Just for Fun, Packing Light Tips

[KJFSophie]

Guilty: I cut the middles out of my q-tip swabs to save .25 ounces...Hey, it adds up!

 

[trecile]

View attachment 125425Guilty: I cut the middles out of my q-tip swabs to save .25 ounces...Hey, it adds up!

I never use cotton swabs for anything. I'm always curious why people bring them.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I cut the middles out of my q-tip swabs

I cut the middles out of my shoe laces. I found that I only need to tie the top ends of the laces so I save the weight of the unnecessary middles. Bonus: better ventilation.

 

[KJFSophie]

I cut the middles out of my shoe laces. I found that I only need to tie the top ends of the laces so I save the weight of the unnecessary middles. Bonus: better ventilation.

Akin to a poster on this forum at some point stating she cut the 'gusset/crotch' out of her underwear ( to pee in the woods under her macabi skirt and less pack weight ) Bonus: better ventilation?

 

[trecile]

( to pee in the woods under her macabre skirt and less pack weight )

I know that you meant Macabi skirt, but this made me laugh.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I know that you meant Macabi skirt, but this made me laugh.

I think those skirts are macabre, so they are not for me, although some gals do love them.

 

[steve 217]

Its an old one but still a good one tooth brush handle cut down and drilled holes in the remaining handle .

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I cut the middles out of my q-tip swabs

Wouldn't it be nice if covid testing Q-tip swabs were only this long.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I h

Its an old one but still a good one tooth brush handle cut down and drilled holes in the remaining handle .

I shortened a toothbrush by about 2cm once - not for lightness but to make it fit in my wash kit. Very awkward to handle, so it made me question the point of it.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Akin to a poster on this forum at some point stating she cut the 'gusset/crotch' out of her underwear ( to pee in the woods under her macabre skirt and less pack weight ) Bonus: better ventilation?

I thought while wearing a Macabi skirt that you went, "Commando," like wearing a Kilt.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I never use cotton swabs for anything. I'm always curious why people bring them.

If it's for probing around in their ears then a resounding NO! As the clinical technician who fitted me for hearing aids said "The reason God made your little finger bigger than the hole in your head was so that you couldn't poke yourself in the brain!"
It probably sounds better in Portuguese - he's from Matosinhos.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Its an old one but still a good one tooth brush handle cut down and drilled holes in the remaining handle .

That doesn't go far enough. Cut each bristle to half its length and then pluck out every other one.

I should mention though that there is another camp that argues against this. They recommend that you should do this the other way around.

 

[trecile]

I should mention though that there is another camp that argues against this. They recommend that you should do this the other way around.

I agree - it's probably easier to pluck out every other one while they are still longer.

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I agree - it's probably easier to pluck out every other one while they are still longer.

I'm surprised that you aren't in the camp of
it's definitely easier to pluck out every other one while they are still longer.

 

[trecile]

I'm surprised that you aren't in the camp of
it's definitely easier to pluck out every other one while they are still longer.

Having never tried either method I couldn't say definitively.

 

[KJFSophie]

I think those skirts are macabre, so they are not for me, although some gals do love them.

Not for me either, though I had bought into the hype on my first Camino...I decided I looked like a walking tent and left it home! lol

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Wouldn't it be nice if covid testing Q-tip swabs were only this long.

To be lost up the nose or down the throat? Mmm maybe not!

 

[Bert45]

I saw a lady in an albergue who was tearing pages out of her guide book to the camino. I asked her what she was doing. She said that, as she advanced along the camino, she tore out the pages she would no longer need, to make the book lighter. (True!)

 

[Introibo]

Never mind cutting your toothbrush in half, if you're able to, leave your teeth at home.

 

[Keith H]

I saw a lady in an albergue who was tearing pages out of her guide book to the camino. I asked her what she was doing. She said that, as she advanced along the camino, she tore out the pages she would no longer need, to make the book lighter. (True!)

