I'm probably taking too much ...

[sally_M]

Ok, here's my packing list, totaling 10.5 kg (23 lbs) not including food & water (another 2 kg) or what I will be wearing. Any input on how to lighten my load is welcome. The CPAP machine is the biggest culprit in terms of weight, but I think I need it. Without it I'd be down near 8 kg / 19 lbs (not including food & water). I know my sleeping bag is warmer (and heavier) than I will need. I thought about getting a 45-deg. F bag, but was worried I might get cold. And anything in between that and what I have doesn't seem to save enough weight to be worth the price. I already cut 1 kg by replacing my 30-year old backpack with a new, lighter model. I have been on 3 training hikes of 8 km and 200-300 m elevation gain with the fully loaded pack, and it feels ok. (A lot more comfortable than the 18 kg pack I have carried on weekend backpacking trips). I know we should have done some longer training hikes. We are only planning to walk ~15 km per day on the camino, and we will have time to start out walking less and build up to that.

Anyway, here's the list...

To wear:
zip-off pants
1 short-sleeve quick-dry shirt
liner socks
medium SmartWool socks
underwear
bra
sunhat
bandana (also use as washcloth & eye shade at night/on plane)
money belt including: passport, D.L., bankcard 2 credit cards, travel insurace card, apartment key
glasses
hiking shoes w/ insoles
lip balm (in pocket)

To Carry: (masses are in grams)
2 trekking poles 500
Gregory Sage 55 L pack 1136

attached to pack or in waist-belt pockets:
plastic carabiner 6
hand sanitizer 37
small swiss army knife (w/can opener) 57
compass/whistle w/matches, needle, thread &1 paper clip inside; 2-3 feet of duct tape wrapped around outside 49
scallop shell 26

In top pouch of pack:
bootlace repair kit (my Salomon boots have specialized laces) 20
copy of passport; extra passport photo 16
sunglasses w soft case 50
spoon in sandwich bag 9
headlamp 78
toilet paper, 1/2 roll 47
blister kit: six 1.5x 2" thick molesskin, small scissors, 1 pkt 2nd skin; 4 Dr. Scholl's blister covers; 71
1 tube glide (or small tub vaseline?) for feet 58
sunscreen 106
map book 131
Spanish phrase book--find a smaller one or tear out pages? 195
Give Us This Day (mass readings in English) 175
first aid kit: (21 Apsirin, 12 antihistamine; 8 sudafed; 3 Ambien; 6 Loperimide; 4 pepto bismol; 2 acid reducer; 6 iodine prep pads; 12 alcohol pads; 1/2 elastic bandage; neosporin; sting-eeze; 4 reg bandaids; 2 XL bandaids; 1 knuckle bandaid; 1 sterile pad; small roll of gauze; tweezers from Swiss army knife) total mass 127
printed maps, albergue lists, plane tickets, hotel confirmation ??
small notebook & pen 73
camera with case 396
insect repellant (19% DEET) 47

In open pouch on outside of pack:
pack rain cover 157
rain coat 274
rain pants 202
Teva sandals 493

in a dry sack at top of pack, for easy access on the trail:
1 pr liner socks 24
1 pr med SmartWool socks 74
long-sleeved button-up shirt (quick-dry) 221
SmartWool long-sleeve pull-over shirt 172
medium weight fleece 272
wool hat 90
thin gloves 35

In a one-gallon zip-lock bag:
multipurpose liquid soap (Wilderness Wash) (1.3 oz) 47
toothbrush & cover 24
small toothpaste (.75 oz x 2) 51
small deoderant 38
small comb 11
small dental floss 7
nail clipper 14
suction hook 13
clothes line w/ 8 clips 30
11 safety pins 3
flat sink plug 22
4 Airborne, 21 calcium; 21 multivit 94
callous grinder 27

in a dry sack near bottom of pack (for use in the albergue):
camp towel 186
1 underwear 41
1 bra 36
1 liner socks 24
1 med SmartWool 92
long johns (for sleeping and evening wear, with skirt, when i wash my pants) 168
skirt to wear when washing pants 155
4 pr ear plugs & 9 Q-tips in small ziplock 10
silk sleeping bag liner 158

also in pack:
3 L Playtpus (empty weight) 120
sleeping bag in compression dry sack 1563
CPAP breathing machine (for sleep apnea) with power cord, mask & hose 1918
extension cord 222
power plug adaptor 13


Total: 10511

Daily expendables:
1.5 L water 1500
Lunch & emergency food 500

Maybe:
2nd short-sleeve quick-dry shirt? 132
plastic mug? 63
3rd underwear? 41

Of the items on the maybe list, I am most likely to bring the mug, for a cup of hot tea in the morning or evening. But then again, I probably need to be cutting things off the list, rather than adding to it.

