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Hi,
My friend and I are leaving Aug 27th with plans to start from SJPP on Aug 30th. We have essentially until Oct 8th to finish (return flight from Madrid on Oct 10th), which I think is more than enough time. But I think I'm having last minute cold feet (actually, hot blistered feet) and wanted some advice.
I have been training for months. Been using my backpack for the last month and slowly adding weight each week. But, I'm now struggling with terrible blisters. I don't know if it is the hot and humid August weather in NC or not, but I fear that it is the weight of the pack. So, I have decided that I may need to exchange my backpack for a smaller day pack and use a transport service. I do NOT want to risk stress fractures, continued blisters/pain or needing to stop and come home early. This Camino is about the spirituality and the chance to meditate on and resolve some difficult life experiences of the past few years. It's a chance to get to know myself, heal myself, and rediscover my personal strength and confidence.
That being said, I still have lots of questions:
1) Any recommendations of size of day pack? 28L or less?
2) Is Jacotrans the most reliable service? I haven't read any problems with them in recent threads, but just want to double check. I have emailed them a list of questions as well.
3) We have not booked our accommodations past Orrison. Will that be a problem with the luggage transport service? Or are they flexible?
Any other pearls of wisdom are welcome as well.
Thanks in advance for your time and advice!
Hi,
My friend and I are leaving Aug 27th with plans to start from SJPP on Aug 30th. We have essentially until Oct 8th to finish (return flight from Madrid on Oct 10th), which I think is more than enough time. But I think I'm having last minute cold feet (actually, hot blistered feet) and wanted some advice.
I have been training for months. Been using my backpack for the last month and slowly adding weight each week. But, I'm now struggling with terrible blisters. I don't know if it is the hot and humid August weather in NC or not, but I fear that it is the weight of the pack. So, I have decided that I may need to exchange my backpack for a smaller day pack and use a transport service. I do NOT want to risk stress fractures, continued blisters/pain or needing to stop and come home early. This Camino is about the spirituality and the chance to meditate on and resolve some difficult life experiences of the past few years. It's a chance to get to know myself, heal myself, and rediscover my personal strength and confidence.
That being said, I still have lots of questions:
1) Any recommendations of size of day pack? 28L or less?
2) Is Jacotrans the most reliable service? I haven't read any problems with them in recent threads, but just want to double check. I have emailed them a list of questions as well.
Thanks in advance for your time and advice!
Most people I know have around 32 L for their backpack for the Camino. You shouldn't try to hike more than 10% of your body weight.Hi,
My friend and I are leaving Aug 27th with plans to start from SJPP on Aug 30th. We have essentially until Oct 8th to finish (return flight from Madrid on Oct 10th), which I think is more than enough time. But I think I'm having last minute cold feet (actually, hot blistered feet) and wanted some advice.
I have been training for months. Been using my backpack for the last month and slowly adding weight each week. But, I'm now struggling with terrible blisters. I don't know if it is the hot and humid August weather in NC or not, but I fear that it is the weight of the pack. So, I have decided that I may need to exchange my backpack for a smaller day pack and use a transport service. I do NOT want to risk stress fractures, continued blisters/pain or needing to stop and come home early. This Camino is about the spirituality and the chance to meditate on and resolve some difficult life experiences of the past few years. It's a chance to get to know myself, heal myself, and rediscover my personal strength and confidence.
That being said, I still have lots of questions:
1) Any recommendations of size of day pack? 28L or less?
2) Is Jacotrans the most reliable service? I haven't read any problems with them in recent threads, but just want to double check. I have emailed them a list of questions as well.
3) We have not booked our accommodations past Orrison. Will that be a problem with the luggage transport service? Or are they flexible?
Any other pearls of wisdom are welcome as well.
Thanks in advance for your time and advice!
Have you tried the liners (or a light weight synthetic sock) by themselves?Even this combo (which I used for five 39 mile Avon Walks with great success) failed me when I started adding weight to the pack. I then tried Smart Wool socks with liners. . .but they did not work either. I tried Wright Socks double layer lightweight cool mesh socks with a little better success.
I have the wool socks but notthe liners. No one I've known who has gone used them. I met a woman last weekend that brought an alternative to her hiking boots so I'll be bringing my Keen's.Hello Everyone,
Thank you for the wonderful advice. I definitely appreciate it. I did not train at all this week and the blisters are healing nicely. As far as requests for more information:
1) I bought a pair of keen hiking shoes. I wore them in on walks and around work before I started training with the pack. I was able to do 12 miles without problem in them BEFORE I started wearing the backpack. They were a half size larger than my normal size to allow for feet swelling. A full size larger in all the shoes I tried on where waaayy to big and my heels would lift too much. Half-size felt much better.
I have since bought a pair of New Balance Trail Running shoes and have been wearing them to work to start breaking them in. The downside is that they are not waterproof. The good side is I feel like I'm walking on a cloud.
2) My back ups are keen hiking sandals.
3) The blistersare on the bottom of my heels and under the balls of my feet. Very painful with each step!
