Review Clothing Management

[Teddie]

I have perused many well written posts regarding clothing and equipment, I agree...adapt...and adopt many.
It is with concern I notice 'the maximum conditions associated to the clothing recommended is not qualified'.
Future pilgrims planning their camino are creating a 'kit', not on comfort and safety, but believing verbatim on extreme light weight.

My observational experience precipitated this post:
I came upon two shivering, bare legged, flimsy poncho clad pilgrims, literally pouring water out of their low gortex shoes, they were close to hypothermia. No relief for kilometers. No let-up on the horizon. We huddled in front of a locked, double bolted door of steel ( the entrance to a "Refuge Hut") .... no one died .... they were lucky.

A lightly clad athletic body cannot outpace the loss of body heat during severe environmental conditions
( juxtapose for hot weather extremes ).

 

[Anhalter]

Packing light and packing for unpleasant weather is not exclusive, you know? There's ultralight packing and there is something people call "stupid light".
(and i had plenty of bad weather on the Primitivo in may...)

 

[Grousedoctor]

Future pilgrims planning their camino are creating a 'kit', not on comfort and safety, but believing verbatim on
extreme light weight.

I have read many post and commented myself on kit weight. However, I don’t recall anyone recommending “extreme” light weight. And to paraphrase @Anhalter, a light weight kit is not synonymous with inappropriate packing for a Camino.

I don’t want to downplay for even a second the seriousness of the situation you encountered. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of each pilgrim to pack the appropriate gear based on the Camino they are walking, the season or time of the year, and their own individual needs that only they are best aware of.

I will admit that for my first Camino I carried too much at the beginning. Very quickly, I pared down my kit of non-essential items. Over the years now, I have focused of what is necessary to carry for the very issues of comfort and safety. Although I have significantly reduced the weight I now carry, I do carry the items I need for the various conditions that I might encounter on the trail. Again, I have not seen anyone advocating for extreme low weight, although some people do have very light packs, at the expense of what one should appropriate carry for varying weather and terrain conditions.

I really do hope that people pack appropriately and at the same time manage the weight that they carry. However, if one does choose to go “stupid light” there’s really no excuse for it with all the good information that exists on this Forum and elsewhere on what one should carry to cover the various conditions that they could encounter.

 

[dick bird]

Spain can be cold and wet and sometimes both at the same time. Don’t be fooled by minimalist obsessives. Make sure you have what you need.

 

[AR1965]

There’s some guy on the “Seniors on the Camino” Facebook page touting his 1 kg kit! It’s absolutely absurd. The worst part is his arrogance when questioned about why he has left out many necessities. He seems intent on being condescending to anyone who walks the Camino with a well thought out kit that balances light weight with preparedness, telling people they can’t argue with him because he’s an “ultra long distance, ultra lightweight hiker”.

I have perused many well written posts regarding clothing and equipment, I agree...adapt...and adopt many.
It is with concern I notice 'the maximum conditions associated to the clothing recommended is not qualified'.
Future pilgrims planning their camino are creating a 'kit', not on comfort and safety, but believing verbatim on
extreme light weight.

My observational experience precipitated this post:
I came upon two shivering, bare legged, flimsy poncho clad pilgrims, literally pouring water out of their low gortex
shoes, they were close to hypothermia. No relief for kilometers. No let-up on the horizon. We huddled in front of
a locked, double bolted door of steel ( the entrance to a "Refuge Hut") .... no one died .... they were lucky.

A lightly clad athletic body cannot outpace the loss of body heat during severe environmental conditions ( juxtapose
for hot weather extremes ).

 

[MesaWalker]

We walked from the Mediterrean to Muxía last fall, starting in crazy hot weather and ending in a month of daily, pretty cold rain. We met a lovely fellow pilgrim pretty early on our walk who, in response to the initial hot, dry weather, abandoned all her cold weather and rain gear. As it got colder and wetter, she started buying the kit she needed at Decathlon stores along the way. Maybe it was an expensive lesson, but she did manage to walk the first half without as much weight. So who's to know whether she was foolish or not.

I guess the moral of this story is that, provided you're not caught in a life-threatening situtation, it's pretty easy to change course and get the kit you need on a camino, even on a more lightly-walked camino like the Via de la Plata.

 

[henrythedog]

It’s not an ultra-marathon; it’s a village to village walk.

I’m not entirely sure what point @Teddie is making other than that two people were unsuitably clothed.

 

[Tincatinker]

other than that two people were unsuitably clothed.

I wrote this back when: "I met two ladies “of a certain age” walking the Pennine way in shorts, vests (and I’m sure other essentials but I did not enquire (or look to closely). As I stood there in my poncho and gaiters and other attempts at water proofing they chuckled. To be honest, they mocked. “Skin is waterproof, nothing else is!” I recall Bill Bryson reporting a similar encounter. I’ve occasionally wondered if it was the same pair of bloody lunatics but have never tried to compare dates

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

If nothing else hopefully this post from @Teddie might make a newbie rethink leaving out a warm layer. All too often people take the advice "if you haven't got enough Gear you can pick something up in the next town" too literally.

