The Best Backpacks for Walking the Camino de Santiago – A Pilgrim’s Guide
The Best Backpacks for Walking the Camino de Santiago – A Pilgrim’s Guide
If there’s one gear choice that can make or break your Camino experience, it’s your backpack. When I walked the Camino de Santiago, I learned quickly that comfort, style, and weight matter more than we think.
In this guide, I’ll help you figure out how to choose the best backpack for the Camino or whichever route you’ve chosen. I’ll share what worked for me, recommendations from fellow pilgrims, and what I wish I had known before stepping into St. Jean Pied de Port.
Whether you're walking the entire 500 miles or a shorter section, you deserve a pack that supports you from first step to Santiago. Let’s find the right one for you!
What Size Backpack Do You Need for the Camino?
For most pilgrims, I recommend:
Traveller Type Recommended Volume
Women / Minimalist packers 30-38 liters
Men / Gear-heavy packers 38-45 liters
If you’re using a luggage transport service 25-30 liters (the transfer services have a weight limit) and carry a daypack with a water bladder.
If your pack is bigger, trust me… you will fill it.
Goal Weight:
Your fully packed backpack should be no more than 10% of your body weight.
Mine ended up around 9% and felt perfect.
Osprey Tempest 40L Women's Hiking Backpack with Hipbelt
Top Features to Look For
Here’s what truly matters on the Camino:
Internal frame for balanced support
Ventilated back panel to reduce sweating
Hip belt with padding (carries most of the load!)
Multiple adjustment points for a custom fit
Front or bottom access zipper (not just top-loading)
External stretch pockets for snacks + sandals
Trekking pole attachments
Rain cover included or purchased separately
Try it on in with weight! Walk, adjust, repeat.
My Top Backpack Recommendations
Below are pack styles that thousands of pilgrims swear by — and now I do too.
For Women
For Men
These brands strike the best balance of durability + comfort without adding unnecessary weight.
Once you tighten the hip belt and pull the load straps — it should feel like the pack hugs you and floats with you.
Best Daypacks for Camino with Water Bladders
Some pilgrims (especially those using luggage transfer services) prefer walking with a daypack instead of a full backpack. I carried a daypack and used luggage transfer.
Great choices:
Why I love hydration bladders on the Camino:
Drink consistently without stopping
Weight stays close to your spine
Saves time vs. water bottles buried in pockets
Just be sure to clean it regularly — it’s warm in Spain!
Pro Tip: I don’t put electrolytes in my water bladder, because I don’t like that they will color my water tube.
How to Test the Perfect Fit
When trying on your Camino pack:
Load 5–8 lbs of weight
Tighten the hip belt first (always!)
Adjust shoulder straps + load lifters
Walk around for at least 10 minutes
Check for pressure points or slipping
If anything pinches or rubs now, it will be 10x worse by Day 3 on the Camino.
A Quick Word on Rain Covers
They’re essential — but even better is a pack liner, like:
Dry sack inside
Heavy-duty trash bag hack (cheap + effective!)
Rain on the Camino happens… especially in Galicia.
More Links for You:
Here are perfect places to link inside this post:
FOLLOW THE CAMINO CHRONICLES
FACEBOOK: THE CAMINO CHRONICLES
My Personal Camino Backpack Experience
On my Camino, I packed too much. By the time I got into Roncesvalles, I was so tired of all the stuff! I ended up sending home a few pounds from Pamplona, with my daughter and learned the best Camino lesson:
“Carry less. Live more.”
My backpack became a metaphor — letting go, becoming lighter, and trusting the journey. Every clasp and strap reminded me that simplicity is freedom.
Conclusion: The Best Backpack Is the One That Fits You
Choosing the best backpack for the Camino de Santiago is about comfort, weight, and fit — not brand or popularity.
Ask yourself:
Does it feel like an extension of your body?
Can you wear it for hours without pain?
Does it support your adventure, not slow it down?
When you find the right pack, you’ll know. And every kilometer afterward will prove it to you.
More Posts:
10 Traditional Camino Desserts You’ll Love – Sweet Treats Along the Camino de Santiago
25 Essential Spanish Words and Phrases for Pilgrims Walking the Camino de Santiago
Healthy High-Protein Meals for Long Days on the Camino de Santiago
Buen Camino, pilgrim.
Renae