Camino de Santiago de Compostela

[Arn]

Minkey said:
Oh... and TOILET PAPER!

We can all come up with the "ideal" packing list and those here are among the best I've seen and, believe me, I've trekked all over the world and made many an adjustment to what I'm willing to carry.

That said, toilet paper IS the most critical...especially on the Camino, for this reason. With the exception of your initial stuff...i.e. pack, boots, sleeping bag or silks (time of year dependent) and appropriate clothing...anything else you can get as you make your Way. Even medical items...with the exception of prescription items you bring from home. Sure, take a few blister blockers with you, but if you need more the next town will have it. Water is also big on my list...I chose to carry a Katahdin water bottle which has a filtration capability. Why take the chance of getting the trotts. Other than that the TOILET Paper. Time and again, I found when leaving in the morning...ALL the paper had been taken by those that either didn't have any with them...or had an event prior to departure.

Buen Camino
Arn

[Anniesantiago]

Oh, please take a hankerchief instead of toilet paper, if you are female, for urinating along the Way... Then you can wash it out each evening.

And please, try to use TOILETS to defecate in, not the trailside?
And if you MUST have a BM along the Way, please walk well off the trail?
I can't tell you many human "logs" I had to step over as I walked.
Disgusting!

If you INSIST on taking toilet paper... please also take a plastic sandwich bag and CART IT OUT.
If you bury it, animals will dig it up.
If you leave it on the ground, it will NOT disappear... it will create an eyesore and a stink and a health hazard.

Spain is not a 3d world country.
They have toilet paper and they have modern conveniences.
I didn't find one single toilet that did not have toilet paper.
Maybe I was just lucky... but I DID carry a hankerchief.

By the way, there are some great varieties of toilet flushing mechanisms along the Way.

[Rebekah Scott]

...and back to the waterproof trousers thing: I´ve noticed during the winter AND in wet warmer weather pilgrims are increasingly using gaiters. They keep the wet out of your boot-tops and keep your legs dry ankle to knee, where most of the water and muck goes anyway. They´re lighter than a pair of pants, and can double for a carry-bag or neck-warmer or laundry sack when the weather is nice. They keep your regular pair of pants cleaner for longer, but I´ve also seen some hikers wearing gaiters with shorts! (add a pair of Crocs and you have a real Camino Fashion Victim!)

[Arn]

Rebekah said:pilgrims are increasingly using gaiters.

For the most part, I am a winter person. When ever I can, I will wear shorts unless I'm going to Church or there's a freezing sleet or rain. On my longest hikes I wore shorts and gaiters. They are good for all seasons and all the reasons indicated by Rebekah and they're very light weight.

A good pair of gaiters come in mid calf or ankle length, can be opened at the side to reduce sweating (a major problem with wet gear) and allow you to use a poncho to best effect.

I personally don't like cockle burrs or pebbles in my boots...gaiters to the rescue!

Buen high stepping Camino

Arn

[Anniesantiago]

I've noticed that men often wear shorts here in Portland, even in the snowy weather.

Most (not all) women I know, however, get cold in the hip area, me included.
Gators are nice, but they don't cover my hips.
I started the Camino with a poncho, but the wind whipped it up around me and I got chilled.
I tried belting it... too much of a hastle.

Joe wore a poncho and loved it (with his shorts!).

I found a featherweight pair of rainpants to be ideal... my rainsuit is made by Moonstone, weighs next to nothing, and the jacket doubles as a windbreaker. It packs down to about 5" by 6" and is worth its weight in gold.

Everyone's different. I think the key is to know your own body and how you respond to various weather.

[marjorita]

One item I really appreciated bringing when I walked the Camino Frances in September 2008 was a dress. It is a dress I have worn all over the world in all seasons. I would put it on the end of the day, sometimes I slept in it and that with a pair of sandles, I felt dressed up. I really only wore my shorts and my dress and near the end I attached the rest of the pants to the shorts. The dress I have never wrinkles and fits in my fist. It felt like a luxury and I looked forward to putting it on always. I only met one other woman who changed into her skirt in the evening....

[Arn]

That I would like to see...a dress that you can ball up into your hand.

You must have been the bell of the ball.

Good on ya!

Buen can we go dancing Camino
Arn

[jl]

Hi Marjorita, I too change into a skirt at the end of the day. It is a little more dressy going out to restaurants (particulalry in france) and in the summer it is cooler than wearing trousers. Mine is a black travel skirt that rolls up to a very small size - wouldn't be without it on the Camino! My other piece of luxury is a long silk scarf - hopes to brighten my evening as well. Cheers, Janet

[windeatt]

I'll pass on skirts but, I agree, it's nice to feel a bit special in the evenings after a long, sweaty and/or muddy walk. I really enjoyed showering and getting into clean clothes and the one item I decided that I had missed off my equipment list and that I would take with me another time was a very, very small plastic bottle of perfume to apply after the shower. I don't wear perfume normally but I will take some in my washbag on my next long walk.

