Feedback on first Camino kit list

[Aikon]

Over the last few months I’ve been assembling my kit list for a mid September start, mostly already owned from running/cycling/hiking, I’ve done a few long distance unsupported cycle trips & wild camp hikes so keen to keep the kit list lean, while including a couple of luxuries like a Kindle, electric toothbrush & running kit…

Item	Back Pack	Waist Pack	Weight on me
Total Weight	4081g	898g	1433g
Rab Aeon Ultra 28L Backpack	713
Euro wallet & 3 card		55
Montane Gecko 1 waist pack		90
On Cloudventure Shoes			620
Crocs/flops
Shorts	226		248
Waterproof Jacket	244
Patagonia Terrebonne Lightweight Trousers	170
2x LS Patagonia Capilene Light	153		153
1x Rossignol Merino	153
3x underwear	152		76
3x Patagonia Hemp Crew Socks	154		77
Running shorts (Nike Stride)	145
SS Jersey New Balance	100
Hat Columbia Schooner Bank Cachalot			80
Belt			74
Phone		218
Kindle Paperwhite	205
Portable Battery (Anker 525 Power Bank)		345
Headphones	61
Garmin Watch			71
Head torch Petzl Bindi		35
Euro Charger Anker 323 Euro 2 pin		68
USB-C to Lightning Cable		20
USB-C to USB-C Cable		17
Garmin Charge Cable		15
Guide Book	278
Passport		35
Travel Documents
Travel Insurance
Towel Lifeventure Microfibre	126
Soap Bar & Case	120
Deodorant	100
Toothbrush Suri Electric	82
Toothpaste	62
Hairbrush	41
Mesh Wash Bag	38
Glasses			34
Sun Protection	150
Silk & Cotton Sleeping bag liner (Sea to Summit)	129
Electrolytes	102
2x 500ml bottles	80
Sudocrem	73
First Aid Pack	55
Emergency Blanket	50
Earplugs & Sleep Mask	33
Pack of Tissues	27
Antisan	25
Compeed	20
Lipsyl	14

 

[dick bird]

That’s pretty light. Personally, I’d ditch some of the electronics for a lightweight sleeping bag. A smartphone should do all you need. Come October it will start to get chilly.

 

[Consigliere]

Ummm... no sleeping system? (sorry if I missed something). I've done 1 early October start, and another this year planned. I ditched my sleeping liner for a sleeping bag. Yea, 700g for a lightweight bag, but dam it gets cold in certain areas around then.

+1 go minimal on the electronic IMO. I'd rather sleep warm and chat with pilgrims than do screen time. I get that at home already

 

[Consigliere]

Sorry.., reading over the list in case I missed something. But yea, PowerBank? Like you can charge every night, and even in a cafe at lunch if needed. Kindle? Slum it and bike shorts? Go commando when needed. . There's your sleeping bag.

 

[dick bird]

To double down on the electronics, they weigh over a kilo. Battery alone is 345 gr, and you only need that because one of your gadgets might run out between albergues. A smartphone is more than adequate for navigating and I doubt if you’ll be doing much reading. The internet doesn’t keep you warm at night.

 

[Damien Reynolds]

i love spreadsheets. Ditch the emergency blanket. Ditch the guide book. (go digital).

 

[henrythedog]

Anyone who weighs their glasses is taking it seriously.

Add a light sleeping bag; remove the emergency blanket; find a lighter power bank.*

* I agree that a power bank is not a necessity as charging is easy; but it allows you to leave an inexpensive item on charge and unattended.

Personally; I would find a kilo in a waist pack uncomfortable.

 

[Aikon]

Thank you for the feedback so far, I can definitely ditch the guidebook and switch out the emergency blanket for a light sleep quilt or blanket, I rarely sleep with covers so wouldn’t need much.

The kindle is more for the journey out and back as it’s 13 hours of buses, trains, planes & more buses, (if it goes well…) and if I‘m struggling to sleep then 15 minutes reading almost always sorts that.

@henrythedog nails the powerbank theory, on long cycle tours I’ve left a power bank on charge in a variety of places, plus it’ll be used by my sister & BiL who I’ll be meeting at Leon, popping it in the backpack would sort most of the weight in the waist pack.

