Flying with Trekking Poles - Yet another variation on this question....

[Robo]

Hi Everyone.

My question relates to the carriage of trekking poles on multiple flights within Europe.

My wife and I plan to walk a short Camino in 2016 from Sarria, maybe adding a couple of interesting sections prior to that.

The Camino will be part of a larger 'back packing' trip around Europe. (we are from Sydney)

I'm not sure this time whether to bring our poles with us or just buy some there. I 'lost it' a bit with Ryanair on my first Camino as I had to leave my poles behind at Santiago airport.... Long story, baggage handlers strike, no checked in luggage allowed.

I'm considering three options. Maybe you can see pros and cons of either, or suggest other options. I would prefer to use our own really lightweight poles rather than gamble on getting some on arrival that are suitable. (Bit dumb probably)

Poles will be packed into mailing tubes and travel as checked in luggage.

ONE: Fly into Madrid. Sight see a couple of days. Fly or train up to CF around Sarria. Walk to Santiago. Mail the poles back home. Continue trip around Europe.

TWO: Fly into London. Do our European trip. Various flights to Paris, Prague, Milan etc. Fly into Santiago, taxi out to Sarria to start walking. Poles travel with us throughout as checked in luggage.

THREE: Leave the poles at home. Do the European trip first. Then travel to Camino. Buy some poles in Sarria. Or other start point such as Astorga? (Pat wants to walk a short section via Cruz de Ferro)

My gut feel is to walk our Camino at the end of the trip rather than the start.

1. If we suffer any injuries, we are heading home anyway, not limping around Europe for 3 weeks.
2. I'll leave a bit of spare time, just in case Pat feels able to go and walk some other sections, after our arrival in Santiago. (This is her first Camino)

So option THREE probably makes most sense I think?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Is there somewhere to buy poles in Astorga? I wasn't looking for equipment shops when I was there....

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I would tour first. I can still remember the pain in my feet at the Prado after the Primitivo. All I wanted was to put my feet up rather tham to stand on those marble floors. And take the poles with you.

 

[mspath]

Robo,

In Astorga Deportes Huracan on plaza Santocildes 1 is a good spot. They offer good quality clothing and gear.

MM

 

[mountaingoat999]

option three. there is a good outdoor shop in Sarria at the foot of those steps to buy poles to suit your budget.....
in Astorga look for the huge rucksack attached to a column ...inside the adjacent shop go down stairs to buy poles or whatever you want .. some good gear in there ITS THE SHOP MSPATH mention

 

[Alan Long]

I agree with your gut feel Rob, do the European Trip first.
We did the Sarria to SDC stretch last year and my wife developed bad tendonitis in her Achilles, despite training, and she struggled through the next three weeks in Europe.
When we return to walk some more, we will travel first and Camino last.

 

[Seabird]

Maybe it will depend on how the travel arrangements work out for the different options. Since I will be doing my first Camino, I can't imagine doing it in any order other than first! I would be too excited/anxious to get started. But I'm doing it solo from St. Palais, and my husband will join me in Santiago. We'll then walk to Finisterre/Muxia together before doing more traveling in Spain. So our circumstances are not the same as yours.

 

[Robo]

Maybe it will depend on how the travel arrangements work out for the different options. Since I will be doing my first Camino, I can't imagine doing it in any order other than first! I would be too excited/anxious to get started.

Based on my last Camino, I'm not sure I would want three weeks of travelling once I finish Foot and / or leg injuries can mean that rest is required

 

[Robo]

option three. there is a good outdoor shop in Sarria at the foot of those steps to buy poles to suit your budget.....
in Astorga look for the huge rucksack attached to a column ...inside the adjacent shop go down stairs to buy poles or whatever you want .. some good gear in there ITS THE SHOP MSPATH mention

Yes, I'm tending to think that option THREE makes sense. Much as I love my ultra lite poles.

There is just too much chance of losing them or not being able to travel with them, if we cart them around for 3 weeks prior ......
OK. just in terms of planning, as I didn't really do any shopping during my last Camino.

What would be the general opening hours of those stores in Astorga and Sarria? We may be passing through at odd hours....

 

[jsalt]

What would be the general opening hours of those stores in Astorga and Sarria? We may be passing through at odd hours....

