thermos for winter walkers

[Bill Anthony]

Hi, is a thermos a practical option for winter walkers? I have seen threads for brew your own in the mornings ( great idea ) before starting, but none for carrying the extra weight of a thermos for the day. In places that don't have bars ( sunday, mesceta ) is it a good idea?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

is it a good idea?

It is avoidable weight, so it is not a good idea from that standpoint. Anything that makes your walk more comfortable is a good idea, however!!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have a one quart (1 L) Thermos brand thermos. It is quite heavy. I just did a little experiment filling it with water and weighing it. It weighed a whopping 4 lbs exactly! That is a huge addition to one's backpack. Possibly there are smaller, less insulated lighter weight options, but still either way...it's not for me! I also am very motivated in the morning to get going to find my "cup o joe" along the way. Nothing like a cafe con leche grande fresh off the press!

 

[donalomahony]

I brought a one cup thermos on a Winter Camino. Needed it once. Filled with boiling water each am. Less than a pound weight.

Not sure would I bring it again but it was a safety backup.

 

[Kitsambler]

Another option is to take a small Trangia or Esbit stove, fueled with the solid tablets or with alcohol, along with a small titanium mug/pot. On a really cold and blustery day, a hot cuppa can be a real lifesaver.

 

[Stivandrer]

......one uplifting aspect of the CF that it is the Coffee Route.
Never have I had so many brilliant cups of coffee in my life.. I am prostate operated upon, so I have to get a break every 45 minutes, and hey presto, there´a a café !!
So un the French you really do not need a thermos.

Tea drinkers:
Get the bar to fill one of their larger glasses ( 4cl/ 400ml) with steaming water from the coffee mashine onto a tea bag.
they might argue, that the glass will break, if so make them put a spoon into glass to ward off cracking, but it has never happened yet!
they asked me why I left the teabag in, I responded I liked it strong and black!!
Apparently tea in most of Spain is for little old ladies, and prepared in tiny cups where tea bags merely colour the water, see picture below:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/d2QH8X6vuqnQ0uj53

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Another option is to take a small Trangia or Esbit stove, fueled with the solid tablets or with alcohol, along with a small titanium mug/pot. On a really cold and blustery day, a hot cuppa can be a real lifesaver.

True. I've never walked in winter, so it probably is a great idea to take something with to warm the tummy!

 

[Waka]

For winter walking I'd have thought a hip flask would be more appropriate, on second thoughts walking anytime of year it would be nice.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

For winter walking I'd have thought a hip flask would be more appropriate, on second thoughts walking anytime of year it would be nice.

Oh yes, a flask of "hard stuff" would really warm the tummy!

 

[FLEUR]

In the Summer a young Frenchman and I were the only two at the 6 person gite/ auberge in Aulnay. He was seriously injured and sadly wasn't able to continue walking next day. Despite being in pain he was friendly and offered me tea from his thermos flask. In the heat if Summer he carried a flask! I don't like tea, I nearly always choose coffee but I hadn't the heart to refuse.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Most thermoses (that looks odd doesn't it?) won't stay hot for long.

A Zojirushi travel mug https://www.amazon.co.uk/ZOJIRUSHI-Stainless-steel-480ml-Cocoa/dp/B00B1KVCEQ
if tempered (flushed with hot water first) will genuinely keep coffee hot for 8+hours. The first time I used mine I took a sip after 3 hours and burned my tongue!

A bit pricey but you can by a clone that is just as good on eBay https://tinyurl.com/yas29kjf for 1/5 of the price.
The 480ml version weights 290gms the 350 weighs 260gms empty and they don't leak (somebody tested a full one in a tumble dryer!)

 

[Carlos Santiago]

I got a 500 ml. "Thermos - Ultra Insulation" in Korea last December (300 grams - empty). The hot water I put in was piping hot (for instant coffee or tea bag) after 8 hours outside; and it was still warm (say 25-30°C) 3 days later. It was exposed to mixed Temperatures of -1°C to 4°C outside and 19°C in the house.
As @Jeff Crawley up there said, flush it first with hot water and it is just perfect for instant hot water daily. The hot water can substitute for 500 ml. of the cold water one carries during the walk.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Since the Camino is mostly a trail from village to village, I’m not sure I’d be willing to carry the extra weight for those rare days when you have to walk 2-3 hours betweeen bars and cafe con leches. Interestingly, I found that I converted from the conventional 3 meals a day routine with breakfast/coffee upon rising to a person who could happily (odd for no caffeine) get out of be, pack and then walk for a couple/few hours before having my first coffee or food. In the end, however, you choose what makes you comfortable and happy and go with it. If you find you don’t want the weight later on, there are nice donativo boxes in most Albergues

 

[Lucaya]

Hi, is a thermos a practical option for winter walkers? I have seen threads for brew your own in the mornings ( great idea ) before starting, but none for carrying the extra weight of a thermos for the day. In places that don't have bars ( sunday, mesceta ) is it a good idea?

I think this is absolutely necessary. Besides wearing thick enough clothes, a thermos is one of my essential winter hiking items. The yeti and hydro flask thermos are two of my favorite brands. Hiking in winter and riding in summer, I will bring a thermos.

