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Can someone suggest how light was your backpack? I am thinking of not exceeding 3 kg. Is that possible? I would love to hear from those who had travelled with around that weight. I am not getting any company to carry by baggage for me as that defeats the purpose of going on the pilgrim.
I’d read their list and check their maths before I got too inspired. They’ve used a mixture of imperial and metric units. Some of the conversions are dubious: there are 28g to the ounce.This pilgrim on reddit says that they packed only 3kg, and has a lighterpack link/list that shows everything they packed. Very admirable and inspires me to go back to my own packing list and try to trim more things.
Sure it is possible if you leave out sleeping bag, rain gear, phone battery pack, immersion heater and cup, a layer of insulation, sun screen, dry bags, day/shopping bag, foot care stuff, and any paper notes/guides, and then your remaining items are carefully selected for light weight.
I’d read their list and check their maths before I got too inspired. They’ve used a mixture of imperial and metric units. Some of the conversions are dubious: there are 28g to the ounce.
But, really, this is one of those silly debates. Pack what you need. If there’s anything you need that you didn’t pack you can buy it. If half way to Santiago you discover that you brought something you didn’t need give it away or post it home.
Agree, their backpack is basically a big dry bag!Noted. I did follow the link to their “recommended” backpack. 21 liters of slack cloth. I wouldn’t use that to take my dirty sheets to the laundromat but, each to their own
Well, I never weighed it, but can tell you my body weight was too much, and oops, realized I had to carry it too..
Great reply! I would add, similar to what you have written, that there are three factors to consider in ultralight weight backpacking:Damn... thats a lot of less-than-helpful replies from some veterans here... i have to say that i am a bit disappointed.
So lets try to get some things in order and try to answer the question
(or at least point you in some kind of helpful direction):
1. Get familiar with the concept of diminishing returns. Going from a 7kg pack to a 5kg pack will make more difference than going from 5kg to 3kg. I explicitly chose to pack more things for added comfort and came out at 3.6kg and might even add more things and get closer to 4kg for my next camino. (link of 3.6kg list in signature, i'll post a screenshot of a how an example of ~2,5kg list would look at the end of the post. Feel free to compare)
2. Usually pack weight is measured in "base weight" to get some kind of means of comparison. I calculate my base weight as a worst case scenario, meaning that i calculate the bare minimum as worn weight and the maximum as weight in my pack. In practice you'll likely wear more so your pack will be even lighter than calculated.
3. Usually base weight is without consumables (like water, snacks and food), again for making things easier to compare. So usually, since going without consumeables is a bit stupid, that will make your pack in practice heavier. The lighter the baseweight the more difference the same amount of consumables will make.
4. Usually (using this word a lot) to get down to that kind of weights you'll use a frameless pack. Those get their rigidity from being properly filled. A pack to empty will not carry well. This is important! Get your other stuff first, find out how much volume that is, then buy a pack. (or figure out a way to compensate volume, like compression cords or in my case a EVA matress). A properly packed frameless backpack will easily carry 6kg or more in total weight (gear+consumables).
5. Now do your research. Unless you are extremely lucky to have a dedicated ultralight outfitter close to you, your source of information will be the internet. There is no single-one-fits-all list of stuff to buy. You have to figure out what is important for you and what you can do without.
6. Be aware that getting down to pack weights like 3kg is combination of 3 things: a) packing smart (investment=time) b) expensive stuff (investment=money) c) packing little (investment=comfort). Up to some point you can trade between those factors.
Feel free to ask more questions, but to be honest, i'd appreciate it if you did some more research into ultralight packing first and be a bit more specific in your follow up.
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Great reply! I would add, similar to what you have written, that there are three factors to consider in ultralight weight backpacking:
1. Weight
2. Durability/functionality
3. Cost.
You can optimize any two of these at a time but not the third. That is you can get low weight and high durability/function but you will have to pay a higher cost. But even cheap, less durable stuff can last over the course of a one month camino.
Why? Think about what you think you need, decide if you can carry it or not and don´t go anywhere near a set of scales. For what it is worth, a lightweight backpack will weigh about 1kg, a litre of water (the minimum you should carry) weighs another kg. That´s 1 kg left for everything else. Travel light, but don´t obsess about things that don´t matter, e.g. the measured weight of your pack.I am thinking of not exceeding 3 kg.
I never weigh my pack unless I think it is close to airline weight limits. Unless I am taking camping gear that is very unlikely. I try to keep my Camino packing to essentials and use the lightest gear that I think is suitable for the route and season. The only significant question I ask myself is "Do I need this?". If the answer is 'yes' then it goes in the bag. If 'no' then it is probably left behind. Weighing an item would make no difference to the answer so why bother?Travel light, but don´t obsess about things that don´t matter, e.g. the measured weight of your pack.
I've never heard of a 20% if body weight "rule." The advice more often in 10% of body weight.A somewhat concerning predicament.....
Assuming the 20% to body weight rule, that's a body weight of 15kg.
Are we going to witness airborne pilgrims being blown off a windy hillside?