You have to get to the next town first, and as the post clearly says - that was some kms away.

I don’t want to downplay for even a second the seriousness of the situation you encountered. However, it is ultimately the responsibility of each pilgrim to pack the appropriate gear based on the Camino they are walking, the season or time of the year, and their own individual needs that only they are best aware of

Absolutely

 

[C clearly]

All too often people take the advice "if you haven't got enough Gear you can pick something up in the next town" too literally.

Or the advice "Take only what you know you will need. Leave all the 'maybe' items at home."

 

[TheRealPixie]

I wrote this back when: "I met two ladies “of a certain age” walking the Pennine way in shorts, vests (and I’m sure other essentials but I did not enquire (or look to closely). As I stood there in my poncho and gaiters and other attempts at water proofing they chuckled. To be honest, they mocked. “Skin is waterproof, nothing else is!” I recall Bill Bryson reporting a similar encounter. I’ve occasionally wondered if it was the same pair of bloody lunatics but have never tried to compare dates

Reminds me of a Days We Spend video I saw (the guy only carries a large waist pack) and the two of them were in super cold rain in shorts because they pack so light they didn't have warmer clothing. They then cut their trip short. And these are Camino YouTubers. Needless to say, I was not impressed by this particular video of theirs. Sorry if they are on here and read this and are offended. But it seemed pretty foolish to me.

 

[Lindsay53]

There’s some guy on the “Seniors on the Camino” Facebook page touting his 1 kg kit! It’s absolutely absurd. The worst part is his arrogance when questioned about why he has left out many necessities. He seems intent on being condescending to anyone who walks the Camino with a well thought out kit that balances light weight with preparedness, telling people they can’t argue with him because he’s an “ultra long distance, ultra lightweight hiker”.

That's the guy you will hear about on the news.

 

[Simperegrina]

I pack heavier than some would opt for themselves - my pack is 1.7kg before I start packing a single item in it, but it’s super-comfy, so hey - but my Altus and a fleece are non-negotiable.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

It all comes down to that old saw:

"There's no such thing as bad weather, just unsuitable clothing!"
(credited to Alfred Wainwright, veteran fell walker in the UK)

 

[Joynz]

I wrote this back when: "I met two ladies “of a certain age” walking the Pennine way in shorts, vests (and I’m sure other essentials but I did not enquire (or look to closely). As I stood there in my poncho and gaiters and other attempts at water proofing they chuckled. To be honest, they mocked. “Skin is waterproof, nothing else is!” I recall Bill Bryson reporting a similar encounter. I’ve occasionally wondered if it was the same pair of bloody lunatics but have never tried to compare dates

It sounds like they were fine and you were a bit judgemental (and ageist). If they weren’t cold, then I can’t see the problem. I myself always pack thermals and wet weather gear, but lots of experienced hikers don”t mind a bit of rain, as long as it’ not too cold. It sounds like they were completely comfortable.

 

[Tincatinker]

It sounds like they were fine and you were a bit judgemental (and ageist). If they weren’t cold, then I can’t see the problem. I myself always pack thermals and wet weather gear, but lots of experienced hikers don”t mind a bit of rain, as long as it’ not too cold. It sounds like they were completely comfortable.

My point entirely. And it’s a philosophy I’ve long adopted

 

[dick bird]

When you live in a tropical country you discover that being wet is fine so long as you are not cold at the same time.

 

[Bastisofe]

Thought I'd drop my two cents! When I did my trek, the key was all about keeping it lightweight and versatile. Trust me, you don't wanna be hauling a heavy pack for miles. I packed a few quick-dry shirts, a couple of pairs of shorts, and one good pair of pants that could double for evenings out. Layers are your best friend, especially for those chilly mornings.

Footwear? Go for well-broken-in hiking shoes and don't skimp on good socks to avoid blisters. Speaking of blisters, a small first aid kit is a lifesaver.

 

[Gobsmacked by the World]

I’ll share a funny story that I haven’t told online before, just to walking companions. So before my first Camino…of course I was nervous and second guessing myself about pack, weight, etc. etc.
I decided to seek the advice of my son as, at the time, he was in his mid 20s, in the infantry and hauling around packs was part of his job description.

I told him my situation and the need to go as light as possible. He expressed admiration of my plan to walk 800 Km but said that I had it all wrong. That I shouldn’t be trying to go as light as possible, but that I should “load up…and go as heavy as possible”.
I expressed my confusion as to how this was supposed to help me…and he replied with “ you load up heavy, then at the end of the day at your hostel…you flex”.
I sadly had to admit that my “flexing days” were long over, and a faint sight in the rear-view mirror. But I often recall his intended helpful advice and laugh.

 

[KiwiJohn]

I pack heavier than some would opt for themselves - my pack is 1.7kg before I start packing a single item in it, but it’s super-comfy, so hey - but my Altus and a fleece are non-negotiable.

Well said!