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I was wondering why carrying the heavy stuff at the bottom suits you better? I'm still trying to figure out what's best for me. Is it that your pack is small so the heavy stuff is therefore higher than might be for a larger pack?Personally I carry the heavier stuff at the bottom, it makes my pack fit and carry better. Clean socks rolled and stuffed equally into the bottom corners. Trousers rolled and at the bottom. Everything else is also rolled and packed as it fits best. Rolling keeps it tight and less creased. My fleece goes at the top. Poncho in the zipped lid, w-proof trousers and hi-vis vest in one zipped side pouch, toiletries and towel in the other. I don't carry a sleeping bag, but Terry had both in the bottom of his pack, Crocs at the top under his fleece and with a similar arrangement to mine for the rest of his things. The pack's own waterproof cover has a dedicated zipped pouch. Water bottles in the mesh pockets, one each side.
Think 'ease of access' for certain items and as said pack in the same order etc so you do know where things are and the pack is balanced. Easy once you have worked out what suits your particular pack and needs.
How do I know I'm carrying the pack on my hips? If I tighten the hip belt so that it's snug it rides up around my waist. Is that ok? Or just asking for trouble?
Mary Kate
I see from your post you carry a CPAP machine. I use one at home each night but never thought about taking it with me along the Camino. Did you use your along the Camino and if so did it disturb others in your sleeping area?Hi tautari. As you can see from responses, everyone finds a way of organising their packs. Comfort matters a lot, and so does organisation. You already know about getting the heavier items closer to your spine. My way of organising is to have colour coded dry bags. I happen to use Exped and they are great. I have a bag for the sleeping bag, one for a change of clothes, one for small items like socks, underwear and gloves. There is one more bag for items I might need quickly e.g. rain jacket, buff, gloves (depends on the weather). Finally, it helps to distribute some weight to the front of the body. Aarn backpacks designed that into their packs. For any other pack people have found various ways of attaching items to the front straps. My camera sat on the left shoulder strap.
When I pack, I put the sleeping bag in the bottom as it fits nicely and I won't need it till tonight. After that the heaviest item goes, closest to my back. In my case it is the CPAP machine in its own drybag. Then all the smaller bags get distributed into the available space, with the most needed items on top. I also have a small wash bag and a tiny first aid kit, plus half a toilet roll in its own plastic bag. The outside pockets soon get filled up with things I might need during the day e.g. UV factor 50 lip salve, sun block (remember slip slop slap!). The flip flops go in the mesh pocket on the back, because those are usually the very first things I need when I take the boots off.
Don't worry, you'll soon find a system that works for you. You'll be able to pack it in virtual darkness, which is all you'll have anyway! Nobody likes a torch shining in their eyes when they are still trying to sleep. One last tip - if you need a torch to pack in the morning, use a red light - that is less annoying to others.
Great, that's helpful.Hi Mary Kate,
For me, usually it does ride up a little bit when I first put it on, but as I start walking it rests lower. I fasten the hip belt right around my belly button, and then let gravity take over. If it's too tight or uncomfortable for you that way, loosen it up a bit - the main thing is to not have your pack weigh you down at the shoulders. Buen Camino!!
Faith
I see from your post you carry a CPAP machine. I use one at home each night but never thought about taking it with me along the Camino. Did you use your along the Camino and if so did it disturb others in your sleeping area?
I use waterproof stuff bags. Yes, good to keep everything dry.We use zip-lock plastic bags in the rucksack, one for socks and another for underwear, tee shirts, toiletries or medicines etc. Everything is organised and even if you have to empty your bag at least you only have maybe half a dozen bags with everything sorted as opposed to loose clothes everywhere. It also helps with rotation of your clothes and dirty laundry. And most importantly it also serves as added protection to keep your clothes dry in the event of heavy rain.
