Hi Amanda - this is so going to become a looonnnggg thread as packing lists and which backpack get a lot of attention. What you will hear are two main things, pack light, and only take what you need, not what you think you may need ... but you know that already
My pack (after years of changing them) is the Osprey Talon 22 .. and I went looking at Ospreys because of posts on here - such a wonderful fit - you really must measure your back before buying a pack .. wherever they sell Osprey packs there will be an Osprey back measurer. I know what you are thinking - 22 litres? that is a bit small isn't it? But I spent a lot of time in the shop taking items off the shelves and packing the 22 then packing that stuff into a 32 and another brand 34 and found that the 22 is strangely large and would take everything I need and it only weighs 750 gms. 750 gms!!!
I have the Aarn front packs for my first aid kits - gifted to me by them to help with my first aid mission and - if I had the money I would buy a complete Aarn pack - backpack choice is yours and yours alone .. some folk like a big bag so they don't have to pack tight, just remember that a pack is like a bookshelf - whatever size bookshelf you get it will be full really quickly, same with a backpack
I would say that if you are going to pack light then start with a light pack - others may disagree. You could do this - sort what you will be taking and go down to the shop and try packing your things into different sized packs - then you will know what size you personally need.
As for the packing list! Ahh ... what would be really good is for you to post what you have come up with and let us tear it to shreds (that always happens but always with goodwill
)
Funnily enough I was thinking about packing lists only a couple of days ago as a friend in Australia is sorting her list for her next Camino and this is what I wrote to her -
" ... seems to me it is what one is wearing and then, from the skin up, spares in the pack .. one pair underpants, one pair of socks (for inside Keen Newport sandals if cold – or use as mitts or walking in refugio or in bed, again, if cold), one t-shirt, one short sleeved shirt, one pair zip off trousers, hooded fleece,
Altus poncho, sleeping bag liner, no sleeping bag – assuming a summer Camino here. Washing kit and towel (launder with the soap bar, wash hair and shave using soap bar)... then all the little things ... sunhat, possibly a wool hat if weather not brilliant as best way to be warm, also in bed, is to wear a woolly hat, sunglasses, docs, one book (the
Imitation), small notebook and pencil, pocket knife (with corkscrew!!!), phone and charger, small sea salt, pepper, olive oil, the first aid kit.
Then I thought – aha! one has to travel there, two or three days ... so, wear old tatty clothing whilst travelling and put one better quality copy of what one is wearing .. underpants, shorts, shirt, maybe t-shirt, into the pack .. and when one gets to where one starts one just throws away what one is wearing and starts fresh, one on, one in pack. Then, adjusted day by day, water and food."
so, to me a packing list is wear one and another one in the pack - there is no need to carry more than one of anything in your pack - as you are female there will be more you may have to carry, sports bras and so on (what do I know) - but the wear one/carry one works.
As for where to get lightweight clothing - you don't say which country you are in - you will be getting into the controversy between synthetic and natural fibres. Have fun there!
And don't forget - if you find that there is something you need that you didn't take, well, there are shops in Spain! Buen Camino!!
I wore short sleeved tech shirts and tech shorts everyday. I had no long pants at all the first time and the second time I had long pants, but only wore them traveling to and from Europe. They were lightweight, hiking type. I would have been better suited with the convertible variety, though. I had a fleece pullover the second time, but never wore it (useless weight hauled). Could have gotten away with just a long sleeved tech shirt.