I know the one in Sarria closes for siesta. I got there at 1:10pm, and it was closed from 1pm to 4pm. That was in November. Jill

 

[mspath]

In Astorga Deportes Huracan is open Monday to Saturday 11am to 8:30 pm

In Saria Peregrinoteca is located at 16, calle Benigno Quiroga at the bottom of the camino steps. Generally in season they are open Monday to Saturday until 8:30 pm. Here is their web.
The fellow who runs it speaks English and French.

 

[Robo]

In Astorga Deportes Huracan is open Monday to Saturday 11am to 8:30 pm

In Saria Peregrinoteca is located at 16, calle Benigno Quiroga at the bottom of the camino steps. Generally in season they are open Monday to Saturday until 8:30 pm. Here is their web.
The fellow who runs it speaks English and French.

many thanks...

And what do you know..........they even stock the ultra lite poles I use!

 

[Robo]

And you'll never guess what I just ordered

It only weighs 1kg!

 

[mspath]

Bingo! Glad to learn that you found what you needed.

MM

 

[mountaingoat999]

many thanks...

And what do you know..........they even stock the ultra lite poles I use!

Robo
the man who owns the shop in Astorga is a climber I had a few conversation with him....he does seem to disappear when he likes and closes the shop for reasons to suit himself and not the customer..open early evening for sure.
I needed some power gas(mixed) for my stove the screw on screw off type, so while I was there I had a good look round at his poles.....cheap does the job type..

in Sarria as Jsalt states it closes for siesta but does have decent poles... leki if you like them ..I like my carbon black diamond ones....
I am able to strip my poles down into smaller sections more that the cheaper poles, and bubble wrap theses then place them into my rucksack which is bigger enough...some baggage handlers are very enthusiastic....its handy with the Sarria store placed just at the foot of those steps 60 I thinks..and they have regular sales on clothes items.....very good boots in there.

I like the rice cooker:-maybe now it will be updated the order of questions at the albergue door to cater for the every growing needs of the modern pilgrim

do you have wi-fi priority number one
do you have some place to use my rice cooker priority number two
do you have lots of electrical sockets for all my electrical items priority number three

if you have extra's like a bed and hot water that would be even better

 

[Seabird]

Based on my last Camino, I'm not sure I would want three weeks of travelling once I finish Foot and / or leg injuries can mean that rest is required

Makes total sense!

 

[Ellerby]

Robo,

Travel first and camino at the very end. I finished walking 2 weeks ago and back home in Oz and my feet are still hurting and I am wearing thongs around. Looks like you have things sorted but that shop mentioned in Sarria is an excellent shop and carries a huge range of trek gear - I recommend buying poles there. They have the hugest range of salomon shoes anywhere I have seen!

Buen Camino (haven't said that for a week or so).

 

[Stivandrer]

Hi Everyone.

My question relates to the carriage of trekking poles on multiple flights within Europe.

My wife and I plan to walk a short Camino in 2016 from Sarria, maybe adding a couple of interesting sections prior to that.

The Camino will be part of a larger 'back packing' trip around Europe. (we are from Sydney)

I'm not sure this time whether to bring our poles with us or just buy some there. I 'lost it' a bit with Ryanair on my first Camino as I had to leave my poles behind at Santiago airport.... Long story, baggage handlers strike, no checked in luggage allowed.

I'm considering three options. Maybe you can see pros and cons of either, or suggest other options. I would prefer to use our own really lightweight poles rather than gamble on getting some on arrival that are suitable. (Bit dumb probably)

Poles will be packed into mailing tubes and travel as checked in luggage.

ONE: Fly into Madrid. Sight see a couple of days. Fly or train up to CF around Sarria. Walk to Santiago. Mail the poles back home. Continue trip around Europe.

TWO: Fly into London. Do our European trip. Various flights to Paris, Prague, Milan etc. Fly into Santiago, taxi out to Sarria to start walking. Poles travel with us throughout as checked in luggage.

THREE: Leave the poles at home. Do the European trip first. Then travel to Camino. Buy some poles in Sarria. Or other start point such as Astorga? (Pat wants to walk a short section via Cruz de Ferro)

My gut feel is to walk our Camino at the end of the trip rather than the start.

