Weight saving tips

andywild · Jan 31, 2020

I was reading a post by someone that suggested sawing part of the handle from your toothbrush to save weight and it got me thinking..
I realised that the only part of my walking poles that I actually touch is the handles, the rest of the pole is superfluous.. I cut the rest of the poles off and saved roughly 244grams.. not only are they much lighter but they have also stopped making that annoying clicking sound! The only negative I've found is that I tend to fall over more often, I consider this a fair trade.

I have also ordered some long sleeve t-shirts that I am going to cut the sleeves off just above the elbow and likewise some trousers that can be trimmed to just above the knee.. more grams shed!!
Finally, and most effectively, I have ordered a heavy weight jacket that I plan on leaving at home, a saving of over 400grams!
Hope these tips help
Hugs
Andy x

Jeff Crawley · Jan 31, 2020

andywild said:
I was reading a post by someone that suggested sawing part of the handle from your toothbrush to save weight and it got me thinking..
I realised that the only part of my walking poles that I actually touch is the handles, the rest of the pole is superfluous.. I cut the rest of the poles off and saved roughly 244grams.. not only are they much lighter but they have also stopped making that annoying clicking sound! The only negative I've found is that I tend to fall over more often, I consider this a fair trade.

I have also ordered some long sleeve t-shirts that I am going to cut the sleeves off just above the elbow and likewise some trousers that can be trimmed to just above the knee.. more grams shed!!
Finally, and most effectively, I have ordered a heavy weight jacket that I plan on leaving at home, a saving of over 400grams!
Hope these tips help
Hugs
Andy x

Now that got me thinking. If I take everything out of my rucksack it will weigh a lot less and there will be more room for souvenir tee-shirts to bring home!

Stroller · Jan 31, 2020

Like your thinking!

NYSE · Jan 31, 2020

You could save a lot of buying, cutting and sawing by just answering "no" to the question, "do I really need it?"

jsalt · Jan 31, 2020

I see from your avatar that you enjoy a smoke. Another tip is to count the number of matches in your matchbox. Take out the ones that you won’t use.

Jean Ti · Jan 31, 2020

Before leaving for the Camino of your choice you can start a 20 pounds diet! And then you are also carrying much less...

Turga · Jan 31, 2020

Consider "going commando". That should save another 150 grams!

Bradypus · Jan 31, 2020

Turga said:
Consider "going commando". That should save another 150 grams!

With all that webbing and ammo and an SA-80? Not to mention trying to squeeze your bergen into Ryanair's little tubular box at the boarding gate and getting your F-S knife past security... Far too much hassle

Camino Chrissy · Jan 31, 2020

How about shaving your beard off before starting out...that should take off a pile of weight.
Quit smoking entirely while you are away.
Oh, and leave the sunglasses at home...that will help, too.
Your Avatar alone gives ample opportunity for weight reduction while on the camino!

Roger Hogstrom · Jan 31, 2020

Brush your teeth when you get home. And shower when home again.

Colette Z · Jan 31, 2020

Roger Hogstrom said:
Brush your teeth when you get home. And shower when home again.

Love it

williamlittig · Jan 31, 2020

I always empty my brain before I go on Caminos and feel lighter and ready for new things. Try it.

Bradypus · Jan 31, 2020

williamlittig said:
I always empty my brain before I go on Caminos and feel lighter and ready for new things. Try it.

Do other people do the same? It would explain quite a lot.....

Camino Chrissy · Jan 31, 2020

Jeff Crawley said:
Now that got me thinking. If I take everything out of my rucksack it will weigh a lot less and there will be more room for souvenir tee-shirts to bring home!

Jeff, I'm sure your daughters will just "love" a T-shirt displaying a huge yellow arrow...especially if they have never walked it themselves.

Rick of Rick and Peg · Jan 31, 2020

I cut out and discard the middle section of my shoelaces as I find that I only tie the ends anyway.

Camino Chrissy · Jan 31, 2020

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
I cut out and discard the middle section of my shoelaces as I find that I only tie the ends anyway.

Is this fact or fiction, Rick?

Rick of Rick and Peg · Jan 31, 2020

Camino Chrissy said:
Is this fact or fiction, Rick?

Of course I tie the ends. I've tried tieing the middle many times but the knot always comes undone.

ranthr · Jan 31, 2020

Or walk the Le Puy route for a month. I lost 10kg there, always hungry.

trecile · Jan 31, 2020

I'm thinking of removing the top part of my shoes, and attaching the soles to my feet with some kind of straps.
Oh wait, I think that I've invented sandals.

