What does a pilgrim need to take along?

Part of the pilgrim experience is to shed extraneous baggage. This begins with the outward work of deciding what “stuff” to leave behind. The work then moves toward deciding what distractions, guilt, and worries to lay down. The physical journey becomes metaphor for the spiritual journey.

Veteran pilgrims remind newbies taking the Camino Frances that 1) Spain is a first-world country, 2) the economy along much of the path is bent toward supporting pilgrims, and 3) the path goes through the cities of Pamplona, Burgos, Leon, and Logroño. If you wanted to, you could start out with nothing and pick up anything needed along the way. Veteran trekkers and through-hikers hold that one’s gear should weigh less than 10% of the hiker’s body weight. After researching the pilgrim blogs and forums, here is what I will have with me as I set out. Total weight is 21 pounds (about 9.5 kgs):

To Wear
Wide-brimmed hat (the sun is no longer my friend)
Prescription sunglasses
Watch
Ex Officio shirt
Hiking pants
Merino wool socks
Ex Officio underwear
Lowa boots (leather with Gore-Tex)
Black Diamond trekking poles (2)
Money belt

Top Pocket
Electric adapters
Elastic clothes line
Prescription glasses
Plastic ziplock bags
Immersion heater
Toilet paper
LED flashlights (2)
Charging cords for phone and iPad Mini
Camino guide (Brierly)
iPad Mini (Kindle library, camera, Skype)

Hip Belt Pockets
Signal whistle
Spare trekking pole rubber caps
Pocket knife

Main Compartment
Cat-hole trowel (for serious bathroom stops between towns)
Water bottle (one liter size Dasani, etc.)
Camp cup
Silk bed liner (barrier against bed bugs)
Long sleeve merino wool t-shirt
Ex Officio underwear
Merino wool socks (two pair)
Ex officio shirt
Fleece jacket
Hiking pants
Sleeping bag (ultralight, zips out to a blanket)

Front Zipper Pocket
Ear plugs (defense against snorers in hostels)
Bandages
Moleskin
Duct tape
Diaper pins (repairs, drying clothes on backpack, etc)
All purpose soap (hair, body, laundry)
Small day-bag backpack (food shopping in towns, etc.)
Microfiber camp towel
Dob kit (toiletries)

Front Stuff Pocket
Gloves
Fleece cap
Poncho
Crocs (shower shoes and around the hostel)
Rain shell (rain and wind protection)