Day 1 – Packing Light, Walking Far: My Portuguese Camino Begins
It’s Day 1 of my Portuguese Camino — and the pack on my back is (almost) the lightest it’s ever been.
I’m starting from Porto, planning to walk the Central Route over 7 days. I've walked in New Zealand, but this time feels different — more urban, more layered, and more pilgrim-y.
Below is my real packing list — not a "perfect" list, just what made sense for me. I’ll update this post with notes on what worked (and what didn’t) after a few more days on the trail.
Backpack & Setup
- Sea to Summit Dry Sack (13L) – used as a liner instead of a rain cover
The backpack I’ve used for Camino Portuguese:
I’ve stuck with Kathmandu hiking packs for years — durable, comfortable, and always up for the distance.
My new hiking boots:
The Salomon X Ultra 5 Mid GORE-TEX boots offer excellent grip, waterproof protection, and day-long comfort. I’m using them for this Camino and love the fit so far.
Clothing
- 2 merino t-shirts (Icebreaker)
- 1 long-sleeve base layer (Kathmandu)
- 2 pairs of quick-dry shorts
- Rain jacket (Macpac Nano)
Hygiene + Health
- Travel towel (super compact)
- Minimal first aid kit – includes Compeed for blisters
- Toothbrush, paste, soap bar, deodorant, mini sunscreen
Tech
- iPhone + Anker USB-C cable
- Offline maps via Maps.me
Want to see a more structured, long-term gear guide? Head over to our Gear Up Smart section — I’ll keep updating that list with community recommendations too.
We’ve also opened a forum topic on Camino gear — feel free to ask questions or share what worked for you: Join the gear chat here