This one makes the most sense!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

My guidebooks are too special to me to tear out the pages as I go. I occasionally refer back to them, including notes I have written in the margins when wanting to jog my memory. They bring me satisfaction long after I return home.

 

[Robo]

My guidebooks are too special to me to tear out the pages as I go. I occasionally refer back to them, including notes I have written in the margins when wanting to jog my memory. They bring me satisfaction long after I return home.

I scan the guidebooks onto my phone to save weight!

I only carry the book cover that has the section maps on it..........
I jot notes on that.

 

[Robo]

I carry a physio foam roller.
Great for avoiding shin splints and stretching hips, calves etc.
But I cut it down as small as I could
Only weighs 189 gms now! (The orange thing in the photo)

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I scan the guidebooks onto my phone to save weight!

I only carry the book cover that has the section maps on it..........
I jot notes on that.

Actually I've been scanning my guidebooks the past couple of times, but I like and use my guidebooks at home for months before I go. I add notes from the comments and advice given on the forum. I delete the scanned pages day by day on the Camino as I go along.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I carry a physio foam roller.
Great for avoiding shin splints and stretching hips, calves etc.
But I cut it down as small as I could
Only weighs 189 gms now! (The orange thing in the photo)

View attachment 125567

That roller looks huge @Robo. It must compete for space in your backpack with the rice cooker.

 

[Robo]

That roller looks huge @Robo. It must compete for space in your backpack with the rice cooker.

LOL. It is quite big, but sits under the pack externally very well!
It acts like a pack stand!

 

[Keith H]

I carry a physio foam roller.
Great for avoiding shin splints and stretching hips, calves etc.
But I cut it down as small as I could
Only weighs 189 gms now! (The orange thing in the photo)

View attachment 125567

I’m definitely looking at adding this to the list. This can help so many people stay on the road. Totally under rated!

 

[Pugliese]

You're all missing a trick. I just fill my pack with helium filled balloons - simple

 

[Keith H]

You're all missing a trick. I just fill my pack with helium filled balloons - simple

Pro tip right there!

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

I scan the guidebooks onto my phone to save weight!

I delete the scanned pages day by day on the Camino as I go along.

Chris gets extra lightness points.

 

[David Tallan]

My best tip for light backpacking is to not pack your fears. Leave them behind and it will ripple out and leave a much lighter backpack.

 

[trecile]

My best tip for light backpacking is to not pack your fears. Leave them behind and it will ripple out and leave a much lighter backpack.

And also leave your expectations at home.

 

[David Tallan]

And also leave your expectations at home.

That's also my advice. It probably creates a greater improvement to one's overall Camino, although it may not directly affect the weight of the backpack as much.

 

[Former member 92300]

I cut the tags off of anything I can. Not sure I have removed enough tags to actually make any difference lol... but at least I no longer have the annoying tags!

Sometimes I trim the straps on my packs. I don't do it with my most expensive gear - but a cheap fanny pack with a long strap for sure.

I saw someone say trim toothbrush - considered it - but those end up being too short and annoying lol.

Digital anything that can be digital instead of print.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

You're all missing a trick. I just fill my pack with helium filled balloons - simple

The thought occurred that, if you did this and then popped the balloons, you could then remove the shredded rubber and lighten the pack even further?

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I cut the tags off of anything I can. Not sure I have removed enough tags to actually make any difference lol... but at least I no longer have the annoying tags!

Sometimes I trim the straps on my packs. I don't do it with my most expensive gear - but a cheap fanny pack with a long strap for sure.

I saw someone say trim toothbrush - considered it - but those end up being too short and annoying lol.

Digital anything that can be digital instead of print.

I have never trimmed a strap pack without later regretting it and the weight saving is minimal anyway. My solution nowadays is to roll it up and secure it. I use a strip of velcro tape (the kind you use for binding computer wires together) but a simple elastic band will do.



totally agree about the toothbrush.

