In October, 2023, my husband and I hiked 124 kilometers (77 miles) of the Camino de Santiago with our 2.5-year-old toddler and 4-month-old baby. We carried everything ourselves (no porter service) in one Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L backpack and one small day pack sized Eddie Bauer backpack with just diapers and wipes. We used everything we took aside from our rain gear since, fortunately, it didn’t rain on us! Here is our complete packing list and thoughts on each item if applicable. If you’ve been thinking about hiking the Camino de Santiago but not sure if you can do it with your kids, I hope this inspires you to go for and to not feel overwhelmed by the packing process (just remember, less is more!). If you’ve hiked the Camino with your kids, we’d love it if you shared your packing list in the comments for our readers!

General

B.O.B Gear Revolution Stroller - This stroller is what we pushed Jasper in for a majority of those 124 kilometers of the Camino and it was a beast! We’d definitely recommend it if you’ll be pushing a kiddo and are undecided on what stroller to get. The biggest downside is the price, so we’d recommend getting one off of Facebook Marketplace like we did for a fraction of the retail price. The benefits of this stroller are the super sturdy frame, beefy suspension system, and large air filled tires that made it pretty easy to push off pavement - your situation for the majority of the Camino. We also loved the large sun shade that really kept Jasper covered, and you can get awesome rain covers for these as well!
Baby Bjorn baby carrier - I carried Freya in this for the entire Camino and liked it okay, but my shoulders were killing me by the end of each day having her weight dangling off of them. In retrospect, I’d use one of the Ergo Baby carriers for a little baby that you can back carry with as well, and if your baby is older, go with one of the backpack style carriers with a hip belt to keep the weight off your shoulders. That’s definitely what we would have done with Freya if she hadn’t been 4 months old and too small for our backpack carrier.
My Sony Alpha 7R II mirrorless camera - I switched to a mirrorless camera when we started really getting into ultralight backpacking and travel and I’m so glad I did! This camera is full-frame and takes awesome photos while being noticeable smaller and lighter than my previous Nikon cameras. I paired it with one Zeiss wide angle lens for this trip.
A heavy duty trash compactor bag to line our Gossamer Gear backpack in case of rain (an ultralight backpacking hack instead of using an external rain cover)
1 USBC charging cable and plug that worked for both my camera and our phones
Outlet adaptor to plug electronics into European style plugs
1 small, thin fleece blanket that we accidentally kept from the airline and then ended up using for Freya on chilly mornings instead of her bunting suit
1 small bag of medicines like liquid Tylenol for the kids and a FridaNose nasal aspirator in case Freya got sick (I’ve regretted not having it too many times during our travels)
1 small bag of toiletries with one stick of travel sized deodorant, toothbrushes, and travel sized toothpaste
A little kid’s Camelbak backpack for Jasper that had all his and Freya’s toys for the trip - We thought he’d carry it but he didn’t most of the time so it just rode loose at his feet in the stroller or got stuffed into the bigger backpack. Not necessary and so in retrospect I’d just put their toys in a little bag inside the main backpack.
A backpack leash for Jasper - we used it a few times when he wanted to walk near busy roads or in crowded areas where it was easy for him to take off running and disappear. It was nice to have but probably wouldn’t bring it if we did it again as it was safe for him to walk without it most of the time. Consider bringing something like this based on your child’s age and temperament.
Rascal & Co Diapers and a pack of wipes - We brought enough of our favorite diapers for each kid to wear one every night of the trip since we’ve had issues with leaky low quality diapers when we’ve traveled before and at least wanted diapers with us that we knew would last through the night. Not a must but we were glad we did it as the Froiz diapers we brought in Spain for day time use were pretty leaky and not great. Wouldn’t recommend trying to bring diapers for the entire trip both day and night unless you want to bring an entire second backpack of just diapers. Our single new pack of wipes lasted all the way until we reached Santiago de Compostela. I bought a second pack of wipes there at a pharmacy. You can test how many wipes you used in advance by opening just one pack of wipes that you use for every diaper change for your kid(s) and seeing how long it lasts.

All of our bags! All our clothes and gear in the gray one, diapers and wipes in the black one, and toys in the blue one :)

Our Gossamer Gear Mariposa 60L ultralight backpacking backpack. Have done long distance backpacking with it and love it!

