How big of a backpack do I need for Camino?


How big of a backpack do I need for Camino? Choosing a backpack is another important choice in Camino planning. For a warm-weather camino, a 30-45 liter backpack should suffice. Look for a pack that weight 3 pounds or less (1.5 kg), as heavy expedition packs with a lot of padding and stiff stays are not necessary for the Camino.


How much weight can you lose on the Camino de Santiago?

I think more people would lose weight than gain it whilst walking a camino. You are using so many calories each day that it is difficult to replace them all with food. Most years I have started my camino several kilos over weight and generally lose around 6-8 kilos.


Is it expensive to walk the Camino?

Total Trip Costs Most pilgrim budgets fall in the $30-60 (€25-50) per day range, meaning a 30-day walk would cost $900-1800 (€750-1500). If you don't already have hiking gear, new gear could easily cost $300-600 (€250-500) if you need to get new footwear, backpack and sleeping bag.


How do you go to the bathroom on the Camino de Santiago?

Public bathrooms are not frequent on the Camino de Santiago. But, cafes, restaurants and bars are frequent, you may find one or two during the day, and these all have bathrooms that customers can use.


What is the ideal pack weight for the Camino?

Aim to pack as light as possible for the Camino de Santiago, bringing only essential items. A suggested guide is to plan to carry no more than 10% of your body weight (so if you weight 150 lb, plan to carry no more than 15 lb).


Do you need waterproof shoes for Camino?

I will not recommend wearing heavy, waterproof boots on a hot dry Camino in summertime (July/August). Walking in the shoulder season (May, June, and September), can be good, but rain is possible. We walked a very wet Camino Primitivo during this time and waterproof boots worked fantastically.


Do I need a pillow for the Camino de Santiago?

We would recommend that you do not pack a pillow for the Camino de Santiago. We don't think you will need a pillow, unless you're planning to wild camp of course. All albergues and guest houses will have pillows.


Can you sleep in a tent on the Camino?

While not as common, some pilgrims opt to carry a tent and camp along the way. It offers a close connection to nature, though it's essential to camp in designated areas and respect the environment.


What are the best months to walk the Camino?

In general, the best time to do one of the Camino de Santiago is between April and October. The months of July and August can be very hot and most Spaniards are on holiday so it's a period that is usually busy. But it can also be very attractive.


How many pairs of socks do you need for the Camino?

Three (3) pairs of double-layer socks, so that you have one clean, dry pair at all times, in case it rains or you step in a puddle.


Do you need a tent on the Camino?

Very few people camp along the Camino, as there are more albergues than campsites. As such, there's no need to carry a heavy tent. Many albergues have kitchens where you can prepare your own food, as well as other amenities such as washing machines and dryers, meals, internet, etc.


What is the average age of people walking the Camino?

The average age of Pilgrims walking El Camino de Santiago is between 30 and 60 with nearly 60% of Pilgrims finishing the Camino being in this age group. There are also 15% of Pilgrims being over 60 years old and this is a growing group with more and more seniors walking the Camino de Santiago.


Is 70L backpack too big for backpacking?

The sweet spot lies somewhere in the middle: a backpack between 40-70L is fine for a long-term trip – the trick is not to stuff it full.