Choosing Your Camino Backpack
I hadn’t had a daypack I liked in years so before leaving for Camino in May 2025, I set out to find one. Not only did my final choice work for me on two Flora on Foot X Fresco Tours Caminos in May, but it also carried everything I needed on my self-led family Camino in July, and it will be forever imprinted as “my new Camino pack.” Putting it on, adjusting the straps, feeling it against my back brings me right back to Camino and reminds me of so many special moments. My daypack is actually one of my most treasured Camino souvenirs.
Good to know:
When you walk a Camino with us, you won’t need to carry a big, heavy pack. Our Caminos include a support vehicle and all luggage transfers so you can be challenged by the walk, not your stuff.
You will need to have a small pack to carry water and a few things like an extra layer, hat, sunglasses, and snacks with you on the trail. There are so many options on the market that come in different sizes, styles, and price points, there is something that will work well for you.
Based on my experience choosing a pack to walk three Caminos in one year, I highly recommend taking the time to go through these simple steps:
First, you know yourself and your body best. Filter what I say, what you read in blogs, and what you hear from salespeople through that. Do the research that you know works for you – ask friends, look at “best of” lists, read customer reviews at stores you know and trust. What has worked well for you in the past? What do you think would work well for you now?
Second, choose your daypack by making decisions and narrowing choices in this order:
Functionality: Packs are sized by the liter, and I recommend looking at something in the 5 – 30L range when you join us on Camino. Do you want something smaller and fitted to your body (like what someone might wear for a long run)? Do you want something more structured with a hip belt (to help transfer weight off your shoulders)?
Fit: You want something that fits you well, that will be comfortable for you over many miles. Most day packs come in different sizes or have features built in that can adjust for size.
Features: Do you want a hook for your trek poles? Do you want an external pocket that fits your favorite water bottle, or do you want an internal pocket for a water bladder? Do you want a pack that comes with a built-in rain cover? Features vary by pack so look at the details.
Color: It can be so hard to not choose based on color, I know! But resist; this should be your last consideration after function, fit and features.
Third, buy a few packs to test on training walks. I bought five packs to try at home and on long walks. I kept them for about two weeks with the tags still on. I tried them on at different times of the day, in different moods. I wore them around the house. I loaded them with about 10lbs and took them on trial walks. I picked “the one” because it fit the curve of my back and sat comfortably on my hips best and I returned the others. Success!
Actually, not so fast…
Fourth, take the time to get it right and don’t be afraid to change your mind. I thought I’d found the one for me, but when I wore this new pack on long walks, I got sciatica, which is unusual for me but every time I undid the hip belt the pain went away. It turns out what initially felt like great lumbar support was too much pressure on my lower back. While I liked the functionality and features of the pack — and it was such a great color! — the fit didn’t work for me.
I went back through the first three steps and ended up buying seven more backpacks to test. After more test walks, I eventually returned all but one for the second time. My final choice is actually one I ignored in the first round because it’s larger than I wanted and didn’t come in orange but the fit is fantastic for my body and that’s what matters most.
I’m happy to answer more questions about daypack options or help you choose a Camino pack that works best for you. Please email me at liz@floraonfoot and we can find a time to chat about packs.
