- Time of past OR future Camino
- September 2024
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Some of us here undertook our early caminos with whatever gear we had. Ex-army rucksacks and boots were pretty popular once at a time when Army-Surpus stores were ubiquitous. They are rare these days and tend to be populated by people who won't quite meet your eye.Hi folks!
I'm looking to embark on my first camino in september this yeari've noticed in video reviews and gear advice lots of camino-goers have links to REI gear/merino products. Obviously ordering online is possible, but i like to be able to check gear out in store if i can - can anyone recommend hiking stores in London (UK)?
Thanks very much!
J
Thanks very much David, really appreciate it!Thing is - you don't need any "hiking" clothing or kit that has a premier label on it - you could even go as you usually dress, but, Decathlon is in London, five stores - though the Kensington one doesn't have the "country pursuits" aisle (which is hunting clothing - all brown khaki but much cheaper than the hiking aisles) as it is a cramped store. I rate Decathlon clothing etc except that their footwear is narrow and their rucksacks, although well made, are on the heavy side. Also, they only sell their own brands - they do have a brilliant rain poncho, like the Altus but under £40 with a 5000 head serious waterproofing! and has underarm zips too.
Hiking rain poncho - MT900 - 75L - Red - S/M QUECHUA | Decathlon
Shield yourself from the rain with this waterproof poncho, tested in the French Alps. This rain cape is the perfect hiking accessory, providing full…www.decathlon.co.uk
There is a Go Outdoors - great products as they sell many brands so good variety - but is down at Kingston upon Thames so depends upon where you are.
There are plenty of Mountain Warehouse, Millets, Blacks, etc - just google map London and put it in after clicking "nearby".
Hey tincatinker - thanks so much, great to hear! I'll have to get a new pair of shoes but i'll see what clothes already have that can be useful - cheers!Some of us here undertook our early caminos with whatever gear we had. Ex-army rucksacks and boots were pretty popular once at a time when Army-Surpus stores were ubiquitous. They are rare these days and tend to be populated by people who won't quite meet your eye.
Mountain Warehouse, Millets, Blacks, Cotswold Outdoor, even that foreign invader Decathalon will provide everything that you could possibly need to walk a camino. You may even find that, apart from a 35 litre Rucksack and a lightweight sleeping bag, your own wardrobe and knicker drawer contain all you need. You'll be walking from village to village in a very civilised country.. If you are not already a walker get some good walking shoes that fit your feet and start walking. If you are already a walker just take a look at the tread remaining on your walking boots / shoes and calculate whether they're good for another 500 miles
Hi Markie6, thanks very much, great to hear!Echoing what the others have suggested.. plus given you are heading out in September , quick drying cheap running tops are fine. Your sleeping bag only needs to pack down well... 2-3 season variety are reasonably priced. I bought a very cheap 55l backpack a number of years before I pondered a Camino and although the brand is aimed at DOE ( Duke of Edinburgh awards ) it has served me well.
Don't spend too much on gear you might use once. If as I suspect you enjoy yourself, you might be back here fine tuning your requirements next year
Will check it out thanks!I would look for a GoOutdoors shop. Very large with a wide range of stock. Some own-brand and some major brand names. Walking a Camino is not a major technical exercise and you probably do not need high-end expensive gear.
Absolutely. You don't need anything special. For my 1st Camino I only bought what I didn't own. Rucksack (from Lidl!), walking boots and walking sticks. The rest was from my wardrobe.Some of us here undertook our early caminos with whatever gear we had.
I concur about premium kit is not needed. An entire cottage industry has sprung up around suggesting that premium gear is needed for the Camino, it is. People walked in in the Middle Ages, so I think that we will be fine with non-tier one gear.Thing is - you don't need any "hiking" clothing or kit that has a premier label on it - you could even go as you usually dress, but, Decathlon is in London, five stores - though the Kensington one doesn't have the "country pursuits" aisle (which is hunting clothing - all brown khaki but much cheaper than the hiking aisles) as it is a cramped store. I rate Decathlon clothing etc except that their footwear is narrow and their rucksacks, although well made, are on the heavy side. Also, they only sell their own brands - they do have a brilliant rain poncho, like the Altus but under £40 with a 5000 head serious waterproofing! and has underarm zips too.
Hiking rain poncho - MT900 - 75L - Red - S/M QUECHUA | Decathlon
Shield yourself from the rain with this waterproof poncho, tested in the French Alps. This rain cape is the perfect hiking accessory, providing full…www.decathlon.co.uk
There is a Go Outdoors - great products as they sell many brands so good variety - but is down at Kingston upon Thames so depends upon where you are.
There are plenty of Mountain Warehouse, Millets, Blacks, etc - just google map London and put it in after clicking "nearby".
Thanks very much, all noted! I am also a gear addict in other areas of my life (musician), so didn't want to go to gear crazy setting out for my first Camino! Will have a look at that Poncho. Cheers, JayaI concur about premium kit is not needed. An entire cottage industry has sprung up around suggesting that premium gear is needed for the Camino, it is. People walked in in the Middle Ages, so I think that we will be fine with non-tier one gear.
That said, I am a gear addict, so can be a little guilty, though I keep it in check and in fact like to use re-purposed items. I posted here as the MT 900 Poncho from Decathlon is brilliant. I skimmed by the first two-thirds of the CF with just a cheap dollar store poncho, it just spit a couple of times… then in (I think) Leon I was in a Decathlon and fell in love with the MT900 poncho, though it is 500 grams…the design is great. Entering Galicia, I had a couple of days, then the last stretch to Finisterre, the rain was Biblical in scale, and I was happy to have it.
Also, IMO, don’t bring top tier clothing. A $40. fleece will keep you as warm, or not, as a $300 Arc’teryx item. There is the additional reduction in stress, as when in an Albergue and my clothes are on the line…I know that my ‘Amazon Basics’ clothing will still be on the line after all the Rab and Arc’teryx clothing has grown legs and walked away on their own.
Hi Fiona, thanks Decathlon trip is on the list!Decathlon sell merino knickers and underpants. They are incredibly comfortable, wash and dry really quickly and don't hold moisture or rub like cotton ones. I completely agree that your 'normal' kit does fine for most purposes, but undergarments I think are different. I recommend merino very strongly, after wearing these Decathlon ones from Santander to Finisterre, and then more recently from Ferrol to Finisterre and Muxia. Or is that too much information ?!
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