Hi all,
I wanted to post about some of the gear that I took on the Via Campaniensis in the north of France in Summer season, so others can decide what they want to bring on this stretch of the Camino.
A couple of things that were essential, in my opinion:
The French Campaniensis society guide book - they are the RP51, and list all of the people and places, and mayors of villages that you can phone to ask for advice or shelter, and it was invaluable. They have small booklets or pdfs in various languages. As you really need some basic French on this part of the road, I would buy the French language version, so you know many Camino related words and phrases already.
I also used the German guidebook, because it was more clear in terms of distances and planning - to me. The combination was golden, in my opinion.
Buff - mainly used to keep sweat out of my eyes.
Garmin inreach mini. The Campaniensis is generally signposted really well, but bit is a great comfort to me, and there were quite a few spots that did not have cell phone coverage, so I felt very happy to have this little thing with me!
Walking sticks. There is a lot of mud in the woods and in general, even in high summer. I’m talking actual swamps at times. There are also many forests that are overgrown, and you need to wade or slash your way through bramble bushes etc. Walking sticks are essential here.
I also used fingerless bicycle gloves, because the only blisters I get from walking are from holding the straps of the walking sticks.
Sunscreen: there are some forests, but mostly you walk through open fields, and there will be no shade. None. I used a big tube of 50+ sunscreen and it was one of the most precious things in my pack.
Insect repellent: every forest seems to have its own population of hungry mosquitoes and stinging flies. They still bite you despite the repellent, but at least you feel you have done some small thing against them hehe
Tick pen: take it from a chronic lymie: you do NOT want Lyme disease and need to check for ticks daily and remove them. A tick pen is easiest.
3 liters of water a day for walking for 6 hours or so in lots of heat. You can ask for water and people are generally so nice! But villages are sparse.
Older generations will remember that water was often “non potable” in France in the olden days. This is no longer true. Every faucet I encountered on this Camino, was “eau potable” even when it did’t say. As a pilgrim, you can also drink water from the faucet at grave yards.
Sleeping bag: most places ask you to use your own sleeping bag, even when staying in private people’s homes sometimes.
Mattress: obviously nice to use for camping, but most French beds are tiny and in shelters it might be nice to be able to sleep on the floor instead of in a tiny bed, if you are a tall Dutch woman like myself :-D
Tent : unless you are able to some days walk 30+ km, I would strongly advise taking a tent for several reasons. Firstly, in some villages there is no other option than to camp for the night, so you give yourself more options to find shelter. Secondly, you are allowed to do bivouacking close to the Camino in France (from 7pm to 7 am, and not on private property, leaving no trace). I met several people who did only this, and kindly asked people for drinking water daily. Thirdly, often times people or representatives of villages said that they had no place for me to stay. If I then said: I have a small tent that I can sleep in and I bring my own food - all I need is a piece of grass, some drink water and a place to go to the toilet, I was always welcomed to stay somewhere in the village, or in a garden anyway, and often times they found me a bed too. Being able to mention this option to people really broadens your chances of shelter for the night. There are many tents that weigh only a kilo or so. I would strongly advise to bring one. Particularly if you can’t walk more than 15 or 18 km a day.
If you go on to Santiago after the Campaniensis, then - depending on which road you choose and which distances you walk a day - you can send your tent home, fellow pilgrims told me.
A basic command of the French language. This is essential, because French people generally speak no other language and you need to phone and ask for shelter, water, food etc every day. They also truly appreciate if you can talk with them about other things, and they are very generous if you speak their beautiful language badly, just as long as you try. It also helped me to listen for the proper intonation and to learn how to ‘sing’ the language. They generally don’t understand you well, unless you ‘sing’ it, instead of speaking flatly as you would Dutch or English.
Backpack: I brought an Osprey 85 liters, because I hate stuffing my bag. I’m sure I could have done with a smaller and lighter pack, but I loved just throwing my things in and then pulling all straps to make it sit nicely on my back. Also, I loved that I could use it as a kind of chair to lean against, when resting during the walking.
