Marco Thelen
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Walking the Camino de Frances in March 2017
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According to the Santiago Pilgrim Office statistics, 11,067 pilgrims collected compostelas in March 2016. So there should be a few there next March as well!Also will anybody else be there at that time?
Yes, that is usually a struggle and every person needs to go through the process carefully, because the right solutions are different for everyone. Furthermore, no shoe or sleeping bag will be perfect for every condition you will encounter on your camino. So you need to read about others' experience, make your own best judgement, and then deal with it.But am struggling to choose the right shoes and sleeping bag.
A heavy leather boot is not necessary
As far as equipment, everyone has their personal favorite things. What I did find was excellent equipment stores starting in Ste. Jean and in every larger city after that. The prices all seemed reasonable too. I actually contemplated that one would not need to purchase anything until you arrived in Ste. Jean and would still be comfortable.I will be walking my first camino on March 3rd 2017, and I could use all the tips and hacks I could get. I already got my pack. But am struggling to choose the right shoes and sleeping bag. Also just any helpful info i could get would be greatly appreciated. Also will anybody else be there at that time?
As an add on. My wife and I used very light weight sleeping bags that unzipped all the way and we purchased silk liners in the mummy style. Since I am a big guy we sewed two darts into the sides of the liners to increase their overall size from the knees up to the shoulders. They worked wonderfully and were all we needed on about two thirds of the nights. The other nights I was glad to have the sleeping bag too.As far as equipment, everyone has their personal favorite things. What I did find was excellent equipment stores starting in Ste. Jean and in every larger city after that. The prices all seemed reasonable too. I actually contemplated that one would not need to purchase anything until you arrived in Ste. Jean and would still be comfortable.
Just my opinion
Welcome Marco and Greetings from Jerusalem!I will be walking my first camino on March 3rd 2017, and I could use all the tips and hacks I could get. I already got my pack. But am struggling to choose the right shoes and sleeping bag. Also just any helpful info i could get would be greatly appreciated. Also will anybody else be there at that time?
That's a good point.As far as equipment, everyone has their personal favorite things. What I did find was excellent equipment stores starting in Ste. Jean and in every larger city after that. The prices all seemed reasonable too. I actually contemplated that one would not need to purchase anything until you arrived in Ste. Jean and would still be comfortable.
Just my opinion
I didn't check any of the stores in SJPP, but when the soles of my boots (Keens) wore through in places this year, I started looking for a replacement pair. None of the stores that I was able to check, including Decathalon in Ponferrada and some of the smaller outdoors shops in larger towns, were carrying my size (44-45 depending on the last). Some offered to get the larger size in, but that wasn't a great deal of help when one wants to keep walking.As far as equipment, everyone has their personal favorite things. What I did find was excellent equipment stores starting in Ste. Jean and in every larger city after that. The prices all seemed reasonable too. I actually contemplated that one would not need to purchase anything until you arrived in Ste. Jean and would still be comfortable.
Just my opinion
I'm afraid you are right there!Is there anything else in general I should know? (I know that's a very broad question lol)
One more thing - the one size bigger myth.
Do not buy shoes one size bigger. Buy shoes that fit properly right now. Your feet floating around in a shoe that is too big is only going to lead to problems, and yes then your feet will swell. Your feet will not swell if you buy properly fitted shoes, and you will be avoiding problems.
Definitely ordering the Permethryn spray, as the bed bug warnings are consistent. The mesh bags make a lot of sense too- the separation just makes life simpler. Thanks for your postMarco, you don't say where you are from. That will determine where you can shop for shoes ;0).
In Canada MEC, Sail, La Cordée are well knwn stores. In the US there is of course REI. Salomon and Merrels are well know quality brands as is Keen (especially of you have a wider foot). Hoka One One is getting wuite a fan base now that it uses Vibram soles.
A heavy leather boot is not necessary, Gortex is something I look for some do not like as they find their feet sweat too much in it. My Salomon Ultra GTX2 have served me well, as have my Hokes, but later in the year because of the tiny holes in some of its materials.
http://www.altitude-sports.com/fr/salomon-x-ultra-2-gtx-femme-sal-371582-fr
Sleeping bag...I cannot stand feeling stuck, so I would never opt for a mummy style. Some choose a bag that opens flat like a quilt. A liner helps keep the bag clean, and adds warmth. If it get too warm, the lining can be used on its own.
Backpack in 40 liters is perfect, as long as it is light and fits you well. If in doubt, ask the store to show you how to fit it.
A must for me is spraying the outside of my back and sleeping bag with permethryn to keep bed bugs away. I also now prefer to use a Smartube for my water vs a Camelback type of reservoir. I also make sure I apply vaseline, Vick's Vapor Rub on my feet in the morning as well as antichaffing cream in groin area and other parts where rubbing may occur. I like to take my toilettries and meds in a hanging case that I hang from the top bunk for easy access and not having to keep digging in my back pack. Using small mesh nylon bags for packing items helps sort things out. For example, towel gets packed with laundry and shower items, and pm clothes get packed with pillow case, eye glass case and other items used after arriving to the albergue. Plastic grocery bags are not your friend as they make a lot of noise in the wee hiurs of the morning when others are still sleeping.
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