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  1. mattythedog

    Hiking Poles

    I have carried both z and telescoping poles in my carry on pack domestically and to Europe, and TSA has never given me a problem. I do put them in a PVC or cardboard packing tube with name, address, etc, in case they catch them and they require checking. I remove and store carbide tips...
  2. mattythedog

    Trekking Poles

    Good advice in this post, but definitely buy a cheap adjustable PAIR now and practice with the various walking styles you can learn on YouTube and from others. Practice on varied terrain with your loaded pack. You need to do this NOW because it could take some time to get the hang of it, and...
  3. mattythedog

    Last minute decisons - fleece or puffer?

    Presumably you have raingear, so answer is lightweight (8-10 ounces) down puffer. Much more warmth per ounce. If it is so hot you sweat, just wear the shirt that you presumably have. I have walked many spring and fall Caminos with this arrangement. Puffer comes in very handy in unheated...
  4. mattythedog

    1,000 Miles in a Lumbar Pack: Ultralight Camino de Santiago Packing List

    That is when you just sling a wine skin like pilgrims in the olden days😊
  5. mattythedog

    Need help deciding to bring or not to bring

    Thank you. You are one of the few.
  6. mattythedog

    Need help deciding to bring or not to bring

    Just don’t be that A..H…. who turns his phone light on brite and then spends 3x as long with one hand fumbling to pack up in the dark while waving the searchlight all over waking and blinding others. Much better IMHO to carry a 1 or 2 ounce headlamp with dimmable red and white lights. And you...
  7. mattythedog

    A question on Kit for this time of year Leon - Santiago

    IVAR also has donated gear. Between him and Pilgrim House a few doors down, I have observed enough donated gear, including packs, to do the whole Camino. I use the same gear for 3 seasons. It includes very light down Traveler sleeping bag, no liner; FrogTogs raincoat large enough to go around...
  8. mattythedog

    Walking Poles

    For myself and people I know who regularly use them, the are a tremendous benefit on ALL downhills and level and uphill. They may not be for everyone. As a last resort you might try walking with someone who uses them correctly to observe techniques.
  9. mattythedog

    Lightweight Blankets for Walking the Camino

    I used the Traveller without any liner last year for Apr/May Cf and CI, and again in Oct for del Norte. Best money I have spent for Camino gear in a long time!!
  10. mattythedog

    Ultra lightweight backpack--worth it?

    IT'S NOT ALL ABOUT THE BACKPACK!! It is about everything you carry, and every ounce matters in longer daily distances. Some people recommend applying a cost per ounce they are willing to spend to reduce the load, say ie, $5 per oz, $10, $25, etc. Usually the cost goes up exponentially as you...
  11. mattythedog

    Folding up an Altus?

    Agreed!!! I do this with most of my clothes. Use women’s hair ties to hold the roll. Also to hold collapsed Z poles
  12. mattythedog

    Exact clothing bug bite prevention: brand/type socks/parts/shirt/hat?

    Brand: NASA Type: Astronaut suit REALLY, I have done 11 Caminos, seen 3 bed bugs, but never have been bitten by bug or fly. Got stung on the ear by a bee cycling through Palais de Rei in 2016, although it's not applicable to your question as it was not a bite.
  13. mattythedog

    Chinese shops???

    Thank you for providing this fascinating and enlightening video!!!
  14. mattythedog

    Newbie with Sarria to Santiago - Equipment ?s

    I would take same gear whether for 100k or 1000K Camino. Pack is Osprey Talon 33 liter, and shoes are Brooks Ghost trail runners. Suggest you hike a few 25-30 km days consecutively with your boots and then try it with sneakers. ....wearing them all day in the house and for regular routine...
  15. mattythedog

    OK guys, what underwear?

    About 15 years ago I ditched the tighty whities for Duluth Buck Naked Boxers (not boxer briefs). I use them for gym workouts, bicycling, traveling around the world, construction work on 100+ F days, camping, skiing, etc. Once in an albergue shower, I forgot my towel, but had on the boxers...
  16. mattythedog

    Small internal compression bags

    My down pufffy jacket packs into a 1 liter ziploc. Toiletries get another ziplock. Sundries get a third. I carry a couple extra ziplocks for unexpecteds and miscellaneous, and a couple superlight bags from produce section of supermarket for leftover food (they are lighter and larger than...
  17. mattythedog

    What Size Water Bottle/s

    I have done the CF 7 times over 3 seasons, plus a few other Caminos. I carry two 1/2 liter cheap water bottles for daily use, plus another empty one crushed up in my pack for occasional use on long dry stretches or to fill with wine, orujo, or juice. I always leave town with at least one full...
  18. mattythedog

    Walking Poles

    Great advice!
  19. mattythedog

    Walking Poles

    Additionally, I sticker each pole with my name and email so if lost and someone finds them, they can notify me. My carbon poles are expensive, so I usually collapse them, attach them to my pack and take them with me rather than put them in the bucket with all others. If stopping for quick...
  20. mattythedog

    Long pants and long sleeves in summer? Smart or big mistake?

    Same with long pants. I have walked CF summer, spring and fall. Columbia capilene (polyester blend I think) ultra light long sleeve tee weighs about 3 oz. LL Bean Cresta Hiking pants Nylon/Spandex blend with 4 zippered pockets for security plus 2 regular weighs about 10 oz. Kafia made from...

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