Power banks - I had two 10.000 power banks, which gave me piece of mind to be able to be away from electricity for two to three days and still be able to navigate & phone to make arrangements for shelter. I often recharged my electronics using the power banks, and at night recharged the power banks in gites or at campsites. I did not mind someone potentially stealing the power banks, or me potentially walking away without them, so that felt like the safest thing to do.
Sandals for after walking, for using in people’s houses, and for exploring the big cities. So wonderful to take off your walking shoes at the end of the day, and to have non-muddy, airy shoes to step into.
waterproof bags for everything or a waterproof bag liner. When you walk through the swamps, you will not be as scared of falling in, if your gear and clothes are in waterproof bags already. This makes you a little bolder in the kind of routes and steps to take, and probably helps you get through the swamps more easily and quicker.
A spork and a bowl. There are so few shops, restaurants etc that you need to buy a lot of foods that store well and can be eaten without cooking. A spork & bowl are essentials then. A bowl is lovely to drink coffee from too. All the French do this, too!
Speaking of coffee: bring a good amount of coffee powder sticks. The black NES sticks are a treat!
Paracetamol or other pain killers. Bring some of your own. They are only sold here in pharmacies and pharmacies are rare and also often closed.
Have about 100 euros in cash on you, so you can pay for shelter (often asked in cash) for several days in a row, before you encounter a cash machine again. These are rare. All supermarkets, camp sites and hotels allowed payment by card though.
For those who menstruate: consider bringing enough sanitary towels etc for the trip. It is very lightweight anyway, and somehow in France I could only buy the very large diaper like variety, which would have been very uncomfortable while walking, I think… Also, if you are not very regular, and there is a lack of open shops along the road, it is best to have them on you, as well.
An emergency meal. I had a pack of ramen and a packet of nuts on me at all times, just in case. Shops and restaurants or cafes are rare and often closed. On sundays and feast days they are closed. Most are closed on mondays, some on wenesdays/tuesdays/thursdays (basically right when you are passing through haha Murphy’s Law) , all are closed for hours during lunch time. Plan your food shopping for some days ahead. Do not trust google to tell you which shops and cafes still exist - ask the locals.
I brought 2 sets of clothes (good idea), both sets walking clothes (bad idea). I wish I had done differently. If you spend time in people’s homes for dinner and breakfast and time in churches, it is much better to have a set of walking clothes and a set of formal clothes (long, covering clothes that you feel pretty/handsome and comfortable in). I felt severely underdressed a lot of the time.
I did not bring a nightgown, but should have. In many gites, I shared with strangers. I had to wear a set of walking clothes to sleep in, so as not to scare them hahaha
Things I didn’t need:
Swim suit. There are barely opportunities to swim along this part of the Camino. I had 4 opportunities and used just 1. In hindsight I could have left my swimsuit at home.
I did not use my headphones at all. The silence is lovely, as are all the different bird calls.
Also, if you have to walk on roads, it really helps to hear the cars approach.
Luxuries I loved:
I brought an ereader, and that was lovely for me. I happily carried the extra weight.
I brought a small fleece blanket. I used it as a vest at times, as a picknick blanket at others, as a comfort blanket at others. I happily carried this extra weight also.
I brought a cushion - a very luxurious, relatively lightweight, camping cushion that took up more space than my tent. I grumbled a little when packing my bag daily, but I loved that thing. I used it in all hotels and at people’s homes too, and had very consistent sleep.
Fanny pack / hip pack to hold my phone for navigating, my sunglasses, my money, some first aid things, a pocket knife, and my credencial. Not essential at all, but it made life so much easier, for me.
My pack weighed quite a lot, and many people commented on it and a few fellow pilgrims even called me crazy, which was hurtful and unnecessary.
I had zero blisters and zero problems carrying my heavier pack. It seems to be a bit of a status symbol to have the lightest pack. Surely you can walk faster and further with a lighter load. But this Camino is not a sprint, it is a pilgrimage. You live on and besides the road for a month or for a good portion of a year. You need the necessities and your necessary luxuries. A bit of a heavier pack, and a bit of a slower walk is absolutely fine. St Jacob is not timing you. A heavier pack will make you stronger. You will be able to bear the load, if you love and use what you bring.
I hope the above helps you with packing and deciding for the via Campaniensis!