Rick of Rick and Peg · Jan 31, 2020

trecile said:
I'm thinking of removing the top part of my shoes, and attaching the soles to my feet with some kind of straps.
Oh wait, I think that I've invented sandals.

Skip the straps. Use superglue.

Also walk mostly around noon and let the sun's gravity lighten the load.

grumerz · Jan 31, 2020

O heck, chuck the whole thing and proceed "aux natural." Not to worry about weight, or distance, as the authorities will be most ready to assist you.

Paul Wilson · Jan 31, 2020

I’m thinking of changing my super king cigarettes to Regal Filter fags that should save a bit

Simon B · Jan 31, 2020

andywild said:
I was reading a post by someone that suggested sawing part of the handle from your toothbrush to save weight and it got me thinking..
I realised that the only part of my walking poles that I actually touch is the handles, the rest of the pole is superfluous.. I cut the rest of the poles off and saved roughly 244grams.. not only are they much lighter but they have also stopped making that annoying clicking sound! The only negative I've found is that I tend to fall over more often, I consider this a fair trade.

I have also ordered some long sleeve t-shirts that I am going to cut the sleeves off just above the elbow and likewise some trousers that can be trimmed to just above the knee.. more grams shed!!
Finally, and most effectively, I have ordered a heavy weight jacket that I plan on leaving at home, a saving of over 400grams!
Hope these tips help
Hugs
Andy x

I leave for the VDLP next Tuesday. Thinking that I could just not take my rucksack - perhaps I could put everything in a plastic carrier bag - but that would then offend my sense of trying to stop the use of said plastic bag.

Camino Chrissy · Jan 31, 2020

Take no soap or shampoo...just use what you find forgotten by others. It's a little game you are likely to win...been there, done that.

Jeff Crawley · Jan 31, 2020

Camino Chrissy said:
Jeff, I'm sure your daughters will just "love" a T-shirt displaying a huge yellow arrow...especially if they have never walked it themselves.

No, they've always preferred the Santiago Witches (I've been there more often than not in October) or Celtic silver jewellery if only for the "Ooh, where did you get that from?" from friends.

Camino Chrissy · Jan 31, 2020

Jeff Crawley said:
No, they've always preferred the Santiago Witches (I've been there more often than not in October) or Celtic silver jewellery if only for the "Ooh, where did you get that from?" from friends.

I prefer the celtic silver jewely, too...we be ladies!

alexwalker · Jan 31, 2020

I carry 1/2kg. of shaving equipment so I can shave face, arms, head & legs every day. Saves a lot of weight in 30+ days, methinks.

Camino Chrissy · Jan 31, 2020

alexwalker said:
I carry 1/2kg. of shaving equipment so I can shave face, arms, head & legs every day. Saves a lot of weight in 30+ days, methinks.

Just have a full body wax before leaving, then you can leave all the shaving paraphernalia at home. The true savings in weight will make up for the pain, methinks.

alexwalker · Jan 31, 2020

Camino Chrissy said:
Just have a full body wax before leaving, then you can leave all the shaving paraphernalia at home. The true savings in weight will make up for the pain, methinks.

I take no chances: It'll GROW OUT again. I'll bring my weight-saving gear with me at all times...

Camino Chrissy · Jan 31, 2020

alexwalker said:
I take no chances: It'll GROW OUT again. I'll bring my weight-saving gear with me at all times...

But that's the beauty of a wax...it lasts 30+ days...just saying.

alexwalker · Jan 31, 2020

Camino Chrissy said:
But that's the beauty of a wax...it lasts 30+ days...just saying.

I may consider waxing for two other areas. Cannot name them. The rest I'll shave...

Camino Chrissy · Jan 31, 2020

alexwalker said:
I may consider waxing for two other areas. Cannot name them. The rest I'll shave...

Here's my reply to that.... Ha!

kiwi-couple · Jan 31, 2020

Thanks so much for these great weight saving tips @andywild I think I'll be adopting some of them. One thing I have been doing during the long hot dry weeks we're having here in New Zealand is dehydrating water - using the sun's natural rays is an inexpensive and organic way to do this - and I'll simply rehydrate my water as I go along. We all know how heavy water is!

