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Yes - I just assume that he was probably wanting actual detergent specifically for washing machines and it sounds like he isn't planning to wash clothes daily - which is the only reason why you would need detergent and extra clothes in the first place. But again - a shampoo bar is great for handwashing - but as you mentioned, regular shampoo can be used too. I know I have used shampoo on occasion in washing machines.Ditto re washing machines - although they cost €3+to use. And I think the cousin is on a budget.
Mid Camino this year when I ran out of my own supplies I purchased a small shampoo which I used to wash hair, body and clothes.
But I didn’t wash clothes every day (just daily socks and undies) as I had merino shirts and trekking pants that didn’t smell.
One of the gifts of the Camino is that you pat down everything to essentials and realise one needs very little to live and be happy.
Blessing to you and your cousin
PS Can’t praise merino tops enough - I had three layers of various weights. Temps went down to 1C. I was never cold when I saw others who were.
Was this not for March? If not, then you are correct.I don't think this is particularly good advice for someone undertaking a winter camino. If there is anything I have observed here, it is that there is no 10% rule, and if you do want to use it at a rule of thumb, it is really only relevant for a summer camino. I wrote this back in 2015 when asked what I thought authoritative sources for pack weight might be, and more recently noted this in response to a similar question recently. The link to the CSJ advice is still live.
This appears to completely miss the point of using a from the skin out approach to weight targets. One great advantage of using an FSO target is that it doesn't change from season to season, unlike base weight targets, and the very fact that it includes consumables and worn items allows meaningful trade-offs to be made between the three, base weight items, consumables and worn items. It quickly becomes obvious what effect wearing a boot in winter might be if it weighs and extra four or five hundred grams, and whether reducing the amount of shampoo and conditioner might compensate for that if one needs to stay within one's FSO target.
There has been quite a lot of discussion about this over the years. Here is a link to other comments I have made over time. They are still as relevant today.
In all of this, if you want to walk far, fast, or both, make sure the weight you carry is kept as low as you can.
I don't think this is particularly good advice for someone undertaking a winter camino. If there is anything I have observed here, it is that there is no 10% rule, and if you do want to use it at a rule of thumb, it is really only relevant for a summer camino. I wrote this back in 2015 when asked what I thought authoritative sources for pack weight might be, and more recently noted this in response to a similar question recently. The link to the CSJ advice is still live.
This appears to completely miss the point of using a from the skin out approach to weight targets. One great advantage of using an FSO target is that it doesn't change from season to season, unlike base weight targets, and the very fact that it includes consumables and worn items allows meaningful trade-offs to be made between the three, base weight items, consumables and worn items. It quickly becomes obvious what effect wearing a boot in winter might be if it weighs and extra four or five hundred grams, and whether reducing the amount of shampoo and conditioner might compensate for that if one needs to stay within one's FSO target.
There has been quite a lot of discussion about this over the years. Here is a link to other comments I have made over time. They are still as relevant today.
In all of this, if you want to walk far, fast, or both, make sure the weight you carry is kept as low as you can.
It's a Camino starting in February. March has been mentioned in regard to mosquito repellent.Was this not for March? If not, then you are correct.
Thanks for the clarification.It's a Camino starting in February. March has been mentioned in regard to mosquito repellent.
So my Skin Out with boots doesn't matter unless I would normally wear trail runners to travel thru snow or ice. What does matter is comparing boots to get the lightest weight given the same functionality. The amount of weight on the feet does make a difference in terms of energy output, but the choice is between boots, not sandals vs boots.
It's that uncertainty about which base weight might be most appropriate that an FSO approach removes completely. If you need to carry warmer, thus heavier, clothing, then you might have to reduce your consumables budget, and carry less food or water. Rather than stocking up on non-perishable items for several days when in the supermarket, it might only be for one or two days.The base weight of the backpack will change due to the season, as lighter or heavier seasonally appropriate gear is added or subtracted. That still means that it is the base weight FOR THAT SEASON that is used as a comparative when gear choices are made.