I wanted to post about some of the gear that I took on the Via Campaniensis in the north of France in Summer season, so others can decide what they want to bring on this stretch of the Camino.
A couple of things that were essential, in my opinion:
The French Campaniensis society guide book - they are the RP51, and list all of the people and places, and mayors of villages that you can phone to ask for advice or shelter, and it was invaluable. They have small booklets or pdfs in various languages. As you really need some basic French on this part of the road, I would buy the French language version, so you know many Camino related words and phrases already.
I also used the German guidebook, because it was more clear in terms of distances and planning - to me. The combination was golden, in my opinion.
Buff - mainly used to keep sweat out of my eyes.
Garmin inreach mini. The Campaniensis is generally signposted really well, but bit is a great comfort to me, and there were quite a few spots that did not have cell phone coverage, so I felt very happy to have this little thing with me!
Walking sticks. There is a lot of mud in the woods and in general, even in high summer. I’m talking actual swamps at times. There are also many forests that are overgrown, and you need to wade or slash your way through bramble bushes etc. Walking sticks are essential here.
I also used fingerless bicycle gloves, because the only blisters I get from walking are from holding the straps of the walking sticks.
Sunscreen: there are some forests, but mostly you walk through open fields, and there will be no shade. None. I used a big tube of 50+ sunscreen and it was one of the most precious things in my pack.
Insect repellent: every forest seems to have its own population of hungry mosquitoes and stinging flies. They still bite you despite the repellent, but at least you feel you have done some small thing against them hehe
Tick pen: take it from a chronic lymie: you do NOT want Lyme disease and need to check for ticks daily and remove them. A tick pen is easiest.
3 liters of water a day for walking for 6 hours or so in lots of heat. You can ask for water and people are generally so nice! But villages are sparse.
Older generations will remember that water was often “non potable” in France in the olden days. This is no longer true. Every faucet I encountered on this Camino, was “eau potable” even when it did’t say. As a pilgrim, you can also drink water from the faucet at grave yards.
Sleeping bag: most places ask you to use your own sleeping bag, even when staying in private people’s homes sometimes.
Mattress: obviously nice to use for camping, but most French beds are tiny and in shelters it might be nice to be able to sleep on the floor instead of in a tiny bed, if you are a tall Dutch woman like myself :-D
Tent : unless you are able to some days walk 30+ km, I would strongly advise taking a tent for several reasons. Firstly, in some villages there is no other option than to camp for the night, so you give yourself more options to find shelter. Secondly, you are allowed to do bivouacking close to the Camino in France (from 7pm to 7 am, and not on private property, leaving no trace). I met several people who did only this, and kindly asked people for drinking water daily. Thirdly, often times people or representatives of villages said that they had no place for me to stay. If I then said: I have a small tent that I can sleep in and I bring my own food - all I need is a piece of grass, some drink water and a place to go to the toilet, I was always welcomed to stay somewhere in the village, or in a garden anyway, and often times they found me a bed too. Being able to mention this option to people really broadens your chances of shelter for the night. There are many tents that weigh only a kilo or so. I would strongly advise to bring one. Particularly if you can’t walk more than 15 or 18 km a day.
If you go on to Santiago after the Campaniensis, then - depending on which road you choose and which distances you walk a day - you can send your tent home, fellow pilgrims told me.
A basic command of the French language. This is essential, because French people generally speak no other language and you need to phone and ask for shelter, water, food etc every day. They also truly appreciate if you can talk with them about other things, and they are very generous if you speak their beautiful language badly, just as long as you try. It also helped me to listen for the proper intonation and to learn how to ‘sing’ the language. They generally don’t understand you well, unless you ‘sing’ it, instead of speaking flatly as you would Dutch or English.
Backpack: I brought an Osprey 85 liters, because I hate stuffing my bag. I’m sure I could have done with a smaller and lighter pack, but I loved just throwing my things in and then pulling all straps to make it sit nicely on my back. Also, I loved that I could use it as a kind of chair to lean against, when resting during the walking.
Power banks - I had two 10.000 power banks, which gave me piece of mind to be able to be away from electricity for two to three days and still be able to navigate & phone to make arrangements for shelter. I often recharged my electronics using the power banks, and at night recharged the power banks in gites or at campsites. I did not mind someone potentially stealing the power banks, or me potentially walking away without them, so that felt like the safest thing to do.