Buen Camino
Your so right. My sleeping bags weighs as much as a pair of pants and 2 t shirts. Then really, what is the heavy bit you put at the bottom. Probably the heaviest thing i pack is my one bag of toilletries, but i dont pack that at the bottom. Putting my bag down (not always gently) several times a day might result in broken deodorant, crushed shampoos, open toothpaste tubes. Dont want that mess in my bagNasa, back in the 60's, found that for proper balance heavy items need to go right at the top. This was based on high packs that loom above the shoulders and that way the balance became about right. Even now some packs have sleeping bag compartments at the bottom.
What should happen now, with our much shorter packs that only come up to shoulder level I really do not know.
The best way to find out is to load it in various ways and try each one out - one of them will feel 'just right' for you.
Mind you, thinking about it - we don't actually carry anything that is heavy, all items are light - so how can it matter?
Buen Camino!
Firstly, I want to give a big thanks to the forum which I consider to be absolutely amazing and my goto website every day!
This is the first time I've had to ask a question. All of my concerns have been answered by previous posts! And apologies if this is covered somewhere else - I tried to look but couldn't find anything.
So, I start out next Wednesday from Madrid and I've got all my gear ready to go.
And I've learnt that a back pack should be packed with heavy stuff first.
My question is - are there any tips about the actually packing of the backpack - other than heavy stuff first?
I confess - I'm not an efficient or effective bag packer (my mum did it for me when I was young and I should have taken note of how she was doing it!) Someone told me to make sure my rain coat was on top of everything -but any advice you can give me would be greatly appreciated!
Thanking you in advance!
Kia ora, nga mihi ki a koe!Kia Ora, tautari.
I'm definitely not the expert, but learned some things trekking in Aotearoa! that have been very useful. 1) put a big black plastic garbage bag into your pack then fill it with all your gear. You'll always have that waterproof liner, no matter how you cover the outside of your pack for rainy weather. 2) This isn't so much about the packing, but it has helped me many a time. Cover your feet with some vaseline gel before you put your socks on, so you won't get blisters, when your boots/feet get wet. Hope this will be useful. Kia pai to haere. Buen camino.
It has been so long since the first time I used a foot lubricant, that I really cannot remember if the sensation was weird. As a general rule, though, don't have your first experience at anything occur on the Camino! Test Vaseline right now. Walk with your backpack. Try on your sock and shoe combination. Fill your water supply and drink from it. Do it all before you go on the Camino. It is the wrong place for surprises about anything but the people and the countryside!Does covering your feet with vaseline feel weird?
It has been so long since the first time I used a foot lubricant, that I really cannot remember if the sensation was weird. As a general rule, though, don't have your first experience at anything occur on the Camino! Test Vaseline right now. Walk with your backpack. Try on your sock and shoe combination. Fill your water supply and drink from it. Do it all before you go on the Camino. It is the wrong place for surprises about anything but the people and the countryside!
Kia ora, nga mihi ki a koe!
Thanks very much for the advice! Much appreciated. Does covering your feet with vaseline feel weird? I've read about this and always wanted to ask - since usually I'm a 'dry' feet in socks kinda person.
Tara
Ingredients:I haven't tried Vaseline but used Nutrogena Norwegian Formula
Hi falcon269Ingredients:
Water, Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Petrolatum, Cyclomethicone, Panthenol, Dimethicone, Keratin Amino Acids, Menthol, Allantoin, Dilauryl Thiodipropionate, Bisabolol, Tocopheryl Linoleate, Sodium Cetearyl Sulfate, Sodium Sulfate, Stearic Acid, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Diazolidinyl Urea, Sodium Chloride, Fragrance
The fourth ingredient is Vaseline. The first three are moisturizers. Blisters come from friction, and much of that friction is from moisture. Be careful about adding moisture in your foot treatment. Petrolatum, talc, and silicone (and related lubricants) do not add moisture, but act as friction reducing lubricants. Know what your are putting on your feet and what you expect from it. A soothing moisturizer in the evening may be beneficial, but starting the day with it could be risky.
Silica 15 isbetter than vaseline. It is not greasy.Kia ora, nga mihi ki a koe!
Thanks very much for the advice! Much appreciated. Does covering your feet with vaseline feel weird? I've read about this and always wanted to ask - since usually I'm a 'dry' feet in socks kinda person.
Tara
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