How I Packed for the Camino in a Waist Pack
Men’s Ultralight Camino Primitivo Packing List (2023)
Packing everything you need for the Camino de Santiago in a bag you can actually carry is challenge. Trust me, I know.
I’ve walked the Camino five times.
But I’ve finally created what might be the lightest — yet still fully functional — Camino packing list ever. And it all fits in a fanny pack (or a “lumbar pack” for you Brits).
In this article, I’m going to share every single piece of clothing and gear that I packed on my most recent Camino (Camino Primitivo May 2023). I’ll also share how I manage to fit everything I need for a full-length Camino in a fanny pack so you can lighten the load with your own lumbar pack-friendly version of this in my Ultralight Camino Packing List.
So here we go!
The Best Ultralight Camino Bag
Hands down, the best ultralight lumbar pack I’ve ever tried. Lightweight, versatile, and great for long day hikes and supported hikes like the Camino de Santiago.
I’m honestly surprised that this bag worked so well for the Camino. Seriously. I never thought that I’d be able to fit all my clothing, toiletries, snacks, sleep sack, first aid, and tech in this one little bag.
But somehow it just … worked. And that’s because of the simple functional design.
The waist belt is super comfortable and functional with (2) easy-to-reach pockets on each side. I also loved the (2) buckle tie-down straps on the outside for attaching my shower sandals (I didn’t want those inside the pack with everything else!) and stuffing my rain jacket for easy access when it rained or got windy — which happened several times a day.
The main compartment was spacious enough for all my clothing, toiletries, and accessories. And the top zipper pocket was great for delicate items like my sunglasses (when not in use) and my charger and cables.
The Sierra Designs Flex Lumbar pack was easy to use on and off the trail. But my favorite thing about it was how it fit my body without feeling like all my stuff was weighing me down.
Maybe it was just the small size (7-10 L), but I never felt like I had tons of weight on my hips. I actually forgot I was wearing the bag a few times when I went to sit down at a cafe for a coffee.
Imagine forgetting that you’re wearing your Camino bag.
I will say that it took a day or so of fidgeting to get the pack to sit on my hips the way I like. Also, the bag was way more comfortable when it wasn’t overpacked. But if you pack what I brought on my Camino, the pack will fit like a glove.
Fanny Pack Upgrades
I MacGyvered an extra bungee cord strap across the top of the pack for even more lightweight “stuff” storage. It makes it even easier to stuff and retrieve my rain jacket. I also clip a dog treat training pouch to the waist belt for trail snacks if you’re a snacker like me!
The Best Ultralight Camino Clothing
A classic short sleeve shirt for spring and summer hiking. I’ve worn a version of this shirt for the past 5 years. Love it.
Here’s the long sleeve version.
Ultralight packing for the Camino is actually pretty simple. You just need to commit to bringing one “trail” outfit and one “town/Albergue” outfit. And that means getting a hiking shirt you can depend on day in and day out.
The REI Coop hiking shirt is lightweight, durable, and comfortable. Another great option is the Columbia PFG Tamiami II Long-Sleeve Shirt (I’m actually packing this for my next Camino this summer). When you pair this with flexible, lightweight hiking shorts, you’ll be able to handle any trail conditions in just about any season.
Any pair of decent hiking shorts will do fine. Just make sure they fit well and have good pockets (including at least one cargo pocket!)
I like to hike in shorts 99% of the time, especially in the spring and summer. Find a pair that fit you well, with a bit of stretch (but not too much!) and you’ll be in business. But remember, you don’t have to break the bank on hiking shorts.
The pair I wore during the Camino Primitivo cost €13. The pair I’m taking on my next Camino cost €14.
I relied fairly heavily on my pockets for my phone, wallet, and snacks. If you’re going
to pack a lumbar pack, you’re going to need your pockets to do some work.
I liked having a comfy, warm, breathable merino wool long-sleeve when I got into town. This was great for wearing around the albergue and visiting churches and restaurants.
