Handy Little Things to Take Along

[brenfinds]

I've seen tips from veteran walkers on little items that come in handy such as:
- safety pins
- hooks to hang your pack, so it doesn't sit on the floor
- cup and a spork (Do you need a plate?)
- water heating coil for early morning beverages, since most bars aren't open
- toilet tissue: buy a roll, remove the core and flatten
- shewee for the women
- needle and thread for blister care
- rubber tips to use with trekking poles when walking on hard surfaces
- sarong or kava kava for after the shower, or dressing up a bit to enter churches
- sandals for evenings, or for use in the shower (What other items might make dressing inside a wet shower stall easier?)

What other small items are REALLY handy to have during the Camino?

 

[grayland]

Before you add much more to your "might use" list...you should put them all on a kitchen scale and see how much you will have already added. You may be surprised.

 

[dougfitz]

Unless you know that you are definitely going to use it, anything 'really handy' is just more weight! That said, most of your list, bar the immersion heater, hooks and shewee were similar to items that I had and generally used frequently. My equivalent list was:

sock clips - these doubled as clothes pegs.
cup - yes but no plate
pocket knife - make sure its sharp, for bread, salami, etc during the day - but not a spork
TP - yes, but didn't use it. I would normally use the toilet wherever I had breakfast, and didn't need a roadside stop to defacate.
needle and thread - yes, for clothes repair. I don't believe in treating blisters by piercing them, and didn't need to sew anything up.
cable ties - equipment repair - did use one when a clip broke on my pack, and gave a couple away to help someone else.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

These are pretty handy for a lot of uses:
http://www.amazon.com/Nite-Ize-GT12-2PK ... s=gear+tie

 

[Jeff Stys]

Extra Ear Plugs - they weigh almost nothing and you can make a friend for life by giving a set to a sleep-deprived pilgrim!!

 

[Kitsambler]

- Tiny 1-LED flashlight (size of a thumbnail), for rummaging in pack, finding your bunk in the dark, etc
- Small pocket notebook, spiral bound (partial is fine) with a disposable plastic ballpoint pen
- Spare ziplock plastic bags (food storage)
- Spare plastic grocery bag (bread storage)

Actually I did take and use:
- a spork (Guyot Designs microbites utensils http://www.rei.com/product/765204/guyot-designs-microbites-utensils) Did not take or need a metal pocket knife
- instant coffee (Starbucks Via)
- packable daypack (grocery shopping, laundry carrying, purse) http://www.rei.com/product/799600/sea-to-summit-ultra-sil-packable-day-pack