SarahTheKiwi
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Planning 2024 Camino Frances
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He might be about 5-6kg. Wouldn't be the first cat on Camino, but alas no plane ticket.How much does your cat weigh, perhaps not needed on your trip unless it caries it's own food!
Thanks for your feedback. I'm so into the planning now that I can't see the forest for the trees! I'm still worried about staying warm at night. The sleeping bag is 630 gram down. I'm starting at SJPDP 25 April.What time of year are you walking Sarah?
Trivial suggestions:
I doubt the hand warmers are worthwhile pretty much anytime. In extremis you’ve enough clothes to layer-up.
I’d take a battery pack - but a smaller one than pictured - with its own short charging cable, to allow remote charging whilst unattended rather than topping up your ‘phone.
Three small stones?
Good idea about plastic bags and helpful to know a longer cable might be more practical. I have thought of bringing some snacky food from home. Looked at the menu on the plane and glad I'm forewarned!I like having a long charging cable so I can have the phone in my sleeping bag (in albergues) or on my bedside table (in hotels).
I also carry more food and adjacent things than you are planning to do, since I'm generally walking remote caminos where there may not be bars or other places to eat every day. For Camino Francés, you probably have enough. Perhaps a couple of empty plastic bags so you can wrap food to take with you?
I have a very small 5000 mAh battery pack (weighs about 4 oz/115gm), which I rarely need to use at all. I bring a 10 ft/3 meter charging cable, which is usually long enough to reach my bed. On the rare times that it isn't I rely more on the battery pack - that happened once in 40+ days on the Camino last year.I've looked at smaller battery packs but will look again. Mine's a 10,000 and I know there are 5,000s available. I like the idea of not having to babysit my charging phone.
I took 3 small stones with me as well to leave at Cruz de Ferro. One I collected on the Isle of Man while there with my friend who had failed her Camino attempt and is dead. One for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (small stone painted by a First Nations artist friend) and one for me.Three small stones?
I’m not sure about lightweight gloves and beanie hat. Will be starting in St Jean on 23rd. Any advice?What time of year are you walking Sarah?
Trivial suggestions:
I doubt the hand warmers are worthwhile pretty much anytime. In extremis you’ve enough clothes to layer-up.
I’d take a battery pack - but a smaller one than pictured - with its own short charging cable, to allow remote charging whilst unattended rather than topping up your ‘phone.
Three small stones?
Hi - yes I've got the Euro adapter - the NZ plug slides off and the Euro goes on. Very convenient.@SarahTheKiwi ,
It is a well traveled route. When you get there and start walking, you can usually buy something if you need it or get rid of things you don't. Do you have a euro adapter for your electronics? Didn't see that.
Gloves no - not this late; in an emergency you can always wear spare socks as gloves. Unless you suffer from cold hands!I’m not sure about lightweight gloves and beanie hat. Will be starting in St Jean on 23rd. Any advice?
Take both. Early starts can still be chilly.I’m not sure about lightweight gloves and beanie hat. Will be starting in St Jean on 23rd. Any advice?
Hi Barbara - I've taken to weighing things (used to laugh at this.... now I'm that person!).A good list, and we're all different. These are things I've taken in the past, but not now:
Spork
smartish blouse for evening - perhaps equivalent to your peasant blouse
String
torch
hand sanitizer (there's sanitiser out in many albergues and other places)
I've never taken pegs, battery unit, stones, buff, selfie stick hand warmers.gloves or plastic box. But do take an e reader which rarely needs changing, so don't need a battery pack
Do you need 2 warm long sleeved garments, and an emergency poncho as well as the rain jacket?
Could you take simple wired earphones, or a small Spanish charger instead of your own charger + adapter?
I've learnt from this forum that the lightest way to carry water is in the small plastic bottles you buy it in. (and reuse)
If you're really serious about cutting weight weigh each item - stuff like pouches and wallets can add up.
Enjoy your Camino!
