Pack Weight :}

[KSWard]

I have read to keep your pack weight to 10% of your body weight...I am curious how petite people keep their pack that light! Is it possible to carry all you need under 5-5.5 kg including the pack?

My husband and I are turning 50 this year...so together we are 100! For our Century Celebration, we are walking from Madrid to Santiago in May/June. This will be our first Camino. I am very excited and a bit nervous about not having it all planned out (reservations for sleeping specifically). I have a lot to learn between now and May!

Our daughter will start a study abroad that begins mid May in Madrid, so we will travel from USA together and depart from there.

I am looking forward to the walking and being in Spain. I must admit that I am very excited that I won't have to carry a tent and camp stove on our hike, but apprehensive about not knowing exactly where I will be sleeping each night! I am hoping that I am not too late in planning for our stops, as it appears that portions from Madrid have minimal accommodations available.

I love reading people's blogs (especially those going from Madrid, as there are not many guide books).

Thank you all taking the time to post about your walk!

 

[C clearly]

Hi @KSWard , and welcome.

The advice for 10% of your body weight simply means that a typical person of average size can probably carry 5-9 kg without too much difficulty. (Coincidentally, that corresponds to 10% of 50-90 kg.) If you are small and/or weak, try to keep it at 5-6 kg. If you are 6'6" and 100 kg, you can probably handle more! However, being obese does not mean you can carry more.

If you are strict with yourself and study some of the packing list threads, you should be able to keep your pack under 6 kg for May and June, without much difficulty. Excluding water and snacks, my backpack weighs about 5.5 kg, including sleeping bag, full rain gear, phone battery pack, layers for temperatures from close to freezing, to hot, and everything I need for 6 weeks away.

Feel free to post your packing list!

 

[Robo]

Yes it is quite possible. My wife’s pack, if she carried all her gear, including small hair dryer.....is 5.05 kgs.

But she puts some stuff in my bag so only carries 3.5 kgs.

 

[RJM]

When putting your pack together to walk the Camino, don't be concerned with a specific weight. Instead be concentrating on keeping it as light as possible by bringing the minimum of stuff.

 

[VytisM]

My advice - put everything what you want to bring with you on the floor. Then carefully check all items - do you really need them ? Maybe you can change some things to lighter versions ? For example towel - if your take with you your home towel it will weight maybe 0,7 kg, but if you change it to travel towel (there are a lot of smart solutions in the tourism market ) it will weight only 100 grams. So step by step you will pack your bag

 

[Stivandrer]

...and include the use of walking poles, this helps as your body gets weary and the chance of misstepping occurs. My legs gets paralysed and dead tired after a long days walk and reactions deteriorate, so I use poles.
Best investment ever...

 

[Otmoor22]

My first camino was Frances in 2012 when I took a 65 litre bag filled with items to cover every eventuality. The chest strap broke on day 1 due to overloading. I struggled on for three weeks until there was horrendous back pain when vertebrae disintegrated, Next two caminos with lightweight 50 litre pack with bare essentials - hard lesson learnt!

 

[KSWard]

Yes it is quite possible. My wife’s pack, if she carried all her gear, including small hair dryer.....is 5.05 kgs.

But she puts some stuff in my bag so only carries 3.5 kgs.

Thanks so much! That gives me hope. I have not started weighing all my items yet...putting some items in my husband's pack...that is a great idea!

 

[KSWard]

Hi @KSWard , and welcome.

The advice for 10% of your body weight simply means that a typical person of average size can probably carry 5-9 kg without too much difficulty. (Coincidentally, that corresponds to 10% of 50-90 kg.) If you are small and/or weak, try to keep it at 5-6 kg. If you are 6'6" and 100 kg, you can probably handle more! However, being obese does not mean you can carry more.

If you are strict with yourself and study some of the packing list threads, you should be able to keep your pack under 6 kg for May and June, without much difficulty. Excluding water and snacks, my backpack weighs about 5.5 kg, including sleeping bag, full rain gear, phone battery pack, layers for temperatures from close to freezing, to hot, and everything I need for 6 weeks away.

Feel free to post your packing list!

Wonderful! Not counting the water weight will help! I was adding that in there!

 

[KSWard]

My advice - put everything what you want to bring with you on the floor. Then carefully check all items - do you really need them ? Maybe you can change some things to lighter versions ? For example towel - if your take with you your home towel it will weight maybe 0,7 kg, but if you change it to travel towel (there are a lot of smart solutions in the tourism market ) it will weight only 100 grams. So step by step you will pack your bag

Thanks! Great idea!

 

[KSWard]

...and include the use of walking poles, this helps as your body gets weary and the chance of misstepping occurs. My legs gets paralysed and dead tired after a long days walk and reactions deteriorate, so I use poles.
Best investment ever...

That is good to know. I have never hiked with poles. I have seen on a few packing lists that people purchase them when they arrive. Does anyone have a favorite store in Madrid?

