Tomorrow I'm leaving Houston for Madrid then on to SJPP. I start walking 5 April and I just want to say thank you to all of you on the forum who have given sage advice to all of us newbies. I'm still pulling stuff out of my pack to get it to 11 pounds. How you all do it is besides me, but I am close. It seems to grow, not get smaller. Again, many thanks for such great advice on a ton of subjects. Been Camino
The 'magic' packing load target is 10 KILOGRAMS or about 22 pounds. If you are able to get down to only 11 POUNDS, or about 5 Kg, that is brilliant!
Yesterday, I packed for my SIXTH Camino. My rucksack weighs in a 12 Kg, or almost 26 pounds. I will be walking in mid-to-late April a very rainy time. So, I bring extra rain protection (parka, hat, poncho AND a trekking umbrella), and compromise by leaving out the down sleeping bag and including a microfiber liner.
I DO have a medical handicap, occasioned by having to lug extra nutritional supplements and protein powder meal replacements. That combines to add a 2.5 kg penalty (@ 5.5 pounds) to my weight for the 10-day Camino planned. So, absent that, I am well under the mythical 10 Kg "target."
The bottom line is that you should only carry the least amount you can reliably get away with. Most common items can be bought along the way, in most towns. It might not be your preferred brand, but that is part of the wonder of travelling in foreign places.
The most important thing to pack is your sense of humor and flexibility. If you can chuckle at yourself and make light of the challenges you might face, it will be easy-peasy...
Hope this helps.
Buen Camino!