Thank you @Peterexpatkiwi - lots to consider and I will read and re-read this. I dislike damp clothing too. Just makes me cold and brings back awful school camp memories. I'm going with a ziplock bag rather than a container now. Will definitely rethink the clothes pegs in favour of safety pins. More secure and probably harder to "borrow". Don't worry - no wet wipes here!Sarah I'm one who has for nearly 40 years always had a spare (third) pair of socks and underwear. Yes it's a little bit of a luxury but I seriously dislike putting on damp or even just half dry underpants. A 3rd pair of socks acts not only for their intended purpose but also as emergency gloves. And bed socks if needs be - adds significant warmth. On the off chance you get two cold rainy days in a row you will bless that third pair of dry socks !
I wouldn't get too hung up on a couple of hundred grams at this stage. You have done very well to get your weight down to where it is, I personally feel rather than spend money on another power bank, go with what you already have. The longer USB cable is a good idea, personally I actually also have a very short one. It's only what, 7g?
I would only carry one long sleeve top ( so not the extra blouse).
I understand the value of the plastic container but personally just used an additional zip lock bag. Individual choice.
String and pegs. I always used to carry pegs, no longer. I now carry 10 safety pins which weigh less and have far more worth. Double pin drying items to the outside of my pack. (Pegs can work loose, items drop off!) Linked correctly items will not slide down the line. (You can ask always create a removable loop for the first Connection). Less likely for other individuals to 'borrow' them. And my super strong very thin nylon string is six meters long. There have been many occasions where I have used this on camino to create my own washing line when others were full. Or in a hotel room! It's emergency laces, emergency belt, I can make a screen on my bed if I wish and so forth. But not much good if it's too short! I must weigh it, but perhaps 35/40g ?
Ditch the emergency poncho, personally I wouldn't bother with the heat pads , but respect why you wish to carry them. But in the end both the poncho and the pads are light enough that it's not really an issue.
Hand sanitizer - I personally carry one, about 1/3 full for the rare emergency occasions. It's been used on every Camino. (As often in a cafe with no soap as in the wild). You can often top it up with a couple of quick squirts at an Albergue, from somebody that's carrying theirs but not using it, or by buying a new one & donating the rest. Ideal if you need to thread a blister - but stings like hell! (Better than an infection).
I personally always carry enough toilet paper for two uses. I cannot count the number of times I've gone into a cafe and they haven't had any. I don't like the little packets of tissues - it's more plastic waste, and please, please don't use wet wipes no matter what.
But these are all such minor things - you've done extremely well, you could literally shove everything into your pack and leave tomorrow.
Although personally I'd take the cat (gorgeous ) and leave the sleeping bag!
Hi K-Lynn - my sleeping bag is just over 600 grams. It's sitting on an empty pack so probably looks out of proportion. It's a little larger than a loaf of bread. I really feel the cold so can't take chances there. Ziplock will replace container. I was considering a washable pee pad thinking that all bars/cafes would have tissues. Might reconsider there. Won't be leaving any tissues to the wilderness however. Good idea for something to make the bag smell nice. I've never actually seen a drier sheet - they are not commonly used here - but will investigate.Your list looks good. We all have a different opinion (as you can see) on what is essential. I am fully on Team Poncho and Team Extra Socks.
Your sleeping bag looks massive and very heavy. My Patagonia puffy sleeping bag liner is only 291gr and takes up about a 1/3 of the space as yours. I would consider trying to find something smaller/lighter, is there a gear swap near you or do you have any friends that would let you borrow/rent theirs?
Ziplock baggies are awesome for snacks or for packing out tissue if you have to find somewhere in the woods to relieve yourself. Did you have tissues on your list? Sometimes public toilets are out of paper.
Pro tip: throw a fabric softener sheet in your clothing bag so your clothes always smell nice, or at least less like a sweaty backpack.
Hi @Sheesh . Hand warmers and poncho are coming off the list and a lighter battery pack and rain trousers are going in, me thinks. Yes sleeping bag will be inside a very durable plastic bag, and I also have a rain cover for the pack. Will look out for those scissors. For cold days/evenings I'm intending to use my parka as a windbreaker, with fleece underneath. If it got terribly cold I could have 2 layers of merino as well. The parka is very good quality, seam-sealed etc.I think your list looks very good Sarah. Personally I wouldn't take the emergency poncho or the hand warmers but, that said, your total weight is good, so if they make you happy - take them. I'm sure I have things on my packing list that others would advise me to ditch.Do you have a means to keep your sleeping bag bone dry while strapped to your pack?
