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I've mentioned my method of using a dry bag as a "portable washing machine" before. IMO definitely preferable to stomping on my clothes on the shower floor.
I use a 12 liter dry bag to wash my clothes in, rather than the albergue laundry sinks. As I'm undressing for my shower and the water is warming up I put half a laundry detergent sheet and water in the bag, then my clothes. Then I fill the bag about 3/4 full with water and close it up. I give it a few shakes and set it aside to soak while I shower and dress. I then shake the bag some more to agitate everything well before rinsing in the laundry sink. The detergent sheets don't create a lot of suds, but get the clothes clean. After wring them out well I roll them up in my towel and twist it. This method gets my clothes cleaner than using the laundry sinks alone in the albergues. I think that the long soaking time is the secret. I even use the dry bag to wash when I'm staying in a room with my own bathroom.
Here's a pretty good video showing how to wash clothes in a dry bag.
As @Kanga mentioned, I use half of a laundry detergent sheet for each "load" of laundry. They get my clothes clean without making a lot of suds, so it's easier to rinse the clothes out.
As I continue to do research, I think these are going to be my requirements as well.Due to back problems (and being 63 years old, that also helps) , I've been studying the market of small backpacks because I'll need one on my next Camino.
My constraints were:
1- Maximun 20 liters
2- With belt and shoulder straps to ensure a good fit.
3- Pockets on the belt strap
4-A small net to carry a water bottle outside the main compartment
5- With straps to carry a hiking pole
6- As light as possible.
After seeing various options I've bought through Amazon the Salomon Trailblazer 20; that I think is the one that beter fits to my needs.
Hope that helps.
Sounds like this list is a good one as I wish mine had pockets in the belt but I do wear a really good expandable belt called a "running belt" on Amazon which takes loads of bits including my phone.As I continue to do research, I think these are going to be my requirements as well.
Thsnks to everyone for the great suggestions!
The problem with kids school backpacks is that most of them put the weight on your shoulders instead of your hips. The shoulder weight will cause shoulder and backpain. I do not recommend these unless you happen to find one that 1) fits you very well and 2) still has the hip belt and chest strap for proper weight placement.You have any small backpacks like the ones kid's carry their books to school in these days? The typical synthetic nylon setup, with a large main pouch, an outer pocket or two and padded straps? If you do, that's all you need, and they're all about same and you shouldn't be carrying more that 3-5 pounds worth of stuff in it because otherwise what's the point? Some snacks, water and perhaps a fleece or rain jacket if the weather requires.
The only one I might disagree with here is #1. You could go either way on this one.Due to back problems (and being 63 years old, that also helps) , I've been studying the market of small backpacks because I'll need one on my next Camino.
My constraints were:
1- Maximun 20 liters
2- With belt and shoulder straps to ensure a good fit.
3- Pockets on the belt strap
4-A small net to carry a water bottle outside the main compartment
5- With straps to carry a hiking pole
6- As light as possible.
After seeing various options I've bought through Amazon the Salomon Trailblazer 20; that I think is the one that beter fits to my needs.
Hope that helps.
same here, (shoulder issues), I settled on the Deuter Speedlite 22 made for a woman's stature--lots of support, lightweight--I love it. the Ospreys I looked at were too heavy and complicated.i have a history of back issues so when I do my first Camino next year I will be shipping my main bag ahead each day. Carrying it is not a risk I am willing to take. Given that, I am trying to determine what kind of bag would be best to carry while walking and what items are essential to have with me. Looking for the experiences of others who ship their main bags. I will be walking in May/June 2023.
I'm talking about 3-5 pounds of stuff, at the most because it is well, a day pack and not a backpack. Those specifications for fit etc apply to full size backpacks. Not something you are carrying a couple of water bottles and fleece pullover inside of. If one carries more than that one should carry a backpack and not a day pack lol.The problem with kids school backpacks is that most of them put the weight on your shoulders instead of your hips. The shoulder weight will cause shoulder and backpain. I do not recommend these unless you happen to find one that 1) fits you very well and 2) still has the hip belt and chest strap for proper weight placement.
I wouldn’t do this regardless, so that isn’t a factor me. I know myself well enough to know that I would spend the whole time walking worrying about where I would sleep. And I like advance planning. The trick for me is going to be not doing too much planning and resisting the urge to book the whole thing in advance.Being able to put on your pack in the morning and walk till you want to stop really adds to the sense of self-sufficiency, and it liberates you from a lot of advance planning.
I have considered this also. Luckily I have the time to try out things and see what will work best for me.We developed problems along the camino and had to start having our packs transported. Our waist packs worked fine to carry what we needed while walking: blister kit, phone, lightweight poncho, extra socks, snack, water, money, passport, credencial. No need for a full backpack. REI waistpack
Do not forget any and all medications. A back up list on your phone and if possible the list translated.Here is a thread on that question - it is a few years old but still valid.
I would emphasize that you should put as much care into choosing your day pack, as you would into choosing a larger one to carry all day, especially if you have a history of back issues.
The day pack should be able to carry several pounds comfortably all day - rain gear, cold gear, snacks, water, daily odds and ends. You should have a sternum/chest strap and hip belt to transfer weight. Do NOT think that you can use a flimsy little bag or that you don't need the support straps, as that would defeat the whole purpose of not carrying a larger weight.
Edited to add: On the rare occasion that I have sent something by transport, I still wore my good regular 31-L pack, half empty, and sent the surplus items in a separate dry bag.