[alipilgrim]

I hope you can be persuaded not to take the perfume. I agree it is lovely to dress nicely and know you smell nice, but albergues are such close quarters that I'm sure many of your bunkmates would not appreciated a strong scent, and many people are allergic to perfumes.

[fungal]

Minkey - What is a fleece jumper?

[JohnnieWalker]

Fungal - a "jumper" is an english term for a sweater or pullover - a warm garment with arms you pull over your head

[JohnnieWalker]

What I meant to say of course is that it is a term English people use

[Anniesantiago]

I would take with me another time was a very, very small plastic bottle of perfume to apply after the shower.

Please do not take perfume on the Camino.

Before you ever put another cologne or perfume or even scented lotion on your body, do some research into the ingredients of the chemicals that are used in today's perfumes.
I'll be happy to provide you with links.

Or, you can read The 100 Year Lie, which talks about the chemical cocktails that are causing such high rates of cancer and disease since WWII.

Then consider all that walking you'll be doing and how anything you've put on your skin will end up in your bloodstream, in your liver and kidneys, and up my nose!

Honestly, if you can smell it, you are literally ingesting it. And there are more and more people who are having severe reactions to scents.

Perfumes, scented fabric softener, and FEBREZE are three of the most difficult for us.
They are all extremely toxic.

If there was a person wearing perfume in a refugio where I wanted to sleep, I would have to sleep outdoors because of my MCS (which is one reason I go prepared).

Please simply take a shower.
Showered bodies smell lovely!
Perfumed bodies are painful for many of us.

Thank you, thank you.... thank you...

[Arn]

JW indicated: Fungal - a "jumper"

Well, I sure misread that one and I do speak English.

Perfume may cause a problem for some...but, considering what "pure body odor" can mean...I'll take perfume every time. My only caveat is that it leave when the wearer does.

Buen Camino,
Arn

[sagalouts]

Hi
I have been searching for a lightweight kilt for a while now,does anybody know of one.
Idealy a plain black one ( goth style)
Ian

[falcon269]

Perfume can be intrusive, but we are surrounded with enough toxic chemicals that a scent is unlikely to be the proximate cause of your demise. Everyone shares getting progressively more "grubby" as the days pass, so I don't think anyone notices whatever would be disguised by perfume. It's not like snoring!

[Anniesantiago]

Mr. Falcon,

You are 100% correct.
We are surrounded by more toxic chemicals than we can control.
When we have a choice, why not choose wisely?

I would like to be kind to you.
However, I find it presumptuous that you think you know my body better than I.
You do not.
I've been diagnosed by a Specialist who pinned down the chemicals causing reaction. Perfume and scented products rank #1.

If you are allergic to peanuts, you might ask pilgrims not to serve you food with peanuts.
I'm asking fellow pilgims not to wear chemicals that cause me and other pilgrims high levels of distress.

We all walk the Way for different reasons.
I walk to seek healing, both physical and spiritual.
The exercise pumps cleansing blood through my organs,flushing out chemicals lodged there so hopefully, one day, I can have a more normal life.

The solitude gives me time to reflect on what is and is not important to me.
The Camino teaches me what I NEED to be happy, rather than what I've been brainwashed to WANT.
How much do I want to engage in consumerism and destruction?
How much do I want to engage in healing others and being helpful?

I carry the prayers of others to their resting place in Santiago.
I also carry my own prayers.
One of them is to be able to enlighten others about the dangerous use of chemicals.

I do not ask for a lot from other pilgrims.
Only clean air to breathe while I sleep, free of intentionally applied chemicals.

People cannot help it if they snore.
That is something I need to train myself not to hear.
But people CAN choose not to wear perfume.

If you cannot divorce yourself from your perfume on the Camino, I'd simply ask you "Why?"

Do you want to cause peace, health, and happiness?
Or do you want to cause pain, distress, and sickness?

It's that simple.

[falcon269]

Yes, but not everyone is allergic. A neighbor is allergic to cinnamon and swells like he was stung by a bee if he ingests any. Since cinnamon is hidden in hundreds of desserts, he basically has given up dessert. But the rest of us eat heartily!

[omar504]

I'm sure Anniesantiago has enough trouble in her normal life trying to avoid irritations such as perfume. Surely it's not asking too much that once an allergy is known others would avoid excerbating it by using a product that would bring on a reaction. Perfume on the camino seems a bit silly anyway.

[Anniesantiago]

Thank you, Omar.
The cinnamon in your dessert is different, Falcon, because I am not forced to ingest it, as I AM the perfume... if you can't see that, then I give up... and hopefully, so does this topic.

