My Camino Portugues Packing List
In September 2021, Darren and I hiked the Camino de Santiago Frances Way from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port, France, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain. From late August to early October 2022, we will walk the Camino Portugues from Lisbon, Portugal, to Santiago de Compostela, Spain, and then finish in Cape Finisterre, Spain.
In this blog, we’ll share what we packed for this trip. Rather than simply provide a kit list, I’ll go through the “why” of each item I’m taking on this, our second Camino.
First, a little about us: we are in our late 40s, and we left the corporate grind during the pandemic. We sold our large suburban home and most of our things to began living nomadically in 2021.
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What We Learned From Our First Camino About Packing
The Camino Frances was our first thru-hike and first Camino. Before the trip, we joined several private Facebook groups on the Camino and Camino preparation. We agree with many in the forums—the two most important purchases for a long hike such as a Camino are your shoes and backpack, as these are the make-or-break items that will make your hike either enjoyable or miserable. You will rely heavily upon them to carry yourself and your limited belongings for many miles!
One thing that we heard over and over is that pilgrims tend to pack too many things and then frequently discard them early in their hike. While we had a few items that we only used once or twice, we found that we used everything we packed on our first Camino. Because of the pandemic, and because we are traveling as a married couple who like some privacy, in 2021 and 2022 we choose to stay in private rooms in albergues, hostels, convents, abbeys, small inns, or AirBnBs. When you stay in private rooms and not in bunk beds, you may not need to bring a pillow, pillowcase, sheet, or towels, as these are typically provided.
My Camino Portugues Backpack
In the spring of 2021, we purchased our backpacks from REI. We recommend going in person to a store where you can be fitted. The sizing of bags is different than clothing sizes, and women should try out men’s packs and vice versa as they may actually fit better. We were surprised to find that the fit of packs varied greatly from brand to brand and even from model to model. This was the case even when packs appeared to be the same size. During an in-person visit, the sales staff will show you all the features of your backpack, make initial sizing adjustments, weigh the bag down with 15-20 lbs of sandbags, and let you walk around the store to get a feel for the straps and weight distribution on your shoulders and hips.
I was looking for a smaller pack; however, the bag that fit me the best was the Osprey Kestrel 48L. Unfortunately, there were not many options available due to supply chain issues.
Here’s another important tip: you may select a larger bag because it’s a better fit, but that doesn’t mean you need to fill it up. Also, a 48L bag filled to the max will not fit in the overhead bin in an aircraft unless you are flying business or first class.
This Osprey pack worked quite well for the Camino Frances, and I will use it again on the Camino Portugues.
Darren liked some of the features of the Osprey Kestrel better than the Gregor Zulu 40, but the Osprey just didn’t fit him quite as well, so he went with the Gregor. Again, the fit is very important!
My Camino Portugues Shoes
My Camino Frances hiking boots offered great ankle support on the portion between Saint-Jean-Pied-du-Port and Roncevalles, where the terrain is a bit rougher. However, they were too heavy and warm for the rest of the Camino.
The Camino Portuguese will have less climbing than the Frances, so I don’t feel the need for a hiking boot. This time I will take two pairs of shoes and switch back and forth depending on the daily terrain. For both pairs, I chose men’s shoes, as my feet swell a little bit in the summer and/or after walking a few miles. By wearing wider shoes this time, I hope to reduce the amount of blisters I get (they seem great so far, based on my practice walks!).
My first pair of shoes will be Men’s Hoka OneOne shoes for flat trail surfaces like the boardwalks prominent on the Portugues Camino. These shoes have more cushion than a hiking boot, so they will be more comfortable on days with smoother surfaces. On days where there’s more challenging terrain and rougher surfaces like cobblestones, I’ll be wearing Brooks Cascadia 16 Men’s running trail shoes. I am wearing the Brooks Cascadia more and more as we do our practice walks before our departure. It’s essential to break in your trail runners before the actual hike. A good way to break in your trail runners is to practice walking in both pairs in the month leading up to the Camino.
