- Time of past OR future Camino
- First one in 2005 from Moissac, France.
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I wouldn't want a hiking trailer due to rough sections of track. That and sections of track covered by cow pies.
In April Peg and I were down at a state park in Georgia that is used as a start point for the Appalachian Trail. The signin register for the trail there had the weights of the hiker's packs listed. Most seemed to be close to 33 pounds (15 kg.) That would include things that camino pilgrims don't usually carry such as tent, pad, stove, fuel, mess kit and a couple days worth of food.I put the report up because although pilgrims don't carry such loads - I know that hikers on the amazing American long trails do!
D-Day paratroopers dropped with about 35kgs load - but it was found out afterwards that on landing those soldiers threw most of the kit away, taking themselves down to a fast fighting load, and expecting to 'live off the land'.
I put the report up because although pilgrims don't carry such loads - I know that hikers on the amazing American long trails do!
Have others used a trailer pack? Do you see them on the Camino? I'd love to hear about your experiences. With multiple back surgeries I can only lift 15 pounds total and was considering having luggage service, but like the idea of not having to depend on calling ahead every day.
Still very expensive. These are expensive devices. They are very well engineered. But, oh that price...
Maybe one day...
Could you point me to a link that verifies this? I can't find one.The trailers look interesting for the Camino, it's just too bad that most Rangers in US National Forests would consider them a vehicle and thus they are generally not allowed on most trails.
In the Army the packs often weighed about 80+ lbs, luckily other than a few marches done mostly for the pain factor, you typically packed light and stowed the heavy stuff in your duffel which was driven about in the back of the deuce or the armored vehicle.
Using a walking trailer attached to a hip belt accounts for an 88% reduction in energy expenditure !! and faster march times over distance of 54%.
To sum up - pack light - split load front and back .. or, actually, get the load completely off the body and use a walking trailer attached to a hip belt- see here -
I have tried two different versions of available commercial walking trailers and non would fit my stride length.
I didn't stand the chance of hurting myself by hitting the trailer. And I didn't want to "get used to it". It fits on the first try or it isn't mine.
If you can't stand the weight of the backpack on your back and hips it's IMO the only possible way to walk if you want to carry your own backpack.
But I had to built my own to fit perfectly. I found one with an widely adjustable drawbar and refittable axle (top- or bottom mounting = low or high rigg) and some other advantages (all metal, ballbearings, aluminum and titanium), but it had a price that was unaccaptable for me (~1000€). Drawbar and pulling-harness usable for pulling an expedition-sleigh.
I did pack very light (~5kg w/o water) for my CF last summer and was happy with it. I do plan my next Camino to be the Camino Portuges from Porto (if Covid19 ends) on easter vacation 2021 and I will fit my backpack with a sleeping-bag and some more stuff for lower temperatures and more rain. I try to end at ~7-7,5kg to carry.
BC
Roland
Hi David, I'm considering a pull type trailer (Radical Design) but came across a Trekkers Friend (Chris Lowe's invention) which also converts ore: to a backcarry pac type. The latter is not very strong on harnesses and the walking poles converted to handles sounds "not convincing". I have a back weakness and would like to try out the pull type Trekker. If yours is available to try I'd be grateful for a loan. I live in Staines, England.Hi Walter (or Carol) - the American mono-wheel trailers spread the load between the hip belt and the wheel so there is weight on the body at waist height whereas the Radical Design trailer carries the load over the wheel so no weight is felt on the body at all, only a sense of mass(?) ... it is an odd feeling at first as it is more like being conscious of a tail rather than any feelings of weight at all. I have recently received a Wheelie 1V from Radical Design (they offered me a very special deal to help with my first aid mission).
apart from the problems I have such as right foot and right knee (age old traumas returning as I age) I cannot carry enough back up supplies as well as my own gear to be able to walk the Camino now so appear with a car and just walk half a day up and down and then visit refugios, re-supply kept in the vehicle, which isn't satisfactory really.
Since receiving my trailer I have heavily loaded it and twice now walked up onto our northern ridge. This is about 120 metres high and a steep walk up from town, then a really steep track with tree roots crossing and large rocks sticking out .. then a mixture of track and level trail at the top, and then down again - only about three miles or so. Is a long ridge and has the remains of a 2,000 year old Celtic Hill Fort on it - mainly wooded and rather beautiful. - I know that this sounds like an advert but I was stunned by the ease of it. The trailer just goes where you go and rides over all terrain without a hitch. I thought that there would be a strong feeling of weight going up the hills but this is non-existent and I don't know why. Perhaps it is there but one doesn't feel it because it isn't weighing the back down or making the feet heavier? (The military report states that there is a reduction of 88% energy expenditure using a hip-belt trailer).
It balances perfectly and one only needs to slightly guide the poles at the waist when on uneven terrain. So, for me it has so far been rather a "Wow" experience.
On June 4th I am off to Burgos (from the UK - ferry to Santander) to walk the Meseta for a while with JennyH from Sydney - she also has a foot and knee problems so will be using a less elegant trailer that I made at home, a cart with weight also over the wheels - and I will be carrying my personal gear, my first aid kits, and also copious amounts of first aid -re-supply. I will report back after this trial and let you know how it went - both pros and cons, and I will be honest, not hiding any of the cons!
Hey - where do you live? Are you UK? Perhaps you could borrow it for a weekend trial?
Hi @David, I'm not sure if I am remembering correctly or not, but wonder if you were the person instrumental in Efren Gonzalez's choice of a trolley for his Via Francigena camino that I watched on his youtube channel.
Good read, as a 30 year Australian infantrymen I made a list after my escort of the Roll of Honour Afghanistan in 17 of not what to take on my next camino further reducing my load.The Soldier’s Load and Mobility of a Nation by S L A Marshall has long been the goto resource on pack load and movement over distance.
Here’s my take away: the Camino need not be an exercise in stamina, force marches and pain. Buy good shoes/boots, break them in properly, pack light (under 20 lbs/9kg), walk at a reasonable pace over a reasonable distance. If something hurts (possible blister, knee pain, shoulder/neck pain). Investigate and correct immediately. Change socks often, more so if wet. Reduce inflammation with Naproxen, Aleve, etc. Drink more water than beer. Mix water with something like Gatorade. Pure water washes necessary nutrients from your system (electrolytes).
Lastly, keep it simple.
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