Paul Wilson · Jan 31, 2020

Has anyone looked into dehydrated water for their bladder pack that should save a lot of weight

Bradypus · Jan 31, 2020

Paul Wilson said:
Has anyone looked into dehydrated water for their bladder pack that should save a lot of weight

Is dihydrogen monoxide readily available in Spain?

DenWhite · Jan 31, 2020

From such a little thing ie 'toothbrush' big things grow ie total 'mayhem and madness'-love it. Turn this into a sub-forum 'Camino Anarchy'

jsalt · Jan 31, 2020

Bradypus said:
Is dihydrogen monoxide readily available in Spain?

Absolutely! You can find it in all the supermarkets, on the shelf next to the dehydrated vino tintoxide.

AlwynWellington · Feb 1, 2020

andywild said:
... and saved roughly ...

There are other ways to make savings.

For example, swim home from Fisterra!

Bernice M · Feb 1, 2020

Does dehydrating bladder pack work for ordinary bladders? Would be a boon for us older ladies.

Miki Goldie · Feb 1, 2020

Rick of Rick and Peg said:
Of course I tie the ends. I've tried tieing the middle many times but the knot always comes undone.

Just 2K · Feb 1, 2020

You people are amateurs.
I stream The Way, 6 Ways to Santiago, and Footprints back to back for 35 days.
I only have to carry a couple of beers and a bag of chips to the couch. I would grab a whole 6 pack, but I want the experience to be authentic.
On my way to fridge for more beer, I have to step over the pile of crap my cat drops on the rug every day!
Ahh, credits for The Way are ending, got to go...

DoughnutANZ · Feb 2, 2020

andywild said:
I was reading a post by someone that suggested sawing part of the handle from your toothbrush to save weight and it got me thinking..
I realised that the only part of my walking poles that I actually touch is the handles, the rest of the pole is superfluous.. I cut the rest of the poles off and saved roughly 244grams.. not only are they much lighter but they have also stopped making that annoying clicking sound! The only negative I've found is that I tend to fall over more often, I consider this a fair trade.

I have also ordered some long sleeve t-shirts that I am going to cut the sleeves off just above the elbow and likewise some trousers that can be trimmed to just above the knee.. more grams shed!!
Finally, and most effectively, I have ordered a heavy weight jacket that I plan on leaving at home, a saving of over 400grams!
Hope these tips help
Hugs
Andy x

Get a body wax including head and face before you leave and repeat weekly.

steve392 · Monday at 2:17 AM

Hey all. I haven't been on the forum for quite sometime (years probably). I walked the Camino Frances in 2016 and to say it was life changing for me is an understatement. On day 3, at the café at...

JustJack · Wednesday at 12:45 PM

When you stop at a bar for a beer, wine, coffee or bite to eat, and sit at a table, is it expected that you will return your dirty dishes up to the bar before you leave? I alway do, as it seems...

Antonius Vaessen · Monday at 3:17 PM

I am just back from a few weeks on the Via the la Plata. Since 2015 I have been nearly every year in Spain walking caminoroutes I loved the café con leches. This year I did not like them as much...

Peterexpatkiwi · Tuesday at 12:42 PM

Let me preface this by saying please understand I am not picking on anybody, I fully understand that mistakes happen and how. Been there, done that. I have been astonished to see so many lost...

KariannNor · Thursday at 8:44 PM

A promotion started here right now. A step-counting sweater from Wolkswagen records how far you walk, and if you walk 613 km (which is the range of the latest model) before 16th June, you can win...

William Garza · Friday at 6:29 AM

Past,present and future Thanks for sharing your adventures! This forum will be a touchstone someday in the future ..where you had gone and how far, from where and when A Canterbery tales sort of...

Weight saving tips

Active Member

Veteran Member

Active Member

Active Member

Jill

Active Member

Camino tortuga

Migratory hermit

Veteran Member

Active Member

Happy Pilgrim

Active Member

Migratory hermit

Veteran Member

Veteran_Member

Veteran Member

Veteran_Member

Veteran Member

Moderator

Veteran_Member

Member

Active Member

Active Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Veteran Member

Forever Pilgrim

Veteran Member

Forever Pilgrim

Veteran Member

Forever Pilgrim

Veteran Member

dos peregrinos

Active Member

Migratory hermit

Active Member

Jill

Veteran Member

Veteran

MikiGoldie

ibrew4u

Ka whati te tai ka kai te tōreapango

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

Privacy & Transparency

Privacy & Transparency