Darren will be wearing his Hoka Challenger ATR shoes. He wore these on the Camino Frances and loved them. They were great for most surfaces but were a bit too soft on some of the rougher rocks.
My Camino Portuguese Trekking Poles
I purchased a new pair of trekking poles in 2021 and will take them with me again on the Portuguese Camino in 2022.
Here’s one of the rare items that cost less for women. I’m assuming this is because fewer women use trekking poles, and so they’re on sale more often than men’s poles. My favorite poles are aluminum Black Diamond cork trekking poles with metal tips.
In many forums, folks suggest purchasing your poles at your destination. However, global supply chain issues in 2021 and 2022 would mean leaving hiking pole supply to chance, and I’m not willing to risk that! I’ll be taking my poles in our one shared checked luggage piece. I place these in checked luggage because some regional airlines randomly confiscate trekking poles from carry-on luggage as they (or their components) may be viewed as weapons.
My Camino Portuguese Clothing
It’s pretty common to overpack on one’s first Camino. On my second Camino, I’ll be taking a little less clothing. I’ll be wearing one outfit and carrying two outfits in my pack. I like to think of my clothing as one set for hot weather, one set for mild conditions, and one set for cooler weather. Since we’re walking in late summer, there’s no need for heavy winter wear. Since we (and you) will be washing laundry every day or every other day, there’s no need to pack more clothing for a 30-40 day Camino.
My entire wardrobe for the hike is gray and black sans logos. By wearing solid dark colors, you’ll blend in with other hikers, and dark colors look nicer when you go out to an evening meal at an excellent restaurant.
Camino Shirts
All three of my Camino shirts are by Smartwool. As an August/September/October walker, I’m bringing one black long-sleeved shirt, one black short-sleeved shirt, and one grey short-sleeved shirt.
I wear shirts comprised of Merino wool and a blend of synthetic fibers, as they
wear well under backpack straps
are easy to wash and dry
wick away sweat and don’t smell as bad at the end of the day as sweaty cotton or many running shirts made from 100% synthetic materials.
Since we are walking in the early autumn, the Merino/synthetic shirts I prefer are prefer Smartwool baselayer 150 models.
I wear men’s shirts as they have a longer torso and are not tight in the arms. Also, men’s shirts tend to have the neutral and dark colors I’m looking for. Another bonus: men’s shirts often cost less than women’s shirts.
One word of caution on these shirts: handwash or wash them in a machine under 100 F (40 C) and in a lingerie bag. They are prone to snags during washing.
Camino Jacket and Poncho
My Camino jacket of choice is the Women’s Patagonia Pack In Jacket. It, too, wears well under the straps of a backpack. Some more popular puffer jackets with a smoother fabric can get snagged by bag straps. This jacket has a matte finish and has held up well with frequent use in the last year.
My backpack came with a rain cover; however, I won’t be taking it this year. Instead, I will be taking the FroggToggs Ultralight2 poncho. I like that the FroggToggs Ultralight2 covers oneself and your bag. I’ve tried rain jackets and pants and find them too hot to wear while hiking. Capes like this are roomy and are open underneath. While walking in the rain, you get air movement underneath, which you don’t get with a rain jacket and pants.
For under $20, it’s a bargain compared to other Camino essentials.
Camino Pants and Skirts
For an early fall or Camino, I wear one pair of hiking pants, two pairs of leggings, and one skirt. As with the shirts, I keep all pants or skirts black or gray.
For traditional hiking pants, I find most women’s pants unimpressive for a litany of reasons, with the main one being that they are often too short. Men’s Kuhl pants are much more comfortable and flattering with a much larger option of inseam length. This year my pants are KUHL Deceptr in Black. I purchase my pants at REI as they have a generous return policy if they don’t work out during my practice walks.
For leggings, I’ll be bringing the Smartwool Moto tights and the Smartwool Merino wool baselayer lace tights.
