Packing List and Useful Tips for the Camino de Santiago

In this video - made in real time as I am packing for my upcoming early spring Camino - I am showing and explaining the "essentials" and the "optionals" to be considered for a packing list for the Camino de Santiago. In addition to the mere "list" itself, I share some tips and pointers, and some practical matters to consider. Hope it sees you off to a good start on your way of Camino preparation - Buen Camino!

[@stevenprice7768]

Max, super commentary. Realistic and very grounded. I like your observation wrt avoiding the 'overs' - packing, planning, stressing... Great advice for many who's lives and plans are over-structured. I also appreciate your strong message that most things can be 'found' in N Spain! Thanks again for your guidance.

[@caminographer705]

Much appreciated, Steven! Buen Camino!

[@curlymom49]

I just bought some of the Scholl's Deer Tallow Foot Cream from Germany an am looking forward to using it. Thanks for the tip!

[@caminographer705]

Awesome: I hope it serves you well! Buen Camino!

[@Rasmussengunnar]

Yes, a lot of useful and additional info. I like to watch a lot of similar videos when preparing for a trip/journey to pick up the best advice and make my own plan. In this case my own customized packing-list. I will look for "Hirsch Talg" and the other feet product you mentioned - or find something similar in Denmark😉👌

[@caminographer705]

Thank you Gunnar - glad you've found this useful! You're absolutely right: watch what others have to say, get ideas here and there, but then make your own, custom choices! I hope you can find Hirschtalg in Denmark; if not - perhaps you can order it from Germany (they sell it at stores like DM or Rossmann, and it is very inexpensive). Pretty much every German Pilgrim I've met on my Caminos swears by it and attributes lack of blisters to the use of it... Buen Camino!

[@markc8401]

Thanks man! And I totally get your hate for those microfibre towels! Ugh

[@caminographer705]

hahahahaha thank you Mark - most people are fine with them, but... There's nothing like a real towel, even if it's impractical and weighty to carry. Buen Camino!

[@olgadegilde1010]

Very useful and precious information. Thank you!

[@caminographer705]

Glad it was helpful!

[@aperturephotography6162]

Thank you very much... 2022 will be my first Camino walk from Sarria to Compostela....... Thanks and God Bless You.

[@caminographer705]

Wonderful! I’m sure it’ll be an unforgettable experience. Buen Camino!

[@bencebalassa3519]

Awesome and very practical vid! Thanks for sharing your experience! :)

[@caminographer705]

Thank you so much: I’m happy you e found it useful! Buen Camino!

[@rebeccashelton3552]

Learned something from this video! Thanks!

[@michelemoran3267]

Being Australian we need a plug converter/socket for the phone...great list, thanks

[@caminographer705]

True, good point, also applicable to other parts of the World - but also to any other type of travel. It'll be lovely to see more Australians back again on the Camino Buen Camino!

[@andreabalazs7184]

Very useful infos👌

[@caminographer705]

Thank you - glad you found this useful!

[@aislinghanna3377]

I really loved your frankness and packing essentials.. And you remembered the 'female essentials' ( danke to your wife!!) I''m about to depart in 68days ...Spring => any possible weather combination!!! I will def look into your creams. Buen Camino

[@caminographer705]

Thank you Hanna - I’m very happy to hear that you’ve found the video useful and helpful! April is an awesome time to be on the Camino, you will love the beautiful Spring! All the best wishes, and Buen Camino!

[@johnrodgers2018]

Nice reassuring video, i'm good , definitely using a DSLR camera clip for my backpack strap so camera is close to hand, and the phone stays turned off at the bottom of the pack and a kindle. Thanks

[@sophcas87]

Great video! Where did you buy your sleeping bag? I've been looking for a small one. Greetings from México!

[@caminographer705]

Thank you - glad you enjoyed the video! I got the sleeping bag years ago at an outdoors store in Germany. Not sure what's out there for sale in Mexico, but I imagine you could find quality products online these days. Suerte, y Buen Camino!

[@martianmuppet]

Thankyou for the vid, great information.

[@robinandthedog]

I did not get the details about the massage oil you are mentioning around minute 12, can you please enlighten? great video by the way!

[@caminographer705]

Thank you so much - happy you enjoyed the video! The massage oil I mention and use is Arnica Massage Oil by Weleda. I hope you can find it where you are at! Buen Camino!

[@robscamino]

Nice video. You have a lot of gear there. How much does your loaded pack weigh?

[@FABM27]

He said 5kg with the essential stuff on the right and 9kgs with all the stuff

[@robscamino]

@@FABM27 Got it. Thanks.

