What backpack to buy for the Camino de Santiago
Litres, fit and ideal weight for your route, so you don't overpack or fall short.
The Camino Bonsai Café team · Last editorial update:
Get the backpack right before anything else
The backpack is probably the single most important gear decision on the Camino: a poorly chosen or poorly fitted one can turn any stage into an ordeal, no matter how fit you are. It doesn't need to be the most expensive or the biggest, just the one that fits your route, your torso and how you walk.
Before looking at brands or models, it helps to answer three questions: how many litres you need for the number of days you'll be walking, how to fit it correctly to your body, and what mistakes to avoid when trying it on in the shop.
Litres by Camino type
15–20 L · with luggage transfer
If you use a daily luggage transfer service, a small backpack with the walking essentials is enough: water, a layer, snacks and documents.
30–35 L · short routes
For a few-day route like the Camino Inglés, with light gear and no need for heavy warm clothing.
40–50 L · most pilgrims
The most common size for 1 to 4 weeks carrying all your own gear: French, Portuguese, Northern, Primitivo or Vía de la Plata.
55–65 L · winter or camping
Only if you walk in cold season with extra warm clothing, or if you carry a tent and sleeping bag to sleep outdoors.
If you're only going to look at one, start here
Osprey Atmos AG 50
A 50 L pack with a highly breathable Anti-Gravity suspended mesh back panel and a hip belt adjustable across several sizes. A comfortable size for most 2–4 week Caminos.
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Osprey Atmos AG LT
A lighter version of the Atmos AG, with the same breathable Anti-Gravity back panel in a more lightweight build. A good option if you want to shave off weight without giving up that suspension.
View on AmazonFit matters more than the brand
Max 10% of your body weight
A well-chosen backpack that's badly loaded is still a bad backpack. Weigh it fully packed before you leave home.
The hip belt, not the shoulders
Properly fitted, the hip belt carries up to 80% of the load. The shoulder straps should only stabilise it.
Measure your torso, not your height
Backpack sizes (S/M/L) are based on your back length, not how tall you are. Try it on loaded in the shop.
Compress what you don't use daily
Compression straps stop the contents shifting and unbalancing the load on downhills and turns.
Don't make these mistakes when buying
Buying it the week before you leave
You need several loaded practice walks to fit it and spot chafing points before your first real day.
"Going bigger just in case"
The more space you have, the more you fill it. A slightly smaller pack forces you to carry only what you need.
Not testing it with real weight
Empty, any backpack feels comfortable. Load it with at least 6–8 kg in the shop before deciding.
Ignoring a ventilated back panel
A mesh panel that keeps the pack off your back cuts down a lot on sweat during summer stages through Extremadura or the Meseta.
To keep planning your Camino
Common questions about your Camino backpack
How many litres do I need for the Camino Francés?
Can I do the Camino with a 25 L backpack?
How much should my loaded backpack weigh?
Is a men's or women's backpack better?
Do I need a rain cover, or is the backpack enough?
Backpack with wheels or without?
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