Packing List - Mar 21 through Apr 2

[kardisa]

Alright, I’m a bit late to the party, as I am leaving exactly 7 days from today, but here is what I currently have as a packing list. The items followed by question marks are the things I’m not sure if i need. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, as I am sure I am missing something important.

• Osprey Aura 50L Backpack - Honestly, this is way more space than I need, but it’s comfortable. I also have no other option, unless I want to cram things into my 12L Salomon running vest.

• Nike Long Sleeve Cold Gear Top (for sleeping and early mornings)
• Nike Blue Running Jacket
• North Face Venture Rain Shell (doubles as a wind jacket)
• Lightweight fleece (? for around town?)
• Two sets running capris
• Insulated running tights (for sleeping)
• 3 Dri Fit t-shirts
• Silk thin long sleeve t-shirt/leggings (? Will these be necessary ?)
• 3 pairs SmartWool socks
• 3 pairs bamboo underwear
• Trail running shoes

• Lightweight stuff sack for clothes
• Razor
• Bath kit (mini-sizes)
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Sunblock
• Camera/charger/extra battery - This is waterproof/shockproof
• Travel brush
• Extra hair ties
• iPod/headphones (mostly for the flight and bus trips)
• Passport/ForWalk guide/necessary tickets
• Small first aid kit (bandaids, superglue, alcohol pads, needle, ibuprofen, scissors)
• Ear plugs
• Cotton sheet (??)
• Travel towel
• Book - Can be swapped at hostels/albergues along the way
• Extra ziplock bags

A point of contention between my husband and I is whether or not I should take my iPad. I do not have a smart phone, and rely on an iPad for most communication when traveling (via Skype). He says I should take it and I think it should stay at home where it won’t get damaged/lost. Any thoughts?

I’ve also left a sleeping bag off the list and have instead replaced it with a sheet. I unfortunately left my nice, lightweight down bag at home when I moved to Pakistan, so the only one I have available to me is a heavy synthetic one. I am also unable to get a liner or permethrin here. I have a budget of 1000 Euros for the entire trip (including transportation to Leon and from Santiago to Madrid), so I will likely stay a few nights in a hostel or hotel, which would render a sleeping bag unnecessary.

 

[kardisa]

I forgot to add the all important Sunglasses, hat, sports bras, and watch.

 

[ebrandt]

Alright, I’m a bit late to the party, as I am leaving exactly 7 days from today, but here is what I currently have as a packing list. The items followed by question marks are the things I’m not sure if i need. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated, as I am sure I am missing something important.

• Osprey Aura 50L Backpack - Honestly, this is way more space than I need, but it’s comfortable. I also have no other option, unless I want to cram things into my 12L Salomon running vest.

• Nike Long Sleeve Cold Gear Top (for sleeping and early mornings)
• Nike Blue Running Jacket
• North Face Venture Rain Shell (doubles as a wind jacket)
• Lightweight fleece (? for around town?)
• Two sets running capris
• Insulated running tights (for sleeping)
• 3 Dri Fit t-shirts
• Silk thin long sleeve t-shirt/leggings (? Will these be necessary ?)
• 3 pairs SmartWool socks
• 3 pairs bamboo underwear
• Trail running shoes

• Lightweight stuff sack for clothes
• Razor
• Bath kit (mini-sizes)
• Toothbrush/toothpaste
• Sunblock
• Camera/charger/extra battery - This is waterproof/shockproof
• Travel brush
• Extra hair ties
• iPod/headphones (mostly for the flight and bus trips)
• Passport/ForWalk guide/necessary tickets
• Small first aid kit (bandaids, superglue, alcohol pads, needle, ibuprofen, scissors)
• Ear plugs
• Cotton sheet (??)
• Travel towel
• Book - Can be swapped at hostels/albergues along the way
• Extra ziplock bags

A point of contention between my husband and I is whether or not I should take my iPad. I do not have a smart phone, and rely on an iPad for most communication when traveling (via Skype). He says I should take it and I think it should stay at home where it won’t get damaged/lost. Any thoughts?

I’ve also left a sleeping bag off the list and have instead replaced it with a sheet. I unfortunately left my nice, lightweight down bag at home when I moved to Pakistan, so the only one I have available to me is a heavy synthetic one. I am also unable to get a liner or permethrin here. I have a budget of 1000 Euros for the entire trip (including transportation to Leon and from Santiago to Madrid), so I will likely stay a few nights in a hostel or hotel, which would render a sleeping bag unnecessary.

Hi Kardisa, we walked about the same time in 2013.