 

[SYates]

I have done a few winter caminos and never took, nor missed a thermos.
BC SY

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I have done a few winter caminos and never took, nor missed a thermos.
BC SY

Oh I don't know. a 64oz (1.8litre) HydroFlask could come in handy. Fill it full of boiling water in the morning and, at the end of your day's hike connect a shower rose to it and voila! instant hot shower!
(What can I say? It's a sunny day for once and I'm feeling mischievous)

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Oh I don't know. a 64oz (1.8litre) HydroFlask could come in handy. Fill it full of boiling water in the morning and, at the end of your day's hike connect a shower rose to it and voila! instant hot shower!
(What can I say? It's a sunny day for once and I'm feeling mischievous)

Jeff, you are michevious on cloudy, rainy days too...or we'd only hear from you a few times a year. You do live in England, don't you?

 

[chinacat]

Jeff, you are michevious on cloudy, rainy days too...or we'd only hear from you a few times a year. You do live in England, don't you?

Psst ..... he’s in the sunny bit

 

[chinacat]

You can always put oats and boiling water in a thermos at night, to give you warm porridge in the morning .... before you brew the coffee

 

[Camino Chrissy]

You can always put oats and boiling water in a thermos at night, to give you warm porridge in the morning .... before you brew the coffee

Great idea!

 

[Stivandrer]

You can always put oats and boiling water in a thermos at night, to give you warm porridge in the morning .... before you brew the coffee

- in a wide mouthed thermos, mind !

 

[chinacat]

Great idea!

It’s not a new one!

- in a wide mouthed thermos, mind !

It does (did use to?) work in an old fashioned glass-lined one with a standard mouth/neck.
You just need to get the ratio of oats to water right ....
NB I’m assuming you have a lightweight mug or bowl with you (on the thermos?) .... and a spoon (spork?)

I fondly remember my first stainless steel-lined thermos

 

[Jeff Crawley]

NB I’m assuming you have a lightweight mug or bowl with you (on the thermos?) .... and a spoon (spork?)

Always . .

 

[Mettetäti]

You can always put oats and boiling water in a thermos at night, to give you warm porridge in the morning .... before you brew the coffee

Now, that's an idea! Great
I'm planning to have a little thermos on Ingles in April, specially for the days when there are longer paths between services - but this was a good idea too!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

It’s not a new one!





It does (did use to?) work in an old fashioned glass-lined one with a standard mouth/neck.
You just need to get the ratio of oats to water right ....
NB I’m assuming you have a lightweight mug or bowl with you (on the thermos?) .... and a spoon (spork?)

I fondly remember my first stainless steel-lined thermos

I cup oatmeal, 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup water, hefty pinch of salt, sugar/honey to taste.
Made last thing at night it's rendered down to baby food by breakfast time.

 

[chinacat]

Always . .

View attachment 68805

I find those wide-mouthed ‘soup’ thermoses (?spelling?) allow hot drinks to cool too quickly.

 

[chinacat]

I cup oatmeal, 2 cups milk, 1/2 cup water, hefty pinch of salt, sugar/honey to taste.
Made last thing at night it's rendered down to baby food by breakfast time.

Milk??!

I don’t want to have to wash milk fat out of my thermos!
A good rinse, even with cold water, is sufficient, if you just use water ...

 

[chinacat]

Now, that's an idea! Great
I'm planning to have a little thermos on Ingles in April, specially for the days when there are longer paths between services - but this was a good idea too!

You can use it for breakfast and coffee/tea ...

 

[Jeff Crawley]

You can always put oats and boiling water in a thermos at night, to give you warm porridge in the morning .... before you brew the coffee

Or, if you have friends along . . .

 

[chinacat]

Or, if you have friends along . . .

View attachment 68806

A Hay box??

Now you’re talking

You could cook a whole meal in there!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Milk??!

I don’t want to have to wash milk fat out of my thermos!
A good rinse, even with cold water, is sufficient, if you just use water ...

The alternative (essentially just flour and water) is what I use to glue leather spines onto my bookbinding projects:



works a treat!

 

[chinacat]

PS
Why not take a ‘sprouting jar’ along, too?

Grow yourself some protein

 

[chinacat]

The alternative (essentially just flour and water) is what I use to glue leather spines onto my bookbinding projects:

View attachment 68807

works a treat!

Do you think we’re sufficiently off-topic now

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Milk?... I thought you all were talking about the Camino. Sounds like too much trouble to me.

 

[chinacat]

Milk?... I thought you all were talking about the Camino. Sounds like too much trouble to me.

Indeed!

 

[malingerer]

I have a one quart (1 L) Thermos brand thermos. It is quite heavy. I just did a little experiment filling it with water and weighing it. It weighed a whopping 4 lbs exactly! That is a huge addition to one's backpack. Possibly there are smaller, less insulated lighter weight options, but still either way...it's not for me! I also am very motivated in the morning to get going to find my "cup o joe" along the way. Nothing like a cafe con leche grande fresh off the press!

I use a small 3 cup thermos which even when full I never notice the weight. As for café con leche may it and its inventor be forever consigned to the very darkest realm of this forum,! I have even carried a tiny stove so that I can make proper coffee and not be tied to establishments dishing out their bulk buy rubbish. Tis enuff to make an elder weep so I go now to put on the stove top!!

Yours aye,

the Malingerer.