Merino wool is the perfect year-round fabric for your “city” clothes. Every day when I got to town, I’d change into this long sleeve and it was super comfy, as well as stylish. I felt like less of a pilgrim when I’d wear it in town, which is nice.
I’m going to pack a short sleeve Merino wool t-shirt for my longer summer Camino this time around, but either one works.
These pants are featherweight — which is perfect for packing in a fanny pack. I never wore them on the trail, but I loved having a comfy pair of pants for the albergue and walking around town. I’m bringing these on my next Camino, too!
Best Underwear for the Camino
Invest in a better pair of merino wool underwear. It’s worth it.
Guys, you really only need (2) pair of underwear for the Camino. Just swap them out and wash them every day or every other day, and you’ll be good to go.
Merino wool is the superior fabric for comfort, breathability, and antimicrobial odor resistance.
I went with the Unbound Merino Wool Underwear and a super lightweight pair of Airism boxer briefs from Uniqlo. Ex-Officio also makes a great pair of travel underwear.
Best Socks for the Camino
Classic rugged design with enough cushion and breathability for any Camino route. My go-to hiking sock for long-distance multi-day hikes.
Again, you only need to pack (2) pairs of high-quality socks for any Camino route.
I’ve been a huge fan of the Darn Tough Crew Socks for years. They fit great, take a beating, and have just enough cushion to be comfortable without getting too warm on hot days. My other pair was Unbound Merino’s Crew length Merino wool socks. Super solid.
Add REI silk sock liners (I never get blisters when I wear these!) and you’ll be all set without adding
a ton of bulk to your bag.
The Best Camino Hiking Shoes & Sandals
Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference.
I love my Altra Lone Peak Trail Runners. They’re amazing.
I’ve tried a number of different hiking shoes — from boots to approach shoes, and even some barefoot shoes — but these are the winner by a mile. They’re comfy, rugged, lightweight, and do everything I need them to do.
They never slip, feel comfy as heck, dry quickly when they get wet, breathe when it’s hot, and I’ve never felt any shin splints or foot pain while wearing these on the Camino — which is a big deal.
You have to rely on your hiking shoes on the Camino. Make sure you find a pair that can handle the miles.
And you also need a pair of shower sandals when you get to the Albergue. I recently upgraded to a pair of flat-pack sandals from Decathlon due to the small size and flat profile. But I’m also a fan of these Z-Trail sandals from Xero Shoes.
But if you’re on a tight budget, a simple pair of Croc-style shower sandals should do the trick.
Essential Camino Accessories
I bought a lightweight rain jacket from a store in Spain once I arrived, but you can hike most of the year with a simple rain jacket like this one from Mountain Hardwear.
You don’t need to bring a ton of layers. In fact, that’s one of the few things that a lumbar pack can’t really do.
I treated my long sleeve Merino wool shirt like a light layer, and when I added my rain jacket, I was more than comfortable, even on chilly or wet days.
You can never go wrong with a merino wool buff. I wore it literally every single day.
Pair your rain jacket with a Merino Wool Buff (obviously), and a good hat — like the Sunday Afternoons Hat — and you’ll be protected from the sun, cold, wind, and rain.
And you’ll look like a ninja. Which is fun.
These stylish wraparound sunglasses are my new go-to for the Camino.
Every Camino pilgrim needs a great pair of sunglasses. Luckily, I discovered the Vallon Heron line of sunglasses.
And I’m all about it.
The technical mirrored lenses and leather side shields keep the sun and wind out of your eyes so you can just relax and hike. I will say, they cut down on your peripheral vision a bit, so maybe take them off once you get to town, especially if you’re crossing a busy street!
Essential Camino Toiletries & First Aid Kit
All you need is a toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, and, like Douglas Adams said, a towel.
Keep toiletries to a minimum if you want to hike with a lumbar pack. I got my “travel” toiletry kit from the grocery store for $3 and used the toothbrush and toothpaste in the set. And it worked great.
