My Camino de Santiago Gear List: The Acoustic Version of Backpacking Europe

“Acoustic version is stripped down to its most pure state. No fluff, no filler. Just the artist and the song in the most raw form. You feel the emotion behind the lyrics, and the energy of the melody. Nothing unnecessary, nothing… extra.
Just me, my , and the most important things in my life. That’s it. It’s like the acoustic version of life.” — Primordial Code

I’m not trying to build an ultralight Camino setup.

I’m trying to build the best setup for my actual life.

I’m an experienced thru-hiker. On my second day of my AT thru-hike, my mom had to pick up a whole bag of fears I didn’t need: a hat, suntan lotion, way too much food. Honestly, it probably weighed 10 pounds.

But my Camino de Santiago isn’t the Appalachian Trail.

And this isn’t just a walk.

It’s potentially the beginning of a much bigger adventure.

So my gear list looks a little different.

My Camino isn’t the AT

When I hiked the Appalachian Trail, my gear had one primary purpose: survive the woods.

At that time, that meant a shelter, sleeping system, food storage, water capacity, cooking gear, and everything else necessary to live outside for months at a time.

This time is different.

On the Camino, I’ll be walking through towns and villages, sleeping in albergues, with access to restaurants, cafés, grocery stores, laundromats, and pharmacies.

Even though I am carrying my entire life on my back, I won’t be living out of it in quite the same way.

But there’s another important difference.

I’m not sure when I’m coming home.

The Camino isn’t the end destination of this trip for me. For the first time in my life, there is a giant question mark about what’s next. Once I complete the walk, I might stay in Spain. I might backpack Europe. I might pursue holistic medicine in Asia. I might go home. No one knows, but I am following the whimsy.

Weights

The principles I used to choose my gear include:

1. Reuse before Replace

When I did a week-long section on the AT in the spring of 2026, I realized just how well my gear withstood the tests since 2022. It’s not as ship-shape as when I bought it, but it work!

My quilt down is bunched in places, but still keeps me warm.

My pack has holes and a broken buckle, but it carries the weight just fine.

My clothes have wear and tear, but they are what I know works.

So rather than spending thousands to get a whole new kit, I am content with what I have.

2. I’m on a budget

I didn’t decide to do the Camino until three months before my leave date. I also wasn’t working a steady job, so I’ve had to pinch pennies where I can.

As someone who travels full-time, I know how to allocate my money wisely. If I don’t buy coffee or eat out, that money can be used on the Camino for a fresh baguette, a glass of local wine, or a bunk in a hostel.

Living simply opens the door to experience if you do it right.

3. I’m packing for more than one adventure

One of my big goals in life has been to travel internationally for an extended period of time. Since I will already be in Europe, the initial leap will have been taken. I don’t have a plane ticket home after the Camino, and for the first time in my life, I don’t have a rough game plan of what’s next. In a way, that scares the crap out of me, but I’ve been taught through experience that being prepared but not having a plan allows space for the most magical things to happen.

I don’t mind carrying a couple of extra pounds if it means that I can travel longer when I am done with the walk.

4. A few Creature Comforts are Worth It

Here are the creature comforts in my pack that weren’t part of my AT gear:

• journal
• oracle deck
• laptop + charger
• hippie town clothes

After traveling around the United States living out of my car for 9 months, I learned what things give me the means to be myself and feel like myself.

My journal—For several years now, I have had a daily practice of journaling every morning to start my day with gratitude, a mantra, intentions, and telling myself the truth. This has kept me sane through the roller coaster of life and radically improved my mental health. That is not something I am willing to give up.

Oracle deck—Cards like the ones I am bringing have helped me navigate challenging situations, while also giving me guidance on how to become a better version of myself. Truthfully, the pilgrimage I embarked on this year was partly inspired by the “Pilgrim” card I pulled in 2024:

“For the Pilgrim, an outward journey is always an inward journey. This archetypal wanderer seeks wisdom, experience, and meaning in the farthest reaches of the globe and the deepest regions of the spirit.”—The Wild Unknown Archetype Deck, Kim Krans

Laptop—Since I do not have an expected return to the United States, I wanted to be prepared for the possibility of work. Prior to the Camino, my career entailed being a wellness coach and personal trainer virtually. Having my laptop as a tool is essential to start that passion again. Also, writing for the Trek is much easier from a laptop. So to me, the extra weight is worth it.

Hippie Town Clothes—One of the things I craved the most while being on the Appalachian Trail was having one outfit outside of my walking clothes that felt like “me”. With my colorful harem pants and tank top, I feel like I have a comfortable option to express myself outside of the typical backpacking gear I’d be wearing daily.

The Full Gear List   

The Acoustic Version of Backpacking

When I first heard the phrase “the acoustic version of life,” it resonated with me, especially with the chapter of life that I am in.

Living out of a backpack in 2022 showed me how little I needed.

Living out of a car in 2026 revealed to me that some things are worth keeping with me.

This trip is an integration of both.

Everything still fits in a backpack. It’s not the lightest it could be, but it’s everything that makes me feel like Marley.

So I’m not packing for the lightest possible Camino.

I’m packing for my life.

with agape,

Marley “Chill Out” Kreiser