Hacks, Tips, and Tricks For Walking The Camino
video description
malleable silicone earplugs
sleeping mask
runners knee length compression socks
ultralight silnylon poncho - check alibaba
small thin plastic cutting board and small knife - for cutting bread, cheese tomatoes etc
TrailSmart map app with detailed offline Camino maps
a thin down sleeping bag I'd converted to a quilt by removing the zipper and hood
artificiel silk sleeping bag liner
small headlamp
Things I brought and never needed:
Compass
Rain jacket - used poncho
down jacket - hiked in October no need for a jacket
extra water bottles - one was plenty
water filter - unnecessary plenty of access to drinking water
large micro fiber bath towel - the 2 small micro fiber towels I had were adequate
Things I'll be taking with me for next years Camino:
trekking umbrella
titanium ethanol stove + titanium mug (I was often on the road at 5. 30 or 6 in the morning and cafes didn't open until around 8. 30 - nice to stop for some hot coffee and bread and cheese while enjoying the dawn.
When leaving early remember one's fellow pilgrims, prepare and pack as much as possible for the next day the evening before Then in the morning quietly carry all your stuff into the kitchen to complete it.
Just as a matter of general interest I met an elderly man (early 70s and a little older than me, who walked Caminoes 11 months of the year. When he'd finished one he'd choose a new starting point. He'd even walked from Canterbury in the UK to Santiago. He'd walked the Camino Frances 9 times, can't remember how many times he'd done the other popular routes.
What stands in the way becomes the way Emperor Marcus Aurelius
Bom Camino: )
Date: 2020-08-18
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Comments and reviews: 9
David
It's not UL, but having tons of electronics never is. For group or family trips, I'll pack one US to Euro adaptor plug plus an extension cord sold around Christmas for Christmas-tree lights. They're always green, 6-9 feet long, light-gauge wire (like a lamp cord) and have 8-10 US outlets along its length. Then you 1) don't need a ton of adaptors, 2) can charge multiple devices at once, 3) can share all those outlets with old or new friend, 4) keep your device close to / in your bed instead of across the room. It's a far lighter set-up with far more outlets than other multi-outlet extension cords or a power strip.
It's also handy when traveling domestically - often the outlet in a hotel room isn't where you want it and when airport outlets are all full, no one can refuse your request to insert your splitter cord between them and the wall since they'll remain energized while 10 new outlets have been created.
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It's not UL, but having tons of electronics never is. For group or family trips, I'll pack one US to Euro adaptor plug plus an extension cord sold around Christmas for Christmas-tree lights. They're always green, 6-9 feet long, light-gauge wire (like a lamp cord) and have 8-10 US outlets along its length. Then you 1) don't need a ton of adaptors, 2) can charge multiple devices at once, 3) can share all those outlets with old or new friend, 4) keep your device close to / in your bed instead of across the room. It's a far lighter set-up with far more outlets than other multi-outlet extension cords or a power strip.
It's also handy when traveling domestically - often the outlet in a hotel room isn't where you want it and when airport outlets are all full, no one can refuse your request to insert your splitter cord between them and the wall since they'll remain energized while 10 new outlets have been created.
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David
For only 10 and 10 grams, I really like the NiteCore Tube USB-charge-able key-chain light. 50 hours of 1 lumen (great for reading, pooping, digging in your pack) and I find 1 lumen (barely) enough to hike a developed trail at night; or 1 hour of 45 lumens. For backpacking trips, it lets me use my main headlamp with no worries of draining the battery because I could, if needed, compete the trip/stage with the Tube. And since it's USB-charge-able, you always start a trip with it full and are never seeking oddball button batteries on your travels.
Pro-tip, especially while backpacking: stitch a little loop of thin elastic on the shoulder of your sleep top. Then it will point, hands-free, at a paper book, map, tooth brush, mirror, etc, that you're trying to use at night.
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For only 10 and 10 grams, I really like the NiteCore Tube USB-charge-able key-chain light. 50 hours of 1 lumen (great for reading, pooping, digging in your pack) and I find 1 lumen (barely) enough to hike a developed trail at night; or 1 hour of 45 lumens. For backpacking trips, it lets me use my main headlamp with no worries of draining the battery because I could, if needed, compete the trip/stage with the Tube. And since it's USB-charge-able, you always start a trip with it full and are never seeking oddball button batteries on your travels.
Pro-tip, especially while backpacking: stitch a little loop of thin elastic on the shoulder of your sleep top. Then it will point, hands-free, at a paper book, map, tooth brush, mirror, etc, that you're trying to use at night.
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hb8dinwa
Dixie, S hooks are fine, but check out soft shackles. You can make them yourself in literally any size and they are super light and take up no space. Also way more useful than s hooks. Think of them as a carabiner made out of rope. You can open and close it like a carbabiner, but it folds up into nothing when you pack it. If you make them out of zing-it or some other dyneema type line, they can hold a crazy amount of weight too. They're something a lot of hammockers have been using for years. I carry one with me in my everday carry now, they are that useful, and there's always at least two in my backpack loadout.