I never settle on a FSO weight budget. It seems that the basic items that I "need" weigh 5 or 6 kg, or even 7 kg if you want to include what I am wearing. It isn't a budget. It is a recognition that those are the things I want to have, and the question is "Can I carry it?".once one has settled on a FSO weight budget
That sounds like a good aspiration to me!you effectively have no real target other than what one writer called 'Unbearable Lightness'.
Quite the opposite, I couldn't care less what others choose. My input is as an example, not as a Bible. As far as 'no real target', what does that even mean? My target, is to be as light as possible while maintaining all that is needed to stay comfortable and safe.@davebugg, we clearly have quite different approaches to planning here. The very reason that the FSO approach gives greater consistency is that once one has settled on a FSO weight budget, let us say 20% of our walking weight, this allows one to analyse the effects of both large and small differences in weight between what is going into one's pack, what is being worn and what food, water and other consumables will fit into that total budget. The total FSO budget doesn't vary from season to season - it is a constant that one can use irrespective of season. What varies is the proportions allocated to base weight, consumables and worn items.
In your approach, you effectively have no real target other than what one writer called 'Unbearable Lightness'. That seems to be the mantra of the many ultralight enthusiasts here, but it's not really all that useful when advising someone who hasn't spent at least a little time working out how resilient they are, what their cold tolerance might be, and perhaps most of all, how much they are prepared to pay for the quite expensive ultralight gear that some might just find unaffordable.
It's that uncertainty about which base weight might be most appropriate that an FSO approach removes completely. If you need to carry warmer, thus heavier, clothing, then you might have to reduce your consumables budget, and carry less food or water. Rather than stocking up on non-perishable items for several days when in the supermarket, it might only be for one or two days.
Water is one of the easy, but perhaps more risky items to look at, and many people already do that. In summer I can normally walk for three hours safely with a combination of bladder and a small bottle. When I have walked in spring, there is less risk of heat exhaustion, and only partially filling a bladder was my first response, followed by making sure that I never passed an open bar where I could refill my small bottle.
@davebugg, I must admit I am puzzled why you seem so hard over on others not using what is a more consistent and reliable planning approach. I can understand that you might not want to use it personally, perhaps because you do have the experience to balance some of these choices intuitively. But I don't see why that should prevent other people trying this approach, and if they do find it useful, incorporate it into their planning paradigms.
More, exceeding the weight budget is not going to create a sudden precipice where one can no longer walk. Walk times might increase, and one's average daily planning distances might also need to be reduced. Minimising these effects is still a good thing to do, but always in the context of being sufficiently well prepared for the weather conditions one is going to walk in.
What he said. For someone who has never been a pilgrim, the Camino is tough. Even the Frances in late spring/early summer is tough. We have seen many posts by folks who have been discouraged beyond continuing by blisters.Hi Julio
I’ve just been looking at the three questions you’ve raised on the forum so far, on behalf of your cousin, who plans to walk the camino Norte for the first time starting 1 February.
While it’s great that you are trying to help him, your cousin is the one who needs to own and drive this - not you, or this is not going to end well.
If your cousin is a fit tough Spanish-speaking guy with plenty of money and a cool temperament, able to think on his feet and happy to spend many cold nights alone... then true, he may be able to rock up on the Norte with a hefty pack prepared by you and do it. But I think that would be highly untypical!
Packing and trying out ideas and options is a really important part of preparing for the camino - as is researching routes and working out which ones are viable in winter. Your cousin needs to be doing this. A winter camino is never an easy option, it will take much fortitude and a bloody-minded determination to succeed. His engagement in preparation can help him overcome many of the challenges.
My advice -
1 your cousin needs to starting working all of this out for himself. You can advise him a little but he needs to own all of this - with or without input from this forum.
2 IMO his starting point should be appreciate that this is going to be tough. He needs to minimise the considerable challenge of a full length winter camino by focussing ruthlessly on what it will take to achieve it. And that is going to be a lot more do-able if he opts for the Camino Frances not the Norte and only carries what he needs to complete the camino, not a great big bundle of other stuff for leisure time or subsequent travels.