Putting that little fleece airline blanket to use instead of taking her out of the carrier to get in and out of a bunting suit

Family photo with all our bags and gear and our trusty B.O.B stroller by a famous Camino trail marker

We really liked the extra storage pocket attachments for the handles that our stroller came with. Great for stashing phones etc.

Justin

1 pair of Outdoor Research quick dry hiking pants - Justin has had these so long that they are a version that are no longer made. However, any quick dry hiking pants would do the trick!
1 pair of Patagonia Baggies shorts - His favorite shorts. Super quick drying while still having a very durable fabric and super deep pockets for stashing things.
1 quick dry Lululemon t-shirt - Found it at a thrift shop so uncertain what model it is, but it doesn’t matter as there’s nothing special about it and any quick dry shirt will do the trick!
Ridge Merino Solstice sun hoodie - We each have one of these sun hoodies and love them. Takes way longer to get smelly because of the wool but also lightweight with zero itchiness and an extra spacious hood to wear over a hat for full neck coverage from the sun.
2 pairs of ExOfficio Give-N-Go Boxer Briefs - Justin has used these for years for both travel and backpacking and loves them. Quick drying and tight enough to prevent chaffing without being uncomfortable. Only downsides are the price and the fact that after a few years the elastic starts to give out, but I reckon that’s the case with any elastic that gets heavy use. He still gives them a two thumbs up.
Fjallraven Abisko Hike Lite Cap - Nice unisex hiking cap in a quick dry fabric with a clever adjustment design. Works great paired with a sun hoodie for excellent sun protection for your face and neck without having to apply sunscreen.
2 pairs of Darn Tough Hiker Quarter Midweight Hiking Socks - Made in Vermont, guaranteed for life, made from Merino wool for superior moisture wicking and stink prevention, and just the right height and level of padding to prevent chaffing. What’s not to love? Our all time favorite socks.
Altra Lone Peak 6 hiking shoes - Justin has hiked the John Muir Trail in these and they are fantastic for being blister free with the wide toe box and very lightweight. The one downside is the lack of cushion so your feet can end up sore at the end of the day from pounding over rocks and/or pavement if you’re on the Camino. We’d still take that over blisters though!
Polarized Knockaround sunglasses - Great price point for these polarized sunglasses. Justin has a pair with lightweight plastic frames that stay on well while hiking and have lasted through two John Muir Trail thru hikes and are still going strong.
A cheap lightweight rain poncho from Walmart

Justin’s quick dry T-shirt and Patagonia Baggies shorts and our B.O.B. stroller making it all possible

Betsy

1 Patagonia Fleetwith Jumpsuit - I’m absolutely obsessed with this jumpsuit for travel. It’s super quick drying for handwashing, very cool but can be layered, doesn’t get smelly because of the looser fit through the top and lower cut under the arms, has a zip pocket, and can be dressed up or down. I have two now because I’m terrified Patagonia is going to stop making them! I opted to take these instead of a pants and short sleeved shirt combo and glad I did as I think it was easier. Plus, this jumpsuit is awesome for nursing (easy side access).
1 pair of REI Co-op Swiftland running shorts - Super light and quick drying with really comfy built in briefs that don’t ride up (for me at least). Love them!
Ridge Merino Solstice wool hoodie - Lightweight merino wool sun hoodie. Quick drying, takes a long time to get smelly (unlike synthetic fabric sun hoodies), and has a nice oversized hood to fit easily over a baseball cap or other sun hat with full neck coverage. Highly recommend if you’re looking for a sun hoodie.
2 pairs of underwear. One Icebreaker Siren Bikini Brief and one ExOfficio Give-N-Go synthetic full cut. I used to not be so sure about the full cut style so got the Icebreaker pair for a less coverage cut (and to try out merino wool underwear), but on this trip I personally found the ExOfficio pair to be a little more comfortable. Both dry super fast though and are great quality.
1 Kindred Bravely Sublime nursing sports bra - Very comfy. Nursing clips worked well. Quality seemed good. Dried fine overnight after washing during my evening shower.
1 pair of Athleta bliss sleep pajamas - lightweight and packed down very small. I sleep cold so decided it was worth it to bring a pair of pajamas. Justin opted not to bring anything extra for sleep.
2 pairs of Darn Tough quarter midweight hiking socks - A thru hiker favorite and our favorite socks for backpacking, hiking, and life in general. Merino wool so don’t get smelly very fast, wick moisture well, nice cushioning, and extremely durable. Guaranteed for life and still made in Vermont!
Peepers polarized sunglasses - Great price point for polarized sunglasses. Plus, these are some of the only sunglasses I’ve found that fit my narrow face well (I have the Boho)! Got a pair with lightweight plastic frames that feel really comfy and worked great on the John Muir Trail and the entire Camino.
A cheap lightweight rain poncho from Walmart