1. If we suffer any injuries, we are heading home anyway, not limping around Europe for 3 weeks.
2. I'll leave a bit of spare time, just in case Pat feels able to go and walk some other sections, after our arrival in Santiago. (This is her first Camino)

So option THREE probably makes most sense I think?

Any thoughts appreciated.

Is there somewhere to buy poles in Astorga? I wasn't looking for equipment shops when I was there....

* lastly, Buy collapsible poles like Leki Vario Titanium for ultimate compactness, will fit inside bag as the are a mere 38 cms each ( or Black Diamond Carbon Z / Travers FLZ ones)
I brought as a precaution a pair of Lekis and had to whizz dem out after some days and did they save my knees! Going downhill with stiff legs after a long day is so much different with poles ...!!
Don´t leave home without them.

 

[Jaime de Santiago]

Black diamond carbon Z, while super expensive, are fabulous-- *fold* into exact thirds, just like tent poles (not just sliding/nesting *partially*, so when packed my 120s are 40cm -- just over a foot, easily packed in checked luggage. Also weigh less than half of what my aluminum Lekis weigh.

Posted from Puente de la Riena

 

[Mike1953]

I wish we had known about Black Diamond folding trekking poles when we did our Camino. We used Lekis, and while they worked well on the trail, they only collapsed down to 24". We transported them in a cheap plastic gun case that we bought at Bass Pro Shop. The case was intended for a take-down rifle or shotgun and was just long and wide enough to hold three sets of Lekis. It was lined with thick rubber foam and did the job well. We had no trouble checking it on flights in the US, between the US and Madrid, and from Santiago to Madrid. We also carried it on the train to Sarria.

 

[mountaingoat999]

I wish we had known about Black Diamond folding trekking poles when we did our Camino. We used Lekis, and while they worked well on the trail, they only collapsed down to 24". We transported them in a cheap plastic gun case that we bought at Bass Pro Shop. The case was intended for a take-down rifle or shotgun and was just long and wide enough to hold three sets of Lekis. It was lined with thick rubber foam and did the job well. We had no trouble checking it on flights in the US, between the US and Madrid, and from Santiago to Madrid. We also carried it on the train to Sarria.

I use black diamond poles the very best...and strip down well.
those cheap ones seem to play up or break often compared to black diamond..

 

[zzotte]

Carbon fiber are great but if gets stuck they could easily break, the aluminum ones will bend just imho

Zzotte

 

[Mike1953]

Carbon fiber are great but if gets stuck they could easily break, the aluminum ones will bend just imho

Zzotte

Good point!

 

[Stivandrer]

I wish we had known about Black Diamond folding trekking poles when we did our Camino. We used Lekis, and while they worked well on the trail, they only collapsed down to 24". We transported them in a cheap plastic gun case that we bought at Bass Pro Shop. The case was intended for a take-down rifle or shotgun and was just long and wide enough to hold three sets of Lekis. It was lined with thick rubber foam and did the job well. We had no trouble checking it on flights in the US, between the US and Madrid, and from Santiago to Madrid. We also carried it on the train to Sarria.

@Mike1953: check out the Leki Vario titan, folds down to 38 cms, an even match bte Leki and Bd Z folding ones...

 

[mountaingoat999]

black diamond distance Z weight per pair 12 oz / 340.194 grams...fold away 36.14 cm..grip foam..locking- pin pop

Leki Vario titan weight 18.342 oz /520 grams. fold away 38 cm..grip Aergon thermo mid ...locking -speed lock

Leki micro trail pro weight 13.897 oz /395 grams. fold away 38cm ..grip tiger shark..locking-push button.

I used carbon and aluminum poles......aluminum will bend as mentioned and render them usable in the short term if your lucky. .

 

[Jaime de Santiago]

Both aluminum fail catastrophically, rather than degrade gracefully (like wood or steel) so be careful when planting the poles, if the tips get stuck in a hole or slot between planks or stones, stop immediately and pull out at the original angle of entry.

 

[Mike1953]

@Mike1953: check out the Leki Vario titan, folds down to 38 cms, an even match bte Leki and Bd Z folding ones...

Thank you, I will!