Purchasing Trekking Poles Online in Ferrol

[Deleted member 67185]

Since I will be leaving my trekking poles at home this trip, and had planned to purchase a pair after arrival in Ferrol, I decided to try something to (hopefully) eliminate this shopping chore once in Ferrol.

I contacted the hotel where we will be staying the night before leaving on Camino Ingles, and ascertained that it was OK to have a delivery sent to them to hold until our arrival. The hotel gave instructions on what information to add to their address to have them hold the package for me.

I have an Amazon account. I went to the Amazon.es site to see if I could use their online ordering system. Yup, I could. I needed to re-input my password, but once done all of my account information was made available.

And yes, I verified that orders and shipments would now originate from the Spanish site, and not from the US In fact, you need to add a new address for Spain in order to be able to purchase many items. If I left my US address as the default, there would be messages stating "This item is not eligible for shipment to your location".

So I ordered an inexpensive set of trekking poles that appear to have favorable ratings, but from a brand/manufacturer that the US Amazon site does not carry. When I double checked with the British Amazon site, the poles were also listed there, but had different written reviews, but those reviews also seemed very favorable.

So, we'll see what happens. At worst, a screw up of no trekking poles being delivered at the hotel simply means taking time to grab a taxi to the Decathlon store. Outside of losing euros, it is more a 'penalty' of time than money.

 

[Deleted member 43780]

Good info and good idea.

 

[hel&scott]

Good to see you making steady progress on you prep for your up coming walk, don't forget the rain gear!

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Good to see you making steady progress on you prep for your up coming walk, don't forget the rain gear!

You bet. . . although I am taking a Frogg Toggs Ultralite poncho, instead of the Zpacks poncho (which is really great) that I used during my Pacific Crest Trail thru-hike.

The Frogg Toggs weighs an ounce more than my zPacks (5.25 ounces/149 grams), but it is cheap, relatively tough, and is made from a "waterproof/breathable" material. I want to give it a bit of a test. . . while hoping it rains very little

 

[hel&scott]

Hope all you like Dave, but Galicia in October is going to test your poncho. I've always preferred coat, leggings and waterproof inner pack linings. But that's because tramping in NZ means getting used to walking in the wet, and pohncos can snag on the trees / bushes here. Not really a problem on the Camino, but I also dislike the flapping in the wind. I am sure you have all of that sorted. If it rains a lot just make sure you book your beloved into a decent hotel with a spa or a bath. A lot can be forgiven with hot water and a bottle of cold bubbles,

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Yeah, I always hope that the weather will stay dry backpacking in the Cascades, and that's always a hit or miss. I don't even bother hoping if I'm headed into the Olympic Rain Forest

I used to use rain jackets and pants up until a decade or so ago, now I just find a poncho works better for me.... but that's personal preference. I find the ventilation better for keeping condensation build up to a low minimum. I also like that I do not need to remove my pack to put it on. . I just pull it out of a side pocket and slip it on, which is real handy when rain is sporadic. I've used a poncho for thousands of wilderness backpacking and bushwhacking miles, in the Rockies and Cascades and Olympics, so we get along real well, wind or no. I always hike in shorts, so if rain gets chilly on the legs, I just break out the old rain kilt.

I appreciate your thoughts and tips. . . especially the bath.

 

[Deleted member 29041]

A safer alternative to having the hotel hold your mail, would have been to send it to yourself "Lista de Correros" at the Ferrol mail office - which is very easy to find. If you add "Peregrino" and an expected arrival date, they will hold it for a longer period than usual.

When I walked the Inglés, I used their service (sending my poles and pointy things by mail was much cheaper than checked luggage) and they actually thanked me for using them

 

[williamlittig]

Since I will be leaving my trekking poles at home this trip, and had planned to purchase a pair after arrival in Ferrol, I decided to try something to (hopefully) eliminate this shopping chore once in Ferrol.

I contacted the hotel where we will be staying the night before leaving on Camino Ingles, and ascertained that it was OK to have a delivery sent to them to hold until our arrival. The hotel gave instructions on what information to add to their address to have them hold the package for me.

I have an Amazon account. I went to the Amazon.es site to see if I could use their online ordering system. Yup, I could. I needed to re-input my password, but once done all of my account information was made available.

And yes, I verified that orders and shipments would now originate from the Spanish site, and not from the US In fact, you need to add a new address for Spain in order to be able to purchase many items. If I left my US address as the default, there would be messages stating "This item is not eligible for shipment to your location".

So I ordered an inexpensive set of trekking poles that appear to have favorable ratings, but from a brand/manufacturer that the US Amazon site does not carry. When I double checked with the British Amazon site, the poles were also listed there, but had different written reviews, but those reviews also seemed very favorable.

So, we'll see what happens. At worst, a screw up of no trekking poles being delivered at the hotel simply means taking time to grab a taxi to the Decathlon store. Outside of losing euros, it is more a 'penalty' of time than money.

As you will be probably in Santiago, you might visit Pilgrim House or The Pilgrim Office where there are lost of left pole from pilgrims headed home. "For Free"

 

[happymarkos]

Since I will be leaving my trekking poles at home this trip, and had planned to purchase a pair after arrival in Ferrol, I decided to try something to (hopefully) eliminate this shopping chore once in Ferrol.

I contacted the hotel where we will be staying the night before leaving on Camino Ingles, and ascertained that it was OK to have a delivery sent to them to hold until our arrival. The hotel gave instructions on what information to add to their address to have them hold the package for me.

I have an Amazon account. I went to the Amazon.es site to see if I could use their online ordering system. Yup, I could. I needed to re-input my password, but once done all of my account information was made available.

And yes, I verified that orders and shipments would now originate from the Spanish site, and not from the US In fact, you need to add a new address for Spain in order to be able to purchase many items. If I left my US address as the default, there would be messages stating "This item is not eligible for shipment to your location".

So I ordered an inexpensive set of trekking poles that appear to have favorable ratings, but from a brand/manufacturer that the US Amazon site does not carry. When I double checked with the British Amazon site, the poles were also listed there, but had different written reviews, but those reviews also seemed very favorable.

So, we'll see what happens. At worst, a screw up of no trekking poles being delivered at the hotel simply means taking time to grab a taxi to the Decathlon store. Outside of losing euros, it is more a 'penalty' of time than money.

Dave
We found the starting point in Ferrol a bit hard to find. It’s near a tourist information office and was partly obscured by a cafe sign.
Photo attached.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

A safer alternative to having the hotel hold your mail, would have been to send it to yourself "Lista de Correros" at the Ferrol mail office - which is very easy to find. If you add "Peregrino" and an expected arrival date, they will hold it for a longer period than usual.

When I walked the Inglés, I used their service (sending my poles and pointy things by mail was much cheaper than checked luggage) and they actually thanked me for using them

I had thought of doing that, but I figured if I was lazy enough to order online, then having them at the hotel upon arrival would keep that laziness credential intact . I do have a package of 'End of Camino' items that I will be dropping off at a Correos for posting to Sdc (Ivar) when we start walking out of Ferrol, though.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Dave
We found the starting point in Ferrol a bit hard to find. It’s near a tourist information office and was partly obscured by a cafe sign.
Photo attached.

I appreciate that.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

As you will be probably in Santiago, you might visit Pilgrim House or The Pilgrim Office where there are lost of left pole from pilgrims headed home. "For Free"

I'll add mine to that inventory.