In my Ridge Merino sun hoodie, REI cap, Peepers sunglasses, and REI Swiftland running shorts

In my Lone Peak 5 Altras and Darn Dough socks; Freya in her Bond’s Wondersuit jammies for covered or uncovered feet

In my Fleetwith Patagonia romper; Freya enjoying a nap in the Baby Bjorn carrier

Jasper

1 pair of L.L. Bean Cresta Hiking Joggers - One of the only quick dry pants I could find for toddlers. Very well made, seemed comfortable, and did indeed dry super fast. Downside is the price. I thought he would be getting his pants really dirty and I’d need to be washing them daily so splurged on these, but he really didn’t so in retrospect would just get something cheap and lightweight.
1 quick dry t-shirt purchased from Dick’s Sporting Goods (I don’t remember the brand)
1 quick dry Nike long sleeved shirt
2 pairs of lightweight bamboo blend pajamas
Eddie Bauer fleece lined jacket - We got this from a thrift shop so unsure which jacket it is exactly. It was warm enough for the temps in the 40s that we experienced and had a hood which was great. It was a bit bulky though. A down jacket would have packed even smaller and would be my recommendation if you happen to have one for your toddler.
2 pairs of socks
1 pair of Keen Toddlers’ Newport H2 shoes - These are a kind of sandal-shoe hybrid and we love them! Can get wet, be paired with socks for cooler weather, or be worn like sandals to keep their feet cool. Truly versatile and super well made. The downside is the price. We got around that by purchasing a pair used off Poshmark for a fraction of the cost.
1 Jan & Jul Sun Hat - Fantastic sun hat for babies and toddlers with its drawcord for head size adjustment, quick dry fabric, extra long back for neck protection, and chin strap with breakaway safety feature. Definitely recommend if your kiddo will be hiking much.
A cheap lightweight kid’s rain poncho from Walmart
Pacifier on a clip
1 favorite stuffed animal
1 book to look at to help with boredom during long periods of time in the stroller and for his evening bed routine. We took a Richard Scary story collection from busy town with super detailed pictures for maximal impact.
Some small and lightweight toys that included a few matchbox cars, a set of mix and match cardboard cars, a Lego car, and Melissa and Doug cling stickers in a ziplock bag that can be reused over and over on windows. Keep in mind that kid’s have amazing imaginations and play happily with all sorts of non-toys like toothbrushes, toiletries, airplane headphones etc.

In his quick dry long long sleeved shirt, LL Bean pants, and Keen shoes

Playing with some of the super packable and lightweight toys we brought for him. These cardboard cars were awesome!

We managed to make space for his beloved stuffed llama

Freya

3 pairs of Bonds Zip Wondersuit pajamas - Chosen for the fact that they have fold up or down foot covers so you can decide whether your kiddos feet are covered or uncovered based on temperature. A perfect choice when you’ll be outdoors in a variety of temperatures. It’s an Australian brand and my sister who lives in Australia gave me the ones I used for Freya, but I’ve seen them for sale on Amazon as well. Pajamas are the only clothes I took for Freya as I didn’t feel there was any reason she needed different clothes for day and night. I didn’t bring anything short sleeved or without legs because I didn’t want her to get sunburned. We got a little hot at times pressed together in the carrier, but she did fine with her feet uncovered and some fanning.
2 cotton bibs for her endless drooling
1 Jan & Jul Sun Hat - Fantastic sun hat for babies that can be worn into toddler years because of the drawcord for head size adjustment. Also features quick dry fabric, extra long back for neck protection, and chin strap with breakaway safety feature. Definitely recommend! The super cute prints are a plus :)
L.L. Bean Retro Mountain Classic Bunting Suit - Great quality fleece bunting suit with a hood and the ability to fold covers over hands and feet. We only used this once though because while the temps were chilly in the morning (40s F) I was always wearing Freya in a carrier so we shared a lot of body heat and I found it easier to just wrap her in a light blanket than take her out 15 minutes into the hike to remove a bunting suit. As such, I would just pack a light jacket instead of a full bunting suit (preferably down as this fleece suit took a lot of space).
Pacifier on a clip
A silicone chew toy