I am getting ready to walk El Camino. After much deliberation and consultation of various packing lists, my El Camino pack contains the following:
Backpack - I recently purchased a small 28 liter Deuter women's pack. The small pack was a deliberate choice to force my hand with several other choices to keep my pack weight light.
Backpack rain cover - this is built into the bottom of the pack.
Emergency Mylar foil bivy sack - hopefully this will prove to be superfluous.
Long pants - 3 pairs of Marmot Lobo pants. These are quick drying and very light weight. I am not taking any shorts. I hope I don't regret that, but I like to have my legs covered. The pants are SPF 50 which will hopefully help keep me clean and safe from the sun. Is there anything worse than dust sticking to your slimely sun screened legs?
Shirts - 3 shirts. Two are t-shirt style performance fabric. One is a light weight quick dry collared shirt. This will be my "dressy" travel shirt.
Bras - 3 bras. Finally settled on the Patagonia quick dry sports bras. I have used these before but was unhappy with the thin straps digging into my shoulders under my pack weight. They have been slightly re-designed to have a slightly wider strap so hopefully I won't get any new scars on my shoulders from unhealing chaffing.
Underpants - 3 panties. Have 3 pairs of the Patagonia active briefs. Basically high performance quick drying granny panties. When walking for hours at a time it is good to be wedgie-free.
Socks - 3 pairs of Wright socks. These are a synthetic double layered sock. The marketing for these says they are guaranteed to prevent blisters. They have treated me well on training hikes but the verdict is still out when rubber hits the road.
Hiking shoes - I have been wearing 8.5 Saucony brand running shoes since high school. Hopefully the Saucony trail shoes will treat me just as well.
"Camp shoes" - I am taking my light weight Teva flip flops.
Rain jacket - I have a Gortex Arcteryx jacket. Inside I have a balaclava and a pair of gloves in case of inclement weather. I also hope that these items will be superfluous but the hat and gloves have always been part and parcel with the jacket.
Patagonia fleece full zip jacket. As I list out my gear I am starting to see my Patagonia affinity. I remember one time that I overheard two guys talking on a trail about their wives catching them looking at porn, but really it was the latest Patagonia catalogue.
Sun hat - The OR quick dry hat with protective neck and face shields. Basically the ugliest hat I have ever worn but extremely sun protective. My single friend used to call this hat "man-repellent", I am sure my husband will be happy about this.
Toothbrush and toothpaste (small travel size tube that my dentist gave me recently)
Razor - The weight is totally justifiable in my opinion not so much for the leg hair but the underarm hair.
Deodorant - I have small travel size.
Soap - I made a small mesh bag to hold the soap so hopefully it will dry quickly and I can keep my pack relatively clean.
Camelback - I have a 2 liter platypus water bag.
Clothes pins - seems to be an essential from all the other El Camino packing lists that I have researched so I have them. I must also admit to I purchased a clothes pin free hanging line from REI which I am interested to test out.
Hiking towel and hiking face cloth
Small travel loofa - This might be too bulky and perhaps I will get rid of it, but honestly, who doesn't like a good lather?
Pen and Guidebook - I am planning to just write journal entries in the guidebook as needed.
Passport, airline tickets and ziploc bag for these documents.
Sun block lotion and sunblock lip balm
Sleeping bag liner
Inflatable sleeping pad in case of a full albergue. I am planning for some high mile days and hope that if an albergue is full that I could at least sleep on the floor somewhere if needed.
Toiletry bags - two mesh bags for pack organization. I like things to be organized and easy to find.
First aid - blister kit including some mole skin, tegaderm, Advil, Imodium. Also includes needle, thread and tiny pair of scissors.
Ear plugs
Head lamp
Debit card, credit cards, cash
Phone - The last minute debate continues as to if this is adequate for a light weight camera option? Much last minute discussion remains on if I should take a separate camera.
Small foldable keyboard, on which I type right now. Charging wires for keyboard and phone.
Trekking poles. I am going to get some rubber tips for the poles. Apparently the locals don't like the clacking of metal pole tips on the pavement when walking through the small towns.
Sunglasses with small cloth case.
I think that is it. Total dry weight = 15 pounds (that is under 7kg!!) Of course it will be a little heavier with my daily water and snacks. I am trying not to add anything extra in the next day before I depart. I really believe that the lighter my pack the greater chance of my success. Isn't that the way with life? The less weight we carry, whether literally or figuratively, the easier the journey.