Luggage Transport - Why?

[trecile]

Can you please tell what company did you use to transfer your pack

Check out this thread:
Bag transport companies on the Camino - a list

 

[David61]

Can you please tell what company did you use to transfer your pack

Jacotrans and Correos. Very easy to use and reliable. Tip, do not leave anything of value in your pack. I know for definite my pack had been gone through at least once whilst in transit or before collection/post drop off.

 

[LesAnne]

My husband and I walked the Camino Ingles in 2019. This experience was only one week out of a multi week trip to New York City, a conference in Warsaw, a side trip to Vienna, and another conference in Abu Dhabi, which entailed packing for multiple seasons, needs, and scenarios, plus accommodating materials, books, and gifts received from the conferences. We were very grateful to use luggage transport.

We are returning to walk the Frances in September and will again use luggage transport. This time we are also attending a conference in Berlin in conjunction with the Camino, but the main reason is that we are now both in our late 60s, my husband has some health issues, and our previous experience with luggage transport was so pleasant that we never really considered not using a luggage transport.

Thankyou for your feedback. I wonder did you have a suitcase or a backpack please?

 

[Shells]

Thankyou for your feedback. I wonder did you have a suitcase or a backpack please?

In both cases (Camino Ingles, 2019 and Camino Frances, 2023), my husband and I walked with daypacks and had our suitcases transported. We experienced no problems and both of our Caminos were extraordinary experiences. I am returning in a month to walk the final 100ish miles of the Frances (Ponferrada to Santiago) with a couple of friends who were intrigued by my daily descriptions last fall and asked if I would accompany them this year on their own Walks. Both of my friends are in their late 60s, unaccustomed to walking great distances, and have medical issues. We are once again having our luggage transported, will walk with daypacks, and hopefully return with emotional baggage greatly lessened!

 

[J Willhaus]

Thankyou for your feedback. I wonder did you have a suitcase or a backpack please?

Some places don't accept a suitcase so check that when you make your decision.

 

[Wanieta]

Try as I might, I can't get my pack below 15 lbs including 2L water and, at 73 with arthritic knees, it's difficult. My plan is to tranfer about 5 lbs/day in a small pack and carry the remaining 10 lbs in my very comfortable backpack. I want to enjoy the journey, not struggle. Buen Camino!

 

[henrythedog]

Try as I might, I can't get my pack below 15 lbs including 2L water and, at 73 with arthritic knees, it's difficult. My plan is to tranfer about 5 lbs/day in a small pack and carry the remaining 10 lbs in my very comfortable backpack. I want to enjoy the journey, not struggle. Buen Camino!

If you’re crossing over to the other side, for perfectly sound reasons, you might as well ship 10 and carry 5. It’s not a competition other than against yourself.

 

[TulasiPriya]

Will follow this! Is driven by profit I think - a need/desire is seen (or invented) and paid services arise to satisfy that ..

but I do wonder if there is a correlation over the years between the rise of baggage transport and the ratio of religious pilgrims to hikers? (my assumption being that there is a rise in hikers and a drop in religious pilgrims - but only a guess) - and also, not judging, just interested.

I don't fit the categories - apologies ... I loathe wearing a heavy pack anyway (even a light one) and with my first aid kit it would have been completely not doable so I went down the route of designing and building a trailer - hey! luggage transport but by me for me!!

Have you shared any photos of it? I'd love to see it.

 

[TulasiPriya]

Can you please tell what company did you use to transfer your pack

If you type "luggage" or "luggage transport" (or some variation thereof) in the search, you'll find a lot of recommendations and lots of hits, some of which are about subjects that are good to know but you would never have thought of.

 

[trecile]

but I do wonder if there is a correlation over the years between the rise of baggage transport and the ratio of religious pilgrims to hikers? (my assumption being that there is a rise in hikers and a drop in religious pilgrims - but only a guess) - and also, not judging, just interested

It seems to me that many who are walking for religious reasons may be less likely to be regular hikers and thus more likely to want or need to use luggage transport.

Regular hikers are more apt to be fitter and accustomed to using a backpack, so therefore less likely to use luggage transport.

