Ultimate Women’s Packing List for the Camino de Santiago

Camino Packing List for Women Video

Prefer to watch a video on this? Watch below for my packing list for my second and third Caminos:

Women’s Camino Packing Tips

Before we dive into the packing list, let’s get into some of my key tips to help you better understand what and how to pack for the Camino so you can feel more prepared.

How much should my pack weigh?

Many folks say your pack should be no more than 10% of your body weight–I call BS on that. Sure, it might be ok to consider as a general guideline, but as a 5-foot 2-inch woman, it felt impossible to hit this.

My pack on my Caminos has ended up weighing closer to 20 pounds (9 kg) with water, and I don’t weigh 200 pounds.

My advice is to keep your pack as light as possible, carrying only the essentials and keeping what you have to the bare minimum knowing that you can do laundry every day. If you don’t hit the 10% rule, don’t sweat it.

How do I find the right backpack for me?

Finding the right hiking backpack is probably THE most important part of preparing for your journey (that and finding the right shoes).

It helps to start by thinking about size. You’ll want a backpack that’s no more than 30-40L. If you get anything bigger than that, you may be tempted to pack more than you need, so having a smaller pack helps with that.

You’ll also want to test out any potential packs to ensure the size and fit is right for you. After you think you’ve found a pack for you, do several training walks to make sure it feels comfortable after wearing it for a long time.

Ultimately, everyone’s body is different. While I really loved the pack that I personally used (more on that below), you need to use what works for you.

Do I have to carry my pack on the Camino every day?

Most people do carry their packs with them every day, and this women’s packing list for the Camino has that goal in mind.

However, the good news is if you ever feel like you need a break from your pack, there is an option to transport your pack ahead to where you’re staying each day.

For instance, I had friends do this on days they had really bad blisters and wanted to lighten the pressure on their feet. I also had a friend who had to work some while doing the Camino, so she had a laptop with her that she transported ahead each day as it would’ve been too much to carry.

The cost varies based on your route and distance you plan to transport the bag for the day, but it’s usually around 7 to 8 euros per day.

If you plan to send your bag ahead, I recommend booking your next albergue in advance. It’s also a good idea to book your bag transfer in advance online as well, but it’s not absolutely necessary.

Which backpacks do you recommend for the Camino?

Overall, you can’t go wrong with an Osprey backpack. They’re definitely the most popular brand among the many people from the U.S. hiking the Camino.

I personally used the Osprey Tempest Women’s 30L Backpack, and it was perfect for me. The latest version is now the Tempest 33L Backpack. I checked with Osprey, and this new version is almost exactly the same.

That pack fit everything on my packing list included below and has tons of helpful compartments. Of note, the pack has:

• Two convenient zipper pockets on the hip belt where you can keep things like your phone and hand sanitizer easily accessible while you’re hiking
• A top compartment for keeping other essentials close, like a rain cover and your Camino passport
• A mesh front pocket that’s helpful for shoving extra jackets when you need to peel off a layer
• Lots of straps to add carabiners to carry some items like hats or drying clothes as needed

I loved the pack so much I used it when I hiked Mount Kilimanjaro as well.

How do I find the right shoes?

Finding the right shoes to pack is another key decision you’ll want to research heavily before you leave. You’ll also want to avoid the mistake of not testing them out enough beforehand.

I recommend wearing hiking/trail running shoes and packing a backup pair of hiking sandals as well.

Hiking sandals are great for wearing in town and allowing your feet to breathe after hiking each day. They’re also nice to have on hand as a back up in case you have issues with your main pair of hiking shoes.

Do I need hiking poles for the Camino?

When you’re hiking for hours each day and sometimes as far as even 20 miles (32 km), you’ll want all the help you can get. Hiking poles make a huge difference, so I highly recommend you bring them.

You can buy hiking poles at a range of prices, but you don’t necessarily need to spend much for good poles that will get the job done. I personally use and love these Cascade Mountain Tech hiking poles that you can buy for less than $100!

Do I need to buy everything in advance? Can I buy things I need in Spain?

Know that you absolutely can buy critical items once you start the Camino. Do your best, but if you forget something on your list of things to pack for the Camino, you can likely buy it when you arrive.

This Camino packing list considers items you will likely need, like some items I recommend for dealing with blisters. It doesn’t cover every single thing you may end up needing because you can buy additional items as you find you need them.

Many towns at least have a pharmacy where you can buy first aid and medical essentials, sunglasses, body wash, hand sanitizer, etc. Some towns will also have some stores catered to pilgrims, selling shoes, Buffs, clothes, and more.

I had issues with my shoes on my first Camino and was able to buy a new pair in Santo Domingo de la Calzada, but I didn’t have access to a post office to ship my old boots home until I reached Burgos.