::Annie closes the book, hopefully::::

[ksam]

I agree w/Annie...enough..Although you've got me thinking now about how my asthma seems to be getting progressivly worse...Just had my presrip. strenght doubled yesterday!! Hmmm perhaps I need to do some looking into "scents" etc!

NOW on to other topics... Where do we help Ian find a light weight black kilt!! and then get Rosie to take pictures!! I personally Love a man in a kilt!! Best moment was when watching the Boston Marathon, and there went a lovely pair of gams in a kilt!! Totally made my day (besides seeing my sister-in-law go by!!)

Any thoughts folks... Or pehaps... Men in Tights??


Karin

[notion900]

Kilts, dresses, perfume..I've heard everything now! Why not just take the kitchen sink!
I have one thing to say to the prospective kilt wearer: Thigh Chafing!!!!

[Portia1]

I will be hiking in early September and hopefully reach Santiago in early October. Here is my proposed list. Looking for suggestions, feedback. I have hiked over half of the AT so I am familiar with what works for me. I've also broken both legs while descending mountains so I am very partial to taking care of my feet and legs along the way. I am nearing retirement age so this is no spring chicken making this journey!

Packing List - Camino Frances (September/October)

Osprey Exos packpack, 3300 cu in
Mountain Hardware sleeping bag, polyfil for washing
Silk sleeping bag liner (to wash, keep bag cleaner)
Tyvek “ground cover” treated with permethiran (to spread on cot under sleeping bag)
Small pillowcase
Min-compass with temp
Leki hiking poles with rubber tips (taking carbide tips too)
New Balance hiking shoes (I’ve decided to forgo my Garmont leather hiking boots, sob)
Short gaitors (my feet are very sensitive, small stuff inside my boots makes me crazy!)
Bandana (VERY handy with multiple uses)
Sun hat
Altus poncho
Marmot Precip Rain jacket (for evenings and extra layer)
Prescription sunglasses on keepers, prescription reading glasses
Plastic water bottles (2-3)
3 pairs wool socks (either Smartwool or Bridgedales); also use as mittens when cold
3 pairs sock liners
Chaco sandals (for evening and I can hike short distances in these with socks)
Cheap flip flops for shower
3 pair panties
2 sports bras
Lightweight fleece pullover
Fleece cap
Quick dry zip pants - 1 pair
Quick dry capri - 2 pair
Very lightweight fleece pant - 1 pair
Smartwool long sleeve undershirt
Quick dry long sleeve shirts with sunblock - 2
Quick dry, wicking Columbia Titanium short sleeve tees - 2 (anti-body odor)
LED mini-light
Digital camera, extra SD cards
USB SD reader (to transfer photos)
Cell phone, charger
European adapter #4
Spanish phrase book, Camino guidebook (with unneeded pages removed)
Journal, pen
Book of Common Prayer, mini Bible (I am an Episcopal priest)
Passport, ATM Card, Credit Card, Cash, airline ticket
Belly pouch (it also has long cord so can be used as a purse)
Handiwipe
Spork (spoon on one end, fork on the other)
Lightweight soup/mug
Mini-knife
Cork screw - simple pull
Net grocery bag
Bungee cord, clothespins (5), blanket pins (4)
Deodorant (travel size)
Dry bag for shower (to hold passport, camera, money, etc.)
Quick dry travel towel (MSR - med size)
Shampoo (Liggett’s - solid, 1/2 bar)
Comb, brush (travel size)
Toothbrush, toothpaste (travel size)
Dental floss (travel size) also useful for other things
Castile soap (1/4 bar) for bathing, laundry
Nail clippers
Lip balm with sunblock
Sunblock - travel size
Mosquito repellant - 3 individual small wipe packets
Body lotion
Razor
Ear plugs (3 pair)
Toilet paper (with cardboard removed in baggie with hand sanitizer)
Extra baggies/ziploc bags
Collapsible bucket (luxury but for foot soaking on the fly, etc. it is worth the 4 ounces)
Meds: sleep, pain, allergy
Blister Shield in small squirt bottle/tube (to squirt into liner socks each morning)
Foot repair kit in small baggie: compeed, bandaids, antibiotic cream, alcohol wipes

Total weight: 18.5 pounds

[sillydoll]

Hi there Portia1,
If this list works for you - and if you can carry 8.5kg without food or water - then I say go for it.
I walked in September 2007 and my pack weighed just under 6kg with water.

Here are the things from your list that I didn't carry:

sleeping bag
ground cover
Small pillowcase
Min-compass with temp
Bandana
flip flops for shower
Fleece cap
Quick dry capri - 2 pair
Quick dry long sleeve shirts - 2
Cell phone, charger
European adapter #4
Book of Common Prayer, mini Bible (I am an Episcopal priest)
Cork screw - simple pull
Collapsible bucket

Buen camino!