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  1. John Crawford Howell

    Poles or No Poles?

    Yes. Rubber tips, please. Few sounds are more annoying on the Camino than the "clack clack clack" of pole tips striking sidewalks or paved surfaces.
  2. John Crawford Howell

    Liner Socks

    My routine twice a day: in the early morning, rub vaseline into my feet, put on silk liners, put on Smart Wool medium weight socks, put on Saucony trail runners. Hike. In the afternoon after showering, rub vaseline into my feet, put on Injinji socks and slip into light weight "Crocks" for going...
  3. John Crawford Howell

    Asics running shoe durability

    Absolutely not, JenPDX. It means, in lay terms, your shoes, especially the tread, are getting tired. Consider the Camino is a trek, not a race that would otherwise require intermittent equipment changes to perform at your peak. I'll admit my Saucony's—as much as I loved them—looked pretty grim...
  4. John Crawford Howell

    Asics running shoe durability

    I am not a heretic—maybe polyamorous when it comes to hiking shoes, because I, too, have Brooks Cascadia trail runners for my hikes around here and . . . in the Cascades! ;) They are a great shoe.
  5. John Crawford Howell

    Asics running shoe durability

    I echo Camino Chrissy's comments about Asics in general. Since the subject is Asics Running Shoe Durability, I purchased Asics running shoes in Hamburg in 2012 and was very pleased with them: comfortable, durable, and gave me about 500 miles of pleasure—even after I got them too close to a...
  6. John Crawford Howell

    OK guys, what underwear?

    Silk. Silk. Silk. Not as expensive as one might think and with all the positive characteristics associated with this natural fiber. On my Camino in 2017, I endeavored as much as possible to have everything I wore or slept in made of silk. REI was my source. My sock liners, too, were made of...
  7. John Crawford Howell

    Things I'd bring, who cares about the weight

    A Brazilian showed me that app on my I-phone outside Leon. Would that have made a difference? Nah, I'm still old school. Cheers, Damien, down the coast to you from Anacortes!
  8. John Crawford Howell

    Things I'd bring, who cares about the weight

    I know it''s old school, but journals. I don't travel anywhere without one. I've kept journals since 1968. On the Camino Frances in 2017, I brought four which, when I transcribed them back home, turned into a draft 345 page manuscript. I ran out of Pilot V-5 pens in Carrion de los Condes, but...
  9. John Crawford Howell

    Can I use a liner only?

    Sea Gal: fellow Washingtonian here (Anacortes). I hiked the CF starting on Earth Day, 2017. I am slave to the goddess of all things light weight. I used a silk liner and on those occasions when the albergues had no blankets and I felt a bit of a chill, I simply layered up under the liner. There...
  10. John Crawford Howell

    How much break-in for shoes is enough?

    When I hiked the Camino (CF) in the spring of 2017, I wore Saucony model Peregrine 6 trail runners. I loved them so much that when I came home I went straight to REI and bought another pair to keep until my next Camino. I had a 80 km (50 mile) break-in period. No blisters. Meanwhile, It56ny, I...
  11. John Crawford Howell

    Trekking poles in my carry on luggage

    We execute on that which brings us the most peace of mind.
  12. John Crawford Howell

    Trekking poles in my carry on luggage

    When I do my next Camino, I'll most likely pick up some poles once on or near the trail. I don't use them all that much hiking in the Cascades as I prefer to rely on my own sense of balance. That said, they are (for me) of best use going downhill. I used my poles on ten occasions, otherwise they...
  13. John Crawford Howell

    Trekking poles in my carry on luggage

    If you are bringing along your favorite Swiss Army knife, you will need to check it in. I placed mine in a Ziploc along with trekking poles in a mailing tube at check-in. Don't be surprised if the tube does not come rolling down the conveyor when you arrive at your destination airport. It will...
  14. John Crawford Howell

    sleeping bag or not

    A silk liner is what I carried and it worked well. Light weight and takes up little space. It adds about 10 degrees Fahrenheit in warmth. For the one or two nights when I was cold I put on silk long underwear and my fleece. Slept fine.
  15. John Crawford Howell

    Should I pack my kindle?

    Trecile, hope you are having as beautiful a day in southern Oregon as we are having here today on the Salish Sea to your north. To your point: we all have different avenues that take us to, as Happy Gilmore would say, our happy place. Absolutely, we cannot judge nor begrudge what transports...
  16. John Crawford Howell

    Should I pack my kindle?

    For me, it's all about keeping my load as light as possible. Unnecessary grams (ounces) in the morning have a sneaky way of transforming into kilos (pounds) by mid-afternoon. To each his or her own, of course, but I appreciate where I am on the Camino and want to extract as much as possible from...
  17. John Crawford Howell

    Nordic walking vs. Trekking Poles

    ". . .Let's call the whole thing off. . ." 🎼 :cool:
  18. John Crawford Howell

    Nordic walking vs. Trekking Poles

    I have Black Diamond trekking poles with ergocork grips. Used them for years backpacking different places in the world. On the CF in 2017, they remained in my pack for all but 8-10 occasions. For me, they were of most help (the times I used them) going downhill.
  19. John Crawford Howell

    Osprey Backpacks are awesome!

    In the 1980s when I was living in Singapore, I experienced the same kinds of issues, Charles, so I appreciate your comments re: North Face, et.al. Part of the (ongoing) issue is that very few American companies export, so they haven't, generally speaking, embraced a global mindset. The US...
  20. John Crawford Howell

    Osprey Backpacks are awesome!

    Patches are like body scars; badges earned, sources of remembrance and pride. I have both from the CF.

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