That said, not every town will have stores like this or even ATMs. While you’re hiking, It’s important to think a few days ahead and do some research on the towns to come so you know when you can stop. I recommend using the Wise Pilgrim and/or Buen Camino apps.

Everything You Need on Your Women’s Packing List for the Camino

Here’s my comprehensive female packing list for the Camino de Santiago based on my experience walking three Caminos now. Know that if you hike outside of summer, you may need to bring a sleeping bag and some warmer clothes.

Hiking Gear

• 30-40L hiking pack (I used an earlier version of this 33L Osprey pack.)
• Pack rain cover
• Hiking poles
• Headlamp

Clothes and Shoes

• Two hiking shirts
• Two pairs of athletic/hiking shorts
• One pair of hiking pants
• One long sleeve sun shirt
• Two sports bras
• Three sets of hiking/athletic underwear
• Three sets of Merino wool hiking socks
• Three sets of hiking sock liners (These can help prevent blisters!)
• Athletic dress (This is optional, but I loved having something small packed that I could wear in town that wasn’t my hiking clothes and gave me flexibility with laundry too. I like this one from Patagonia, but this Columbia dress looks nice too.)
• Rain jacket
• Rain pants (These are optional in summer but a good idea if you’ll be hiking when it’s cooler out.)
• Fleece pullover
• Hat (It’s ideal to have a wide-brimmed hat vs. a baseball cap for more sun protection.)
• Buff
• Sunglasses (I like Goodr because they are lightweight and good quality for a low price.)
• Hiking shoes (I personally loved the Hoka One Speedgoats and got them in a half size up because my feet swelled up so much.)
• Hiking sandals (I am a big fan of these Chacos and hiked in them with socks for a portion of the Camino.)
• Flip flops for the shower (Don’t wear your street shoes in the shower.)
• Small swim suit (At least on the Francés and Portugués routes, there are several albergues with pools!)

Toiletries and Medical Supplies

• Toothbrush
• Travel toothpaste
• Travel deodorant
• Small sunscreen
• Sunscreen lip balm
• Regular lip balm
• Travel shampoo
• Travel conditioner
• Travel body wash
• Razor
• Hand sanitizer
• Body glide
• Extra hair ties
• Mascara
• Small makeup wipes
• Regular bandaids
• Compeed blister bandaids
• Blister prevention tape
• Small vaseline (Many people say rubbing this on your feet before bed and putting socks on can help prevent blisters. I started doing this myself halfway through and it seemed to help me.)
• Ibuprofen
• Allergy medications if you need them
• Any other medications
• Nail clippers
• Hairbrush
• Hair ties
• Two packs of travel tissues
• Electrolyte supplements (You can find the sports drink Aquarius in Spain, but it’s a good idea to carry some electrolyte tablets on you, especially when hiking in hot weather.)

Miscellaneous

• Ditty sacks to organize things (I had my clothes in one, toiletries in one, and medical supplies in another.)
• Small wallet with 300 euros cash (I would replenish the cash as I went but didn’t want to carry too much at once.)
• Passport
• Phone and charger
• Camino pilgrim passport (collected at Saint Jean Pied de Port)
• Kindle and charger
• Smart watch and charger (I personally have and love the Garmin Fenix 7S.)
• Camino guidebook
• Fanny pack
• Quick dry camping body towel (I have a size L in the one I’ve linked.)
• Sleeping bag liner
• One or two 1L Nalgene water bottles (I brought one water bottle and would just supplement with extra water bottles and sports drinks for longer hikes with less stops.)
• Outlet power adapter
• Headphones
• Ear plugs if you’re a light sleeper
• 10 laundry clothes pins
• 5L dry bag (This is really helpful for doing laundry on the Camino.)
• 10 safety pins
• Two S hooks
• Three or four carabiners
• Small paracord
• Two small plastic bags
• Quart-sized plastic bag to protect your Camino passport
• Several trash bags
• Rock from home for the Cruz de Ferro (if you’re hiking the Camino Francés)
• Emergency blanket
• She’s Birdie personal safety alarm (This is optional but helped me feel so much safer walking solo.)

Budgeting Tips for Buying Gear

If you don’t own much gear already, then it can quickly add a lot to your Camino budget. Here are some of my tips to keep your gear costs down:

• Keep an eye out for any sales. REI often has great deals around the end of May, end of August, and in November.
• Know that you don’t have to buy the most expensive items available. A lot of items I’ve linked above are fairly reasonable in price and still perform well.
• Shop secondhand. See if there’s a secondhand store near where you live. Purchasing used gear is a great way to save money.