4) My go to socks are Thorlo padded moisture wicking socks and I put Burts Bee's coconut foot cream on my heels, balls of feet and toes. Even this combo (which I used for five 39 mile Avon Walks with great success) failed me when I started adding weight to the pack. I then tried Smart Wool socks with liners. . .but they did not work either. I tried Wright Socks double layer lightweight cool mesh socks with a little better success. I am religious about changing my socks every 2-2.5 hours depending upon the distance I am walking.
5) I know my pack was way too heavy. When I wore it on my home scale it was about 17 lbs before my water bottle. I'm sure I could save some weight if I didn't take my peroxide-based contact lens cleaner and some other items.
I did return my very large pack and get a smaller one. It feels much better and will force me to get rid of all the unneccesary stuff. I also went ahead and got a dufflebag just in case I need it. Oh, and made a list of several lodging options in each town I think we are likely to stop in.
Thanks again for all the advice
So do you purchase both at the pharmacia? The toe caps & Engo I have not found in the U.S. They both sound wonderful, my method was a needle, antibiotic cream & moleskin. Very effective, but this sounds much cleaner.I normally suffer with blisters in the same places year after year. But I have learned a couple of techniques to prevent them forming.
Firstly I have used gel lined toe caps/sleeves to prevent blisters forming under my toes. I put them on every day and never suffered again with this problem.
On my last Camino I took a pack on ENGO blister prevention patches which are very shiny and are applied to the inside of the boot, not the foot. As soon as I felt a slight hotspot I applied a patch and immediately the issue was dealt with. I can highly recommend this product. Although they are very expensive for what they are, I would say they are worth their weight in gold.
Hello Everyone,
Thank you for the wonderful advice. I definitely appreciate it. I did not train at all this week and the blisters are healing nicely. As far as requests for more information:
1) I bought a pair of keen hiking shoes. I wore them in on walks and around work before I started training with the pack. I was able to do 12 miles without problem in them BEFORE I started wearing the backpack. They were a half size larger than my normal size to allow for feet swelling. A full size larger in all the shoes I tried on where waaayy to big and my heels would lift too much. Half-size felt much better.
I have since bought a pair of New Balance Trail Running shoes and have been wearing them to work to start breaking them in. The downside is that they are not waterproof. The good side is I feel like I'm walking on a cloud.
2) My back ups are keen hiking sandals.
3) The blistersare on the bottom of my heels and under the balls of my feet. Very painful with each step!
4) My go to socks are Thorlo padded moisture wicking socks and I put Burts Bee's coconut foot cream on my heels, balls of feet and toes. Even this combo (which I used for five 39 mile Avon Walks with great success) failed me when I started adding weight to the pack. I then tried Smart Wool socks with liners. . .but they did not work either. I tried Wright Socks double layer lightweight cool mesh socks with a little better success. I am religious about changing my socks every 2-2.5 hours depending upon the distance I am walking.
5) I know my pack was way too heavy. When I wore it on my home scale it was about 17 lbs before my water bottle. I'm sure I could save some weight if I didn't take my peroxide-based contact lens cleaner and some other items.
I did return my very large pack and get a smaller one. It feels much better and will force me to get rid of all the unneccesary stuff. I also went ahead and got a dufflebag just in case I need it. Oh, and made a list of several lodging options in each town I think we are likely to stop in.
Thanks again for all the advice
@MTtoCamino to a product similar to the toe sleeves I used.
I also found Hiker's Wool to be a good preventative product, in various areas.
As a result of these procedures I got very few blisters this year. When I do get one I find that using a needle doesn't make a sufficient exit route for the fluid and I have found that a snip of the skin with a pair of sharp nail scissors will prevent the skin from sealing and refilling. This year I took alcohol wipes for cleansing skin and scissors and then dressed the area with gauze soaked in iodine.
What works for one may not for another. It is a learning curve, and personally, I think that after four caminos, I have got it about right.
Actually I don't get blisters- I hike with groups. I'm bringing wool socks as a preventative measure just in case.You didn't mention if you were you training on your own or with your friend? A big cause of blisters is walkers whose natural speeds are mismatched to each other.
Thank you ordering both to try, I just got back from 5 days in the backcountry getting a blister on my toe the gel separator looks perfect!!!@MTtoCamino to a product similar to the toe sleeves I used.
I also found Hiker's Wool to be a good preventative product, in various areas.
As a result of these procedures I got very few blisters this year. When I do get one I find that using a needle doesn't make a sufficient exit route for the fluid and I have found that a snip of the skin with a pair of sharp nail scissors will prevent the skin from sealing and refilling. This year I took alcohol wipes for cleansing skin and scissors and then dressed the area with gauze soaked in iodine.
What works for one may not for another. It is a learning curve, and personally, I think that after four caminos, I have got it about right.
I bought mine from Amazon UK David. Hopefully you have plenty of time.Thanks for the recommendation Maggie. I'm going to give these a shot. I return to Spain on the 1st. I just hope I receive them in time.
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