Introduction to Weight
The question of how much weight you should carry on the Camino is a weighty topic, so let’s get right into it.
You may have seen or heard that you should limit your backpack weight to 10% of your body weight for women and 15% for men, and should never carry more than 10 kg.
I recently read an account of a pilgrim whose backpack exceeded these guidelines. His wife suggested that he should simply put on some weight — in other words, increase his body weight! While this was obviously meant as a humorous introduction, you’d be surprised how this sort of thinking can play out in real life.
There is an important point that often gets overlooked in these recommendations: your body weight is part of the total load you carry, too. The commonly quoted backpack percentages are only rough guidelines, not scientifically established limits, and they don’t take account of an individual’s ideal weight, fitness or physical condition.
Your feet, knees and legs have to carry you all the way to Santiago, regardless of where you start. On the Camino Francés it could be Sarria, Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port or anywhere in between. Every additional kilogram you carry — whether on your body, in your backpack or attached to you — adds to the work your body has to do.
In the following sections, I’ll look at three categories of weight:
- Body weight
- Backpack and contents
- Wearable weight
We’ll also look at some sensible ways to reduce the weight you carry without making unnecessary sacrifices.