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  1. J

    Corkscrew do I take one with me?

    On the French Camino last year, I just bought wine in boxes. Every supermarket has them - in small sizes too [e.g. 500 ml} with a screw top.
  2. J

    Small juicer, vegetarians and heating element?

    On the Frances last year, I didn’t see any kettles. But there were microwaves.
  3. J

    Any tips from fellow sufferers from vein problems?

    I don’t think blisters on your calves are a ‘thing’. Just bring the macabi skirt and the compression tights that work for you. The macabi skirts are very airy so shouldn’t e too hot. Or roll up the skirt - this is a macabi shirt feature. In the long-term (after the Camino) why not have the...
  4. J

    How to get the soap residue out of socks

    Do they still have ‘stretch’ in them or have they thickened as well as become almost impossible to stretch width-ways? Do they soften up on wearing? They may have ‘felted’. This happens to my socks if I use water that’s more than lukewarm - or if they get spun in the washing machine. If the...
  5. J

    Any risk of walking without insoles?

    If I get a blister in the middle of a 200km back country hike I know that Compeed will make it possible to continue the walk because they immediately cushion the pain from a blister. It’s the main reason I always carry them - for days when the only option is to keep walking… (I’ve read that...
  6. J

    Any risk of walking without insoles?

    Why exactly did they ‘hate it with a passion’? With such a strong reaction, I expect they gave you a reason. And had your son actually used it?
  7. J

    Any risk of walking without insoles?

    I really like the ideas others have suggested: cutting the end off the inner soles, relacing, so the lacing starts higher up the shoe, or cutting a slit or hole in the shoe to decrease the pressure. There isn’t anything wrong with removing the inner soles - the footbed won’t be as soft, but...
  8. J

    Small juicer, vegetarians and heating element?

    They are silicone, so should handle a heating element just fine as long as it’s in water.
  9. J

    Small juicer, vegetarians and heating element?

    Instead of juicing them, why not just eat the veges and fruit you buy? Much healthier.
  10. J

    Trekking Poles

    When I use my poles, my elbow and triceps are the joint/muscles most often used not my shoulders - sort of like doing a ‘tricep kick back’ with a dumbell at the gym - the shoulder stays stable and it’s the elbow and forearm that move. I use fabulous Pacerpoles that have a handgrip designed by a...
  11. J

    Trekking Poles

    I only use rubber tips when I want to stop the clacking noise when I am in towns or on footpaths. Experienced hikers discover that using the metal tips provides much better grip on earth, rocks, or rocky paths. The most important thing is to learn how to use poles properly. You should be...
  12. J

    Shoes, shoes and more dreaded shoes.....

    I wore Altra Olympus 5s, with good arch support inserts (to help avoid plantar fasciitis). I was very very happy with them. I didn’t need to change shoes at night because they were just so comfortable. I took the advice on the Altra website about allowing a thumb’s width of room in front of...
  13. J

    Backpack is 2 kg too heavy TwT

    Iyou don’t have to wash your clothes every day either. My hiking gear is designed to be worn for several days without washing - wool t-shirts and nylon long-sleeved hiking shirt and long nylon hiking pants. These fabrics resist oil and don’t absorb sweat so don’t retain odour.
  14. J

    Backpack is 2 kg too heavy TwT

    There is no science behind the 10% guide that is applicable to hiking adults. It’s from a recommendation years ago for the weight of kids school bags. And it tends to be mentioned by people who have never done multi-day back country hiking outside mid-summer! Athen OP should take the weight that...
  15. J

    Backpack is 2 kg too heavy TwT

    You can get a 400g cheapish down sleeping quilt from Aliexpress pretty cheaply. How much does your sleeping bags weigh?
  16. J

    Should I bring my own Mercado bag?

    I used the Sea to Summit ultrasil packable back pack. Packs down to the size of an egg. Not cheap though. But really tough, light and holds a lot. Alternatively, just bring any of those thin, tough lightweight fold-small reusable/foldable shopping bags that have been around for the last few...
  17. J

    Rucksack flight bag

    Just tie the straps up so they aren’t sticking out (ie tie the loose straps to each other; tie small granny knots to take up the length of long loose straps. Then, capture the shoulder straps by lengthening the waist belt and securing the buckle at the front of the pack.
  18. J

    Ok entering the shoe debate with trepidation ...

    I wear Keen boots on multi-day walks with a 12-17 kg pack in Aust & NZ (Larapinta Tk, Overland Tk, Kepler etc) where good ankle support is needed. But I wore Altra Olympus trail runners for the French Camino because of my lighter pack weight - and because it’s not really a bushwalk for the...
  19. J

    A stupid washing thing..

    Yes - I had to be very careful each morning to pack the nylon net bag. I never used the net bag in the shower - just as a holder/drying bag.
  20. J

    A stupid washing thing..

    I used half a shampoo bar and 1/3 of a conditioner bar. You need to apply to damp hair and not leave the bars in or under water as they melt away easily. Let the bars air dry after use. I keep them in a small nylon net bag - hung over the bunk rails.

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