 

[J Willhaus]

Try as I might, I can't get my pack below 15 lbs including 2L water and, at 73 with arthritic knees, it's difficult. My plan is to tranfer about 5 lbs/day in a small pack and carry the remaining 10 lbs in my very comfortable backpack. I want to enjoy the journey, not struggle. Buen Camino!

If you are on the Camino Frances, it is unlikely you'll need 2 liters of water except maybe one day. The towns are close together and potable water is avaliable. That might help.

 

[NancyLee]

Am also returning to Camino Frances early Sept for an easy couple weeks of walking and then taking train to Barcelona to relax for several days. Just so many things have happened in my life during and since pandemic that I want a stress free pilgrimage to just process lots. Haven’t packed yet but hope I can manage my backpack but will use the transport option if necessary. I completed Camino Frances Sept 2019. Beautiful month to walk.

 

[JMan]

I guess my initial reaction to the question was "Why on earth wouldn't you use luggage transfer?" It was by far the longest hike I've ever done, and at age 54 I wanted to make sure I stayed injury-free so that I could enjoy it. I used an Osprey Tempest waist pack, which was perfect. You get physically sore enough on long hikes. Why make it even worse for yourself? I recognise that some people want to kind of punish themselves as a way to expunge some guilt or prove something to themselves by make it more difficult, but I didn't need to do these things because I am a Christian (forgiven, yay!) and I was walking as a form of self-care after the death of my darling husband. I walked part of the camino in France from St Privat d'Allier to Cahors and used the Malle Postale luggage transfer service and, I've got to say, I was very grateful for the service they provided.

 

[J Willhaus]

I like to keep my things with me. I've seen packs lost and mis-delivered. It also adds to the cost and limits where you can stay (most places I prefer, don't accept packs.) It is also a traditionalist thing for me.

We've used pack transfer when my husband could not physically carry his and it changed the whole feel of the Camino. Involved planning and reservations that I prefer not to be a part of the journey. To each his own.

 

[trecile]

I recognise that some people want to kind of punish themselves as a way to expunge some guilt or prove something to themselves by make it more difficult,

Nope, doesn't apply to me at all. I carry my backpack because I like the flexibility it gives me to stop early or go farther. And I like having my things with me.
I'm not trying to prove anything or expunge guilt or any nonsense like that.

 

[C clearly]

I recognise that some people want to kind of punish themselves as a way to expunge some guilt or prove something to themselves by make it more difficult,

I have absolutely no problem with you or anyone else deciding to have your bags transported. But these are weird interpretations and assumptions that really do not apply to me or most people carrying their packs.

I am in my 70s and carry a backpack every day at home, virtually wherever I go, so for me it is very natural. On the Camino I keep the weight down to something that is not a problem. I prefer having all my things with me. I like the challenge of minimalizing what I carry. I love the sense of carefree independence. Those are clearly personal pleasures that I wouldn't expect everyone to enjoy, but neither would I expect them to stereotype me absurdly.

 

[Bradypus]

Nope, doesn't apply to me at all.

Not me either. My pack for an albergue-based Camino walk is a trivial weight and most of the time I am not even aware of carrying it.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I carry my own pack because I enjoy doing it and it gives me an added sense of accomplishment and satisfaction. I carry (pun) no guilt and have nothing to prove to myself or others.

 

[JMan]

Nope, doesn't apply to me at all. I carry my backpack because I like the flexibility it gives me to stop early or go farther. And I like having my things with me.
I'm not trying to prove anything or expunge guilt or any nonsense like that.

Good on you. I did say 'some people'. I never said that ALL people who carry luggage are doing it for these reasons. And for some people expunging guilt is a very important and necessary thing and rather mean of you to suggest that it's nonsense. My intention was not to list the full range of reasons why people might decide to carry their luggage, all of which, including the two categories that I mentioned, and your own mentioned reason, are entirely valid if that's what they need to do.

 

[truenorthpilgrm]

I guess my initial reaction to the question was "Why on earth wouldn't you use luggage transfer?"

Um...because some (many) of us want to?? And we like it? I walked from Le Puy to Santiago with my Osprey 38 with zero issues.