 

[KSWard]

My first camino was Frances in 2012 when I took a 65 litre bag filled with items to cover every eventuality. The chest strap broke on day 1 due to overloading. I struggled on for three weeks until there was horrendous back pain when vertebrae disintegrated, Next two caminos with lightweight 50 litre pack with bare essentials - hard lesson learnt!

Good advice! My pack is 36 litre, so my goal should be to not fill it to the top

 

[KSWard]

When putting your pack together to walk the Camino, don't be concerned with a specific weight. Instead be concentrating on keeping it as light as possible by bringing the minimum of stuff.

Good advice!

 

[KSWard]

I walked 2 Caminos last year that my biggest lesson for gear was 'less is more'. I needed less than I initially thought. i think it's quite possible to have a 5-6kg backpack without giving up too many luxuries. i found a ~36L pack was a perfect size.

Thanks you so much for the link! I love your narrative on the gear. It is very helpful. I was curious about replenishing the toiletries along the way. It is good to know you can do that! I wear contact lenses and that was one of my primary concerns. Also, was considering not taking the sleeping bag and only the liner...but I think I will keep it now!

We will also be in Spain for time before & after the Camino, and I will need to do some work at few places on the trip. Did you feel comfortable leaving your computer at the hostel in Pamplona? I am considering not taking my phone and taking a small 10" tablet instead.

 

[SeattleJen]

I bought a 65 L pack because it was the one that fit me the best and felt "substantial" enough for my frame (I'm a 6' tall Amazon woman). The 10% body weight could be a fine rule of thumb, except for me that would be a LOT of stuff! I have been really worried the last week as I've practiced walking with it that I'm bringing too much just because of the size of my pack. My new luggage scale finally arrived yesterday and I was relieved to learn that as I have it packed now... it's only 5.5 kg! The only things I have left to add are a few small toiletries, glasses, and a pair of flip flops. So I guess my point is that even when I was worried I was packing too much weight, it is still almost half of what the carry-on allowance is for my intercontinental flight. Yes, it is possible to carry everything you need and keep it 5-5.5 kg.

 

[RJM]

Thanks you so much for the link! I love your narrative on the gear. It is very helpful. I was curious about replenishing the toiletries along the way. It is good to know you can do that! I wear contact lenses and that was one of my primary concerns. Also, was considering not taking the sleeping bag and only the liner...but I think I will keep it now!

We will also be in Spain for time before & after the Camino, and I will need to do some work at few places on the trip. Did you feel comfortable leaving your computer at the hostel in Pamplona? I am considering not taking my phone and taking a small 10" tablet instead.

I would only bring the sleeping bag as long as it weighs under around 680 grams (24 oz). Anything heavier than that is too much (IMO) and a May-June Camino won't find you seeing your icy breath in an albergue at night.
I never leave valuables like wallets, passports, electronics etc unattended in an albergue. There is a chance it will be stolen, and they do get stolen all the time on the Camino. I would say get a small, very lightweight pack/bag to put the tablet in and carry with you while you roam about the towns after settling in the albergue.

 

[Stivandrer]

I walked some days alongside a charming young Columbian pilgrim last spring, and who had one thing she wouldn´t or couldn´t leave at home; a huge fluffy, pink onesie....
admittedly she looked very cute as she shuffled off in the morning to brush her teeth, bunny ears´n all, but this article of need would be the only reason to bring a 65 liter rucksack...!

https://i.pinimg.com/736x/1f/44/dd/1f44ddbf97f5d494a92a16d18afa1d7b--hot-pink-onesies.jpg

 

[KSWard]

Oh my goodness! I will not tell my husband...he will want to bring his Chewbacca or Clemson Tiger onesie!

 

[KSWard]

I would only bring the sleeping bag as long as it weighs under around 680 grams (24 oz). Anything heavier than that is too much (IMO) and a May-June Camino won't find you seeing your icy breath in an albergue at night.
I never leave valuables like wallets, passports, electronics etc unattended in an albergue. There is a chance it will be stolen, and they do get stolen all the time on the Camino. I would say get a small, very lightweight pack/bag to put the tablet in and carry with you while you roam about the towns after settling in the albergue.

Good idea!

 

[Johan van der Hoven]

I have read to keep your pack weight to 10% of your body weight...I am curious how petite people keep their pack that light! Is it possible to carry all you need under 5-5.5 kg including the pack?

My husband and I are turning 50 this year...so together we are 100! For our Century Celebration, we are walking from Madrid to Santiago in May/June. This will be our first Camino. I am very excited and a bit nervous about not having it all planned out (reservations for sleeping specifically). I have a lot to learn between now and May!

Our daughter will start a study abroad that begins mid May in Madrid, so we will travel from USA together and depart from there.

I am looking forward to the walking and being in Spain. I must admit that I am very excited that I won't have to carry a tent and camp stove on our hike, but apprehensive about not knowing exactly where I will be sleeping each night! I am hoping that I am not too late in planning for our stops, as it appears that portions from Madrid have minimal accommodations available.

I love reading people's blogs (especially those going from Madrid, as there are not many guide books).

Thank you all taking the time to post about your walk!

Enjoy your walk!
Johan (RSA)