Cheers, tom
Speaking of contingencies that don't weigh much, I had Dirtygirls gaiters for my last camino. They're lightweight gaiters that keep the random debris out of the hiking shoes. I can't recommend them strongly enough. https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/ But if you're not interested, they're not essential.@trecile is right, this is at best a rule of thumb. It might work well enough for a summer camino, but is unlikely to be a good guide for pack weight in the other seasons.
There are good sources that suggest that winter walking could require anything up to double the volume of gear compared to summer. Like others, I think I could pack for a winter camino in less than that, but I doubt I could get it down to the point where it fits into a 34 litre pack. There are just too many unknowns for me to even bother commenting in detail.
What I would suggest is the following pattern for clothing, where I suspect there is considerably more than might be required:
The art of layering here is to select clothing that is going to offer more insulation, ie heavier weight base layers and mid layers, than one might do in summer. Taking extra garments should be unnecessary if you can get this right. More, and it has already been said, don't pack things just to 'look nice' in the evening. Wear the next day's clothes and warm layer, or even your ever so stylish waterproof jacket. No one really cares how you look!
- things to take three of: base layers, ie underwear and socks
- things to take two of: mid-layers, ie trousers and shirts (T or otherwise)
- things to take one of: everything else, ie warm, wind and waterproof, gloves, beanie, tube scarf
- concessions to comfort: I take a pair of shorts and an additional long sleeve base layer top to wear in bed, and I have a medium brimmed hat as well as a beanie. I do take a light pair of shoes for use in the evening, but they could also be used during the walking day if conditions were suitable. I normally have walking mitts as well as warm gloves, although for a winter camino I might just take good gloves instead.
- for a winter camino, I would consider taking full length gaiters in addition to rain pants to keep mud/slush/snow out. Having walked at the end of winter, there were days when one didn't want to be encased in full waterproof gear, but needed some more protection around the legs than trekking pants alone might offer.
ps @JulioCesarSalad, if your cousin is so debilitated in undertaking their own research in planning and preparing for a camino, I am wondering how they will survive on the camino without you. Do you really think that they are capable of doing this without having done some of the basics here themselves?
The best advice I received was - look at every item in your pack. Ask yourself is it absolutely necessary? What will I do if I don't have it? My instinct is your pack and contents is way to heavy but that's a personal thing.Hello everyone, my cousin is planning to do the Camino de Santiago in February, starting February 1 on the Camino Frances. Could you all please help me with a shakedown? It's his first time
Most lists I've found are for summer Caminos, so there's a bunch of extra stuff for winter that I had to include
I’ve listed out his equipment below, but would appreciate help with a shakedown.
Lighterpack available here, starred items are weight estimates
Things I am unsure of are listed at the bottom:
TOTAL WEIGHT: 35 pounds
BASE WEIGHT: 21 pounds
HYGEINE
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Picaridin mosquito repellent (for March)
- Soap
- Detergent
- Quick dry towel
CLOTHES
- 4 pairs of wool socks
- 4 pairs of underwear
- Thermal pants, 2
- Thermal shirts, 2
- Mid-layer warm (like a Patagonia fleece)
- Vest (Columbia down vest)
- Puffy warm jacket (like a Patagonia Nanopuff)
- Gloves (not waterproof, should they be?)
- Hiking pants, 2
- Weatherproof pants, Fjallraven Vidda Pro, waxed for wind resistance
- Hiking shirts, 2
- Relaxing shirts, 2
SHOES
- Flipflops (shower)
- Tennis shoes (hanging out/relaxing shoes)
- Hiking boots
RAIN
- Rain Jacket (goretex)
- Rain pants (goretex)
- Dry bag, 5L
- A safety net for phones and electronics during a rainstorm
- Backpack rain cover
SLEEPING
- Sleeping pad (foam)
- Sleeping bag 15F (30F comfort)
- Camping pillow
- Hammock
- He wants to go camping afterward and will have to carry the hammock throughout, even if he doesn’t use it during the pilgrimage itself
ELECTRONICS
- Phone
- Phone charger
- Portable battery
- Headlamp
- Lantern
KITCHEN
- Eating bowl
- Spork
EMERGENCY KIT
- First aid kit
- Whistle
- Thermal blanket
BACKPACK
- 34L backpack
WATER
- Nalgene 1L
- Backpack hydration 3L
Medical
- Blister bandages
TOOLS
- Swiss Army knife
- Light cord
- Accessory cord
- Carabiners
THINGS I WONDER ABOUT
- 1 flannel shirt
- for warmth and to have a collared shirt for the post-hike travel
- Medium dry bag
- Is it useful? The backpack already has a rain cover
Thank you for explaining that. I apologize for misinterpreting your earlier comment, quoted below, as indicating that you were advising others not to use a FSO approach.Quite the opposite, I couldn't care less what others choose.
