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Gear for March 2018

Time of past OR future Camino
First time
Hi, I'm from Canada and I've been working away from home for some months in the ME. Ive decided to hike the Frances way as I have March off between contracts. My hiking hiking gear is in Canada, I have all my clothes...trekking pants, merino t-shirts, Gortex etc. but my sleeping bag, 30L back pack, trekking poles are at home.
Has anyone had there gear sent to Spain from Canada? To buy a new 3 season sleeping bag, back pack and poles will add up. All my gear is good quality and fits me. Would you buy new gear or have it sent?

Thanks!
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Transport luggage-passengers.
From airports to SJPP
Luggage from SJPP to Roncevalles
I don't know what your budget is, but if you are starting in Saint Jean Pied de Port, they have a couple of outdoor shops that carry everything you need, at what I saw as normal prices. As far as sleeping bags go, I don't know what the one you have at home weighs, but if it weighs more than about 680 grams it is too heavy. As you will be sleeping indoors in albergues, you do not need a 3-season bag. A summer weight bag is all you need.
You can get a pair of aluminium trekking poles for about 20 euros. They're good and easily up to the task of getting you to Santiago as the Camino Frances is not a technical hike in any way. Also by buying them when you arrive you avoid any problems of having trekking poles when you carry-on your backpack on the flight, which I highly recommend doing if possible.
They sell backpacks of all kinds, but again that's a personal choice.
I would say if you can get your gear to you from Canada to the middle east on the cheap and your sleeping bag is not too heavy, do that.
cheers
 
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Good question ... however you don't need a three season (down?) sleeping bag, a cheap and cheerful summer one will do as you will be sleeping indoors. Poles can also be found cheap even if they are not the exact ones you have at home, that leaves the backpack. How much would postage be, all included, and would you get a decent 30L pack for the same price?
 
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Are you travelling via Paris or Madrid or any other large European city? If you can locate a Decathlon store (big sports warehouse) you would be able to restock with basic gear for a very reasonable price. When I was in a decathlon store in Spain last year they were selling walking poles for 5€. You will see many Europeans on the camino walking with Quechua, the Decathlon brand, gear. They have an online store where you can check prices.
https://www.decathlon.es
A7B48A39-AA44-41AE-83BD-6B9AFAFB9896.jpeg
BTW Great forum name. The northern or southern lights are on my bucket list and I have a niece with the same name but her spelling is Sayde.
Buen camino
 
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Only take a light fleece jacket. The weather in March is cool to cold in the morning and warmer during the day and you could expect rain. You warm up quickly when you start out in the morning and anything else than a light fleece will be to warm. Use your rain jacket to layer with the fleece jacket.
We had a lady with a down jacket in our group in March last year. She constantly had take the jacket off just to put it back on after a while. The down jacket was to warm for that time of the year. We were comfortable with a light fleece until mid morning.
 
Hi, I'm from Canada and I've been working away from home for some months in the ME. Ive decided to hike the Frances way as I have March off between contracts. My hiking hiking gear is in Canada, I have all my clothes...trekking pants, merino t-shirts, Gortex etc. but my sleeping bag, 30L back pack, trekking poles are at home.
Has anyone had there gear sent to Spain from Canada? To buy a new 3 season sleeping bag, back pack and poles will add up. All my gear is good quality and fits me. Would you buy new gear or have it sent?

Thanks!
I would have your gear shipped, if you purchase new you will be tempted to cheap out and will not be happy with the gear. Even if you buy good quality you will then have two of everything and be selling stuff at a loss.
Buon Camino
 
The 2024 Camino guides will be coming out little by little. Here is a collection of the ones that are out so far.
Thanks a lot! This helped me make my decision. It hurts to buy again but I’ve found a fantastic Osprey pack. I have a -9C bag at home so, I’ll buy a light one and have a summer bag for the first time ever.

Can’t wait to be on the trail. Starting next week!!
 
Only take a light fleece jacket. The weather in March is cool to cold in the morning and warmer during the day and you could expect rain. You warm up quickly when you start out in the morning and anything else than a light fleece will be to warm. Use your rain jacket to layer with the fleece jacket.
We had a lady with a down jacket in our group in March last year. She constantly had take the jacket off just to put it back on after a while. The down jacket was to warm for that time of the year. We were comfortable with a light fleece until mid morning.
That’s good to know, I have a fleece and puffy jacket (light weight insulated). Like a fall weight synthetic down. I can layer them both under my rain jacket but seems a bit too much. Thanks!
 

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