I am also on "Team Extra Socks & Underwear." My extra socks could be pressed into service for hiking (due to their merino content), but basically they are for apres walk, travel to and from Spain, and for bed socks if needed. They are looser in the ankle than my hiking pairs, which can feel uncomfortably tight to me after a day's walk.
This little pair of Fiskars folding scissors are terrific and inexpensive if you did decide to get them beforehand:
View attachment 167950
Question for you @SarahTheKiwi, I don't see a jacket on your list and I'm wondering it you intend to use your poncho as a wind breaker in lieu of a jacket, both during the day and also after your walk as your explore the town, or sit out in a cafe etc. in the evenings?
Hi @Anamiri . Thank you very kindly for your offer. Perhaps you have the same sleeping bag? Mine's 600 grams, down from Kathmandu. I can't do liners - tried on the Milford Track and found I couldn't get back into it, in the dark, if I got up in the night.Hi Sarah, whats the weight of your sleeping bag? I have a spare Kathmandu lightweight sleeping bag and a spare silk liner that I could get down to you.
I use a lightweight bag with a silk liner and am fine. Given I live in Northland and you in Invercargill, Im sure you wouldnt be cold.
Im heading off on my own this time, hence the spares.
Ask your friends or check a local laundromat!Hi K-Lynn - my sleeping bag is just over 600 grams. It's sitting on an empty pack so probably looks out of proportion. It's a little larger than a loaf of bread. I really feel the cold so can't take chances there. Ziplock will replace container. I was considering a washable pee pad thinking that all bars/cafes would have tissues. Might reconsider there. Won't be leaving any tissues to the wilderness however. Good idea for something to make the bag smell nice. I've never actually seen a drier sheet - they are not commonly used here - but will investigate.
You can get wired earbuds that plug into your charging port.My phone doesn't have an earphone jack - many of the new ones out are going bluetooth. I am considering the earbuds though
Aah, got it now. I also went looking for small stones today. Picked up 4, now need to decide which one to take with me.One stone for me, one each for my children. We had a pretty rough year last year, and I want to include them.
I did that for the first time today. Loaded my pack to weigh 7.5kg (including water) and walked for 10km (including up a few steep hills) and now I am determined to bring the bare minimum and travel lighter.Rather than stressing about an extra 500g of weight I’d suggest walking with a heavy pack whenever you can before flying out. You’ll get used to it fast.
I was also wondering about hands from using poles everyday. I hike with poles normally but not for that many hours a day..everydayI wore fingerless cycling gloves which saved the sun damage to my hands and also buffered my hands when using my poles.
Thanks. I got into having beanie, in summer even. backpacking years ago. Really helped with being damp or bit chilled early morning. Been hooked ever since. Final packing thoughts are winding down!Gloves no - not this late; in an emergency you can always wear spare socks as gloves. Unless you suffer from cold hands!
Beanie yes. Can really help as you're warming up for the first half hour or so, easy to take off. Overnight temps are still only 4-5 degrees in Roncesvalles. Good on an unexpectedly cold night. Lifesaver in an emergency
So glad I found this forum. I’ve watched lots of YouTube and learned a lot from CaminoTellers, but certainly am enjoying the advice from all those on here!Take both. Early starts can still be chilly.
Thank you. A bit nervous about transiting Dubai, but my online check in completed so looks hopeful.Impressive result, well done!
The clock is ticking - hope all your flights go smoothly.
Short transit - no worries. If longer, assume you have your transit visa, so you shouldn’t have any issues. They like Kiwis!Thank you. A bit nervous about transiting Dubai, but my online check in completed so looks hopeful.
I checked last night, and it looks like the flooding is resolvedThank you. A bit nervous about transiting Dubai, but my online check in completed so looks hopeful.
Oops! That's why Sarah is nervous. Kinda missed thatI checked last night, and it looks like the flooding is resolved
Safe travels and buen camino!Just want to thank everyone on this forum before I leave tomorrow morning. You have all been a wealth of information, and incredibly supportive! This has been months in the planning (not overplanning) and it's surreal - the big day is just about here.
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