Chafing reduction. Multi-day hiking in the same clothes creates friction points. Lotion helps.

Despite its weight, they kept it because prevention is lighter than treatment. One tube of lotion weighs less than blister treatments, pain meds, and potential rest days.

The Multi-Use Soap Strategy

Using one soap bar for hair, body, and teeth might sound extreme, but it's increasingly common among long-distance hikers and cycle tourists.

Popular options:

Dr. Bronner's bar soap—castile-based, works for everything

Sea to Summit Wilderness Wash—biodegradable, multi-purpose

Plain olive oil soap—traditional, cheap, effective

The trade-off: Less luxurious than separate products, but dramatically lighter and simpler. One bar replaces shampoo, body wash, face wash, shaving cream, and toothpaste. For long-distance walks where every gram counts, the math works.

What They'd Change

Despite the minimalism working well, they offered advice for future pilgrims:

"I would sincerely advise every pilgrim to prepare their toiletries properly," they wrote, suggesting that others shouldn't cut quite as aggressively as they did.

Common additions from experienced Camino walkers:

Sunscreen—Spain's sun is intense, especially in summer. Carry a small tube.

Blister treatments—Compeed or similar. Even with prevention, blisters happen.

Small first-aid basics—Band-aids, pain relievers, antibiotic ointment.

Lip balm—Chapped lips after 800km are miserable.

But the core message remains: less is more if you choose the right "less."

Why Toiletries Matter on Long Walks

The Camino isn't wilderness backpacking. You sleep in albergues (pilgrim hostels) most nights. Towns have pharmacies. You could buy things as needed.

So why obsess over a minimalist kit?

Weight discipline. Every 100g removed from your pack reduces fatigue over 800km. Toiletries are often the easiest place to cut weight without sacrificing function.

Reliability. Carrying essentials means you're never stuck in a small village on Sunday when everything's closed.

Routine maintenance. Foot care, skin care, and oral hygiene prevent small issues from becoming walk-ending problems.

Mental clarity. Fewer items means less decision fatigue and more focus on the walk itself.

As one commenter noted: "The Camino teaches you what you actually need vs. what you think you need. Usually it's 50% less than you packed."

The Bigger One-Bag Lesson

This pilgrim's toiletry kit reflects a broader truth about long-term minimalist travel: multi-use items and careful choices beat overpacking.

Their complete 38L pack included:

- Toiletries (minimal) - Clothing (6 t-shirts, 2 formal shirts, 6 underwear/socks—which they admitted was too much) - Running shoes (thick-soled for bad knees) - Electronics (not specified)

They acknowledged overpacking clothes—"I would have packed exactly half"—but the toiletry kit was dialed in.

That precision comes from prioritizing function over comfort and weight over convenience. Not everyone wants to brush their teeth with bar soap. But for those willing to adapt, the payoff is real: less weight, less complexity, more focus on the experience itself.

For Future Pilgrims

If you're planning the Camino or any long-distance trek:

Start minimal, add only if needed. It's easier to buy something in a town than to mail items home.

Test multi-use products before you go. If bar soap for teeth sounds awful to you now, it won't improve at kilometer 400.

Prioritize prevention over treatment. Lotion, sunscreen, and foot care prevent problems that weigh more than the products.

Don't skip the boring stuff. Nail clippers, blister treatments, and pain relief aren't glamorous but they keep you walking.

As the pilgrim concluded after 34 days: preparation matters, but smart minimalism matters more.

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