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Recent content by rainswift

  1. rainswift

    Silk liners can't take hot dryer? What do if bed bugs?

    I pulled out an old outdoor blanket that can be dried and will take that on my Camino instead. A little heavier but I guess it's worth the peace of mind that I could dry it if needed. @darealdeal77 I'll be spraying my stuff with permethrin too, but permethrin doesn't kill bedbugs instantly -...
  2. rainswift

    Silk liners can't take hot dryer? What do if bed bugs?

    Thanks, I was basing 45C on that pinned thread in Equipment about de-bedbugging gear post Camino. Guess I'm going to find a dry-able quilt now. At least I can use this quilt for backpacking.
  3. rainswift

    Silk liners can't take hot dryer? What do if bed bugs?

    So I have heard common wisdom is to bring a silk liner for your Camino (+/- a sleeping bag depending on your preference and season). Specifically regarding silk liners, all of the ones I've found say not to dry them on high heat as they may shrink. Many say wash cold and line dry. Even my...
  4. rainswift

    Eclipses over Santiago

    Too hot to be on the Meseta in August for me... Think it will be cooler on the Norte? Could be in Bilbao or Santander or Oviedo and still view totality.
  5. rainswift

    Question about adding Alert Cops

    That's unfortunate. Conversely, I just tried the method @trecile described, which I'm going to quote here so that it's in as many places as possible, and it worked a charm. First you email alertcops@interior.es . In the email, I described in Google Translate Spanish that I am a pilgrim...
  6. rainswift

    Pilgrim rooms at San Martin Pinario in Santiago

    Thank you @aussieredhat for asking this question. I had been checking what appears to be the San Martin Pinario's OLD website, and trying to contact them via the info@ email, with no answers. I just emailed the reservas@sanmartinpinario.eu email and received a prompt, courteous, and efficient...
  7. rainswift

    Lightweight Blankets for Walking the Camino

    If it's in your budget, I love my Enlightened Equipment Revelation APEX (synthetic) quilt. I got mine for 50F/10C and 7 Denier fabric, so it weighs less than 300g. They also make it with down, which is even lighter.
  8. rainswift

    How do you wear a hat with a backpack?

    Another vote for Sunday Afternoons hats! I got the Ultra Adventure hat, which has a folding brim and also comes in purple. :3
  9. rainswift

    Folding up an Altus?

    I do this with all jackets, hoodies, and ponchos, similar to @Kitsambler : 1. Hold the poncho in front of you by its hood, with the opening facing you. 2. With your free hand, grab the left and right sleeves and bring them to the center. 3. Drop the hood, and using your now free hand, grab...
  10. rainswift

    The Packa vs Altus Poncho

    My dream poncho is the Altus, at a weight <350g, with pit zips, in a high-vis colour. 😆 I might contact Beta By Data, who makes custom ultralight gear, one day with this idea.
  11. rainswift

    Backpack Replacement Recos?

    Geartrade.ca carries a number of Gossamer Gear packs! :) I have a Kumo 36 in the purple Vaporwave colourway and I really like it. It's super light - under 600g. But it definitely doesn't have as many features as your existing Gregory packs.
  12. rainswift

    Backpack Replacement Recos?

    Sounds like you are in Canada due to the MEC comment. For ultralight gear, Geartrade.ca carries equipment from cottage brands like the ones Trecile listed above. They're in Okotoks, AB but of course they'll ship Canada-wide. Disadvantage is you can't try before you buy, though.
  13. rainswift

    Backpack Replacement Recos?

    I think your best bet is to go to an outdoor outfitter store with your wife, your existing Gregory packs, and a luggage scale. If you're in the States, REI is a good store. If in Canada, MEC or VPO. Elsewhere, not sure what stores. They'll usually have weights they can load into packs and you...
  14. rainswift

    The Packa vs Altus Poncho

    @kmrice and @raincitygal, I really appreciate you listing your Packa's weights of 312g for small and 329g for medium (unclear what "generation" of Packa those were). Makes them more attractive, excepting the need for rain pants/kilt which adds weight back into the rain gear kit.
  15. rainswift

    The Packa vs Altus Poncho

    @Bothydave Thank you for the recommendation! Unfortunately the MT900 from Decathlon is 150-200g heavier (over 500g even for the smaller size), and also it is not available from the Canadian Decathlon site (simply not listed). But I hope that it will serve some other pilgrim well! I certainly...
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