my Camino Pack

Backpack

442g (15.6oz)

Patagonia Ascensionist 25L Pack

I used this pack mostly because I already owned it, but it turns out it is also one of the lightest options out there (for a 25L size pack). I liked it because it was light and frameless, but still had some padding against the back so it was comfortable. It also has lots of loops/hooks/toggles and versatility for attaching things to the outside of it.

The way the top is designed, you can lay a wet raincoat across the top and ‘pin it’ with...

…the top latch so that it can drip-dry outside your pack instead of inside it. (It is designed to carry a climbing rope there but it works for a raincoat!). However, this pack is no longer available (as far as I can tell) because Patagonia did a redesign and now offers it only in 30L as the smallest size, which weighs 670g (24oz). The redesign does appear to offer a ‘removeable foam’ backing, which may lighten up the pack a bit, but would also make it less comfortable. Given the increased weight of the redesigned, 30L pack, there are some other day pack options that are now comparable to the Ascensionist.

If I was shopping for a pack now (and didn’t have access to the lighter Ascentionist 25L), I’d probably consider something more hiking-specific, like the Osprey Hikelite 26L. It has fewer gear-loop style options for attaching things, but still has good options for storing a few things on the outside of the pack (like a stuff pocket for your jacket and some mesh pockets). Also, if you have trekking poles, it is designed to stow those for times when you don’t want to have them in your hands. The osprey is 735g (26oz), which is comparable to the now-available Ascensionist options. (Original manufacturer link with demo video).

It’s easy to forget about the weight of the pack itself when packing for a trip like this, but when you are packing extremely light, the pack can quickly become one of your heaviest items. Shop carefully!

Phone Holster

17g (0.6oz)

Zimmer Built - Padded shoulder strap pocket

I loved having this. My phone was my clock, guidebook, camera and journal so having it accessible like this was HUGE (I don’t like hiking with things in my pockets). Also, I could attach my backup battery to the phone and fit it in the pocket as well if I needed to charge up..

Make sure to double check the size of your phone vs. the size of these kind of pouches...

…phones can be shockingly big these days. Take note that if your pack has hip belt pockets, you may be able to tuck your phone in those and avoid the need for this item.

In general, look out for weight when comparison shopping these items. There are a lot available but many of them don’t have ‘weight’ in mind and can be unnecessarily heavy &/or have poorly designed attachments. I’ve seen some that are 5 times the weight of mine and have an attachment design that would result in the pouch just ‘tipping sideways’ if there was any weight in it.

I can’t find any on amazon that weren’t way heavy, so sorry, no Amazon option for these. However, it appears that Mountain Laurel Designs will ship internationally, and they have excellent options as well.

Alternatively, I think a lightweight fanny pack is a clever option here as well.

Bottle Holster

28.3g (1oz)

Zimmer Built - Shoulder strap pocket for water bottle

I loved having this. It was really nice to be able to drink without taking my pack off. I used a 600ml disposable plastic bottle that I just kept refilling. If you don’t like the idea of disposable plastic, Nalgene makes a ‘lightweight’ (HDPE material) bottle that is a decent option.

I don’t recommend a water bladder for the Camino. You have access to water so often...

… that you don’t need to bring much along at a time. A small accessible bottle that you can quickly and easily refill is much better than a bladder that is hard to get in and out of your pack, and that you can’t tell how full/empty it is. I noticed that most people with bladders would just fill them every morning, because ‘it’s easier than digging it out every time.’ Water is HEAVY! If you think you need 3L of water to drink that day, don’t carry 3L right off the bat in the morning! Look at the guidebook, figure out how often you’ll have access to water throughout the day, and bring water according to that.

Collapsible Water Bottle

55g (1.9oz)

Hydrapak Stow 1Litre

I brought a collapsible 1L water bottle along for extra capacity. I only used it twice! I would not recommend bringing this. It would have been better to buy a disposable 1L bottle those times (temporary extra capacity) instead of carrying this bottle for the whole 1000km.

Perhaps if you are going in the summer or hotter months, you could consider bringing...