1. Take fleece or running jacket, not both. You cold shirt, fleece and she'll will be good layers on a cold day.

2. You only need 3 shirts--2 Ts and a long sleeve shirt.

3. Take the leggings or running tights, not both.

4. I'd take a silk sleeping bag liner not the sheet. I found it helpful for privacy purposes to sleep in a bag.

5. I'm taking my iPad but no phone. I've got a padded neoprene case to protect it. I think you would be fine. Really it depends on how connected you want to be.

Buen Camino. Liz

 

[hampshire!tim]

I would take your ipad, as it seems a sensible and not heavy list.
With normal care and precautions, it is unlikely to get lost.
With simple neoprene case it can easily packed between clothes, so is unlikely to be damaged.

Do I infer correctly you are travelling without your husband and without a phone?
Unless you think it will be fun not to talk to him while away (!), my guess is that you will get value out of having it with you.

Just my 2p.

 

[gstark]

I would take your ipad, as it seems a sensible and not heavy list.
With normal care and precautions, it is unlikely to get lost.
With simple neoprene case it can easily packed between clothes, so is unlikely to be damaged.

Do I infer correctly you are travelling without your husband and without a phone?
Unless you think it will be fun not to talk to him while away (!), my guess is that you will get value out of having it with you.

Just my 2p.

 

[gstark]

I too am leaving on the 21st and will arrive in Biarritz late on the 22nd. I don't use a cell phone at home and figured I would not need one on the Camino. Please comment.
Thanks

 

[jsalt]

Book - Can be swapped at hostels/albergues along the way

Not any more. I loved my paperback book, would swap it at another hostel when I finished it. Sadly, those days have gone. Very few people carry a paperback book nowadays. From this year I will have to download kindle books to my smartphone . . . .

 

[hampshire!tim]

I don't use a cell phone at home and figured I would not need one on the Camino. Please comment.

Hi @gstark
If you do not use a cell phone at home, I guess you will be fine without one on Camino.
There are many posts here on the ever-divisive question of taking/using electronics on the camino.
Many do not use or need them. It is just a question of personal preference. I hope I did not infer they are essential for everyone.

They can be useful in emergency of course, but that's not the best reason to get/take one.
The best is that you want one for contact with home.

If that's not needed, and solitude/enjoying the adventure is more important, feel free to dispense with one, especially if you don't normally use one.

Hope this helps

 

[kardisa]

Do I infer correctly you are travelling without your husband and without a phone?
Unless you think it will be fun not to talk to him while away (!), my guess is that you will get value out of having it with you.

Just my 2p.

Upon re-reading my post, I can see I should have worded things a bit differently. I was originally hoping that some of the albergues would have public computers that I could use to email/Skype him, but after more research it seems like that's not often the case. I'll go ahead and bring it - it seems like having it will also help solve the book problem. I don't think I could go two weeks without reading.

 

[kardisa]

Hi Kardisa, we walked about the same time in 2013.

1. Take fleece or running jacket, not both. You cold shirt, fleece and she'll will be good layers on a cold day.

2. You only need 3 shirts--2 Ts and a long sleeve shirt.

3. Take the leggings or running tights, not both.

4. I'd take a silk sleeping bag liner not the sheet. I found it helpful for privacy purposes to sleep in a bag.

5. I'm taking my iPad but no phone. I've got a padded neoprene case to protect it. I think you would be fine. Really it depends on how connected you want to be.

Buen Camino. Liz

Thanks, Liz! I will take your advice and dump the fleece and the silk leggings. Right now my pack is weighing in at just over 4kgs with everything in it (minus food and water), so I may go ahead and take the extra t-shirt. They tend to get smelly rather fast, and laundry every three days sounds better than laundry every other day. I will also see if I can pick up a silk liner in Madrid or Leon.

 

[Elizabeth M.]

I am also leaving very soon. (April 14th) I am on the fence about sleeping bag vs. Liner. I sleep cold and have a 40degree down bag it weighs just over 2lbs. Can I afford to skip it for an April/May camino? On a very tight budget as well and will be staying at municipal albergues as well.

 

[Jo Jo]

Following. I have a friend who may be going on a Camino very soon, and I'm not sure whether to advise her to take a sleeping bag or not. Would not have been necessary for our July-August Camino last year, but not so sure about April.

 

[ebrandt]

We did an April Camino in 2013. Every Albergue was heated. Almost all had blankets. You do not need a bag. If you take a bag and it's too warm you either need to sleep directly on the albergue sheet/mattress or sleep on top of your bag. Neither was a great option for me. My advice, take a bag liner and lightweight long johns.

 

[DCGuy]

Thanks for this post. I was not planning on a sleeping bag either, just a silk liner. But then I was reading all of these posts on sleeping bags and got nervous. My Camino is in two weeks and I don't feel like shopping.