Most Camino de Santiago pilgrims carry a 20 to 30 liter backpack, and the reason is the trail's infrastructure: you sleep in albergues, refuges, and hostels rather than a tent, and villages along every stage resupply food and water. That removes the shelter, sleep system, and multi-day food that force a larger pack on wilderness treks.
The number that matters more than liters is weight. Aim to keep your loaded pack near 10% of your body weight; carrying much more over hundreds of kilometers is the most common cause of injury and quitting on the Camino. A light 25-to-30-liter pack with a genuine hipbelt, worn so the weight sits on your hips, is the standard setup.
When to go smaller or larger
- Smaller (under 20L): pilgrims who use a daily bag-transfer service and carry only water, snacks, and a rain layer.
- Standard (25–30L): self-carried pilgrims carrying a few changes of clothing, rain gear, and toiletries.
- Larger (35L+): only if you are camping or walking a remote, less-serviced route with longer resupply gaps.