any gear after pics?

[chewingfoil]

Hi, everyone! I've been researching the Camino for a couple of years and I've gone on/off/on/off etc with doing it...I'm considering it again this time, as I'm going through some career stuff (sigh)

The question is: does anyone ever take pictures of the stuff they FINISH with? There are hundreds of blogs where people meticulously lay out all the stuff they're packing. But has anyone done a before/after? I'm thinking a lot of the before pics seem to have a lot of stuff (more than I'd consider bringing) but I wonder what got left behind or discarded along the way. Anyone have any list or pics of the stuff they finished with? I've got a friend who does the Camino (I think about 8 times now) with scarcely more than a large fanny pack. I envy him.

 

[nidarosa]

Hi, I have at least two un-packinglists on my blog, link below. If you search the forum for un-packinglist you will find quite a few. For some that list will be shorter, for some longer...

 

[JohnMcM]

On the left, my boots after their first Camino. On the right, after some post-Camino TLC.
Buen Camino

 

[Joodle]

View attachment 25787 View attachment 25786

On the left, my boots after their first Camino. On the right, after some post-Camino TLC.
Buen Camino

I have been back and forth about bringing my Salomon trail runners, or my Keen mid high leather with Keen dry. The weather is supposed to be so rainy and the pictures are showing so much mud. Are you a believer in wearing the hiking booots?

 

[JohnMcM]

I have been back and forth about bringing my Salomon trail runners, or my Keen mid high leather with Keen dry. The weather is supposed to be so rainy and the pictures are showing so much mud. Are you a believer in wearing the hiking booots?

All I can say Joodle is that they work for me. My walking practice is to wear liners and walking socks, take my boots and socks off every two hours or so, and let my feet have an airing for 10-15 mins.

You've probably seen some of the discussions about footwear on the forum. So many views and opinions huh?

To answer your question directly. Yes I personally am a believer in boots.

Buen Camino

 

[NualaOC]

I have been back and forth about bringing my Salomon trail runners, or my Keen mid high leather with Keen dry. The weather is supposed to be so rainy and the pictures are showing so much mud. Are you a believer in wearing the hiking booots?

Hi Joodle, I think this depends on your feet. I love my Keens for walking at home and they are amazingly waterproof. However, I have sweaty feet (there aren't many places where admit that so freely!) so they are a disaster for me in warmer weather. After bad blisters in 2013 & 2014, I now wear non-waterproof shoes rather than boots on the Camino. Yes, they get pretty wet at times, but they dry again so quickly. Others walk very happily in boots - so it's all about finding what works for you. I know this can be difficult when you're just starting out.

I suggest that you don't worry too much about the current weather reports. You will experience all types of weather during your Camino, so don't change your well-thought out plans because of the posts that you read here. My brother in law is on the Camino at the moment and he has been really lucky with the weather so far (he started from St. Jean last week). I didn't expect to hear that from him, but it reminded me that the weather in one Camino town isn't indicative of how it will be everywhere else.

Gear dilemmas are difficult, aren't they? Once you start walking, it all becomes so much less complicated. From reading your posts, it seems to me that you are totally ready for this. Good luck and Buen Camino!

 

[chewingfoil]

Thanks so much! Your info is quite helpful in selecting what I really might need, versus what I think I will need

 

[Jennifer Daley]

Hi, I have at least two un-packinglists on my blog, link below. If you search the forum for un-packinglist you will find quite a few. For some that list will be shorter, for some longer...

No link below- would like to look at your blog. Please do share.

 

[nidarosa]

@Jennifer Daley Sorry I meant in my signature below the post, there should be a few links but I can't see them myself either on the mobile version. The address is www.somewhereslowly.com - hope you find it useful!

 

[Wandershot]

The link below will take you to my packing list. It is largely what I took with me with a few exceptions:
* Sleeping bag: I took a summer weight sleeping bag with me. Heavier than a silk liner but it packed pretty small. I experienced some bed bug issues and so sacrificed the bag at the end of the trip. I would use a silk liner next time.
* I took all of the clothes pictured (or mentioned) BUT some of them were pretty ripe by the end. So some of my underwear, socks and a shirt were ditched. As I would be traveling on after my Camino, I restocked a few things at a clothing store
* One of my learnings was to find the right mix of food/snacks to take. Some people were carrying around pretty heavy food supplies (like pasta). I tried it but found it to be too heavy. So instead I carried: nuts, dried fruit, crackers, a hunk of cheese, sliced chorizo, maybe a yogurt, candy. I participated in group meals or otherwise ate out.
Packing list: http://wayfaringviews.com/camino-de-santiago-packing-list-women

Just DO it. Don't worry so much about what to take.
Buen Camino

 

[chewingfoil]

Thanks, Wandershot, that's great info! I'm a practical sort, lived in Italy for 1.5 years during uni, and traveled quite a lot before and since, so I'm very bare bones when it comes to packing, but I've never undertaken anything like this. I should mention that I have MS so fatigue and weakness are a big concern for me. I figure what people ditched was the superfluous and I wouldn't even bother packing those things. To complicate matters, I now keep to a paleo diet since discovering I have gluten issues. So mostly, I will have to carry food weight, nuts, fruit, cheese, etc. Your info is helpful, thanks!

 

[SYates]

... I will have to carry food weight, nuts, fruit, cheese, etc. Your info is helpful, thanks!

Only for one snack/picnic max, pretty much every village on the Camino Frances has a shop where you can buy these things. Buen Camino, SY

 

[chewingfoil]

Awesome, good to know. (I was going to say it "takes a load off")