 

[Anhalter]

Looks like a good list to start with and thank you for providing it in a format one can work with, makes it a lot easier.
If you want to optimize in terms of weight, here are my thoughts

- 3 different shorts and 1 very light long pant --> 1 light short and 1 "sturdy" long pant is enough
- 2 capilene, 1 rossignol, 1 new balance --> not sure what is what, but 2 short shirts and 1 long is enough
- i never used my kindle and sent it back with the mail. consider not taking it
- your Powerbank is very heavy. consider taking a lighter one (like 2500mh/75g) or none at all
- head torch is a disputed item. i never took one
- see if you can get a digital version of the guidebook
- if you don't want to wrap yourself in it, a 40g towel does the same job
- take a smaller deodorant, buy locally when empty
- maybe switch for a manual toothbrush
- toothpase + sunscreen --> same as deodorant
- also for electrolytes, same.
- the emergency blanket could stay at home

stuff i would take additionally:
- the famous S-shape hook
- sleeping bag instead of liner (and then you can ditch the emergency blanket)
- some clothe pins
- i had a small cork ball to roll out sore muscles.

edit: for comparison i posted my packing list here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...l-comfort-for-me-at-least.74766/#post-1028828

 

[Kirkie]

You are dead right to look for advice.
Will you take it?
In the end, I took what I decided was what I could carry.
If it is over the magical 10% limit, ditch it.
Spain, or Portugal, or France also, and any nearby countries - you will find what you need there.
A young woman I know has set off this week with her old runners.
She will replace them if/when needs be.. and to use an expression I detest - go figure!

 

[Aikon]

You are dead right to look for advice.
Will you take it?
In the end, I took what I decided was what I could carry.
If it is over the magical 10% limit, ditch it.

Absolutely I’ll listen to advice, some great points already, the S-hook is a definite addition, as head of laundry at home I find they’re invaluable for bags, wash baskets & allsorts.

Years of cycling helped me take just 6kg when I cycled across Europe solo including tools, spares, luggage & contents so appreciate the pool of experience available here.

 

[Aikon]

Looks like a good list to start with and thank you for providing it in a format one can work with, makes it a lot easier.
If you want to optimize in terms of weight, here are my thoughts

- 3 different shorts and 1 very light long pant --> 1 light short and 1 "sturdy" long pant is enough
- 2 capilene, 1 rossignol, 1 new balance --> not sure what is what, but 2 short shirts and 1 long is enough
- i never used my kindle and sent it back with the mail. consider not taking it
- your Powerbank is very heavy. consider taking a lighter one (like 2500mh/75g) or none at all
- head torch is a disputed item. i never took one
- see if you can get a digital version of the guidebook
- if you don't want to wrap yourself in it, a 40g towel does the same job
- take a smaller deodorant, buy locally when empty
- maybe switch for a manual toothbrush
- toothpase + sunscreen --> same as deodorant
- also for electrolytes, same.
- the emergency blanket could stay at home

stuff i would take additionally:
- the famous S-shape hook
- sleeping bag instead of liner (and then you can ditch the emergency blanket)
- some clothe pins
- i had a small cork ball to roll out sore muscles.

edit: for comparison i posted my packing list here: https://www.caminodesantiago.me/com...l-comfort-for-me-at-least.74766/#post-1028828

The Capilene tops are long sleeve for walking in, the Rossignol is a warmer top in lieu of a light fleece, the New Balance top along with the Nike shorts is a small luxury as I’ll probably squeeze a run in here or there…
I could definitely trim a set of leg wear & a top.
Definitely adding the S-Hook & switching the emergency blanket out for a light sleeping option.

Thanks for posting your kit list, I’ll have a study later, I’ve a race to prep for this afternoon!

 

[Stephan the Painter]

The kindle is more for the journey out and back as it’s 13 hours of buses, trains, planes & more buses, (if it goes well…) and if I‘m struggling to sleep then 15 minutes reading almost always sorts that.

You can get a Kindle app on your phone, I believe, and just use your phone as the reader.

The other alternative is to send your electronics (and any other things you don't need on your journey) ahead to Santiago to reclaim at the end once you are in Spain. Use either Casa Ivar or the Spanish post office, Correos.

If you're shipping from SJPP you can use the company Express Boricault.

I shipped a tablet and camera ahead (among other things) to Casa Ivar in Santiago (who runs this forum) and picked it up with no problem.

And "I’ll probably squeeze a run in here or there…" That's ambitious!

 

[Jodean]

Where is your rain gear?
Leave the emergency blanket.
Have never needed a head lamp.
Yes, to the sleeping bag! It gets cold.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

You could also consider instead of a waist-pack to use pants and shorts with zipped cargo pockets. These held everything I needed, even a small guidebook. The waist pack is just something else to hassle with, IMO.

 

[Jodean]

That would drive me up the wall, having things banging against my legs in pockets while I walked. I cannot even stand the zippers on those zip off pants, so they stay at home.
Sticking with my waist pack, where everything is easy to find, glasses, phone, pilgrim pass, small money, IBS pills to take if needed and my tiny toy donkey, Paco Jr.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

That would drive me up the wall, having things banging against my legs in pockets while I walked. I cannot even stand the zippers on those zip off pants, so they stay at home.
Sticking with my waist pack, where everything is easy to find, glasses, phone, pilgrim pass, small money, IBS pills to take if needed and my tiny toy donkey, Paco Jr.

