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Hi
Apologies for my naievity. I have only just started posting here after 2 years, but I now have enough free time to 'walk'.
For people who carry a tent and backpack, can anyone please recommend a past thread (if such a one exists), where people have compared or recommended backpack and clothing lists for the Camino. I'm planning on walking as much as I can of the Via Podiensis, from Le Puy to Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port.
My background is that I'm used to colder weather hiking in Scandinavia, where supplies are few and far between, but I've never distance hiked in warmer regions (Le Puy-en-Velay along the GR65 - probably from mid-May to July), and where villages occur along the way.
Because of this I want some idea of what people carry. So I can avoid carrying TOO MUCH. I will be carrying EVERYTHING THOUGH, that I need for camping.
Is there anywhere here where packing lists, pack-weight and clothing has been discussed please? I have a good amount of camping kit, but I just don't want to be overloaded unnecessarily.
Thanks
Yes. Apologies for the slow reply. I didn't receive a reply notification.I had a conversation with Ivar in Santiago a few weeks ago (he’s Norwegian) and he said that of the packages sent to him in Santiago a good proportion are from Scandinavians who have packed like they would for long-distance walking at home, this includes a large number of tents.
Are you committed to camping?
Thanks for your insight Alex. It's helpful. Lofoten, Senja Vesteralen and Kvaloya are the regions I usually camp and hike, and for up to 3 months at a time. Even between May and late September, I agree, far more gear and weather readiness is needed. I've never, though, hiked any sort of multi-day distances in warmer climes. Wales doesn't count (my home). Not in comaprison to southern France.Not sure about older threads, but I have walked quite a lot in Northern Scandinavia ... actually I live in Northern Scandinavia these days
Warmer regions are indeed a totally different thing. While up here I use my normal gear. Now in May however, on the Camino I will go ultralight - flimsy backpack, single walled tent. I would not dare this in the mountains of the North but from my experiences on the Camino Frances you can survive well with 5 kg (not camping) on your back. Add the tent and sleeping system and you might end up at max 8 kg, potentially 7 . I will start packing late, so I do not know, where exactly I will end up with packing weight ;-)
Keep in mind though you might have to carry more water than in Scandinavia.
Thanks Trecile. I'll look.There aren't a ton of packing lists for those who will be camping simply because most people don't camp on the Camino. I have added the tag "camping" at the top of this thread. You can click on it to find other threads related to camping.
Thanks jeanineonthecamino. That's very helpful. Perhaps I might have to consider taking my bivy bag as well, for times when it's not practical or easy to setup my tent discreetly. What do you think? As for food and, cookware (I carry a small MSR stove and gas canister), are you saying I shouldn't bother because, even on the Via Podiensis (GR65), opportunities to buy food, even if it's a baguette here and there, are very plentiful? I usually carry dried food because northern Scandinavia is very remote in parts.I didn't camp the Camino - but I am camping on some of the Via Francigena. My packing list is ALMOST identical whether I am staying in accommodations/camping for either of those two routes.
What is the same? Clothes, rain/cold weather gear, first aid kit, toiletry kit, towel, sleeping bag liner, shoes, socks. Layers of clothing needed depend on the season - so in cold months I may have warmer layers than in warm months.
What is different? I add a tent or a bivy (Bivy for the VF since I won't be camping EVERY night), sleeping pad, and carry a warmer sleeping bag or sleeping quilt. And my backpack is also slightly bigger - dependent on the amount of space these additional items take up.
What I do NOT carry for either - cooking stove or dishes etc with the possible exception of maybe a spork and maybe 1 container that I can store leftover food in since I can't eat an entire meal in one sitting. There are NOT campgrounds all along the way on either route. This means you need to stealth camp. If you are stealth camping - it is better to not be needing to set up early for dinner and it is best not to draw attention to yourself by cooking and such. If I stealth camp - I want to set up at dusk and be gone by dawn.
Where do I eat? Well - on the Camino routes there are usually plenty of supermarkets, bars, and restaurants. I carry things that do not need to be cooked (even when not camping). But you can buy food pretty much every day, and often all throughout the day. On the VF - the availability of supermarkets, bars, restaurants are more sparsely located. I need to be prepared to carry food at all times, sometimes 1-2 days supply - dependent on the section of the VF.
I wouldn't take a tent AND a bivy. I would just decide how much time you are likely to end up camping - and bring the one that is most appropriate. If you are planning to camp a lot - then the tent would be ideal and more comfortable. But make sure it is as small, light, and as low profile as possible. I don't know if you already own one that fits the bill - but you won't be camping in campgrounds regularly, so staying out of site is important. If you are only camping occasionally - the bivy might be better. Problem with bivies is you can't just hang out in them for hours while awake and sit up and be comfortable. They also are less breathable so they get more condensation - which is a problem if you can't create airflow due to rain and/or cold. Out of 6 1/2 weeks of walking, I plan to sleep in my bivy maybe 7 times. Carrying a heavier/bulkier tent for so few camping nights doesn't make as much sense for me.Thanks jeanineonthecamino. That's very helpful. Perhaps I might have to consider taking my bivy bag as well, for times when it's not practical or easy to setup my tent discreetly. What do you think? As for food and, cookware (I carry a small MSR stove and gas canister), are you saying I shouldn't bother because, even on the Via Podiensis (GR65), opportunities to buy food, even if it's a baguette here and there, are very plentiful? I usually carry dried food because northern Scandinavia is very remote in parts.
I think this is spot on.I had a conversation with Ivar in Santiago a few weeks ago (he’s Norwegian) and he said that of the packages sent to him in Santiago a good proportion are from Scandinavians who have packed like they would for long-distance walking at home, this includes a large number of tents.
Sorry Alex and thankyou. I'll reply as soon as I can. Appreciate you getting touch. Bit chaotic here at the moment. LOLNot sure about older threads, but I have walked quite a lot in Northern Scandinavia ... actually I live in Northern Scandinavia these days
Warmer regions are indeed a totally different thing. While up here I use my normal gear. Now in May however, on the Camino I will go ultralight - flimsy backpack, single walled tent. I would not dare this in the mountains of the North but from my experiences on the Camino Frances you can survive well with 5 kg (not camping) on your back. Add the tent and sleeping system and you might end up at max 8 kg, potentially 7 . I will start packing late, so I do not know, where exactly I will end up with packing weight ;-)
Keep in mind though you might have to carry more water than in Scandinavia.
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