Download CFA Packing Worksheet
These will be the tools that you will use to conquer the trial. Mile after mile. Day after day. Below are some of the essentials that we recommend. As a good rule of thumb try to keep your back at less than 10% of your body weight.
Clothing
- 2 Shirts
- Pullover
- 2 pairs of underwear (my favorite)
- 2 pairs of shorts
- 1 pair of pants (or use zip off pants that can double as a 2nd pair of shorts)
- 1 belt
- Rain gear (Fogg Toggs or poncho)
Sleeping
- Sleeping bag liner
- Ear plugs
- Sleep mask (optional)
- We did not bring a pillow or sleeping bag. Some bring inflatable pillows. Albergues generally carry heavy blankets if it is cold.
Feet
- Good pair of walking shoes
- I used HOKA from REI the first time, but I hated them as they made my heel hurt.
- Last 2 times I just used a simple running shoe and they worked great for me, but any trail runner should work for most.
- Some like a more substantial boot, but we are not really doing mountain climbing.
- Make sure you break them in before the trip
- Non hiking footwear (sandals, flip flops)
- 3 sets of socks (extra pair allows you to change them in the middle of the day)
- Blister socks are great (Wrightsocks)
- Can also use two-pair sock system
- A thin inner sock (aka sock liner) made from silk, nylon, polyester, or wool
- A thicker outer sock. This sock should be wool (Smartwool or Merino wool are good choices)
Toiletries
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Deodarant
- Wash Cloth
- Shampoo
- Footpower or creme
First Aid
- Mole skin
- Advil
- Melatonin
- Sewing needle
- Tape
- First Aid Kit (Optional)
Other Items
- Backpack with Hip Strap (Around 40-50L)
- My Osprey pack (detachable day pack)
- My Sons’ packs
- Backpack Cover
- Towel (Ours were very thin)
- Daypack
- One per Father/Son group
- Used to secure valuables/passports when going around town. You will leave your main pack at the Alburgues.
- Waterproof sack for wet items (Ziplock bag can work too)
- Waterproof sack for passports (I liked having a separate pouch that was always with me)
- EU plug converter
- Chargers for any of your electronics
- Forms of payment (Credit Card, Debit Card, Apple Pay, Google Pay)
- You will need cash (Euros) for some places, but card payments are a more safe and easier way to pay
- Usually, the best conversion rate for payment is Credit Card and the best ATM rate for cash is Debit Card
- Phone
- Passport
Optional
- Extra Clothes (Shirt, Pants, Underwear, Socks)
- Sun Hat
- Hiking Pole
- We will want to check these in a bag. Two of ours got held up in security on the way back
- Wooden ones can also be purchased in Spain for around $15
- Gloves
- Sunglasses
- Ziplock Bags
- Nail Trimmers
- Dividers for packing
- Help keep backpack balanced
- Clothes pins – for hanging clothes to dry (Alburgues usually have them)
- Headlamp
- Inflatable pillow
- Portable Fan
- Paper Camino Guide
- Extra Battery
Phone Items
- Please get some kind of international data for at least one person in your party
- This will make everyones life easier incase we need to call an audible during the day when we are not together
- Options for plans
- Your current data plan – check with your provider for international rates
- Get a data only plan eSIM ahead of time (Affordable Spanish eSIMs)
- Buy a SIM card at the airport
- FYI, most Albergues have WiFi
- Whats App
- Free text messenger service that everyone in Europe uses
- We will also probably use it for group messages
- Camino Ninja
- Trail Details for every step along the way
- All Trails App
- Offline maps