- Time of past OR future Camino
- First one in 2005 from Moissac, France.
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
camino-david said:Hi all,
I finished my Caminos one week ago, and have now walked the Aragonnes and the Frances twice plus part of the Arles Camino so I think I have some experience. In my opinion someone who carries an i-pod, a GPS, a solar panel and a cell phone is not an ultra light walker. You do not need them and they are luxouries. Take only absolute necessities.
I cannot understand the comments about Icebreaker not drying, as I took 2 T shirts 200, and they always dried overnight. I hang them from the bunk above with nappy pins. Icebreaker are fantastic, cool in hot weather, warm in cold weather (I walked down from O Cebreiro in a snow blizzard in my Icebreaker T shirt and waterproof jacket and was warm enough), do not stink, and are lighter than cotton. Camino.David
Abbeydore said:"- icebreaker shirts. These actually weigh quite a lot in comparison with the synthetic stinky ones i usually wear, but since i met a lot of people last year who were very enthusiastic about the merino fabric i decided to buy two icebreakers shirts and a pair of socks. after a week i already knew these were not going to be my favorite shirts or socks, because i just don't like the woolly feeling on the skin, and they take hours to dry.
Camino2010 said:For my second Camino last year, I still took the Icebreaker but instead of two long-sleeved shirts I took one long-sleeved and two t-shirts. Much better! I lived in the t-shirts until I was across the Meseta and mid-October hit with chilly temperatures. I made sure I washed the Icebreaker stuff as soon as I could after arriving at the albergue, and I went back to the clothes line or drying rack at least a couple of times to squeeze out more water if I could. It's a bit touchy to have Icebreaker in the autumn or winter when there's less sun heat and intensity for drying wool, but worth it to me for the benefits!
Rachel
May be a good lesson there to future pilgrims. Give your kit a thorough inspection at home prior to your walk.I walked the Camino Portugues from Valenca do Minho in 2013. I caught the bus from Santiago to Valenca in order to start the walk back to O Porrino that day.
Upon arrival in Valenca, I retrieved my Berghaus rucksack (only on it's 3rd Camino outing) from underneath the bus and as I lifted it the shoulder strap stitching at the bottom of the pack gave way and ripped completely out. So having not stepped a foot on the trail I was left with a rather large and heavy handbag.
Fortunately one of my walking companions had a canvas belt with him and I managed to fashion a harness to join the strap back to the pack. It took the best part of three days walking to refine the strap so that it didn't keep loosening off, putting the pack into imbalance and cause pain and havoc to my back. However I eventually worked out a decent set up and the final 3 days were almost normal.
My local shoe repair shop re-stitched the shoulder strap for a fiver and it has been fine ever since!
Hi Annelise... I'm planning to walk in may/june this year and wondered what the weather might be like then. Can you offer some insights to me?Well, my two cents contribution to this post would be gaiters – quite expensive they were, but I had caught from posts in this forum that they would be essential.
I know that many swear by them, but I discarded them already on my first night in Roncesvalles. Too much weight. I never missed them (walked May 2011). So this may not exactly be about failing.
I was in a severe rain and thunderstorm for several hours (walking the several km's towards Los Arcos) with overflows on the paths – like wading - coming towards me or from behind depending on the slant of the path. Gaiters would no way have helped me here.
And whenever over the of hours 'wading', I saw a lightening hit the ground, I said to myself: Ok, you saw it, so you have not been hit!
Laura, It is very difficult to predict the weather, even in the same months from one year to another.Hi Annelise... I'm planning to walk in may/june this year and wondered what the weather might be like then. Can you offer some insights to me?
Thanks,
Laura
The old ticker in 2014 David, but I got it repaired and its working fine now TG.That's it really - was just wondering what negatives you may have found with a vaunted piece of kit ...
Thank you so much annelise, you've been a great help,Laura, It is very difficult to predict the weather, even in the same months from one year to another.
All I can say is that when I walked (from early May 2012), I was fortunate in the weather keeping mostly dry. A bit coolish in the mornings where I needed to wear my fleece, but that would generally come off around 9ish, 10ish from which time I would walk with bare arms. Also mostly needed my fleece when outdoors in the evenings.
But others have experienced rather bad weather in May, lots of rains. - So definitely bring rain protection gear.
As for gaiters, you might wish to just choose to have a couple of plastic bags handy which with a couple of elastics would serve just as well to prevent rain from coming down the top of your boots - no weight and much cheaper.
Best, annelise
Ice breaker T shirt was great when walking and I would not take anything else. What I wasnt so convinced by was the camelback - heavy when filled with water and I didnt use it as much as I expected. Not a complete fail but carrying a smaller bottle and filling it regularly means less weight in your back. Tastes better too!Hi. We read a lot of positive comments about favourite bits of kit ... the best rucksack, poles and so on.
I was wondering about the opposite - which piece of kit wasn't up to the job? Or was good but had a particular drawback ...
for example - I wear Merell trek sandals (Kahunas?).
These are seriously great sandals with a stone-proof sole and great grip but have two problems. The synthetic footbed leads to them, and my feet, smelling terribly - need to be washed every night, and the velcro fastenings fail after a while, they come unstitched from the leather.
(This is easily repairable with that 'one drop' instant glue - the one that sticks your fingers to your sandals if you aren't careful, which happened to me the first time I used it).
I use an Altus Poncho, which is absolutely brilliant - but, my, don't your arms sweat if you walk fast!!! :shock:
(I sometimes wear it with my arms inside the main body, not using the sleeves - but this is tricky if using a pole :| ).
That's it really - was just wondering what negatives you may have found with a vaunted piece of kit ...
I have not yet walked a Camino, but I regularly wear Merino wool baselayer shirts. I have them from several differnent brands and in 150, 200 and 250 weights. I hike with them regularly and will say that Icebreaker, Stoic, Hagglunds, Ibex and others are all GREAT. No comparison between Merino and cotton or the various polyester tech shirts. Merino keeps you warm when its wet in cold weather. Keeps you comfortable and cool in hot weather. And it does NOT stink like the polyester/nylon/synthetic shirts.Hi all,
I finished my Caminos one week ago, and have now walked the Aragonnes and the Frances twice plus part of the Arles Camino so I think I have some experience. In my opinion someone who carries an i-pod, a GPS, a solar panel and a cell phone is not an ultra light walker. You do not need them and they are luxouries. Take only absolute necessities.
I cannot understand the comments about Icebreaker not drying, as I took 2 T shirts 200, and they always dried overnight. I hang them from the bunk above with nappy pins. Icebreaker are fantastic, cool in hot weather, warm in cold weather (I walked down from O Cebreiro in a snow blizzard in my Icebreaker T shirt and waterproof jacket and was warm enough), do not stink, and are lighter than cotton. Camino.David
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?