I'm thinking I can get by without a second short-sleeved shirt. My plan for warm weather is to hike in the long-sleeved, button-up quick-dry shirt and wear the short sleeve shirt with one of my two warm layers (merino wool shirt and medium fleece) in the evening and for sleeping, while I wash & dry the long-sleeved shirt. On cold days I will hike in the short sleeved shirt with merino wool and long-sleeved, button up shirt on top of that. Then I will wear the fleece in the evening and at night while I wash the clothes I wore during the day.

We leave on Sunday!! I can't wait!

 

[vagabondette]

I would get rid of the following:

apartment key - leave it at home with a friend
plastic carabiner - brought one, never used it.
copy of passport - email yourself a copy
extra passport photo - won't need it
blister kit: six 1.5x 2" thick molesskin, small scissors, 1 pkt 2nd skin; 4 Dr. Scholl's blister covers - I would pare this down. Have you tested the moleskin? I hate and most people I have met using it feel the same and switch. Test it out.
map book - what all is in this? I am carrying the aubergue PDF and that is it and have never needed anything else.
Spanish phrase book - write down a few key phrases ( check the link in my Sig) and leave this at home
first aid kit - way too much stuff IMO. Carry what you need to get to the next town where you can resupply if you need it. My first aid kit = tube of glide and 4 blister bandaids (yet to be used)
printed maps, albergue lists, plane tickets, hotel confirmation - why printed maps if you have a map book? Just bring e one aubergue PDF and be done. What hotel conf? Bring the plane ticket to show customs just in case then dump it. No need to carry it.
insect repellant (19% DEET) - leave it
Teva sandals - bring lightweight flip flops you can use in the shower that don't rub your heels
long-sleeved button-up shirt (quick-dry) pick 2 long sleeve items. Don't need 3
SmartWool long-sleeve pull-over shirt 172
medium weight fleece 272
wool hat - wear your sun hat
suction hook - for what? Leave it
clothes line w/ 8 clips 30 - haven't yet used mine.
11 safety pins - bring 5
4 Airborne, 21 calcium; 21 multivit - leave it
callous grinder - leave it, callouses help stop blisters. Her a pedi when you get home.
camp towel - bring a small scarf for towel and to keep chill away
skirt to wear when washing pants - I am walking in my skirt and love it. I would leave the zipoffs at home and bring the skirt to walk in and long johns to wear under/while washing

CPAP breathing machine (for sleep apnea) with power cord, mask & hose 1918
extension cord 222
power plug adaptor 13

Send the cpap stuff ahead each day


Maybe:
2nd short-sleeve quick-dry shirt? - no
plastic mug? - no
3rd underwear? - no

But then again, I probably need to be cutting things off the list, rather than adding to it.
^^^^^^^^^ this

 

[emchln]

i am planning to walk in april 2013 and I have a cpap machine too and I am worried it would be too heavy , i was thinking of getting one of those mouth guard things .
i really like to know how you make out with that because I am worried about it
does your machine need distilled water too ?

 

[zammy]

no need for sleeping bag, take liner or sheets and piloow case. no need for more weight cutting.

 

[letendre]

We leave on Sunday!! I can't wait!

You're right when you want to walk with the lightest backpack.
If you start on sunday ! It's too late but you can see our pakage on these pages.
http://alaquarelle.wordpress.com/2010/07/24/clothing/
http://alaquarelle.wordpress.com/20...-what-to-bring-in-your-backpack-for-st-james/
Buen camino

 

[Tia Valeria]

If you are comfy with the weight then that is OK. If not I would add in the extra pair of undies, in case of bad drying weather, but I would leave out the sandals and use Crocs - half the weight. The sleeping bag will probably be needed and your CPAP (better safe than sorry). As you say it is possible to get a lighter bag (ours weigh 750gms) comfort rating about 45 (5C), but you probably are out of time to get one
Buen Camino

 

[sally_M]

Thanks everyone!

This gives me some great ideas on how to pare down. I will definitely cut out the phrase book and print out a page of phrases, and will pare down my first aid kit. I have used moleskin before and found it ok.

I could still make a trip to REI tomorrow if you think a 45 degree bag would be sufficient for the month of October (Leon to Santiago).

I looked for Crocs at REI and target, but couldn't find any. What kind of stores carry them? I thought I had seen them at REI a few years ago.

emchin-- my CPAP does not have a humidified, so no need for distilled water. I'll let you know how it goes. I am indeed keeping in mind the option of paying for the service of having it delivered to my next stop each day. But I think I will start out trying to carry it.