Sandals for after walking, for using in people’s houses, and for exploring the big cities. So wonderful to take off your walking shoes at the end of the day, and to have non-muddy, airy shoes to step into.
waterproof bags for everything or a waterproof bag liner. When you walk through the swamps, you will not be as scared of falling in, if your gear and clothes are in waterproof bags already. This makes you a little bolder in the kind of routes and steps to take, and probably helps you get through the swamps more easily and quicker.
A spork and a bowl. There are so few shops, restaurants etc that you need to buy a lot of foods that store well and can be eaten without cooking. A spork & bowl are essentials then. A bowl is lovely to drink coffee from too. All the French do this, too!
Speaking of coffee: bring a good amount of coffee powder sticks. The black NES sticks are a treat!
Paracetamol or other pain killers. Bring some of your own. They are only sold here in pharmacies and pharmacies are rare and also often closed.
Have about 100 euros in cash on you, so you can pay for shelter (often asked in cash) for several days in a row, before you encounter a cash machine again. These are rare. All supermarkets, camp sites and hotels allowed payment by card though.
For those who menstruate: consider bringing enough sanitary towels etc for the trip. It is very lightweight anyway, and somehow in France I could only buy the very large diaper like variety, which would have been very uncomfortable while walking, I think… Also, if you are not very regular, and there is a lack of open shops along the road, it is best to have them on you, as well.
An emergency meal. I had a pack of ramen and a packet of nuts on me at all times, just in case. Shops and restaurants or cafes are rare and often closed. On sundays and feast days they are closed. Most are closed on mondays, some on wenesdays/tuesdays/thursdays (basically right when you are passing through haha Murphy’s Law) , all are closed for hours during lunch time. Plan your food shopping for some days ahead. Do not trust google to tell you which shops and cafes still exist - ask the locals.
I brought 2 sets of clothes (good idea), both sets walking clothes (bad idea). I wish I had done differently. If you spend time in people’s homes for dinner and breakfast and time in churches, it is much better to have a set of walking clothes and a set of formal clothes (long, covering clothes that you feel pretty/handsome and comfortable in). I felt severely underdressed a lot of the time.
I did not bring a nightgown, but should have. In many gites, I shared with strangers. I had to wear a set of walking clothes to sleep in, so as not to scare them hahaha
Things I didn’t need:
Swim suit. There are barely opportunities to swim along this part of the Camino. I had 4 opportunities and used just 1. In hindsight I could have left my swimsuit at home.
I did not use my headphones at all. The silence is lovely, as are all the different bird calls.
Also, if you have to walk on roads, it really helps to hear the cars approach.
Luxuries I loved:
I brought an ereader, and that was lovely for me. I happily carried the extra weight.
I brought a small fleece blanket. I used it as a vest at times, as a picknick blanket at others, as a comfort blanket at others. I happily carried this extra weight also.
I brought a cushion - a very luxurious, relatively lightweight, camping cushion that took up more space than my tent. I grumbled a little when packing my bag daily, but I loved that thing. I used it in all hotels and at people’s homes too, and had very consistent sleep.
Fanny pack / hip pack to hold my phone for navigating, my sunglasses, my money, some first aid things, a pocket knife, and my credencial. Not essential at all, but it made life so much easier, for me.
My pack weighed quite a lot, and many people commented on it and a few fellow pilgrims even called me crazy, which was hurtful and unnecessary.
I had zero blisters and zero problems carrying my heavier pack. It seems to be a bit of a status symbol to have the lightest pack. Surely you can walk faster and further with a lighter load. But this Camino is not a sprint, it is a pilgrimage. You live on and besides the road for a month or for a good portion of a year. You need the necessities and your necessary luxuries. A bit of a heavier pack, and a bit of a slower walk is absolutely fine. St Jacob is not timing you. A heavier pack will make you stronger. You will be able to bear the load, if you love and use what you bring.
I hope the above helps you with packing and deciding for the via Campaniensis!
, except maybe for my Ospray Eja which was really uncomfortable. 
And I will think about a powerbank.