 

[Former member 92300]

I have never trimmed a strap pack without later regretting it and the weight saving is minimal anyway. My solution nowadays is to roll it up and secure it. I use a strip of velcro tape (the kind you use for binding computer wires together) but a simple elastic band will do.

View attachment 125689

totally agree about the toothbrush.

I have had good luck with trimming straps - but as I said - I don't do it on my best packs for fear of regretting it later! But that $10 fanny pack? Or a cheap backpack? I will gladly trim those straps! I burn the edges so they don't fray - so far that has worked. I do worry about the buckles sliding off but hasn't happened yet. And yes - I will sometimes use an elastic band to secure loose straps.

 

[Scott Sweeney]

Why would anyone take that many q-tips to begin with. Only take a fraction of them you probably saved more than you cut off.

 

[Dahoum]

Akin to a poster on this forum at some point stating she cut the 'gusset/crotch' out of her underwear ( to pee in the woods under her macabi skirt and less pack weight ) Bonus: better ventilation?

Far too much information. :-0

 

[BillW]

I carry a physio foam roller.
Great for avoiding shin splints and stretching hips, calves etc.
But I cut it down as small as I could
Only weighs 189 gms now! (The orange thing in the photo)

View attachment 125567

How did you carry it? I have a small roller I was planning on bringing with me in August, but I'm short on space within the backpack. Did you find a good way to carry it outside of the pack?

 

[sharonmonty]

I have never trimmed a strap pack without later regretting it and the weight saving is minimal anyway. My solution nowadays is to roll it up and secure it. I use a strip of velcro tape (the kind you use for binding computer wires together) but a simple elastic band will do.

View attachment 125689

totally agree about the toothbrush.

Great idea. I’ve never trimmed as worried I will regret later

 

[Keith H]

How did you carry it? I have a small roller I was planning on bringing with me in August, but I'm short on space within the backpack. Did you find a good way to carry it outside of the pack?

He shows a photo of it strapped below a few posts down

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

He shows a photo of it strapped below a few posts down

See https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/attachments/1652759771402-png.125568/

 

[Robo]

How did you carry it? I have a small roller I was planning on bringing with me in August, but I'm short on space within the backpack. Did you find a good way to carry it outside of the pack?

I just used the pack straps outside at the bottom. I think they are designed to hold a sleeping bag or tent.

 

[ktchnofdngr]

How did you carry it? I have a small roller I was planning on bringing with me in August, but I'm short on space within the backpack. Did you find a good way to carry it outside of the pack?

Rather than a full foam roller, I have one of those hard foam roller trigger point balls. It’s about the size of a tennis ball and less than 4 oz. It uses very little space, but I can roll out what I need to.

There is a bigger one you can get that is about the size of a grapefruit if you feel like the smaller size is too intense. I’ve gotten used to the smaller one, though, and it is downright awesome for working on your arches.

 

[MarkN]

Actually I've been scanning my guidebooks the past couple of times, but I like and use my guidebooks at home for months before I go. I add notes from the comments and advice given on the forum. I delete the scanned pages day by day on the Camino as I go along.

Great idea! And deleting them as you use them saves weight on your phone too!

 

[MarkN]

Walking the English Way right now (rainy day).
As I can't make my pack lighter now unless I want to give something up, I have another plan.
Pontedeume looks to have some great restaurants. So taking the rule your pack should be 10% of your body weight... My plan is to eat and drink a lot tonight!
Perhaps if I work hard enough it'll be a few percent lighter tomorrow?!

 

[Introibo]

My plan is to eat and drink a lot tonight!

Top marks for "thinking outside the box"

 

[BillW]

I just used the pack straps outside at the bottom. I think they are designed to hold a sleeping bag or tent.

I didn't think my pack had those, but it does. Works like a charm. Thanks!

 

[lt56ny]

This one makes the most sense!

I did the same on my first camino. I cut the pages I would need for the day and put the rest of the book away. It made things easier. This was pre-smart phone days for me. Now I just use apps and those are even alot lighter!