I love the idea with the dog - especially such a sweet oneIt is a problem. Even a lightweight tent has weight but also, one is then into comfortable sleeping mat, possibly a better sleeping bag, a lamp for the evenings ... then the temptation to make your own hot drinks, so stove etc ...
Maybe a way forward - work out by trial and error the maximum weight you are happy carrying over long distances and many days and then work out your packing list with tent from that?
Another possible answer is to take a dog with you and fit it with panniers or attach it to a cart? (A goat would do).
View attachment 169541
Afer reading your post I jumped immediately on my z-lite mat to see if I could shorten it... unfortunately I seem to be too tallI bring the same things I bring when not walking with a tent.
The only thing that is added is the tent.
I'm a cold sleeper so I always carry a warm sleeping bag, anyway. And I like to take naps during the day, so I always bring my sleeping mat.
I don't really do packing lists, so can't give the weight of every item. But it's roughly this:
- Backpack (65l Osprey)
- tent (1,5kg which is heavy, but I love that tent so I haven't replaced it with a lighter one yet)
- down sleeping bag (recycled down), very warm even in freezing temperatures, 1-1,2kg or so?
- shortened z-lite mat
- toiletries (small bamboo tooth brush, tiny tube of concentrated toothpaste, small microfiber towel, 1/2 shampoo bar, comb). All wrapped into the towel and put into a ziploc bag.
- clothes depending on season, in a rectangle stuff sack, can be used as a pillow at night
- cup, opinel, spork
- poncho/raincoat
- flip flops
- hat
- first aid kit
- water bottle(s)
- snacks
- flash light
- guide book
- personal items like phone, wallet (in a small extra bag I wear across the shoulder).
No cooking gear. Many albergues have kitchens, so I cook when I stay in albergues (or albergue gardens). Otherwise cold food or I go to a bar just like the other pilgrims.
I'm not an ultralight enthusiast. So I prefer saving weight in the clothes and toiletries department by bringing just less. Would be easy to save more weight if I'd replace things with lighter versions, but so far I didn't see the need to. Pack weight is irrelevant for me as long as it feels good while walking.
My overall pack weight is usually ~10kg incl. water and snacks. But it depends on season, need to carry more water ect.
So. Short summary - same as without tent. Just with tent. Quite simple.
I would not bring a tent and opt to stay ion Albergues. You will enjoy most of it by meeting so many different people on the wayDear all,
as I intent to bring a tent I would be very grateful if you could share some of your tips on how to keep the total weight down or even your own packing list.
Currently I am about to minimize everything but some help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Thank you for answer.I would not bring a tent and opt to stay ion Albergues. You will enjoy most of it by meeting so many different people on the way
And let the dog walk long distances poor animal !It is a problem. Even a lightweight tent has weight but also, one is then into comfortable sleeping mat, possibly a better sleeping bag, a lamp for the evenings ... then the temptation to make your own hot drinks, so stove etc ...
Maybe a way forward - work out by trial and error the maximum weight you are happy carrying over long distances and many days and then work out your packing list with tent from that?
Another possible answer is to take a dog with you and fit it with panniers or attach it to a cart? (A goat would do).
View attachment 169541
My tent is 1800 gHow heavy is your tent?
this is also my plan this year because I am doing some less travelled caminos in france and sometimes there is just a campsite. my tactic was re-evaluating everything and really thinking about what I REALLY need.Dear all,
as I intent to bring a tent I would be very grateful if you could share some of your tips on how to keep the total weight down or even your own packing list.
Currently I am about to minimize everything but some help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
But you probably use expensive, specialized ultralight gear, I'd guess?I added even more comfort items to my pack this year, bringing it up to about 4kg. If i was to add my tent (~700g), a sleeping mat ( ~400g) and a warmer sleeping bag (add ~400g) and maybe a few hundred gramms of utensils for camping that would still put me well below the 6kg mark. Add 500g for a sturdier backpack to comfortably carry this weight. Add 1kg for someone not wanting to buy expensive ultralight stuff. So 7,5kg. 8kg maybe tops. Looks manageable. 12kg seems excessive to me.
