of Italy, to a blizzard and freezing temps while slogging knee deep in snow across the Alps into Switzerland, to 100+ degree days in France. We also had to pack sleeping bags for the occasions we stayed in hostels. Despite all our efforts to keep the weight down, those packs weighed in at somewhere between our 20-pound goal and a very chubby pit bull. They also seemed to gain an additional 15 pounds when, at the end of a 17 mile day, we'd arrive, exhausted, at our inn or AirBnB, only to find that our room was on the fourth floor - then being directed by the proprietor to "kindly remove your shoes before climbing all those stairs."

This time, as we pack for our trek on the Camino Portuguese, we'll try once again to keep our packs under 20 pounds. It should be easy enough - as long as we keep repeating the mantra "Just the essentials". Here's our list:

Our Camino Packing List (Battle-Tested and Weight-Conscious)

Here’s what actually made the cut:

Here’s what that list of gear looks like

The Final Weigh-In

After all the trimming, negotiating, and emotional goodbyes, we stepped on the scale with our packs.

David's pack: 18 lbs

Marcie's pack: 16 lbs

Victory!

Of course, we immediately celebrated by considering whether we had room to sneak in “just one more thing,” which is exactly how this whole mess started.

Both packs and our trekking sticks fit inside one duffle

Note the corks on the ends of the trekking sticks to prevent them from poking holes in the duffle.

Final Thoughts from the Packing Trenches

So here we are—leaner, lighter, and only mildly traumatized by the packing process. We’ve trimmed, tested, and said heartfelt goodbyes to items that, in hindsight, were never coming with us anyway (a third pair of pants and “emergency” sweater?).

Will we miss something? Almost certainly. Will it be something we can easily buy along the way? Also yes. Will we somehow still be carrying things we will never use? Without a doubt.

But that’s the beauty of it. The Camino has a way of simplifying things. You start with a backpack full of “essentials” and end up realizing that what you really need is surprisingly little: a few good layers, decent shoes, good socks, a sense of humor—and perhaps a strong opinion about stairs.

And if we’ve learned anything from our past treks, it’s this: no matter how light your pack is in the morning, it will magically weigh 15 pounds more at the end of the day—especially if there are four flights of shoeless stairs waiting for you.

Still, we’re ready. Packs under 20 pounds, spirits high, and absolutely no room for “just one more thing.”

Probably.

See you next time…