I wore the tights last year under a hiking skirt and liked the combination. The tights are nice to wear in the evenings while the hiking pants or skirt are drying. Alternatively, the Smartwool skirt looks lovely paired with a Smartwool t-shirt (above) on warmer evenings.
Camino Headgear
When you are thru-hiking, you will be in the sun for 4 to 12 hours per day. After trying on several Shelta hats, I’ve been wearing the Shelta Osprey M100. I like the firm brim and ear protection to keep the sun out of my eyes.
If you sweat a lot with most hats, I highly recommend a bandana underneath the hat like the Nike Dri-Fit Headband, which is lightweight and easy to wash and dry.
Rounding out my headgear are some Apple Airpods 2nd generation (not sound canceling). Darren and I enjoy listening to podcasts and Audible books together on long walks. Last year we carried a small speaker attached to Darren’s pack. However, it weighed about 8 oz and was sometimes difficult to hear in noisy areas, so this year, we are replacing it with Airpods.
Camino Socks, Gaiters, and Underwear
Second only to shoes and backpacks, socks are of utmost importance. Everyone’s feet are different, so I’d highly recommend talking to the folks at REI or your local running shop for the 411 on socks for your foot type. Almost every pilgrim gets blisters at some point on their hike so planning to prevent them and paying close attention to your feet as you walk can minimize them. The keys to doing so are to prevent friction, heat, and moisture! These are the main causes of blisters when hiking.
My favorite socks are ankle-high Smartwool socks. Although I’ve no favorite model, I simply take a range of thin and thick Smartwool walking or hiking socks (a total of four pairs). By having various thicknesses of socks, I can adapt the fit daily.
Since I’m using trail running shoes for the Camino Portugues, I’ll try out some Dirty Girl gaiters to keep pesky rocks and sand out of my shoes. These lightweight gaiters attach to shoes and are removable to wash as needed.
For bras, I love the Patagonia Women’s Switchback Bra. I bring two sports bras on Camino and one unlined “lounge bra” for the evenings.
Last but not least, I bring four pairs of ExOfficio underwear on Camino. After learning about these undergarments from the nomad community, I rarely wear another brand. They fit well, last forever, and wash and dry very quickly. In fact, after doing laundry in the sink, these underwear are the first items to dry.
I bring four pairs in case a pair gets stolen—women’s underwear getting stolen on long hikes like the Camino Frances or Portugues is a surprising (yet disturbing) common occurrence.
My Camino Portuguese Accessories Kit
Since we are staying in private rooms on this Camino, I can pare down my accessories kit from 2021. I’m opting not to take a silk bed liner, pillow, or towel in 2022.
An important part of the accessories kit is two waterproof dry bags. The main criteria in selecting a dry bag are lightweight and size. After our 2021 Camino, I liked the 18 and 20 L sizes.
These dry bags do more than just keep things dry in case you are caught in a downpour. You can use them to segregate dirty laundry from clean laundry, fill it with ice for treating a trail injury, and use the bag as an impromptu laundry sink.
My camino accessories also include a 36 oz Nalgene drinking bottle, about 100 Euros in small bills, my passport, my vaccination card, my Charles Schwab ATM card, sunglasses, reading glasses, a Swiss army knife, a washcloth, and laundry detergent.
The laundry detergent we use is liquid-free soap in sheets. Some folks talk about using bar soap to wash their laundry, however when we’ve tried bar soap for laundry, we find that the clothes don’t get as clean as when we use these detergent sheets. Bar soaps often contain vegetable or animal fats which feel good on the skin but not so good on clothes.
My Camino Portugese Toiletries Kit
I keep this kit as minimal as possible as pharmacies and grocery stores are located all over Portugal and Spain. Nearly every small town along the main Camino routes seems to have a pharmacy. I do keep on hand daily toiletries so that I’m not taking too much time searching for things in stores. However, I don’t take an overabundance of things as I know I can get supplies easily there.
Camino Deodorant
Natural deodorants that work and don’t leave some strange residue are difficult to find. Having gone through the laborious process here in the states with trying every natural deodorant out there and FINALLY finding one that works.