Thanks for sharing your his. I really enjoyed itHa, like in this clip. From minute 1.33 on.
I am showing the full movie to my students on Friday as an end to our Camino course. Love this particular movie. I didn't think they would appreciate it until we'd been back a couple of weeks.Ha, like in this clip. From minute 1.33 on.
I completed the Camino Frances in September.1st Camino my pack and water weighed 15kg (1l of water incl)
learned a lot the first time and shaved 2.5kg off the second
3rd time and I was just under 10kg
next time will be less again
50+ year old male walked Frances 22 days
don't sweat the small stuff. Most take too much and jettison some, others take less than they need and buy what they require en route.
And even that is a very rough guideline. There is no evidence for the 10% ´rule´.I've never heard of a 20% if body weight "rule." The advice more often in 10% of body weight
14 pounds not including water...Can someone suggest how light was your backpack? I am thinking of not exceeding 3 kg. Is that possible? I would love to hear from those who had travelled with around that weight. I am not getting any company to carry by baggage for me as that defeats the purpose of going on the pilgrim.
But, really, this is one of those silly debates. Pack what you need.
I haven’t been brave enough to do it yet but there is the “wear one, wash one” option which takes my normally 6kg pack down to 2 1/2kg but it is a very harsh sift to go basic and use the waist bag…one day thoughI was going to say, if you really wanted to, you could walk with a plastic shopping bag containing some spare underwear, maybe a long spare shirt, a 500ml bottle of water and a toothbrush. Just the minimum of clothes to wear whilst you wash and dry your walking clothes.
Maybe lay that out, and work 'up' from there.
What would make sense to add?
What would make life more comfortable for me and others around me? (i.e. soap)
I'm sure with care you could manage to keep the weight as low as 3kg.
Most of us carry a bit more, but I think that's just that we all balance up that weight v comfort decision to the level of comfort we are hayy to drop to. In my case I wouldn't walk with my foam roller, knee braces, 3 sets of socks, good rain gear, my sun umbrella............it all adds up! But I make sure what I carry is the lightest version in the main, and I don't carry stuff that I don't use.
An example of that balancing act, is pack, at 1.2 kgs its not light!
But it's really comfortable and I have carried it about 3,000 kms on Camino so far.
Do keep us posted with how your pack planning goes.
Oh. another thought.
With only 3kg you might think of some form of hip belt / pack rather than a backpack.
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I like the way you think…but when I look at the lists of items in pack packs, having walked a part of the Camino with 12kgs, don’t know how to reduce the weight. Seeing folks saying that they walk with 3 to 6 kgs makes me wonder..Walk with what you need, and no more. I have never weighed my pack. I have always had a strong back. When I feel off-balance or overloaded I re-distribute the weight in my pack and that usually solves it.
I think a lot of people way over-think and over-plan. We all are so obsessed with controlling every detail of our camino, when the camino is all about letting go of control.
If you can't reduce the weight intuitively you can go the "hard" way and put every single item on your backpack on a (kitchen) scale, note its weight and put into excel or lighterpack. All the added weight should sum to the total of your packed backpack. Then you can go compare with other lists. See who does what differently and takes different items. After that, you can start the thought process on why someone has less weight in a given area and if it is an option for you to optimize at any point.I like the way you think…but when I look at the lists of items in pack packs, having walked a part of the Camino with 12kgs, don’t know how to reduce the weight. Seeing folks saying that they walk with 3 to 6 kgs makes me wonder..
I have been training with 10 kgs but need to add a CPAP machine, water and some food so we are talking a total of 12 kgs maximum. I have shortened my list down to what I consider bare minimum and still arrive at 10 kgs. It worries me because I failed one Camino already (Olvidado);and don’t want to fail again this time on the Francès.If you can't reduce the weight intuitively you can go the "hard" way and put every single item on your backpack on a (kitchen) scale, note its weight and put into excel or lighterpack. All the added weight should sum to the total of your packed backpack. Then you can go compare with other lists. See who does what differently and takes different items. After that, you can start the thought process on why someone has less weight in a given area and if it is an option for you to optimize at any point.
This is not to say you have to do everything exactly like someone else. But - for example - if your clothing sums up to 3,5kg and the the clothing of another 1,5kg you can still decide if you, for personal/luxury/whatever reasons want to keep that higher weight or start optimizing down. It will be a trade of of some point between comfort and weight, but on the other hand you can be quite comfortable and very light.
A detailled list also makes it a lot easier for everybody helping you to give substantiated recommendations...
(and personally, i have absolutely no idea how much stuff i'd need to pack to even get to 6kg, much less 12kg.)
Well you could post your list and let everyone pick through it... Its a risk, but if might help you reconsider what you are considering essential. How much does the pack weigh while empty?I have been training with 10 kgs but need to add a CPAP machine, water and some food so we are talking a total of 12 kgs maximum. I have shortened my list down to what I consider bare minimum and still arrive at 10 kgs. It worries me because I failed one Camino already (Olvidado);and don’t want to fail again this time on the Francès.