[@caminographer705]

Thank you very much - happy to hear you've found it useful! Yes, it seems like a lot of gear, but that's also because of the extras I choose (!) to take along. Depending on the weight of the backpack itself - also an important factor - the essentials shouldn't weigh more than 4-6 kg - depending on the season you go which may imply more vs. less additional gear. Buen Camino!

[@fernandalegeren7366]

What brand is your sleeping bag?

[@viktoriakeepswalking137]

Hi Max! Ganz vielen lieben Dank für das tolle Video!! Krieg ich wieder richtig lust einfach loszugehn. Ich hab mich seit kurzem auch getraut und hab Videos hochgeladen wie ich das 7. mal den Camino de Santiago gehe. Würd mich wahnsinnig freun wenn du bei mir auch mal vorbeischaust. 🙏✨

[@caminographer705]

Hallo Viktoria, und ganz herzlichen Dank für die lieben Worte! Ich muss irgendwann mal wieder ans Videomachen ran, aber es kommt immer irgendwas dazwischen 🤷🏻‍♂️😂 Danke für deine Einladung - selbstverständlich schaue ich sehr gern bei dir rein! Buen Camino!

[@ltlarrow1]

so far, in any packing video, I have not seen anybody mention how they transported the backpack on the plane. Carryon dimensions are too large. how does the pack fare as checked in baggage?

[@caminographer705]

Michael: I never (!) had a problem carrying on my backpack (the one shown here) on board, and we’re talking 2005-2020, both on flights from / to the US as well as within Europe. Moreover, this is the “luggage” I covered quite a bit of distance with on my many adventures in Central and South America. I just always made sure the weight didn’t go over 10 kg and, if it did, I’d take something heavy out and put it on - depending on the trip, it would be the sweater / jacket, lately also my heavy camera, or what have you. Hope this helps, and Buen Camino!

[@FABM27]

What is the footcream you mentioned??

[@caminographer705]

I think the English name is deer tallow. It is widely sold in Germany, where it's called "Hirschtalg." To be honest, I've never seen or heard about it in the US - but that's also because I was always able to get it in Germany. Hope this helps...

[@jacquidunbar6779]

Great video. Do you mind posting the mames and or links of your gear? I'd liked to buy your sleeping bag and foot cream Thank you.

[@caminographer705]

Thank you so much - happy you've found it useful! My sleeping bag - I got it 16 years ago before my first Camino, so I don't know if you can still get it, the name is "Freetime Mikropak 600D" - I am sure something similar is available, also depending on where you are in the World (this one was bought in Germany). As I said, important for me was the weight (600 g) as well as the fact that it has down/feathers. The foot cream is sold in every toiletry store in Germany, but I haven't seen it anywhere in the US, for example. So it depends where you live / shop. It's not a particular brand (there are various), but the type: deer tallow. The German word for deer tallow is Hirschtalg. I just put this German word into amazon.com - they have it: www.amazon.com/Balea-Foot-Cream-Hirschtalg-100/dp/B073YBKSZ5/ref=sr_1_3?crid=2XBE3AWOLBSCE&keywords=hirschtalg+creme&qid=1636282379&qsid=130-9612386-7216759&sprefix=hirschtalg%2Caps%2C150&sr=8-3&sres=B073YBKSZ5%2CB006IB5T4W%2CB00TTD9BRC%2CB01ES349CY%2CB000NWGCZ2%2CB00D14EJCC%2CB00AREGVUM%2CB01N7ULJSD%2CB074RDF9WN%2CB000JVCBBG%2CB0002QB9NE%2CB000ORV3NC%2CB07FM9HHYR%2CB001B1MZ5U%2CB01HOHBS6G%2CB084SFNJX4%2CB00314GCJU%2CB014MRR7NY%2CB0073E7JFK%2CB000H0JYYG&srpt=SKIN_MOISTURIZER I hope this helps, Jacqui - let me know if you have other questions. Buen Camino!

[@jacquidunbar6779]

@@caminographer705 thank you so much. I really appreciate it. I will do my research and try to find it online, if not I do have fam. in Madrid and can pick up before I head out to the camino. Btw. Do you have plans to do a new camino? I have been struggling for months because I can't decide which one to choose. I have reduced my choices down to the Francés and Portuguese, but I'm stuck there. 😌 Any how, Blessings to you.

[@caminographer705]

@@jacquidunbar6779 thank you Jacqui! I just finished another Camino Francés, and I’ll be happy to share my ideas about your choice (Francés vs. Portugués) that you’re stuck with: email me (caminographer (at) gmail.com) and let me know what you’re stuck with in deciding which Camino to walk… Buen Camino!

[@patriciamoscato6586]

What mos is it cold

[@caminographer705]

November through early March, in higher altitudes and on the Meseta even October has chilly nights… Buen Camino!

[@richardmac]

How the hell does he get all that stuff in a 50 l rucksack????