Leakproof 3 oz Travel Containers
As a scientist, I’ve over 20 years of experience with many types of bottles. The best product on the market for traveling with liquids is Nalgene or United Scientific bottles.
I simply place my favorite shampoo and conditioners in these bottles, which is enough to last a 30 or 40 day hike. To ensure that they don’t leak during the flight, I place a small piece of plastic wrap between the lid and the bottle to serve as a washer. I’ve yet to get any leaks. These bottles can be used hundreds of times before recycling.
Sunscreen for Rosacea and/or Acne Sufferers
A number of Camino forums will share that you can pick up any sunscreen in Portugal and Spain in a small container. I’ll do that for arm and leg coverage. However, a gentler formula is better for the face.
My dermatologist recommended Elta Facial Sunscreen formulated for folks like myself who suffer from Rosacea and Acne. While the cream does leave a slight, annoying white film on my skin—especially if you have an olive complexion or darker— it does work quite well for preventing sunburn on the face and doesn’t cause breakouts. Even better, it will not explode during plane travel, unlike other sunscreens I’ve traveled with in the past.
Other toiletries I take with me are a manual toothbrush, dental floss, retainer, toothpaste, a comb, my prescription medication and a 30 day supply of vitamins, one tube of mascara, tinted SPF lip balm, nail clippers, nail file, sewing needle, three regular bandages, and three blister bandages.
My Camino Portuguese First Aid Kit
One can find almost everything one needs on Camino—from one of the many pharmacies you will pass by or from other pilgrims. I do take a few supplies to have on hand. While this is an area where my tendency to overplan can result in overpacking, I’ve pared down significantly!
I take one pair of nail clippers, ten lancets for draining blisters, three bandaids, three blister bandages, and the contents of this first aid refill pack which includes single use alcohol wipes, antibotic, and insect sting relief.
In 2021 we took a few Covid tests with us, as we weren’t sure about the availability or how often we might need to test. We won’t be bringing Covid tests with us this year as these are very easy to find in Portugal and Spain for just a few Euros at any grocery store or pharmacy.
How to Prevent a Blister on the Camino
In my personal experience, the most annoying part of thru-hiking are blisters. To help with this issue, my Camino first aid kit also includes a healthy supply of lambswool.
I’ve found that most of my blisters on the Camino were due to friction between two toes—one toe “treads” on another toe. Using this lambswool, I’ve greatly reduced the occurrence of blisters in areas where I’d gotten blisters for over 20 years.
For more about preventing and treating blisters, check out this article from REI on blisters.
My Camino Portuguese Splurge Kit
Last but not least, I do spoil myself on the Camino with a few items.
One is my iPad Pro with a keyboard integrated into the cover. I use it mostly for checking the weather forecast, checking accommodations, banking/accounting communications, finding stretching exercises after our 10 - 15 miles of hiking, and for the Kindle app where our hiking guides are stored electronically.
The second is an excellent writing pen and a small notebook for journaling. My favorite journal notebook is the Lechturrm 1917 dotted journal with a soft cover. I’ll be going with the Port Red journal as we spend three days in Porto!
My third splurge is a stretching strap for helping stretch out my legs and ankles I developed some knee pain on the Camino Frances in 2021. I learned later that this was due to tight muscles crossing my right kneecap. My physical therapist recommended this stretching strap to aid in stretching specific leg and ankle muscles.
If you’re curious about this strap and stretching with it, check out physical therapist Dr. Jo on YouTube for some great post-walk stretching!
Wrapping It All Up
The goal weight for my backpack—with everything inside—is around 15 pounds. I allow 2-3 extra pounds for a full Nalgene drinking water container.
If you are walking your first Camino, I highly recommend searching packing lists to get some ideas on what to bring. You will likely overpack, and someone else will benefit from something you leave behind. You will also definitely forget something, and you will compensate, or someone will loan their things to you. Don’t stress too much about it, the Camino will provide it!
Have you walked the Camino Portugues during the pandemic, if so, what did you bring on your Camino?
