In the months before we walked the Camino I thought and planned a great deal about what I would bring. I was constantly aware of the rule: your backpack should weigh no more than one tenth of your body weight. I chose to bring two items that weren’t necessary, but which did a great deal for my mental well-being: a tube of rose cream so that I wouldn’t always smell like a pilgrim, and a comfortable, attractive skirt to wear after I was done walking each day.

Here's what I brought:

Clothes

• Underwear (2)
• Socks, midweight (2)
• Short sleeve shirts (2)
• White long sleeve shirt (SPF 30 or more) (1)
• Marino wool long sleeve shirt (1)
• Good quality rain coat with hood (1)
• Skirt (to wear after walking)
• Wide brimmed hat (covers both face and back of neck)
• Light weight all purpose scarf Midweight hiking boots (broken in)
• Lightweight sandals for post walking wear- 1 pair

Feet Care:

• walking soles for shoes (superfeet from REI)
• small bottle peppermint oil for soaking the feet (refreshing effect)
• Needle and thread to treat blisters
• Bandaids for blisters (various sizes)
• Medical plastic glove to use when helping others with blisters

Personal Care

• Water bladder to carry inside of backpack (with tube for drinking)
• Light weight sleeping bag that can be squeezed into a small pouch
• Sleep sack with a pillow cover. Good for placing over the bed for a sense of hygiene. Also good on nights when the sleeping bag would be too hot.
• Camping style towel that dried quickly. Large enough to cover me when emerging into communal shower areas.
• Earplugs to block out noise of other pilgrims when sleeping
• Sunglasses
• Suntan lotion, 35 SPF
• Several large safety pins (to hang wet clothes on lines)
• Miniflashlight with strong beam
• Nail clippers
• Little nailbrush to use for nails and tough stains on clothes
• Swiss Army knife with scissors
• Soap (for showers & washing)

• Toothpaste, toothbrush, retainer
• Small tube of cortisone cream for rashes
• Essential oils for pain and disinfection
• Arnica (homeopathic) for muscle trauma
• Rescue remedy (homeopathic) for trauma of all sorts
• Rose cream
• Tampax

Other:

• Large plastic bag to line backpack to keep rain out (Ziplock)
• Passport
• Bank card for cash withdrawls
• Credit card
• Insurance card
• Shell for backpack to identify one as a pilgrim
• Rock to leave at the Cruz de Fero
• Small travel alarm clock
• Digital camera and extra memory cards, charger
• Journal and pen(s)
• Earrings (one pair)
• Small water bottle for use in afternoons and evenings
• Tape (for adding things to my journal)
• Reading glasses
• New Testament & Psalms (lightweight)

Didn’t Bring: Wish I Had
Small binoculars for looking at the facades of churches