I recognise that some people want to kind of punish themselves as a way to expunge some guilt or prove something to themselves by make it more difficult, but I didn't need to do these things because I am a Christian (forgiven, yay!)

This is an odd (and rather arrogant) thing to assume about others who simply like carrying a backpack.

 

[JillGat]

Why does anyone care so much about what other people do that doesn't affect them?

 

[Molly Cassidy]

Why on earth wouldn't you use luggage transfer?

Some of us just don't have a lot of money and can't the value in spending money on pack transport that could be spent on other things. I'd rather have a couple of beers at the end of the day and carry my own stuff.

 

[SabsP]

I guess my initial reaction to the question was "Why on earth wouldn't you use luggage transfer?" It was by far the longest hike I've ever done, and at age 54 I wanted to make sure I stayed injury-free so that I could enjoy it. I used an Osprey Tempest waist pack, which was perfect. You get physically sore enough on long hikes. Why make it even worse for yourself? I recognise that some people want to kind of punish themselves as a way to expunge some guilt or prove something to themselves by make it more difficult, but I didn't need to do these things because I am a Christian (forgiven, yay!) and I was walking as a form of self-care after the death of my darling husband. I walked part of the camino in France from St Privat d'Allier to Cahors and used the Malle Postale luggage transfer service and, I've got to say, I was very grateful for the service they provided.

First of all very sorry to hear about your husband.

But for me the essence of a pilgrimage is taking my own compact backpack ( 5 kilo all in aside from water and snacks ).
Rest assured that I am not walking a pilgrimage to punish myself. Even years ago when I was not the " lapsed Catholic " that I am now I did not believe in the nonsense of punishment and guilt.

I organised the backpacktransfer of my fellow companion on our latest pilgrimage and frankly it was all the arranging for her that gave me extra stress. Luckily it was only a short Camino but it was enough prove for me that I would never use the service myself.
If not able to walk with a backpack in the future I will look out for other forms of spending my vacationtime.

 

[JustOneGuy]

I won't vote because I haven't yet walked a Camino. And I wouldn't want to make use of a luggage transport at all...but it may be that I will do it to carry, instead, my cat in a cat backpack carrier (option: "others"). Therfore I should send the backpack.

 

[Ianinam]

Wearing my backpack gives me a wonderful feeling of total freedom: 'Here I am, walking with everything I need in my backpack. I can stop wherever I want and sleep when I am tired'. This experience of total freedom - totally opposite of normal life - is very important for me.

 

[Marbe2]

So I haven’t seen the results of your survey? Did I miss what you learned? Yes, I saw the tallies? And…

 

[J Willhaus]

So I haven’t seen the results of your survey? Did I miss what you learned?

You can touch the "see results" button at the bottom of the survey for ongoing results.

 

[Marbe2]

You can touch the "see results" button at the bottom of the survey for ongoing results.

I saw percentages….

 

[Jodean]

the number of votes is also there.

 

[peregrina2000]

I guess my initial reaction to the question was "Why on earth wouldn't you use luggage transfer?"

I think that if you tell people that you are going to walk 750 kms across Spain, many will respond by saying “Why on earth would you do that?” Those people aren’t typically here on the forum, so we don’t have to deal with that question. We have a shared understanding of why that is such a great idea.

Maybe a good non-camino equivalent is for those who walk up and down several flights of stairs every day even though there is an elevator. I routinely heard my colleagues at work say something like - Why on earth wouldn’t you use the elevator?

So many posts here express why many of us continue to carry our own packs: the freedom, the self-reliance, the flexibility, the independence, the added boost to our fitness levels. I know that @JMan didn’t intend to suggest that we are all self-flagellating, but I do think that the comment has created a good opportunity for those who may have a similar “why on earth” reaction to think about whether you might like to try walking with your own pack.

One of the reasons most frequently given for transfer companies is that the person has a bad back. Well, don’t sell yourself short - if you have a good pack, the back takes none of the weight (it all goes on your hips). I routinely carry 15-20 pounds and have not had any back issues, though I have had several bouts of bad lower back pain over the years.

I am not criticizing anyone who makes a different decision, but think that it’s worth thinking about the reasons why those of us who can carry our pack wouldn’t do it any other way.

