Drying clothes while walking

[hieudovan]

On my last camino I ran across a peregrino who had a mesh bag attached to his backpack. It's used to dry clothes while he was walking. It was ingenious. Just put the wet clothes in the bag then attach it to the backpack. After walking for a couple of hours, the clothes were totally dry. I asked him where he had bought it. I vaguely remember that he was from Australia. I live in the US and have been trying to look for it on Amazon, but no luck. Does anyone have information on this contraption? What is the bag called? Where can I get one? I'm going to Portugal April 1 to walk the Rota Vincentina and the CP. Bom Caminho.

 

[Pong]

Just search "mesh stuff sack" on Amazon or generally to find them at gear shops. you should have several to choose from of various sizes and volumes. A friend I walked with on the Frances picked one up in one of the larger towns at the famous European gear store, memory fails me at the moment for the name, but many here will be able to come up with it. Those on Amazon (and my friend's) might have a normal stuff sack drawstring closure but she didn't use that. Instead, she used large safety pins to fasten it to her pack keeping it sort of flat. It did work. Good luck.

 

[ConnieAdriano]

In Australia a women would tell you it was most likely a bra washing bag. Maybe look for something like that

 

[RJM]

Sounds like just a regular mesh laundry bag. They are inexpensive and come in several sizes.

 

[Ahhhs]

Sometimes you can find them at Dollar Stores. I keep a small one in my pack and use it to put my socks and undies in when sharing a washing machine with others.

 

[nycwalking]

Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, REI, should have mesh bags.

 

[hieudovan]

Thanks for all of your responses. I do have mesh bags of different sizes. However, this peregrino's "bag" was made specifically to attach to backpacks with built in clips/hooks... Sort of like a cargo net for cars, except smaller (see photo). Worse come to worst, I will just sew a couple of rings/hooks to my mesh bag so I can attach it to the outside of my backpack to dry when I walk.

 

[trecile]

I use mesh bags from the dollar store (three for a dollar) and use safety pins to attach them to my backpack

 

[Hiawatha]

I've always used a big kilt pin for my damp washing . Works wonders with socks that are usually the last things to dry completely.
An after thought , I am sure I have seen the type of net bag you mention in bicycle shops , they are used to secure gear to the tops of saddle bags and handle bar packs

 

[Craig Towers]

On my last camino I ran across a peregrino who had a mesh bag attached to his backpack. It's used to dry clothes while he was walking. It was ingenious. Just put the wet clothes in the bag then attach it to the backpack. After walking for a couple of hours, the clothes were totally dry. I asked him where he had bought it. I vaguely remember that he was from Australia. I live in the US and have been trying to look for it on Amazon, but no luck. Does anyone have information on this contraption? What is the bag called? Where can I get one? I'm going to Portugal April 1 to walk the Rota Vincentina and the CP. Bom Caminho.

If it’s the type of bag I am thinking it was you can get them

 

[Craig Towers]

If it’s the type of bag I am thinking it was you can get them

If it’s the type of bag m thinking of you can get them at the Dollar store or similar. In laundry s cation. Mesh bag with zip. Quality’s not as good as it was. Get a few.

 

[Prentiss Riddle]

Something like this?

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B071NSHRQJ/?tag=casaivar02-20

I recommend old-school diaper pins. Much sturdier than large safety pins.

 

[Prentiss Riddle]

I once met a pilgrim with a small drying rack sticking out from the FRONT of her pack. Looked funny but probably more effective than the laundry bag.

 

[Craig Towers]

On my last camino I ran across a peregrino who had a mesh bag attached to his backpack. It's used to dry clothes while he was walking. It was ingenious. Just put the wet clothes in the bag then attach it to the backpack. After walking for a couple of hours, the clothes were totally dry. I asked him where he had bought it. I vaguely remember that he was from Australia. I live in the US and have been trying to look for it on Amazon, but no luck. Does anyone have information on this contraption? What is the bag called? Where can I get one? I'm going to Portugal April 1 to walk the Rota Vincentina and the CP. Bom Caminho.

Buy Merino T shirts. They dry incredibly fast. $$$ but well worth it. Get a few different weights. Try Icebreaker.

 

[Prentiss Riddle]

Buy Merino T shirts. They dry incredibly fast. $$$ but well worth it. Get a few different weights. Try Icebreaker.

Does anybody know where to get discounted merino wool t-shirts? At the prices I'm seeing, "a few different weights" would cost more than a plane ticket!

I did see somebody once say that the Decathlon chain in Spain has good prices on merino undergarments. But I've not been brave enough to fly to Spain with no underwear.

