Pack weights

[excavadora]

Greetings to all,
I am becoming fascinated by the debate about carrying only 10 per cent of your body weight.
Does anyone know where this figure comes from?
I'm not suggesting that it is not accurate and/or desireable, BUT down here in Australia, bushwalkers (hikers) on multi-day walks often carry packs weighing about 30kg at the start of a walk.
I have done it myself. Sure, it's not pleasant, (with the right pack, it's do-able) but you need to take enough food and supplies because you will not usually be finding towns along the route.
Now, I admit to be a tad overweight, but I do NOT weigh 300kg!
And just to make you really wince, it's reported that soldiers in the Australian Special Air Service Regiment sometimes have packs that weigh 100kg! I assume that they don't carry these for long distances.
Obviously, lighter is better, BUT you do need to have the equipment/clothes etc to make your trip safe and comfortable.
The camino, of course, is a series of day-walks, rather than a long walk which does not enter towns, but it's probably a good idea not to worry TOO much about the odd extra gram or two.
Cheers, Tony

 

[spursfan]

Yes but people are carrying kgs and kgs of excess weight across 500 miles of Spain - a land with good weather for a lot of the year and with relatively frequent shops and a bed plus blanket at the end of the day

And yet some people carry enough gear as if they were going to climb Everest

And don't get me started on people that send their luggage on ahead or even post stuff on to Santiago that they'd prefer not to carry

You can boil down the main needs as plenty of liquid, comfortable shoes and an outfit for walking (all the better if such clothes can cover wide temperature ranges seen during each day) plus clothes for sleeping and some protection against possible rain - after that, pretty much everything else starts looking like luxuries (iPods, cameras, books) - the less you bring, the less to worry about and the easier to walk

 

[Anonymous]

I am becoming fascinated by the debate about carrying only 10 per cent of your body weight.

:lol: Who knows :!: It is so simple, take little, only what u need. But no matter, in time and by the end of the first Camino, for know all ye newcomers, you will be hooked, all will know what/how much to carry :!: Best, xm 8)

 

[Anonymous]

And yet some people carry enough gear as if they were going to climb Everest

I plead guilty to that...just, what am I pleading guilty for, and why? Best, xm 8)

 

[Anonymous]

The camino, of course, is a series of day-walks, rather than a long walk which does not enter towns...

Hmm...maybe a combo of both...

...a good idea not to worry TOO much about the odd extra gram or two..."

Until u start developing tendinitis like me :lol: :!: But ur right, it could become obsessive. We know, we find it, eventually, as we walk, and, again, via that first Camino, what gives or not with the weight we choose to carry. Yep, always a self-made choice.

Best,

xm 8)