🎒 Gear for the Camino

Selection of ultralight hiking gear for the GR65 — shoes, backpack, clothing, electronics. Weights, indicative prices and purchase links.

Golden rule: your pack should weigh less than 10% of your body weight, ideally 7–8 kg loaded (water and food included). Every gram saved makes a real difference on your knees and feet. Below, a selection tested and loved by GR65 pilgrims.

👟 Shoes & feet

Item Weight Est. price Where to buy
Salomon Speedcross 5 GTX
Salomon
Waterproof Gore-Tex trail shoe — Contagrip sole, toe protection, excellent grip on varied terrain.
270 g ~145 €
Salomon XA Pro 3D GTX
Salomon
Lightweight GTX hiking shoe — firm and stable, ideal for mixed terrain and long distances.
290 g ~160 €
FALKE TK2 Merino socks
FALKE
Merino wool, strategic cushioning — natural temperature regulation, blister prevention. Bring 3 pairs max.
65 g/paire ~28 €/paire
Dr. Scholl's Sport insoles
Dr. Scholl's
Comfort insoles with active gel — heel cushioning, reduces foot fatigue over long distances.
105 g/paire ~55 €
Salomon Reelax Slide 6.0 recovery sandals
Salomon
Lightweight recovery sandal — EVA sole, adjustable strap, slips on in two seconds at the end of a stage.
190 g/paire ~75 €

🎒 Backpack

ItemWeightEst. priceWhere to buy
Deuter Futura Pro 40
Deuter
40L pack with Aircomfort ventilated back — excellent support on long distances, many practical pockets.
1 050 g ~280 €
Gregory Focal 48 / Maven 45
Gregory
Versatile alternative — better stability on descents thanks to the height-adjustable chest strap.
1 200 g ~240 €
Quechua NH Escape 40 L
Decathlon / Quechua
Budget option — good value for a first Camino. Integrated rain cover, back access.
1 100 g ~70 €

🥢 Walking poles

ItemWeightEst. priceWhere to buy
Cascade Mountain Tech Carbon Poles
Cascade Mountain Tech
Foldable carbon poles — light and sturdy, anti-slip grips. Excellent value for money.
262 g/paire ~180 €
Leki Passion Sticks
Leki
Carbon — very lightweight, rigid, Speed Lock 2 system. Ideal for users who want the best.
234 g/paire ~250 €
Quechua MT500 Pliable
Decathlon / Quechua
Reliable budget option — aluminium, twist-lock, rubber tip included.
480 g/paire ~35 €

👕 Clothing

ItemWeightEst. priceWhere to buy
Odlo Active Warm Merino t-shirt
Odlo
Merino wool — natural odour control, quick-drying, hand wash and dries in 2h. Bring 2.
155 g ~80 €
Icebreaker Merino underwear
Icebreaker
Merino boxer/briefs — odour control, all-day comfort. 2 pairs are enough.
80 g/pièce ~45 €
Salomon Cross 2-in-1 shorts / Quechua hiking shorts
Salomon / Quechua
1 pair of shorts + 1 convertible trousers cover the whole route. Avoid jeans.
140–250 g 30–90 €
Columbia Heather Canyon windbreaker
Columbia
Lightweight and compact windbreaker — wind and light shower protection. Essential for cold mornings at altitude.
74 g ~130 €
Montbell Versalite rain jacket
Montbell
The lightest waterproof jacket on the market (108 g) — used by thousands of pilgrims. Proprietary Gore-Tex. Essential for the Pyrenees.
108 g ~230 €
Patagonia R1 / Smartwool Merino 250 fleece
Patagonia / Smartwool
Mid-layer for high-altitude stages (Margeride, Aubrac, Pyrenees). Around 280–350 g.
300 g ~120–160 €
Sun hat (Sea to Summit / Quechua)
Sea to Summit / Quechua
Essential on the Meseta and in the Pyrenees — prefer UPF 50+ and wide brim. Rolls up in the pack.
60 g 25–55 €

🛏️ Sleep & comfort

ItemWeightEst. priceWhere to buy
Sea to Summit Silk Blend sleeping bag liner
Sea to Summit
Required in almost all albergues. The silk/cotton blend is soft, cool and antibacterial — ideal in summer.
130 g ~40 €
Sea to Summit Aeros Premium inflatable pillow
Sea to Summit
67 g — albergue pillows are sometimes missing or uncomfortable. This one fits in a shirt pocket.
67 g ~40 €
Mack's earplugs (box of 18 pairs)
Mack's
The real luxury in an albergue. Essential for sleeping when there are snorers (there will be).
5 g 3 €

🧴 Hygiene & foot care

ItemWeightEst. priceWhere to buy
Anti-blister kit: Leukotape + Compeed
Leukotape / Compeed
The essential duo — Leukotape for prevention, Compeed for treatment. Restock at Spanish pharmacies (cheaper).
80 g ~18 €
Youphoria microfibre towel L
Youphoria
Size L (75×135 cm) — dries in 30 min, compact in its pouch. No need for a big towel.
155 g ~25 €
Solid soap bar (Lush or Marseille)
Lush / générique
1 bar of soap = body + hair + hand washing clothes. Avoids heavy liquids. Store in a vented soap dish.
70 g 5–12 €
NIVEA Sun SPF50+ sunscreen
NIVEA
Apply every morning — days on the Meseta mean 8h of sun exposure. Restock in Spain.
35 g ~8 €

