Equipment

It is recommended that your rucksack should not be more than one tenth of the pilgrim's weight and should never exceed 9kg. Mine weighed 7kg and 9kg when there was 2 litres of water in my water bladder - which I found essential as it was much easier to drink from the tube from the bladder, which was connected to the rucksack strap while walking, rather than having to stop to drink from  a bottle. I also feel that this also encouraged me to drink more.

Items were packed in my rucksack in individual ziplock plastic bags which meant that the rucksack could easily be loaded and unloaded, and items kept dry and separate. Clothing was worn as easily removable layers depending on temperature, as it can be cold early in the morning when starting walking before dawn and then become very hot later.

(Picture from The Pilgrim's Way in Navarre booklet)

It took the following items:

Passport and photocopies.

2 x credit cards.

Credencial

John Brierley Camino Guide & photocopies from Lozano's guide.

A wide brimmed sunhat, suncream and sunglasses

An Indian cotton scarf for warmth when walking at dawn, keeping sun off neck and absorbing sweat.

Quechua Forclaz 500 Light walking stick which has the advantage of folding small enough to fit inside rucksack for going in aeroplane hold (when sticks can't be taken as hand luggage

Berghaus 30 litre rucksack which incorporated a water bladder pouch inside and a hole in outer layer for water bladder tube. (Disadvantage was that it didn't have any outside pockets other than in lid, which I found a slight nuisance).

2 litre water bladder - mine cost €6 in Lidl!

Quechua waterproof jacket with hood.


Quechua Arpenaz 25l 157cm - 190cm rain poncho (I had a rucksack rain cover and a raincoat but found the rain down between my back and the rucksack and the rucksack still got damp).


1 x Quechua oxylane outer layer.

2 x Quechua merino wool tee shirts.

1 x Quechua merino wool long sleeved top.

1 x Craghopper cotton/polyester trousers with unzippable lower legs to turn into shorts.


1 x Pair of grey Quechua trousers which like my crag hopper ones have the lower legs unzipped to turn them into shorts but are lighter (On the first section someone advised me to only take one pair of trousers but by the end of the week I found they began to smell!)

3 x pairs of underpants.

3 x pairs of hillwalking socks (Brasher).

145g 100% silk sleeping bag liner (Summer / Autumn)


Quechua Forclaz Light 15c 185cm/6'1" sleeping bag (Winter / Spring)

Pair of 5 Peaks walking boots.

Pair of sandals to wear in evening.

Mobile phone, charger & two pin adapter plug.


1 sachet of SIS REGO Rapid Recovery protein recovery drink to drink at the end of each walking to replace salts and minerals lost while walking.

Packet of anti-inflammatory tablets (Ibuprofen).

Basic first aid kit with dressings, plasters, tape, antiseptic cream, scissors.

Swiss Army penknife.

Clothes line and pegs.

LED headlamp / torch.

Silicone mouldable earplugs - essential for sleeping in communal Albergue dormitories with snorers and very early risers!

Soap bag with small amount of toiletries to keep weight down - shower gel, toothbrush and toothpaste,  mouthwash, shaving gel & razor & small bar of soap.

Tube of travel wash or laundry soap for hand washing clothes.