As this is my third Camino, I already own all the clothes and gear I need for the trek. But part of the fun of planning for my next adventure is finding fun new gear for it. It could be as simple as new socks, but putting those new socks on for the first time can add a smile to your face. At least for me, trying out new gear makes me happy and inspires me to get outside more.

I’m not adding much new to my collection, but I couldn’t avoid taking advantage of a good deal on a new rain jacket that happened to be 50% off the other day. It’s not the ultimate rain jacket, not even goretex, but it’s lighter weight than any others I’ve owned and more importantly, it’s a pretty color. 🙂

Along with a nice Patagonia hoody (I LOVE hoodies) and new flip flops (how could I not??), the only other new piece of gear for this Camino is – you guessed it – a new pair of socks!

Last night, I tried putting all my items in my Camino pack to see what I might be missing or how I was doing for weight in the pack. I don’t know if it’s just the smaller hoody (ditching the warm thick jacket since I’m walking at the hottest time of year), but my pack has a lot of room left in it and feels lighter than ever. This is good since I haven’t had as much time for serious training for this Camino and may need all the breaks I can get. 🙂

The other factor in planning this trip is similar to last year, as I’ll be heading up to the UK after the walk and need my clothes to work in a variety of climates. I also need my official Geocaching HQ staff shirt as I’ll be headed to a geocaching Mega-Event in Manchester for work.

This year’s list:

• Arcteryx 37 liter backpack
• REI backpack rain cover
• Brooks Cascadia trail runner shoes – goretex
• Havaiana Flip flops
• Trekking poles
• Columbia water bottle
• Platypus foldable water bottle
• Black Diamond throw blanket
• Lightweight blow up pillow (splurge item)
• North Face rain jacket
• Patagonia hoody
• 1 pair of yoga pants
• 1 pair North Face hiking pants
• 1 pair of North Face hiking shorts
• 1 skort
• 1 pairs of Darn Tough wool socks
• 2 pair of Smartwool socks
• 1 Geocaching HQ cotton t-shirt
• 2 quick dry shirts
• 1 quick dry long sleeve shirt
• 1 tank top
• Ball cap
• Lightweight poncho
• 3-4 pairs of undies
• Backpacking quick dry towel
• Toiletries including mini shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, etc.
• Fingernail clippers
• Fingernail polish (splurge item)
• Minimal first aid kit including band-aids, moleskin and Compeed
• Advil, Advil PM, Vitamins
• Mini toilet paper roll
• Needles with thread
• Extra chapstick
• Mini sunscreen
• IPhone
• Fitbit
• Battery charger for iPhone
• Charging cables for iPhone, Fitbit and battery charger
• 3 International plug-ins (Spain/Portugal and UK)
• USB charger plug with two USB ports (charge two things at once)
• Camino Portuguese guidebook
• Small carabiners to hang things from backpack
• Lightweight purse or fanny pack with passport, cards and euros
• Mini roll of duct tape
• Clothes pins for drying clothes
• 2 Reusable shopping bags (for storing clothes)
• 1 organization compartments
• Buff scarf
• Sounders FC Scarf (splurge item)
• Camino cinch pack
• Snacks including beef jerky, granola bars and energy jelly beans
• Scallop shell

Knowing that you can purchase almost anything you need on the Camino is something you hear the first time you go but you still overpack anyway. Being a bit more seasoned pilgrim, I know I can trust that I can find anything I might need along the way. Keeping things simple with packing helps keep things less complicated – perhaps one could say that for many things in life.