 

[Marbe2]

I think that if you tell people that you are going to walk 750 kms across Spain, many will respond by saying “Why on earth would you do that?” Those people aren’t typically here on the forum, so we don’t have to deal with that question. We have a shared understanding of why that is such a great idea.

Maybe a good non-camino equivalent is for those who walk up and down several flights of stairs every day even though there is an elevator. I routinely heard my colleagues at work say something like - Why on earth wouldn’t you use the elevator?

So many posts here express why many of us continue to carry our own packs: the freedom, the self-reliance, the flexibility, the independence, the added boost to our fitness levels. I know that @JMan didn’t intend to suggest that we are all self-flagellating, but I do think that the comment has created a good opportunity for those who may have a similar “why on earth” reaction to think about whether you might like to try walking with your own pack.

One of the reasons most frequently given for transfer companies is that the person has a bad back. Well, don’t sell yourself short - if you have a good pack, the back takes none of the weight (it all goes on your hips). I routinely carry 15-20 pounds and have not had any back issues, though I have had several bouts of bad lower back pain over the years.

I am not criticizing anyone who makes a different decision, but think that it’s worth thinking about the reasons why those of us who can carry our pack wouldn’t do it any other way.

I am all for carrying a pack, if you can, and desire too. I have done both, and when we walk off-season,we have to! But this then requires us walking, bare bones, without certain medical things that I am somewhat uncomfortable, and perhaps imprudent being without. That said, I certainly love the freedom of carrying my own pack when by body cooperates.

Please, I don’t mean to insult anyone, especially, Robo, but, I do get weary of surveys like this one, which won’t really provide helpful information IMO. Are you surprised by the results. Most people who responded (N=128) don’t carry their packs because they medically can not Carry-them, or need to carry medical equipment.

Given the continual criticism over the years (not so much now, because of rule changes), of people who do send their packs ahead because, they simply don’t want to carry them …..that they are going to expose themselves easily on this website? No, some are not as likely to respond given the history of criticism by the purists who have sung an antiphon for years that one is only a true pilgrim if they have carried their own pack. So I question what is it we learned from this survey, as it is unlikely an accurate sampling. But I am open to others reactions?

 

[NancyLee]

The amount of time and energy that has gone into this thread makes me want to quit the forum. Why do people judge and impose their values on whether people carry their backpacks or have them taxied? Who can say what constitutes a real pilgrim? The reasons for either side are as personal as the people who put one foot in front of the other to experience this wonderful journey! I won’t bore you with my choice to taxi my backpack as I feel the wrath, I won’t ask you to vote, or actually care who does what in this regard. As many pilgrims have reminded me ‘my walk, my Camino’. I am very disappointed in the length and scrutiny of this threat and sad it wasn’t terminated. Buen Camino

 

[Tincatinker]

An egg can never understand the threat of the frying pan

 

[Marbe2]

The amount of time and energy that has gone into this thread makes me want to quit the forum. Why do people judge and impose their values on whether people carry their backpacks or have them taxied? Who can say what constitutes a real pilgrim? The reasons for either side are as personal as the people who put one foot in front of the other to experience this wonderful journey! I won’t bore you with my choice to taxi my backpack as I feel the wrath, I won’t ask you to vote, or actually care who does what in this regard. As many pilgrims have reminded me ‘my walk, my Camino’. I am very disappointed in the length and scrutiny of this threat and sad it wasn’t terminated. Buen Camino

It can be frustrating to be rehashing this topic…

 

[Robo]

It's an old thread that has drifted a bit, as they sometimes do.
It was never my intention in starting it, to make any judgements.
It was purely out of curiosity and to gain/share understanding.
Maybe that was naive?

Probably best to close the thread please mods.
@trecile @peregrina2000 @dick bird

 

[trecile]

It's an old thread that has drifted a bit, as they sometimes do.
It was never my intention in starting it, to make any judgements.
It was purely out of curiosity and to gain/share understanding.
Maybe that was naive?

Probably best to close the thread please mods.
@trecile @peregrina2000 @dick bird

I agree, and have closed the thread.