You can bring a bar of soap or some liquid soap, but I always used whatever liquid soap was in the albergue bathroom. It was always available. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
Aside from that, all I need are fingernail clippers, chapstick, and my new favorite ultralight towel — the Sea to Summit AirLite towel (large), and I’ve got an ultralight Camino-friendly toiletries kit that’s a few ounces and fits easily in my pack.
Camino First Aid Kit
I always hike with one knee brace (so I don’t include that in my packing gear since it’s always just “on”).
I also pack a roll of waterproof medical tape, which fits around my carabiner, and enough ibuprofen to last for the number of days I’m hiking. Lastly, I always pack a handful of Lamb’s Wool to prevent hot spots and blisters on my feet.
For sunscreen, I always bring a tin of All Good Organic Sunscreen Butter. This zinc sunscreen lasts forever and fits in one of the external pockets of my lumbar pack so I can reapply as I walk. Love this stuff.
Other Camino Essentials
These last few Camino essentials will make your pilgrimage a lot smoother — without adding too much weight to your bag:
Hiking Poles. You need hiking poles. Period. Invest in a decent pair with at least (2) locking sections, and you’ll feel a lot fresher when you finish each stage.
Silk Sleep Sack. A silk sleep sack is an amazing upgrade for ultralight Camino packing. My silk sleep liner only weighs 110 grams (less than 4 ounces!) and is perfect for sleeping in any albergue.
REI Co-op Eye Mask. You need a sleep mask. A mask will help you shut out the light that always seems to trickle into the albergue and helps you mentally click off to get some (literal) shut-eye.
Tribit Bluetooth earbuds (or foam earplugs). I’ve used the Tribit Bluetooth earbuds for literally years, since I like to drift off to sleep with music or a podcast instead of the sound of strangers snoring. The Tribit earbuds fit my ears (so I don’t hear any snoring), the battery lasts all night and recharges in the case while I hike, they’re waterproof, and they pair with my phone just by opening the case. They also sound great. If you’re looking for an affordable pair of bluetooth headphones to block out the sound of albergues, these are fantastic. But I also keep a pair of cheap foam earplugs handy just in case (since they weigh nothing)
Chums Wallet. This is my go-to wallet for the Camino. The dual zipper pouches are great for European coins (which you’ll use a lot!) and they keep your cards safe from scratches.
Carabiner. You always need a carabiner.
Anker 30W Charger. Anker makes a reliable, fast-charging wall charger. Here’s the EU version.
I also always have room to pack even more stuff like my:
Supernote A6X E-Reader. This Kindle-style e-reader also includes a stylish so I can take notes on books, write journals or articles, and save everything to the cloud for quick transfers. I can even sketch if I’m feeling artistic. The battery life is great (about 2 weeks on one charge) and it’s nice not to stare at my phone all the time.
Opinel Knife. Opinel knives are the best for making quick picnics and sandwiches — a must when you’re hiking the Camino!
You Can Hike the Camino with Just a Fanny Pack
And that’s honestly it.
All you need to hike the Camino is (2) sets of clothes, some simple toiletries and a lightweight first aid kit, a good towel, shoes that can handle the trail, and a couple of accessories for the sun, rain, and sleep.
I’ve honed my packing list down to the essentials, and I’m thrilled when I strap on my bag each morning because it weighs less than 6 pounds (without water).
BTW: For water, I just use two plastic bottles in the water bottle pockets on the waistbelt.
You don’t need a massive backpack to hike the Camino de Santiago, because the Camino isn’t your typical brutal thru-hike like the AT or the PCT. Not really. On the Camino, you sleep in a bed every night, and you’re rarely more than a short walk or taxi ride from food, water, coffee, shelter, and help if things go wrong.
There are a few sections that are a little more challenging, but you’ll still have room for extra snacks and water if you only pack the rest of the things on this list.
If you keep it light and buy things as you go instead of preparing for every eventuality, you can enjoy the Camino without all the baggage.
And for me, that’s the best way to get to Santiago.