Sally

 

[Tia Valeria]

We used the 45 degree bags in May, without liners to save weight. (Bag weight 750gms.) There are some of similar weight with comfort level at a slightly lower temperature.

Our Crocs came from Amazon (Crocs Caymen - clog style) but sizing this time was not consistent, they are smaller than our old ones :evil:
Buen Camino

 

[CaptBuddy]

I had a list of stuff like yours. Only for the 5 days my wife and I had planned from Sarria to Santiago. I had everything just right. Smartwool socks, our favorite boots, the perfect Columbia jackets, microfiber towels, extra bootlaces, perfect hats, etc. Everything planned out perfectly. Even got some new light weight camera gear.
We were extremely ready.
Then, I figured a smart person would mail all that stuff to his cousin in Spain and not have to carry it on the flights.
Well, we finished our Camino 3 days ago, and our Perfect Camino Gear is still in Customs in Madrid.
When we realized we were not getting our stuff without paying a ridiculous tax assessment, we bought just the necessary items here in Santander (we had good shoes and our packs), and we went on our way. The first of several challenges.
We had the best experience we've ever had. And believe me, in my almost 65 years, I've done some fantastic things.
Vagabondette gives some good advice. It is amazing how much stuff is simply abandoned along side the Camino. One woman we met had discarded her electric toothbrush for a small plastic one she got free from a hotel.

Have a great time. Buen Camino.

http://www.bandbstuff.com/spain_journal_2012

 

[scruffy1]

Sally
If its not too late do bring along a electric expander, goes into a one holer plug and turns it into 4. Many albergues have limited access to electricity and many, not this one, but many pilgrims need juice for their phones, computers, and goodness knows what else. Your health concerns naturally outweigh any ipod but why cause inconvience? Cheap light, pick one up in STPP or Spain to fit the plugs there.
Buen Camino

S

 

[anniethenurse]

...bring along a electric expander, goes into a one holer plug and turns it into 4.
S

I agree scruffy1 - that is what i do.
And don´t forget to donate some extra for for the electricity you use.

 

[dougfitz]

How reliant are you on your CPAP machine? I can do without it for short periods, and didn't bring mine to Spain or Norway.
I warn fellow pilgrims that I snore, but I know I won't be the only one.

 

[sally_M]

I've been on a 2-night backpacking trip without it. I survived and slept marginally. I'm worried that with 30 days of poor sleep my immune system would become weakened, or at the very least, I would be pretty cranky.

 

[dougfitz]

I understand. On my recent pilgrimage, I know I was still snoring badly after eight days, but less so a wèek later and at about 20 days was not snoring at all. At the start symptoms like excessive daytime sleepiness had returned and needed to be managed. I have also had specialist advice that short periods where I don't use CPAP won't result in lasting harm. This gave me some confidence in my decision not to take my machine.

 

[SomewhereInMontana]

I know my suggestions are too late for your trip, but perhaps they will be of value to someone else.

Add: Eyeglass Screwdriver (you might be able to find one that fits in the corkscrew of your swiss army knife. My recommendation: http://www.amazon.com/SCREWDRIVER-Comma ... B59PFJ0DLG
Add: Spare eyeglasses
Add: 3" Ace bandage
Add: spare ZipLock bags
Add: plastic bowl or Lexan cup
Add: spare batteries for camera
Replace Clothesline with 50' paracord
Replace regular spoon with Lexan spoon or spork
Replace Sleeping Bag with Sleeping Quilt (check out Therm-A-Rest: http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/ ... n/category)
Replace Compass/Whistle combo with a quality yet compact compass and a separate whistle. My experience is that most combo compass/whistles are junk. My recommendation would be a Silva Guide (http://www.amazon.com/Adventure-Medical ... e+survival)
Replace / upgrade small scissors with bandage scissors.
Replace Matches with a disposable Bic lighter.
Regarding the Insect Repellant: replace Deet with Permethrin.
Regarding the First Aid Kit: I would beef up the first aid kit with extra bandades, povidone-iodine pads, and alcohol pads.
Regarding the Swiss Army knife: go with one of the newer Wenger models with the locking blade.
Regarding the small notebook: go with a "Rite In The Rain" notepad: http://www.amazon.com/Rite-Rain-Green-T ... n+the+rain
Regarding the soap: I like Dr. Bronner's Magic Soap (peppermint): http://www.rei.com/product/407037/dr-br ... -soap-4-oz