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  1. JamesVT

    How much break-in for shoes is enough?

    It goes without saying that shoes should be test driven to ensure sizing and comfort are satisfactory before starting the Camino. I vividly remember one peregrino I met who discovered while walking that his boots had been defectively sewn so that one foot was being rubbed raw by some errant...
  2. JamesVT

    Trail Runners for Custom Orthotics

    I have had custom made orthotics (ghastly expensive), and they solved my crippling foot problems. Along the way, one of my podiatrists gave me as a temporary fix, some white, semi-hard foam orthotics that I have bought more of and used for years in all my shoes. They cost about $25 for a pair...
  3. JamesVT

    Trail Runners for Custom Orthotics

    I’ve done lots of hiking in heavy boots. Not a good choice for the Camino. Lighter is better.
  4. JamesVT

    Trail Runners for Custom Orthotics

    A couple of thoughts— the insoles in trail runners are pretty much never glued in the shoe. Or, if they are, the glue is minimal and the insole can be safely pulled out and replaced in the store. Yes, try on shoes with your orthotics and follow all the good advice from Dave Bugg. Do remember to...
  5. JamesVT

    Tips for Choosing Comfortable Ear Plugs

    On my Camino I used the inexpensive, moldable silicone earplugs that shut out/muffled most of the noise at night while sleeping. They were comfortable and resisted getting dirty. I carried a spare pair that switched to using about midway on my Camino.
  6. JamesVT

    Hiking poles (please bear with me) need honest advice.

    I’m definitely a fan of poles. They take weight off your knees, hips, and back, and they help with balance. From my time on the Camino I know younger folks use poles much less, but for older hikers, poles really making the going much easier. I hiked my Camino at 75, using Pacer poles, which has...
  7. JamesVT

    Merino wool gloves question

    Exactly— I used a pair of cheap and lightweight fleece gloves on the Camino and found that they kept me warm for the first hour or so of each morning.
  8. JamesVT

    Cookwear lunchkit necessity?

    Agreed. Knife and a spork.
  9. JamesVT

    Towel - Help!

    I used a microfiber towel from the Dollar Store. It cost $1.00 USD. Definitely not a luxury, but it was light, dried me off enough to get dressed, and dried fast. It think it compared in use to a lot of expensive camping and hiking towels. I’d put it in the category of “good enough”, especially...
  10. JamesVT

    Backpack Advice: Fairview 40 vs. Aura 50

    I I carried a 32L, but also had a small, stowable 16L pack that I could take with me for shopping and holding odds and ends. The smaller bag weighed almost nothing and allowed flexibility for carrying things. Really, anything more than 36L seems to invite carrying too much weight and too many...
  11. JamesVT

    Backpack Advice: Fairview 40 vs. Aura 50

    Yes, true. If Dave Bugg answers, take it to the bank!
  12. JamesVT

    Your favorite camino hat!

    I wore a baseball type cap that my son gave me tha bore the name of his film company, Wild Confluence. The hat didn‘t take up much room, could be wetted for cooling when needed, and worked well with a poncho to shed rain. The hat’s best use was as a sort of sleeping mask to keep out the light...
  13. JamesVT

    Trekking Poles Turned Me into the Flash

    I also walked with Pacerpoles which really helped my two replaced knees and one replaced hip manage the distance and ups and downs on the way. The only down side of Pacerpoles, a small thing, is that they can be a bit tricky to lean against a wall because of the the shape of the hand holds. Not...
  14. JamesVT

    Struggling with sock choice

    My polyester t shirts were bought at Walmart and cos $10 a piece, dried quickly, and did the job.
  15. JamesVT

    Struggling with sock choice

    Great subject. I wore medium weight Darn Tough Sox, either Merino wool or a blend with that. I wore Inglii (sp?) toe Sox under the Darn Tough Sox. On small blister during the entire Camino. Bonus— those socks didn’t need washing every day, which made it easier to always be sure I d have dry...
  16. JamesVT

    Footwear: The Limitations of a Personal Recommendation

    Dave, thanks once again for your thoughtful, well ordered advice on shoes for the Camino. (In the midst of the current, weird moment in time, I’ve wondered now and again how you are faring. I hope well and happy). But, back to shoes. I do ask for advice and recommendation and read reviews...
  17. JamesVT

    Were the pilgrim tips or packing list from books useful?

    I learned what to take from reading the Forum and from talking with my wife, who was also a pilgrim. Useful advice was to wear low cut trail runners for shoes and good wool Sox with liners. Also, the admonition to not carry more than 10% of your body weight can be, I think, misleading. That...
  18. JamesVT

    Recommended men's trousers please

    I tried out the Outdoor Research Ferrossi hiking pants and found them to be quite unsatisfactory. Poor fit, poor appearance, and didn’t like the rear pockets that lacked zippers. The leg roll up feature didn’t work well. Sizing seemed unreliable also. Not recommended despite all the positive...
  19. JamesVT

    Recommended men's trousers please

    I tried on a lot of pants while preparing for my Camino. I finally chose LL Bean Cresta hiking pants— reasonable price, good fit, some water resistance, color choices, extra pockets, but simple design. The best aspect was that the pants are loose enough that if you want you can roll the pants...
  20. JamesVT

    Packing hack and List for the VDLP March/April

    I used a compression sack for my down quilt and found that this did not cause any problems or compromise use of the quilt in any way.

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