…a bigger bottle or multiple bottles along (don’t risk dehydration!) but I would still recommend a small bottle that is easily accessible as your ‘primary’ bottle and then ‘backup capacity’ that goes in your pack – as this avoids the mentality of just ‘filling everything because it’s easier to do it now.’

These EVERNEW hydration packs are a good lightweight alternative for hotter months when you know you’ll need the capacity more regularly. (The 900ml weighs 0.9oz).

Dry Bags

74g (2.6oz)

Sea to Summit ultra sil dry bags

I used the 1L bag for my electronics, passports, & wallet. I never let it out of my site. At night I slept with it under my pillow. I used the 2L and 4L ones for clothes and my sleeping stuff. Keep in mind that if your backpack comes with a rain cover, you could consider having fewer dry bags. I would still bring a dedicated one for my electronics though.

Day Pack

30g (1oz)

Sea to summit ultra sil dry Nano daypack

I actually did not bring this with me. I picked up a nylon grocery bag from the first albergue. It worked well enough, but was a little annoying because I never had two free arms unless I put it down. I really wish I had brought one of these instead. Either way, a second carry-bag is useful for once you are settled for the night, and just want to pop out somewhere without bringing your whole pack. These fold up into their tiny stuff sack so they don’t take up much room.

Carabiners

8.3g (0.3oz)

Black Diamond Jivewire Accessory Carabiner

I brought 3 or 4 of these plastic carabiners with me. I used them to attach things to the outside of my pack (for example, my flip flops). When I bought a bunch of groceries and my pack got too full, I’d get creative with these carabiners to attach larger/lighter items to the outside of the pack, like my puffy or sleeping sack.

This made temporary room for the groceries, meaning I didn’t have to hand-carry...

…grocery bags. I also had a small

Amazon

Nylon Cord

28g (1oz)

AIDER Reflective Nylon Cord

I brought a short length of nylon cord (approximately 3 meters) with me to use as a ‘shoulder strap’ for slinging my small dry-bag over my shoulder (so I could keep my valuables with me at all times).

I ended up acquiring a very lightweight reusable grocery bag from one of the...

…‘left behind’ boxes at the first albergue, which I used more often than this makeshift purse idea. I also used this cord intermittently to attach things to my pack, and as a backup clothes line when the lines at an albergue were full (not common, they typically have plenty). I think you could live without this cord, or you could bring a much shorter length of it (maybe 1m). I think the stuff I brought was 2.5mm, but I think any diameter would be fine, so I’ve listed two options.

Safety Pins

nearly zero

Large size safety pins with safety clasp

Bring some of these! The larger sized ones. You need them to keep your small clothes from jumping off the laundry lines (many albergues have lines but no clothes pins). Their secondary purpose is to attached anything that is still wet in the morning to the outside of your pack.

I hung my small towel or socks there if they hadn’t had time to dry the previous ...

…evening. They dry pretty quick out in the sun on the back of your pack! I would not go on the Camino without these, inevitably your socks will end up in the dirt if you don’t! I had the ones in the picture, but I think diaper pins (with the plastic cover) may be a little kinder to your clothes. They’re more expensive (typically) though, so I linked both.

Wrist Wallet

28g (1oz)

Stretchy, zippered, wrist wallet

Every day wallets are not typically something that we shop for based on weight. If you have access to a scale, though, consider weighing your every day wallet before just bringing it along as usual. They can be shockingly heavy. Be thoughtful about what you actually bring along in this category.

I brought credit and debit cards, driver’s license, and cash. You don’t need all your...

…various ‘points cards’ or ‘library card’ that are normally tucked in your wallet. Once you have stripped the contents down, you’ll notice that they fit nicely in something small like one of these wrist wallets. I actually only kept one credit card and about forty euro in this wrist wallet for day-to-day use. I kept my debit card, license, a backup credit card, my passport, my credential, and my remaining cash in my pack in a dry bag. I took this with me everywhere (never out of my site, including the shower!) but did not use it for regular transactions (like, I didn’t pull it out ta the grocery store and fish through a pile of euros to pay). I thought it was smarter to keep it all tucked away somewhere safe that I didn’t open often, and have a ‘day use’ wallet that was more minimal and less consequential if I lost it.

Next: The Sleep System...

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