I will be walking in may june next year and my bag will be shipped everydayi have a history of back issues so when I do my first Camino next year I will be shipping my main bag ahead each day. Carrying it is not a risk I am willing to take. Given that, I am trying to determine what kind of bag would be best to carry while walking and what items are essential to have with me. Looking for the experiences of others who ship their main bags. I will be walking in May/June 2023.
It depends? If you are doing the CF…you may be able to manage with a fanny pack on some days. May and June could be quite warm? A lot depends on the weather and what section you are on. There are some sections where food and drink are available about every 5km orless, while other sections where you may go 15km-17km without any resupply opportunities. My point being that are options on the CF.i have a history of back issues so when I do my first Camino next year I will be shipping my main bag ahead each day. Carrying it is not a risk I am willing to take. Given that, I am trying to determine what kind of bag would be best to carry while walking and what items are essential to have with me. Looking for the experiences of others who ship their main bags. I will be walking in May/June 2023.
If you have back pain, a 3-5 pound bag hanging on your shoulders for 6+ hours could really case a flair up of whatever is causing the back pain in the first place. Plenty of "day packs" now have hip belts and chest straps and place the bulk of the weight on your hips - but don't put pressure on your lower back like some hip packs without shoulder straps do.I'm talking about 3-5 pounds of stuff, at the most because it is well, a day pack and not a backpack. Those specifications for fit etc apply to full size backpacks. Not something you are carrying a couple of water bottles and fleece pullover inside of. If one carries more than that one should carry a backpack and not a day pack lol.
I've never had to send my pack ahead, but I would opt to carry my regular backpack with good suspension and hip belt and send excess weight in a lightweight foldable duffel or dry bag. Or, if I were planning to send most of my gear ahead every day I would use a smaller backpack with good suspension and hip pack and send ahead a small roller bag or duffel. I wouldn't want to be having to juggle two backpacks on those occasions when I have to carry both - like at the airport, trains, etc.
The advantage to using a larger backpack with a small duffel to ship excess weight ahead is that everything that you need to carry will fit in that one backpack.
This little duffel only weighs 2.8 oz/80 gm and holds about 12 liters.
This packable messenger bag from Decathlon holds 15 liters and weighs 3.5 oz/100 gm, and can be used around town in the evenings.
Or, as @C clearly suggested you could use a dry bag like one of these Ultralight Dry Sacks from Osprey. The 12 liter size weighs 1.2 oz/34 gm, or the 20 liter size weighs 1.6 oz/45 gm. And you can also use the dry sack to wash your clothes, as I've detailed in previous posts.
Hi t,@Pintohoo - I didn't suggest that a shoulder bag be used as a day pack. I suggested that the primary larger backpack be carried, and that heavier items could be sent ahead in a packable bag, such as the messenger bag from Decathlon.
I hadn’t considered using my osprey and sending a duffle or dry bag ahead during my first several days. I am trying to prevent my shin splints from flaring up, so planning to carry water, meds, passport, weather gear and use trekking poles (and take short strides, go slow). This is such a helpful solution!I've never had to send my pack ahead, but I would opt to carry my regular backpack with good suspension and hip belt and send excess weight in a lightweight foldable duffel or dry bag. Or, if I were planning to send most of my gear ahead every day I would use a smaller backpack with good suspension and hip pack and send ahead a small roller bag or duffel. I wouldn't want to be having to juggle two backpacks on those occasions when I have to carry both - like at the airport, trains, etc.
The advantage to using a larger backpack with a small duffel to ship excess weight ahead is that everything that you need to carry will fit in that one backpack.
This little duffel only weighs 2.8 oz/80 gm and holds about 12 liters.
This packable messenger bag from Decathlon holds 15 liters and weighs 3.5 oz/100 gm, and can be used around town in the evenings.
Or, as @C clearly suggested you could use a dry bag like one of these Ultralight Dry Sacks from Osprey. The 12 liter size weighs 1.2 oz/34 gm, or the 20 liter size weighs 1.6 oz/45 gm. And you can also use the dry sack to wash your clothes, as I've detailed in previous posts.
I have just washed my Osprey 20 litre backpack for the second time. It smelled fishy yesterday after carrying shopping home. It is spotless and dried overnight. I have used it as a daybag and it sits very well. Name is Daylite.i have a history of back issues so when I do my first Camino next year I will be shipping my main bag ahead each day. Carrying it is not a risk I am willing to take. Given that, I am trying to determine what kind of bag would be best to carry while walking and what items are essential to have with me. Looking for the experiences of others who ship their main bags. I will be walking in May/June 2023.
i have a history of back issues so when I do my first Camino next year I will be shipping my main bag ahead each day. Carrying it is not a risk I am willing to take. Given that, I am trying to determine what kind of bag would be best to carry while walking and what items are essential to have with me. Looking for the experiences of others who ship their main bags. I will be walking in May/June 2023.
No.Is there any negative aspect to having a large capacity bag that isn’t filled with very much? I found a 45L bag that feels more comfortable than any other bag I tried. I won’t be carrying anywhere near that much but is that a bad thing in any way?
A bigger bag may weigh more. And there is in many a tendency to have our stuff expand to fill the available space. But, that said, pack fit is much more important than pack size. If the 45L bag seems to fit best, after adjustments are made, then that is what I would go with.Is there any negative aspect to having a large capacity bag that isn’t filled with very much? I found a 45L bag that feels more comfortable than any other bag I tried. I won’t be carrying anywhere near that much but is that a bad thing in any way?
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