Comments on: What I brought with me on the Camino de Santiago

By: Moire

Moire — Tue, 04 Sep 2012 12:29:24 +0000

Thanks Johnny! And enjoy the Camino.

By: johnny Hamilton

johnny Hamilton — Sat, 01 Sep 2012 16:26:46 +0000

i found your page very useful. I’m leaving for the camino in 5 days and would have packed way too much. I’m used to back packing in the rocky mountains of Montana and was going to bring more than required on this journey. thank you so much for taking the time to outline the essentials.

happy trails,

Johnny Hamilton

By: The Truth Warrior

The Truth Warrior — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 22:36:20 +0000

Thanks for the reply. Really appreciate it!! The links are very helpful. Thanks. TW

By: Moire

Moire — Mon, 25 Jun 2012 13:27:27 +0000

Difficult questions. For a 28 day walk, it totally depends on the speed you go / number of kms you do a day. Have a look at the camino forum recommended in the blog post and it can give you lots of advice. Here’s a link about 27 days: http://www.caminodesantiago.me/can-i-walk-from-st-jean-to-santiago-de-compostela-in-27-days/

Same with blisters – I got them, patched them up, and it was no problem. Check out this link: http://www.caminodesantiago.me/tip-blister-prevention-and-foot-care/

By: The Truth Warrior

The Truth Warrior — Sat, 23 Jun 2012 12:50:49 +0000

Thanks for a great post on the Camino. I am intending to walk the Camino for the last 2 weeks in Septemeber and the 1st 2 weeks in October. I am just wondering where would you recommend in starting and finishing for approximately a 28 day walk? Do you know is there anyway to avoid getting blisters in the walk? Thanks again. By the way your blog is very inspiring:)
Namaste.

~ TW

By: Moire

Moire — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 01:00:26 +0000

That’s a serious mandatory list. Wonder if they’ll check if you have toilet paper and strepsils with you at all times? Not sure why they are making penknifes mandatory. And why you would need a survival bag in addition to your sleeping bag, I don’t understand either. The only thing I’d add is spare clothing for the evenings.

Seeing the mandatory list is so comprehensive already, I’d just try to and go very lightweight on all the items listed e.g.
Mini red light about 25g: http://www.chainreactioncycles.com/Models.aspx?ModelID=8749
Petzl e+lite headtorch, 27g, as you won’t be running at night anyway: http://www.peteblandsports.co.uk/cgi-bin/trolleyed_public.cgi?action=showprod_PE3
Rab Neutrino sleeping bag, 595g: http://www.webtogs.co.uk/Rab_Neutrino_200_Down_Sleeping_Bag_102058.html
Inov8 pack, 30l, 702g: http://www.inov-8.com/New/Global/Product-View-RacePro-30.html?L=26

Sounds like a cracking race though!

By: jur9enjur9en

jur9enjur9en — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 15:05:31 +0000

Yes, they have a mandatory list (http://manaslutrailrace.org/race-details/) which you have to carry. I don’t think they will use any porters except perhaps for the medical team.

By: Moire

Moire — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:45:58 +0000

Hi Ian, good to hear you’re running the camino. In answer to your questions:

1) My bag would have qualified as cabin baggage no problem with Ryanair. I flew out with them, Dublin to Biarritz. However I actually checked my bag in and paid 15 Euros because I really wanted to bring a penknife. In the end, I’m glad I brought the knife as I ended up doing lots of repairs on my feet and needed small, sharp scissors. But I saw lots of people getting off the plane with their rucksack as handluggage. My bag was 30 litres and I had a bit of extra room on top for a sandwich and a few bananas: http://www.inov-8.com/New/Global/Product-View-RacePro-30.html?L=26
2) Yes, there are blankets in the majority of hostels. I didn’t see anyone just going with a sleeping liner though. Maybe in July/August when its really warm, but I wouldn’t have done that in April/May (so best check weather for that time of year). Also bear in mind that some hostels have heating and some don’t (you can get the list in St Jean Pied-de-Port and keep an eye on the chauffage tick box list). There was one place I slept without heating (and it was raining that day) and this poor Korean girl was huddled in her sleeping bag with a blanket and was still cold. I’m actually glad I brought my bag as it was super warm. There were some days when it was so miserably cold and wet whilst I was on the camino that I was really glad to be able to get into the the bag and heat up again very quickly.
Overall, in terms of weight, I’d be very minimalist if I was travelling for 2-3 days. But we’re talking a few weeks here, so a few creature comforts are important. And for me, a major creature comfort is making sure I stay warm. So I had trousers and 2 jumpers as well as my rainjacket, buff, gloves and hat to wear after being on the trail. All extra weight, but I’m glad I brought them so I stayed in good form for the 3 weeks I was on the trail.

Hope this helps. Happy to answer other questions you might have.

By: Ian Sparks

Ian Sparks — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:27:49 +0000

Thank you for posting this information. I am running the Camino from Sept 16th so great to benefit from your experience. Did your bag qualify as cabin baggage as the size H – 51cm
W – 24cm
D – 22cm just falls foul of Ryan Air 55/40/20
I am on a very tight budget!
Also another runner’s blog advised that a silk sleeping bag liner was enough because blankets were available. Do you think a bag is necessary?

By: Moire

Moire — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 07:44:50 +0000

Total weight was around 6kg, which doesn’t include food or water. It fitted into a 30 litre rucksack (the Inov8 ones are the best for running with).
Could have left behind the battery charger for my camera and the torch. Everything else I needed. What I was really glad about was my sleeping bag that I bought especially for the trip. Cost a bit but was less than 600g and was super warm.
Is there a mandatory gear list for the Manaslu Trail Challenge? Do you have to carry your bags on the run?