For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Nothing at all to do with fears. It is a hobby and an art - to create the best camino kit for my purposes. It includes making some items myself, modifying others, and careful selection of new items too. I am easily entertained!Is it to quell our fears?
That's what I'm like. I have been enjoying the time that I'm spending researching what to buy, finding the best deal, etc.Nothing at all to do with fears. It is a hobby and an art - to create the best camino kit for my purposes. It includes making some items myself, modifying others, and careful selection of new items too. I am easily entertained!
For new fangled replacements, I do it to save 6 oz., or .5 oz. at a time. And those 6oz really add up over the years. I have found lighter backpacks, sleeping bags, ponchos, jackets, sandals, flashlights (torches), batteries (lithium is so light), electronic charging cables (shorter is lighter), deodorant bottles, soap (solid bar doesn't have the water to weigh it down). I even weighed a standard trashbag liner vs. a trash compactor liner and determined the lighter standard was the way to go (despite it being more noisy - I am a late waker). Aside from getting rid of the stuff you don't really need, finding light or ultra-light equivalents to necessary equipment makes my bag lighter every year.
Now, one thing I have consistently purchased for every Camino, new each time, is footwear, and liners, and socks.
I come back from the camino and my shoes are very worn. The socks sometimes have little holes. The liners are even thinner than they started. I continue to use the old equipment about my local walks, but by the time the next Camino rolls in, they must be replaced.
Feet comfort is sooooo important, I don't scrimp on this area.
Now, I have used equipment for 3 years or more in a row, only to realize, that my rain jacket was no longer water proof and there is this little hole I never noticed until exposed over a crazy rainy day, over one shoulder. This crazy rainy day, soaked absolutely through, made me wish I had replaced my jacket earlier.
For me its not about fear. But rather, about constantly improving the experience.
Damien
That's great, Damien, if you have the money to make multiple purchases of lighter items. And you are right to say that you must have good footwear. But for those who can't put out a lot of money for gear, you don't need to. Wear what you've got, or buy second hand or make do with cheaper items which are somewhat heavier. I am 68 years old and in only moderate health and I had a wonderful camino last fall with what I could cobble together. Maybe in part because I was used to carrying a lot more gear for backpacking, so whatever I took added up to a much lighter load, which I could manage comfortably. Don't be intimidated by the gear purchases of those with extensive budgets. Go for it. Buen camino to the poorer pilgrims. You may be blessed with a spirit close to that of those who walked the routes to Santiago over the centuries.
Probably a very contentious thread I realise but....
I wanted to question this need we have to buy stuff (for the Camino) when we already have what we need....
Don't take me wrong, I have been guilty of it myself!!!
Is it to quell our fears? What do you all think?
Wasn't it you who repurposed some kneesocks into gaitors? If so, how did they work out on your recent Camino?Nothing at all to do with fears. It is a hobby and an art - to create the best camino kit for my purposes. It includes making some items myself, modifying others, and careful selection of new items too. I am easily entertained!
Yes I did. They worked fine and I'll use them again whenever the path starts kicking up stones. They were the light (but opaque) stocking knee highs with the toe end cut off. You put them around your ankles and pull the cut end down over your boot laces. You have to keep them loose around the ankle so they don't pull and rise up from covering your boots. They weighed and cost almost nothing.Wasn't it you who repurposed some kneesocks into gaitors? If so, how did they work out on your recent Camino?
Would be great to see a photo? I can't quite picture how you keep these over your boots/shoes. Do you use heel part as the strap around the shoe? Are you using knee high socks or panty hose kind of knee hi's?Yes I did. They worked fine and I'll use them again whenever the path starts kicking up stones. They were the light (but opaque) stocking knee highs with the toe end cut off. You put them around your ankles and pull the cut end down over your boot laces. You have to keep them loose around the ankle so they don't pull and rise up from covering your boots. They weighed and cost almost nothing.
Panty hose type (but opaque, not sheer). Here's the link to my original post, with photos.Would be great to see a photo? I can't quite picture how you keep these over your boots/shoes. Do you use heel part as the strap around the shoe? Are you using knee high socks or panty hose kind of knee hi's?
Lead me not into temptation@trecile : Ah, well, there's always Dirty Girl gaiters ... (yes, I bought some and they are bright and colourful and I love them and they make me happy and remind me of long walks so they were absolutely worth the money!)
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?