I guess I don't have very much in those pockets, basically just a phone and wallet, and then a passport, etc . in a money belt. So not much banging, just a different style of what I think I need handy.

 

[CaminoObsessed]

Over the last few months I’ve been assembling my kit list for a mid September start, mostly already owned from running/cycling/hiking, I’ve done a few long distance unsupported cycle trips & wild camp hikes so keen to keep the kit list lean, while including a couple of luxuries like a Kindle, electric toothbrush & running kit…

Item	Back Pack	Waist Pack	Weight on me
Total Weight	4081g	898g	1433g
Rab Aeon Ultra 28L Backpack	713
Euro wallet & 3 card		55
Montane Gecko 1 waist pack		90
On Cloudventure Shoes			620
Crocs/flops
Shorts	226		248
Waterproof Jacket	244
Patagonia Terrebonne Lightweight Trousers	170
2x LS Patagonia Capilene Light	153		153
1x Rossignol Merino	153
3x underwear	152		76
3x Patagonia Hemp Crew Socks	154		77
Running shorts (Nike Stride)	145
SS Jersey New Balance	100
Hat Columbia Schooner Bank Cachalot			80
Belt			74
Phone		218
Kindle Paperwhite	205
Portable Battery (Anker 525 Power Bank)		345
Headphones	61
Garmin Watch			71
Head torch Petzl Bindi		35
Euro Charger Anker 323 Euro 2 pin		68
USB-C to Lightning Cable		20
USB-C to USB-C Cable		17
Garmin Charge Cable		15
Guide Book	278
Passport		35
Travel Documents
Travel Insurance
Towel Lifeventure Microfibre	126
Soap Bar & Case	120
Deodorant	100
Toothbrush Suri Electric	82
Toothpaste	62
Hairbrush	41
Mesh Wash Bag	38
Glasses			34
Sun Protection	150
Silk & Cotton Sleeping bag liner (Sea to Summit)	129
Electrolytes	102
2x 500ml bottles	80
Sudocrem	73
First Aid Pack	55
Emergency Blanket	50
Earplugs & Sleep Mask	33
Pack of Tissues	27
Antisan	25
Compeed	20
Lipsyl	14

I guess I don't have very much in those pockets, basically just a phone and wallet, and then a passport, etc . in a money belt. So not much banging, just a different style of what I think I need handy.

Over the last few months I’ve been assembling my kit list for a mid September start, mostly already owned from running/cycling/hiking, I’ve done a few long distance unsupported cycle trips & wild camp hikes so keen to keep the kit list lean, while including a couple of luxuries like a Kindle, electric toothbrush & running kit…

Item	Back Pack	Waist Pack	Weight on me
Total Weight	4081g	898g	1433g
Rab Aeon Ultra 28L Backpack	713
Euro wallet & 3 card		55
Montane Gecko 1 waist pack		90
On Cloudventure Shoes			620
Crocs/flops
Shorts	226		248
Waterproof Jacket	244
Patagonia Terrebonne Lightweight Trousers	170
2x LS Patagonia Capilene Light	153		153
1x Rossignol Merino	153
3x underwear	152		76
3x Patagonia Hemp Crew Socks	154		77
Running shorts (Nike Stride)	145
SS Jersey New Balance	100
Hat Columbia Schooner Bank Cachalot			80
Belt			74
Phone		218
Kindle Paperwhite	205
Portable Battery (Anker 525 Power Bank)		345
Headphones	61
Garmin Watch			71
Head torch Petzl Bindi		35
Euro Charger Anker 323 Euro 2 pin		68
USB-C to Lightning Cable		20
USB-C to USB-C Cable		17
Garmin Charge Cable		15
Guide Book	278
Passport		35
Travel Documents
Travel Insurance
Towel Lifeventure Microfibre	126
Soap Bar & Case	120
Deodorant	100
Toothbrush Suri Electric	82
Toothpaste	62
Hairbrush	41
Mesh Wash Bag	38
Glasses			34
Sun Protection	150
Silk & Cotton Sleeping bag liner (Sea to Summit)	129
Electrolytes	102
2x 500ml bottles	80
Sudocrem	73
First Aid Pack	55
Emergency Blanket	50
Earplugs & Sleep Mask	33
Pack of Tissues	27
Antisan	25
Compeed	20
Lipsyl	14

Hi there! How was your Camino? What did you think of your On Cloudventure shoes? I’m considering getting a pair but wondering if they are too heavy or hot for a summer Camino. I start on June 1st. I found a nearly new pair at a second-hand store for $20 so I had to buy them. Any other insight on your gear?