Skin Out weight is meaningless in terms of how the body handles a backpack load vs what is worn ON the body itself. Besides, unless one backpacks stark raving naked, there is no need to count clothing as part of the backpack load.
For planning, what counts is the backpacks Base Weight (everything in the pack + the pack, but not consumables). I CAN carry up to three liters of water, but I only count the weight of the device that HOLDS the water, since the water I add will vary and be consumed, therefore less weight, as the day progresses.
Thank you for explaining that. I apologize for misinterpreting your earlier comment, quoted below, as indicating that you were advising others not to use a FSO approach.
Microwave safe. Handy when having a drink from a fountain. Essential when you pop open a bottle of wine and no one has a glass. Wine fountain a must.Yes! The backpack will be purchased when he is in DC visiting me, so we can just put everything in mine, go to REI, and find a backpack he likes that will hold everything
AS to shoes, I'm thinking of sending him with the three pairs, shower shoes and super light sneakers in the backpack, and if it's too much he can just mail his sneakers ahead
A mug: I have to check how much the bowl actually weights because it's very light. Would a mug be useful outside of food? I'm assuming coffee would be from a cafe, and as such would have its own mug
What the heck, I’ll give it a shot:Hello everyone, my cousin is planning to do the Camino de Santiago in February, starting February 1 on the Camino Frances. Could you all please help me with a shakedown? It's his first time
Most lists I've found are for summer Caminos, so there's a bunch of extra stuff for winter that I had to include
I’ve listed out his equipment below, but would appreciate help with a shakedown.
Lighterpack available here, starred items are weight estimates
Things I am unsure of are listed at the bottom:
TOTAL WEIGHT: 35 pounds
BASE WEIGHT: 21 pounds
HYGEINE
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Picaridin mosquito repellent (for March)
- Soap
- Detergent
- Quick dry towel
CLOTHES
- 4 pairs of wool socks
- 4 pairs of underwear
- Thermal pants, 2
- Thermal shirts, 2
- Mid-layer warm (like a Patagonia fleece)
- Vest (Columbia down vest)
- Puffy warm jacket (like a Patagonia Nanopuff)
- Gloves (not waterproof, should they be?)
- Hiking pants, 2
- Weatherproof pants, Fjallraven Vidda Pro, waxed for wind resistance
- Hiking shirts, 2
- Relaxing shirts, 2
SHOES
- Flipflops (shower)
- Tennis shoes (hanging out/relaxing shoes)
- Hiking boots
RAIN
- Rain Jacket (goretex)
- Rain pants (goretex)
- Dry bag, 5L
- A safety net for phones and electronics during a rainstorm
- Backpack rain cover
SLEEPING
- Sleeping pad (foam)
- Sleeping bag 15F (30F comfort)
- Camping pillow
- Hammock
- He wants to go camping afterward and will have to carry the hammock throughout, even if he doesn’t use it during the pilgrimage itself
ELECTRONICS
- Phone
- Phone charger
- Portable battery
- Headlamp
- Lantern
KITCHEN
- Eating bowl
- Spork
EMERGENCY KIT
- First aid kit
- Whistle
- Thermal blanket
BACKPACK
- 34L backpack
WATER
- Nalgene 1L
- Backpack hydration 3L
Medical
- Blister bandages
TOOLS
- Swiss Army knife
- Light cord
- Accessory cord
- Carabiners
THINGS I WONDER ABOUT
- 1 flannel shirt
- for warmth and to have a collared shirt for the post-hike travel
- Medium dry bag
- Is it useful? The backpack already has a rain cover
You might get your human companion to use the LighterPack app.I’ll have to type it out again in plain English.