🔋 Electronics & navigation

ItemWeightEst. priceWhere to buy
Xiaomi 10000 mAh power bank
Xiaomi
10,000 mAh compact — charges a smartphone 2–3 times. Lightweight and practical. Enough for 2 days without a power outlet.
180 g ~35 €
Fenix HP25R V2.0 headlamp
Fenix
Powerful USB rechargeable headlamp — essential for early morning departures (Saint-Jean–Roncevaux) or late arrivals.
77 g ~45 €
App: Camino Ninja / Buen Camino (free)
iOS / Android
Offline GPS navigation, distances, albergues with reviews. Download before departure.
0 g Gratuit / ~5 €
Belkin BoostCharge USB-C cable
Belkin
One short USB-C cable — avoid unnecessarily heavy long cables. Check phone + battery compatibility.
18 g ~8 €

💊 Pilgrim first aid kit

Tip: Spanish pharmacies are excellent and cheaper than in France — you can easily restock on the way. Start light and buy what you need in Burgos or León.
ItemUseWeightWhere to buy
Paracétamol 1000 mg
Doliprane / Efferalgan
Basic painkiller and fever reducer. 8 tablets are enough to start with.
Pain, fever 20 g
Ibuprofène 400 mg
Advil / Nurofen
Anti-inflammatory — essential for tendinitis, shin splints and joint pain. Do not take on an empty stomach. 8 tablets.
Tendinitis, inflammation 20 g
Lopéramide (Imodium) 2 mg
Imodium
For diarrhoea — very common when adapting to Spanish cuisine. 6 capsules are enough.
Digestive issues 10 g
Elastic compression bandage
Tensoplast / Elastoplast
Supports ankles and knees when painful. One 6 cm × 2.5 m bandage. Can also immobilize a mild sprain.
Sprains, support 55 g
Leukotape P (5 cm × 5 m)
BSN Medical
Rigid adhesive tape — the best blister prevention. Apply to friction-prone areas before putting on shoes, every morning.
Blister prevention 45 g
Compeed Blisters (assorted)
Compeed
Hydrocolloid dressings — treatment for declared blisters. Leave in place until natural detachment. Bring small + large sizes.
Blister treatment 30 g
Sterile needle + thread (for draining blisters)
Générique
Thread technique: pass a thread through the blister to drain without removing the roof — faster healing. 3–4 needles in a case.
Blister drainage 5 g
Biseptine or Betadine scrub (small bottle)
Biseptine / Bétadine
Skin disinfectant — clean wounds, abrasions and blisters before covering. 60 ml bottle.
Wound disinfection 65 g
Compeed Stick Anti-Friction
Compeed
Anti-friction stick to apply each morning on sensitive areas — drastically reduces blisters.
Friction prevention 42 g
Antifungal powder (Amycor / Tolnaftate)
Amycor / générique
Prevention and treatment of foot fungus (athlete's foot) — very common in albergues with shared showers. Sprinkle in socks.
Foot fungus 30 g
Antihistamine (Loratadine 10 mg)
Clarityne / générique
For spring allergies (pollen, grass) and insect bites. 7 tablets.
Allergies, insect bites 10 g
Oral rehydration sachets (ORS)
Hydrovit / Guronsan
For intense heat, diarrhoea or exhaustion — replenishes lost electrolytes. 3–4 sachets to dissolve in 500 ml of water.
Dehydration, heat 25 g
Tweezers + nail scissors
Générique
Tweezers are for removing splinters and thorns. Nail scissors prevent ingrown nails — cut straight, not rounded.
General care 25 g
Assorted bandages (mixed box)
Hansaplast / Urgo
10 assorted bandages — for small cuts and ankle abrasions on rocky terrain.
Cuts, abrasions 20 g

🧰 Misc & essentials

ItemWeightEst. priceWhere to buy
Pilgrim poncho (covers pilgrim + pack)
Decathlon / Quechua
Covers both the pilgrim and the pack — lightweight practical solution for showers. Don't rely only on a rain jacket.
280 g ~20 €
Sea to Summit Lightweight 8L dry bag
Sea to Summit
Protects pack contents in heavy rain. 35 g — lighter than a rain cover.
35 g ~22 €
HydraPak Stow 1L soft flask
HydraPak
Folds flat when empty — much lighter than a rigid bottle. Two 1L bottles cover most stages without resupply.
32 g ~15 €
Crédencial del Peregrino (pilgrim passport)
AFPEC / Friends of Saint James
Required to sleep in albergues and obtain the Compostela. Order before departure from pilgrim associations.
15 g ~2 €

⚖️ Total dry pack weight (selection above)

Excluding water (1–2 kg), food (0.5–1 kg) and documents.

~ 5,5 kg

Target: ≤ 8 kg loaded pack

💡 Packing tips

🎒
Pierre Tabuteau's selection of ultralight gear for the Camino
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