AUTUMN PACKING LIST
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RULE OF THUMB REMINDER: It 's best to carry around 10 per cent of your body weight, but factor in your body strength and stamina. I found that I could only carry around 7 %. At 10% of my body weight, my pack felt heavy and cumbersome. Other people carried much more, so test it out for yourself.
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IMPORTANT NOTE: Remember that you will be carrying water and some food with you as you walk the camino. This has to be taken into your packing weight considerations. In winter, spring and autumn, 1 litre of water is sufficient as there are many fountains along the route. You must figure out what your personal needs are. Summer calls for at least two litres, and in any season, you will carry some snacks to keep you going.
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AUTUMN PACKING LIST (BACKPACKS)
Clothing 2 pairs of zip-off trousers or leggings I pair of shorts or skirt for evening wear 1 thermal vest 2 pairs of knickers 3 pairs of socks (1 pair to sleep in) 1 pair of wool gloves 2 Bras 2 T-shirts 1 long-sleeve light-weight shirt 1 light-weight shirt for evenings 1 warm fleece Light-weight warm jacket 1 pair of walking shoes/hiking boots CLICK HERE FOR BEST HIKING FOOTWEAR 1 pair of walking sandals (for hot days if your feet over-heat, and for evenings) 1 pair of light flip-flops for the shower 1 light-weight rain poncho (the kind that fits into a tiny bag) or water-proof rain jacket Plastic backpack cover (if you don't use a water-tight rain poncho) Toiletries Miniature size shampoo and conditioner – buy more as you go Miniature size soap (the type you get in hotels)-buy more en-route Miniature toothpaste and toothbrush Miniature body lotion (doubles up as moisturizer too) Small roll-on deodorant-(buy more as you go) Small feather-weight towel (buy them in camping stores) Make-up (for people like me!) Keep it to a minimum Tiny hairbrush or comb Sunscreen lotion Lip-balm First Aid Kit Needle and thread Band-Aids Compeed Antiseptic cream Vaseline Duct-tape or medical tape Pain-killers CLICK HERE FOR FOOT-CARE TIPS Electronic Devices Adaptor Plug Mobile phone/Iphone plus charger Small Guidebook (if you do not have electronic devices on which to bookmark web pages) Camera (if you don’t have a good one embedded in your electronic devices) Sleeping Equipment Extremely lightweight sleeping bag Pillow case (again, many pilgrims don’t like to put their heads on a pillow that has been used by many others) Ear plugs (people don’t just snore after long hikes, they have been known to ROAR!) Eye-mask (pilgrims have been known to throw on the lights in the early hours before they leave) CLICK HERE FOR MORE ADVICE ON SLEEPING EQUIPMENT Miscellaneous Plastic knife/fork/spoon (always comes in handy) Miniature torch (to see in the dark when you need to use the toilet, or if you leave before light) Cap or Sun hat Sun-glasses Reading glasses Feather-weight scarf to protect the back of your neck from sunburn (even in autumn) A few medium-sized safety pins (to pin still-wet clothing to your backpack-they can then dry as you walk) Packing Lists for Other Seasons
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Packing Notes
Spring in Spain brings changeable weather. It can still be very cold, especially in the mornings and evenings and at high altitudes. Depending on your location, and towards the end of spring, the weather can get nice and warm, so leave prepared.
Wear sunscreen often. You are exposed to UV all day and can get sunburn even in Autumn
Be careful when buying your rain poncho. Some brands are just not up to the job when it rains down furiously (it does that a lot in spring and Autumn, especially in Galicia). Make sure you have a backpack cover to protect your belongings. Many pilgrims (me included) have had to spend an entire evening drying out clothes after being completely drenched by rainfall.
If you find yourself walking at a very rainy time, in addition to your backpack cover, you might want to consider packing the contents of your backpack in plastic bags before re-packing them. This helps keep everything dry when even the ponchos let in the water.
Weigh your backpack as you add items on your 'wants' list. You'll be surprised how little you can take, how the small things add up. An extra pair of socks or knickers, or that evening shawl...it all makes for a heavier load in the end.
Miniature Toiletries
You can buy miniature sized toiletries along the camino trail. Obtain them from pharmacies and some small shops.
You can buy the most amazingly light-weight clothing, backpacks, towels and more at hiking stores near you or you can purchase them online.
All items used in your First Aid kit can be replaced in pharmacies along the camino route.
Carrying a guidebook adds weight to your pack and a lot of pilgrims prefer electronic guides. Many people who do carry them tend to rip away pages as they walk the trail, leaving the pack lighter as the journey goes on.
It is advisable to take a sleeping bag in Autumn. Especially in high altitudes, it can get really quite cold in the evenings.
Feather-weight sarongs are useful items to carry as they can be used in many different ways. They protect your neck and head from the sun, can be used as a skirt, wrap-dress, towel, emergency arm-sling or bandage, emergency backpack, picnic blanket.....The list goes on! I'll leave the rest to your imagination!
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