The thermal pants might be useful occasionally, but not enough to warrant two pairs.Go down to one pair of thermal pants and shirt. Not sure the thermal pants are needed at all, seriously considering not taking them
my thinking behind recommending full length gaiters is my experience in wet and muddy conditions crossing the Pyrenees at the end of winter. There and further west there were regular muddy sections, but it was late enough so that when I walked, there was no slushy snow on the ground. I had one day where the bottom of my trouser legs were caked in mud, and I couldn't avoid washing them. After that, if I wore the gaiters I was able to avoid that. The alternative was to wear rain pants instead, which wasn't always necessary, and which tended to slow me down more than just wearing gaiters.Speaking of contingencies that don't weigh much, I had Dirtygirls gaiters for my last camino. They're lightweight gaiters that keep the random debris out of the hiking shoes. I can't recommend them strongly enough. https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/ But if you're not interested, they're not essential.
Buen Camino!
Try to cut the clothing list in half. 2 pair of underwear, 2 pair socks (only merino wool! Unbound Merino has great stuff expensive but worth it. Darn tough socks) plan on doing laundry almost daily rather than carrying the weight. Very light tennis shoes (saurony, or wool allbirds very comfortable). I agree on two many pants. (prana – very comfortable/tough/light). Better to have outer pair like prana and then layer of light thermal then trying to get pants to cover both needs.Hello everyone, my cousin is planning to do the Camino de Santiago in February, starting February 1 on the Camino Frances. Could you all please help me with a shakedown? It's his first time
Most lists I've found are for summer Caminos, so there's a bunch of extra stuff for winter that I had to include
I’ve listed out his equipment below, but would appreciate help with a shakedown.
Lighterpack available here, starred items are weight estimates
Things I am unsure of are listed at the bottom:
TOTAL WEIGHT: 35 pounds
BASE WEIGHT: 21 pounds
HYGEINE
- Toothbrush
- Toothpaste
- Shampoo
- Conditioner
- Picaridin mosquito repellent (for March)
- Soap
- Detergent
- Quick dry towel
CLOTHES
- 4 pairs of wool socks
- 4 pairs of underwear
- Thermal pants, 2
- Thermal shirts, 2
- Mid-layer warm (like a Patagonia fleece)
- Vest (Columbia down vest)
- Puffy warm jacket (like a Patagonia Nanopuff)
- Gloves (not waterproof, should they be?)
- Hiking pants, 2
- Weatherproof pants, Fjallraven Vidda Pro, waxed for wind resistance
- Hiking shirts, 2
- Relaxing shirts, 2
SHOES
- Flipflops (shower)
- Tennis shoes (hanging out/relaxing shoes)
- Hiking boots
RAIN
- Rain Jacket (goretex)
- Rain pants (goretex)
- Dry bag, 5L
- A safety net for phones and electronics during a rainstorm
- Backpack rain cover
SLEEPING
- Sleeping pad (foam)
- Sleeping bag 15F (30F comfort)
- Camping pillow
- Hammock
- He wants to go camping afterward and will have to carry the hammock throughout, even if he doesn’t use it during the pilgrimage itself
ELECTRONICS
- Phone
- Phone charger
- Portable battery
- Headlamp
- Lantern
KITCHEN
- Eating bowl
- Spork
EMERGENCY KIT
- First aid kit
- Whistle
- Thermal blanket
BACKPACK
- 34L backpack
WATER
- Nalgene 1L
- Backpack hydration 3L
Medical
- Blister bandages
TOOLS
- Swiss Army knife
- Light cord
- Accessory cord
- Carabiners
THINGS I WONDER ABOUT
- 1 flannel shirt
- for warmth and to have a collared shirt for the post-hike travel
- Medium dry bag
- Is it useful? The backpack already has a rain cover
Am I right in assuming 'FSO' stands for 'from skin out'? Google has offered me a number of other possibilities, none of which make a lot of sense in this context.No
I can understand how my writing confused the issue by leaving out "To me...." The American backpacking community has had rabid discussions on the value of FSO for years. Merry Christmas, Doug.
generally in this context it refers to From the Skin Out, a planning approach to pack weight or volume that includes all worn and carried items.Am I right in assuming 'FSO' stands for 'from skin out'? Google has offered me a number of other possibilities, none of which make a lot of sense in this context.
