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Dear John, The bug spray is called Bugproof Clothing Treatment from Nomad Medical, 3-4 Wellington Terrace, Turnpike Lane, London N8 0PX. No telephone or website listed on the pack, alas. I bought it in an independent pharmacy in Weymouth, but presumably the company would be able to give you...

I thought the damned things were an affectation, but after about 100 metres of looking like a complete idiot (couldn't synchronise the pole with the opposite leg), I was hooked. They allow you to charge up and down hills (making use of your upper body to help power you up, and providing an...

I listened to the advice of the veterans (experience, not age...) like Sil and Spursfan about limiting weight, and my Camino was immeasurably the happier for it. I would fully endorse the 'no more than 10% of your body weight' rule - which limited me to 6.5Kg. I also completely agree with...

I used a permethrin spray on my sleeping bag that treats fabric for up to 2 weeks and kills bugs (including mosquitos) on contact (the details are under the posting 'BUGS, BUGS, BUGS), then took insect repellant wipes 'just in case', but no bites in spite of one or two unsavoury-looking...

Another vote for liner socks and wool oversocks... I was new to the whole liner sock idea, but tried them, loved them, and had absolutely no problems. I would wholeheartedly recommend Coolmax or other wicking wool socks (and as far as I am concerned, the thicker the better) with a thin wicking...

At the risk of sounding like a demon 'less is more' type - I really would not have enjoyed my introduction to the Camino in May with anything more than a small and light pack. It took seemingly endless packing and re-packing, weighing and disgarding unnecessary stuff - but I really didn't find...

This is a very belated reply to Mercury's query - because I used Porelle Drys waterproof socks on the Camino a couple of weeks ago (yes, yes, I got them in a charity shop - 3 pairs, my size, 50p a pair). I did about 25km on a wet day in them and they were very comfortable, with no chafing or...

Yes Br David! I'm glad I took my phone - I had a number of family health concerns and as the nurse in the family didn't want to disconnect completely - but agreed when I would switch on to pick up messages. I took a spare battery, but only needed one. I can't imagine why anyone would want...

I have tried the lot (even fell-running boots) and swear by lightweight leather. I have low topped Brasher boots that feel like feathers, making walking a real pleasure - and have never given me a blister, or any other problem. I do have high arches and insteps, though - and have to be...

You beat me to it, Spursfan. It sounds like hell to me - the biomechanics are all wrong, and a recipe for lower back problems if unused to that kind of work. OK if you're Molly Malone, and used to wheeling your wheelbarrow... Anyway, I have had so much fun whittling my pack weight down to...

XM, there is a website with quite a bit of detail about technique - of course, I didn't really absorb it until I got home from my walk - my body has to learn for itself, but it makes more sense now. So I'm off to do another bit of the coast path after work...

XM - it was much more basic than that - not having used a stick before, and not normally being conscious of what my arms are doing when I walk, I suddenly had to coordinate them in a purposeful way with the opposite leg, rather than just let the normal mechanics of walking do it all for me. For...

This is resurrecting a very old topic - but my first post asked for advice about whether to bother with trekking poles. Having never used any type of stick (other than for scaring snakes and whacking the heads off dandelions), I suspected that poles were a bit of an affectation - more about...

Dear XM, The company I bought from are Furthers: http://www.furthers.com - sorry, I haven't worked out how to paste the link in. I think they are in Michigan. They do shoe and boot lengths in a variety of colours. They are a strange concept at first - and do not make for tidy lacing for those...

My life has been immeasurably improved with Coilers/No Tie shoelaces from...erm can't immediately remember, but I had to get them from somewhere in the US. I have the site somewhere, if anyone is interested. They are elasticated coiled laces (like coiled telephone wire) that don't need to be...

Thank you Xm - I was fretting about the weight of a book... And the old language debate - American English is nearer to Shakespeare that wot us Brits use... Pip

US: Aloominum (with the stress on the 'num') UK: Aloominiyum (stressed on the 'min') It was originally called aluminum by its discoverer Sir Humphrey Davy - but a writer in the Quarterly Review in the early 19thC 'took the liberty' of changing it to aluminium because it sounded 'more...

Oh - garter belt, thank you DG, even if I could live without the knowledge....you are too kind. But how would you know about them? And did you also know the emergency repair to a broken suspender is a dime (or 6d piece for Brits) to hold the stocking up? On the subject of the Great Language...

I've just gone into the silk bag topic under the 'packing' heading - but I am in the process of making mine out of old silk shirts because I am too much of a cheapskate to buy one ('use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without' - for any of you Americans old enough to remember that from...

And another thing while I am at it - does anyone have any thoughts about the need for a guide book (I know Brierley is the favourite of most) on a first Camino? I thought that I might get away with talking to experienced pilgrims on the way. Thanks again, Pip