I fully understand your desire to walk with what you have, especially if you are also trying to save money. But goodness me, both the tent and especially the rucksack seem to be incredibly heavy! If you cannot buy (eg second hand) could you not perhaps borrow something that is comfortable but lighter?My tent is 1800 g
... the tricky thing is the backpack, I think, it's 3100g and I know I should exchange it... but it is the one I have and I will try to manage
Now, please don't shoot me
@Anhalter has posted his packing list here on the forum and certainly some of it is most definitely 'expensive specialised ultralight Gear', but I was surprised to note that clothing for example is quite often just run of the mill Decathlon.But you probably use expensive, specialized ultralight gear, I'd guess?
But you probably use expensive, specialized ultralight gear, I'd guess?
I tried to adjust for this with my "additions". Instead of my sub-500g pack, i calculated a 1kg pack (and you can get one of those for a more reasonable price), instead of my 240g sleeping bag i calculated a 640g one... and so on. Maybe not everything 100% correct, but i'd bet one can get around my stated weights without breaking the bank.Some major weight-saving areas are for example his pack, sleeping bag and jacket - both incredibly light and super expensive!
@Anhalter has posted his packing list here on the forum and certainly some of it is most definitely 'expensive specialised ultralight Gear', but I was surprised to note that clothing for example is quite often just run of the mill Decathlon.
Some major weight-saving areas are for example his pack, sleeping bag and jacket - both incredibly light and super expensive!
However in other respects I very much admire the list and have certainly learnt from it.
I couldn't agree more!, I guess the point I wanted to make is, it's not always necessary to have the most lightweight pack possible. It just has to feel good.
Ditto. My pack is new, but I wear my clothing until it wears out and then I wear it for the garden. Until it's practically falling off me.prefer using stuff I have, at least until it's broken and needs replacement, or maybe if it truly doesn't work for me. Buying something that is slightly less heavy, even if it's not expensive, just to reduce the weight of my already comfortable pack, seems unnecessary to me.
Pelikan, you will need a sleep mat under a sleeping bag if you tent, so if these amounted to (say) 1.1kg then that is 6kg so far.My tent is 1800 g
... the tricky thing is the backpack, I think, it's 3100g and I know I should exchange it... but it is the one I have and I will try to manage
Now, please don't shoot me
I am positive that I will manage to do so. The nearer the date, the more I "throw out things"Pelikan, you will need a sleep mat under a sleeping bag if you tent, so if these amounted to (say) 1.1kg then that is 6kg so far.
Can you assemble one set of spare clothes, rain gear, toothbrush etc under or equal to 5kg?
OK then, with 1 litre of water your pack will be 12kg.I am positive that I will manage to do so. The nearer the date, the more I "throw out things"
Do you know you cannot camp in Spain except in commercial campgrounds? Leave your tent and stay in albergues.Dear all,
as I intent to bring a tent I would be very grateful if you could share some of your tips on how to keep the total weight down or even your own packing list.
Currently I am about to minimize everything but some help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
I use a tarp tent which is held up by my hiking poles or if you have trees you can use a guy ropes to make the ridge and weights 245g.Dear all,
as I intent to bring a tent I would be very grateful if you could share some of your tips on how to keep the total weight down or even your own packing list.
Currently I am about to minimize everything but some help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!
Yes you can, I've been doing it for years.Do you know you cannot camp in Spain except in commercial campgrounds? Leave your tent and stay in albergues.
You can camp wild camp in Spain as thousands of people doing the GR10 do, I've also seen people wild camp on the Camino Frances. Spain is an autonomous country with each region with its own laws.Do you know you cannot camp in Spain except in commercial campgrounds? Leave your tent and stay in albergues.
Do you know you cannot camp in Spain except in commercial campgrounds? Leave your tent and stay in albergues.
Don't carry tent pegs, use what you can find around your camp site, i.e. sticks.Dear all,
as I intent to bring a tent I would be very grateful if you could share some of your tips on how to keep the total weight down or even your own packing list.
Currently I am about to minimize everything but some help would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you!