 

[Lance Chambers]

I have, when necessary, worn wet clothes at the start of the day and within an hour, if not raining, they are dry and if it is raining then it doesn't matter if they are wet.

 

[RJM]

Also, if due to weather it looked as though your wet and washed clothes had no chance of drying outside, I either (if available) had the clothes washed and dried in machines (a few euro cost), or I just plain did not wash them, and wore them again the next day (except the underwear and socks). All my walking clothing are the lightweight tech type and they are made to work out and exercise in and not get gamey. Besides, on the days I couldn't wash and dry the clothes it was because it was cold and overcast. My shirts and shorts were hardly sweated in and my clothing (except socks and I carry several pair) never got muddy and actually physically dirty anyway ever while walking the Camino. I would say 90% of the time I dodged the muddy sections by simply going around them. I remember one section that was muddy, and there was a parallel blacktop road about 50 meters away, yet pilgrims still plodded through the mud. So odd. I took the road.

 

[Nichola Scurry]

Great idea! Was planning to take my laundry bag for clothes washing but now it can have the extra job of drying clothes whilst hanging from my backpack. This will certainly justify its presence in my gear

 

[mai]

Mesh bags are very lightweight and helpful to serve multiple purposes for walking caminos：

1. As an eco solar clothes dryer (la secadora)
2. As a day bag for shopping (bag with shoulder strap)
3. As an extension capacity for backpack of medium size

I have a mesh bag with shoulder strap never used for decades, but just fit for my 35L backpack. We may have unwanted mesh bags at home, search at home first n may find a suitable one. Good luck.

mai

 

[peregrina2000]

I have, when necessary, worn wet clothes at the start of the day and within an hour, if not raining, they are dry and if it is raining then it doesn't matter if they are wet.

Don't mean to take this thread off topic, but when I walked the Vdlp with a Spanish army sargeant, he taught me that the best way to dry clothes is to put them on. Your body heat will dry them. Though putting on wet socks isn't too appealing when it is cold and rainy, I have done that and am happy to have a pair of dry socks to wear in the morning -- when everyone else's socks are wet and hanging on the line.

 

[Mattnlucy]

On my last camino I ran across a peregrino who had a mesh bag attached to his backpack. It's used to dry clothes while he was walking. It was ingenious. Just put the wet clothes in the bag then attach it to the backpack. After walking for a couple of hours, the clothes were totally dry. I asked him where he had bought it. I vaguely remember that he was from Australia. I live in the US and have been trying to look for it on Amazon, but no luck. Does anyone have information on this contraption? What is the bag called? Where can I get one? I'm going to Portugal April 1 to walk the Rota Vincentina and the CP. Bom Caminho.

Good morning, after reading your post, I thought hey I did not think on this one as we are setting off May to do our first Camino I need to get something similar. I’ve attached a link below. Hope this is useful.
Lalang White Washing Clothes Bags Mesh Wash Laundry Bag for Washing Machines (XL)

 

[HedaP]

I take 3 pairs of socks. I do washing every day even in rainy weather but not always trousers. The next morning, if not raining, I nappy pin my socks (it’s always socks that don’t dry) to my backpack. Anything else that is still damp, which is rare, I put on and it dries quickly.
Just wait till you get three consecutive days of rain and the smell of damp pilgrim in albergues is an experience never to be forgotten.

 

[rorerich]

Drying clothes...no problem when you have a willing friend!

 

[Lucho]

Does anybody know where to get discounted merino wool t-shirts? At the prices I'm seeing, "a few different weights" would cost more than a plane ticket!

I did see somebody once say that the Decathlon chain in Spain has good prices on merino undergarments. But I've not been brave enough to fly to Spain with no underwear.

Hey PR:

I've become addicted to merino gear after initially balking at the prices when I first use the material years ago. Slowly I've converted half my t-shirts to merino, most of my socks, and all of my underwear. I'm not talking about just my Camino clothes but rather my entire day-to-day wardrobe.

My secret is to scan the main outdoor websites at the end of every season. With patience, I pick up a shirt here, a pair of underwear there, usually at 40-50% off. Sometimes, of course, there's nothing in my size. But bit-by-bit I've acquired quite a few pieces over the years.

Check out Backcountry.com, especially around various USA holidays when they have sales. Also, peek at the Icebreaker website at the end of each season. Now that VF Corp (owner of Smartwool) bought Icebreaker, we may be seeing more Icebreaker at REI, so I'd sniff around their site during holiday sales as well.