Do you think a puffer jacket is necessary in April? I was not planning on bringing one, or a sleeping bag. What do you think?I am currently on the Camino Francés, 2 days out from Santiago. I will not bore you with a list of all that I carry, but just want to say I have one set of clothes for walking and one set of clothes to change into at the end of the day. Some get added or not depending on the cold (or rain). I have a puffer jacket for additional warmth, which has been worn most evenings, and a pair of thermal trousers, yet to be worn. I wish I had only brought 2 pairs of socks instead of the three. The albergues I have stayed in have been warm - too warm. There are not many bars open between villages, but I haven't starved, and I always have a back up of muesli bars should they be needed.
I started from SJPP in late Mar on my first camino, and didn't carry a puffer jacket. I had a mid-weight quarter zip fleece that I used at the start of most days and in the evenings. If I needed more, I would put on my rain jacket.Do you think a puffer jacket is necessary in April? I was not planning on bringing one, or a sleeping bag. What do you think?
Thanks so much!I started from SJPP in late Mar on my first camino, and didn't carry a puffer jacket. I had a mid-weight quarter zip fleece that I used at the start of most days and in the evenings. If I needed more, I would put on my rain jacket.
I carried a +5 deg C sleeping bag. It allowed me to stay warm in several albergues where there were no or only one blanket per pilgrim. It was used every night. When I walked the CF again, starting in early May, I carried a similar bag, although my wife and I stayed more often in private albergues and B&Bs where I tended to open the bag up and use it as a quilt. I cannot imagine that I would not take it if I walked again around springtime.
I need my down puffy in late May, June, and July on chilly days/nights! Used it a LOT in 2021, a little less in 2022 - but still used it.Do you think a puffer jacket is necessary in April? I was not planning on bringing one, or a sleeping bag. What do you think?
Reduce the clothes to half. We only carry one set. One on, one off. Post everything for the after holiday to Ivar. I carry around 8kgs total.Yup, if you follow the lighter pack link it subtracts the weight of worn clothes and water, bringing it down to 22 pounds. I would still like some feedback on what may be necessary or not
Even your list has some items I would consider "want" and not "need"What you need and what you want are two different things.
What he will need;
1 Good Umbrella
1 Pair of Speedos
1 Something to sleep in
1 Bar of Carbolic or Coal Tar Soap (Lifebouy)
1 Bar of Washing Soap (Sunlight)
10 Clothes Pegs
1 Small Wet Wipes for when you're caught short
1 Housewife (sewing kit)
1 First Aid Kit (plasters, adhesive dressings, ointment, salve, disinfectant, anti-biotic powder)
1 Foot Powder
1 Ball of String
1 Deck of Cards (you never know when a game of Don, Hearts, A 110 or Lives might happen)
and finally and I can not stress this enough;
Wet wipes do not biodegrade.Even your list has some items I would consider "want" and not "need"
Speedo and Umbrella definitely optional.
You can sleep in your clean day clothes - so sleepwear is optional (but please don't go naked in a dorm lol)
Again - 1 soap for EVERYTHING including hair, body, laundry
10 clothes pegs? Well - you could easily go with half of that. Or better yet - multpurpose your safety pins - I used safety pins to drain blisters (sanitized them first), pin clothes to bag, AND to hang clothes on clothes lines.
Yes to toilet paper for emergencies - but wet wipes are optional. Being wet - they end up weighing more.
Sewing kit isn't needed and I wouldn't ever thread my blisters - and instead of sewing needles the safety pins can drain the blisters. See above.
Foot powder - well - men seem to "need" it more than women - but I have no need for foot powder
Ball of string isn't needed either. If I need to fix something, there are plenty of stores.
Deck of cards is certainly optional. But of course if it adds to entertainment, then fine. But I just talked to other pilgrims.
Yep - another point against wet wipes. Of course - I prefer people pack out their TP and wipes either way... bring an extra baggie for trash.Wet wipes do not biodegrade.
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