The Deuter rucksack weighs 1250 grams or 1kg 250 empty.Well you could post your list and let everyone pick through it... Its a risk, but if might help you reconsider what you are considering essential. How much does the pack weigh while empty?
Last year my backpack weight was between 4-5 kg food and water included .Can someone suggest how light was your backpack? I am thinking of not exceeding 3 kg. Is that possible? I would love to hear from those who had travelled with around that weight. I am not getting any company to carry by baggage for me as that defeats the purpose of going on the pilgrim.
I have mentioned to reduce everything to 10 kilos without waterThe Deuter rucksack weighs 1250 grams or 1kg 250 empty.
You are definitely an adventurer!Never bothered to weigh my back pack. I just put in what I need and add the occasional bottle of wine!
You didn't fail. You walked, learned, and found a more suitable end point for your first Camino. Keep training, trimming your gear weight, and have no worries. Very best of luck and Buen Camino!I have been training with 10 kgs but need to add a CPAP machine, water and some food so we are talking a total of 12 kgs maximum. I have shortened my list down to what I consider bare minimum and still arrive at 10 kgs. It worries me because I failed one Camino already (Olvidado);and don’t want to fail again this time on the Francès.
Your comment is much appreciated. I leave Bayonne, France for Pamplona on April 4th and then the Camino Frances probably to Burgos. I would like to take my time to reach Santiago and then walk down to Porto, Portugal..so the second leg of the trip might well occur in September. Hola el Meseta y mas.You didn't fail. You walked, learned, and found a more suitable end point for your first Camino. Keep training, trimming your gear weight, and have no worries. Very best of luck and Buen Camino!
@BarbaraW I would love to see your packing list.4.552 k first time
4.339 k second time.
Small older woman, 20 l pack. Silk sleeping bag liner + down blanket. Doesn't include weight of water or any food. Spring/autumn caminos. Minimising pack weight to give me the freedom of carrying my own pack, hence gram-counting.
My pack weighed 10 kilos and I didn't use a baggage service. I know some people have to.Can someone suggest how light was your backpack? I am thinking of not exceeding 3 kg. Is that possible? I would love to hear from those who had travelled with around that weight. I am not getting any company to carry by baggage for me as that defeats the purpose of going on the pilgrim.
I agree. Sometimes it feels as if stripping back on pack weight has become a game in its own right and in the more extreme cases a fetish. Going far beyond practical limits. I think that very few people who are physically capable of walking a Camino are genuinely incapable of carrying the sensible minimum of gear needed.My advice, bring what you need for a safe journey of varying conditions and forget about how light you can go.
bring what you need for a safe journey
carrying the sensible minimum of gear needed
I am not arguing that any particular weight or packing list is "enough" or "not enough". That will depend so much on circumstances. Time of year, route, choice of accommodation, and so on. Too many variables. But I have in mind for example questions like "Should I take a sleeping bag in April?" when so many albergues have withdrawn blankets, heating may be minimal or completely absent, and overnight temperatures may drop to near zero in some areas. I would consider leaving my sleeping bag behind in a situation like that just to save pack weight a step too far.But please refrain from the factually wrong statement that lighter packs are somehow stupid because one would not have "enough gear" in it.
I can agree with that. But then, bringing a sleeping bag is not what makes a pack heavy and the somewhat applied assumption was (or it least felt like it to me) that optimizing for weight would imply doing questionable choices that one might later regret. (like not taking a sleeping bag in april).I am not arguing that any particular weight or packing list is "enough" or "not enough". That will depend so much on circumstances. Time of year, route, choice of accommodation, and so on. Too many variables. But I have in mind for example questions like "Should I take a sleeping bag in April?" when so many albergues have withdrawn blankets, heating may be minimal or completely absent, and overnight temperatures may drop to near zero in some areas. I would consider leaving my sleeping bag behind in a situation like that just to save pack weight a step too far.
"@BarbaraW I would love to see your packing list.Do you have any light weight items you particularly love or recommend?"
@BarbaraW Thank you so much for sharing, that is really helpful.I invested in 3 lightweight bits of kit, which have been used a lot:
Marmot Precip rain jacket 269 gm; Exped Fold 22l dry bag 28gm (all clothing and bedding compressed into this, and it could hold everything in my pack so I didn’t need a rain cover or poncho); Sea to Summit Airlite towel 52x135cm 72 gm.
Rather than take adaptors I bought a 6gm continental 2 pin USB plug.
But the items of which I am sinfully proud are those I made myself:
Rain trousers 53gm; drawstring bag for toiletries, and pouch for meds etc16gm; base layer leggings (cut-off 60 denier tights) 47gm; small cotton lawn shoulder bag for credential etc 16gm; silk money belt 14gm; silk sleeping bag liner 67gm; silk robe to wear in bed:75gm.
The major saving, both in weight and financially was a quilt cum poncho. This was quite a project and involved locking myself in a bathroom wearing a mask and rain smock to transfer down from an old duvet into the channelled bag! It weighs 560gm and is very warm and compressible.
In your opinion.I am not getting any company to carry by baggage for me as that defeats the purpose of going on the pilgrim.
Good on you, Ewen!In your opinion.
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