 

[rorerich]

Also Redfox outdoors has their own line of merino and I got some on a ridiculous sale last fall. I'm with Lucho...lots of my t's and leggings are merino and I just buy when it is on sale. It wears forever so what seems like pricey is really not at all.

 

[bikerkvw]

On my last camino I ran across a peregrino who had a mesh bag attached to his backpack. It's used to dry clothes while he was walking. It was ingenious. Just put the wet clothes in the bag then attach it to the backpack. After walking for a couple of hours, the clothes were totally dry. I asked him where he had bought it. I vaguely remember that he was from Australia. I live in the US and have been trying to look for it on Amazon, but no luck. Does anyone have information on this contraption? What is the bag called? Where can I get one? I'm going to Portugal April 1 to walk the Rota Vincentina and the CP. Bom Caminho.

They are sold at Target, Walmart and like stores. They are sold to put delicate clothes in the washer.

 

[HedaP]

Adding this post to keep the conversational ball rolling. Some time ago watched one of those BBC science programs on TV that did some subjective research into the difference between technical exercise clothing and natural fibres. Think sniff test. I just hope the testers were well paid. The results were interesting. Artificial fibres were dryer ie. they wicked sweat as per all advertising claims. Natural fibres did not. But in terms of stink the opposite was true. Polyester smelt worse than cotton. And they didn’t even test lycra!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/art...orts-clothes-from-natural-or-synthetic-fabric

 

[HedaP]

And to respectfully continue playing devil’s advocate...are the claims about merino gear universally true? Keep in mind that some people just aren’t very smelly. For instance research has shown that folks with dry ear wax don’t have BO and don’t need to use deodorant. For sure wool adsorbs/wicks moisture and stays warm even when wet. It is a truly amazing fibre. However, I still have doubts about the claims that it doesn’t smell? And it certainly pills. The only tshirt that I spent way too much money on from that well known NZ brand pilled the first time I wore it.
Happy to be convinced that I’m wrong.

 

[Irenek]

On my last camino I ran across a peregrino who had a mesh bag attached to his backpack. It's used to dry clothes while he was walking. It was ingenious. Just put the wet clothes in the bag then attach it to the backpack. After walking for a couple of hours, the clothes were totally dry. I asked him where he had bought it. I vaguely remember that he was from Australia. I live in the US and have been trying to look for it on Amazon, but no luck. Does anyone have information on this contraption? What is the bag called? Where can I get one? I'm going to Portugal April 1 to walk the Rota Vincentina and the CP. Bom Caminho.

Yes, my husband carried one on our Camino Frances. It was very useful. We bought it at Walmart, in the US. It’s one of Those we use to laundry delicates.

 

[rorerich]

My local dollar store sells these for $1.49. I use these bags for packing instead of the usual nylon packing bags. They naturally squish down in your pack and are QUIET - a great bonus. Of course they don't keep things dry in case of wet weather, but lining the pack with a garbage bag,using a pack cover, and a poncho are ways to keep things dry in your pack.

 

[Lucho]

And to respectfully continue playing devil’s advocate...are the claims about merino gear universally true? Keep in mind that some people just aren’t very smelly. For instance research has shown that folks with dry ear wax don’t have BO and don’t need to use deodorant. For sure wool adsorbs/wicks moisture and stays warm even when wet. It is a truly amazing fibre. However, I still have doubts about the claims that it doesn’t smell? And it certainly pills. The only tshirt that I spent way too much money on from that well known NZ brand pilled the first time I wore it.
Happy to be convinced that I’m wrong.

I don't have any hard data to point to, but I can anecdotally say that I tend be a stinky guy when I sweat and I notice a huge difference.

Spent nearly a year-and-a-half traveling abroad and brought four merino t-shirts. Bought a polyester one along the way: it dries as quickly but "holds the stink". I also bought two cotton shirts along the way: they gather stink the fastest. The thing with cotton is that it keeps stink until you wash it, whereas with my merino shirts if one starts to get stinky I can just not wear it for a day or two and the stink seems to go away, or at least 90%.

That's my experience.

 

[mai]

Drying clothes...no problem when you have a willing friend!View attachment 39180

Good idea! One still can dry clothes if no willing friend around.....by using a trekking pole. I realize now why so many pilgrims suggest to take 2 trekking poles: 1 for walking 1 for hanging clothes.

 

[Oravasaari]

Unless you walk in the colder months I'd not worry too much about it. I've often forgotten my laundry and left it out all night ending up with morning dew treated gear. Just put on and off u go, will be dry in no time ( until wet from the exertions of the day later on).