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Dixie, S hooks are fine, but check out soft shackles. You can make them yourself in literally any size and they are super light and take up no space. Also way more useful than s hooks. Think of them as a carabiner made out of rope. You can open and close it like a carbabiner, but it folds up into nothing when you pack it. If you make them out of zing-it or some other dyneema type line, they can hold a crazy amount of weight too. They're something a lot of hammockers have been using for years. I carry one with me in my everday carry now, they are that useful, and there's always at least two in my backpack loadout.
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David
I completely agree with the no-weight approach of photographing the guidebook with your phone. An old-school way to reduce guide book weight is to copy it on a copy machine at 50%. 50% width x 50% height means 25% the size and 25% the weight and it still works if your eyes are young. Then you just toss pages as you go.
Conversely, sometimes I'd copy a city map from a guide book at 150% or 200% to make it easier to read and put notes onto. Then, I can do some navigation and orientation with just a slip of paper instead of waving my 800 iPhone around while obviously a tourist.
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I completely agree with the no-weight approach of photographing the guidebook with your phone. An old-school way to reduce guide book weight is to copy it on a copy machine at 50%. 50% width x 50% height means 25% the size and 25% the weight and it still works if your eyes are young. Then you just toss pages as you go.
Conversely, sometimes I'd copy a city map from a guide book at 150% or 200% to make it easier to read and put notes onto. Then, I can do some navigation and orientation with just a slip of paper instead of waving my 800 iPhone around while obviously a tourist.
reply
hb8dinwa
If you want to make your trekking poles identifiable and also have a handy way to store your cordage (paracord, zing-it, whatever you use, you can wrap a dozen or so yards under the handle and secure it with a hitch or constricting knot. It's easy to take off when you need the cordage, and always easy to get to. Plus, if you opt for a high visibility color, like hunter orange or neon yellow, it will make your poles easy to spot in the pile, and make you more safely visible if you're hiking in a hunting area.
reply
If you want to make your trekking poles identifiable and also have a handy way to store your cordage (paracord, zing-it, whatever you use, you can wrap a dozen or so yards under the handle and secure it with a hitch or constricting knot. It's easy to take off when you need the cordage, and always easy to get to. Plus, if you opt for a high visibility color, like hunter orange or neon yellow, it will make your poles easy to spot in the pile, and make you more safely visible if you're hiking in a hunting area.
reply
David
Oh, and yet another night-light / courtesy tip: if your light is too bright for use in a shared shelter (or you want to preserve your own night vision, just cover it with one or two layers of a t-shirt, bandana or sheet of toilet paper. Voila! a 50-lumen light just became a 5-lumen light and more diffuse / less glaring. A sheet of toilet paper and a rubber band can make it hands-free.
It probably doesn't surprise you, Dixie, that I'm also an engineer.
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Oh, and yet another night-light / courtesy tip: if your light is too bright for use in a shared shelter (or you want to preserve your own night vision, just cover it with one or two layers of a t-shirt, bandana or sheet of toilet paper. Voila! a 50-lumen light just became a 5-lumen light and more diffuse / less glaring. A sheet of toilet paper and a rubber band can make it hands-free.
It probably doesn't surprise you, Dixie, that I'm also an engineer.
reply
Liam
App for the Camino. Wise Pilgrim Guides. They have just about everything you need. You can get a headlamp that has a red light. If you're an early riser, like me, have everything ready to go before you turn in. The only things you should have to put into your pack in the morning should be your nest and toothbrush. Those that rummage in plastic bags should all be taken out into a field.
reply
App for the Camino. Wise Pilgrim Guides. They have just about everything you need. You can get a headlamp that has a red light. If you're an early riser, like me, have everything ready to go before you turn in. The only things you should have to put into your pack in the morning should be your nest and toothbrush. Those that rummage in plastic bags should all be taken out into a field.
reply
Aroundist
Fanny packs are totally making a comeback! I really like the other apps available, anything that includes the history of where you walk. Buen Camino app and the Wisely app are both good. They also include reviews of the albergues! Super helpful!
I brought a foam roller water bottle. It was a game changer for body care and it's dual purpose!
reply
Fanny packs are totally making a comeback! I really like the other apps available, anything that includes the history of where you walk. Buen Camino app and the Wisely app are both good. They also include reviews of the albergues! Super helpful!
I brought a foam roller water bottle. It was a game changer for body care and it's dual purpose!
reply
BecksBitOfBlue
New sub, just wanted to say I think your videos are great. I'm putting my bug out bag together an found your videos. Been watching many and your ideas and knowledge has made impact on my decisions of what to do. Thank you for great fun videos, especially the how to stay clean on the trail. Best wishes shalom
reply
New sub, just wanted to say I think your videos are great. I'm putting my bug out bag together an found your videos. Been watching many and your ideas and knowledge has made impact on my decisions of what to do. Thank you for great fun videos, especially the how to stay clean on the trail. Best wishes shalom
reply
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