What do you carry your stuff for the day in if you've sent your pack ahead?

[lendog]

For those of you that may use a pack transport service, what do you use to carry your stuff in for the day when you don't have your full pack? It seems like I need some kind of day pack big enough to carry rain gear and room to take off or put on layers as needed. What do you do? This is for an October Camino.

 

[wayfarer]

You can get super light folding day packs that will carry your wet gear and water. These will fold up very small and fit in a pocket when not in use.
Buen Camino.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I actually put my heavier stuff in a "China bag" - a large plastic zip-top bag, and send it with the transport company.
I carry my regular pack, which fits well, with my rain gear, water, and food in it.

 

[C clearly]

I agree with @Anniesantiago. You may find that you are still carrying 2-3 kg including water, food, rain gear, etc. You will be much happier carrying that for 20 km in a good backpack.

 

[Icacos]

I actually put my heavier stuff in a "China bag" - a large plastic zip-top bag, and send it with the transport company.
I carry my regular pack, which fits well, with my rain gear, water, and food in it.

Excellent idea! Three weeks into the Francés, due to injury, I had to resort to daily pack transportation, and the little, very light pack that I had brought along for 'evening' use was not up to the task of carrying everything I still needed for the day. Next time I'll buy a "China bag" to have my stuff transported, and use my regular pack for day use.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Excellent idea! Three weeks into the Francés, due to injury, I had to resort to daily pack transportation, and the little, very light pack that I had brought along for 'evening' use was not up to the task of carrying everything I still needed for the day. Next time I'll buy a "China bag."

You can get the China bags in most larger villages and towns in those Chinese markets like our Dollar Stores.
They run €2 to €3 and come in various sizes.

 

[C clearly]

I have a pack liner anyway, that I can remove and use as a transport bag if necessary.

 

[Icacos]

I have a pack liner anyway, that I can remove and use as a transport bag if necessary.

Am curious .... what kind of pack liner is this? My companion had her stuff stached in somethings that looked like dry bags - the kind one takes on kayak trips. She then put these into her pack. They looked too heavy to me.

 

[C clearly]

what kind of pack liner is this?

It is pack liner from MEC, Medium size, weighs 88 g. Not as stiff as those kayak ones. Here's the link:http://www.mec.ca/product/5016-043/mec-pack-liner/?q=pack+liner

 

[GettingThere]

For those of you that may use a pack transport service, what do you use to carry your stuff in for the day when you don't have your full pack? It seems like I need some kind of day pack big enough to carry rain gear and room to take off or put on layers as needed. What do you do? This is for an October Camino.

We used pack transport and as suggested above, we actually carried our packs with us and sent another bag ahead with heavier items we didn't need during the day. On a long day's walk we just found this more comfortable, as our packs were better fitted and with proper padded straps etc than most of the little light day packs available. Plus we had trained in these, and were used to them - we just weren't physically able to carry the full weight of everything we needed. We still seemed to carry quite a bit though - rain gear, water, snacks, first aid kit, important documents and anything else that would have caused problems if it had gone missing (phone charger!) - although the transport services are very reliable. We actually used a small suitcase as our send-ahead bag - and we also used this as our checked luggage on the plane, as we didn't want to risk checking our packs - anything we couldn't take as hand luggage went in the suitcase, which was just big enough to take our walking poles and other items not allowed as hand luggage. It all worked very well and we were very impressed with the efficiency and helpfulness of the transport service (we mostly used Jacotrans). Being able to do it this way made the difference, for us, between being able to walk the Camino and not.

 

[lendog]

Thank you everyone! Using an alternate container as the "send ahead" bag makes perfect sense - it hadn't occurred to me.

GettingThere - was there ever a situation where having the suitcase was a liability? Where you always able to get it to your next destination?

 

[GettingThere]

Thank you everyone! Using an alternate container as the "send ahead" bag makes perfect sense - it hadn't occurred to me.

GettingThere - was there ever a situation where having the suitcase was a liability? Where you always able to get it to your next destination?

Always - it worked really well. On the one occasion in our 8 week Camino that it didn't arrive (when a hotel staffer offered to call the transport for us and forgot!), the Jacotrans driver was brilliant and actually went back and picked it up for us on his next run. Of course, you do need to have a destination, so you really have to book accommodation ahead if using these services, so they have somewhere to deliver to. That wasn't a problem for us, we wanted that certainty, but it might not suit someone who prefers not to book ahead. All the accommodation providers were very familiar with the system (we used a combination of private albergues and small hotels/pensions/casas rurales) - it is very well-used right along the Camino - and they would have the envelopes to leave with payment, tell us where to leave our bag for collection and/or offer to book for us (I usually booked a few days ahead online, but you can just call the night before). Once we were within the last 100km we often didn't even need to call the transport services, as they just turned up anyway. I would definitely do it this way again - as I said, for us it made all the difference, as it allowed us to walk the Camino.

 

[Icacos]

....... they would have the envelopes to leave with payment .....

Just a word of warning ..... One very drippy, wet rainy morning, while stopping for desayuno, we saw one of these paper envelopes, with money inside, on the wet floor quite separated from the packs slated for transportation. Fortunately, the Jacotrans driver arrived right then and noticed one pack minus its envelope. The errant envelope was reunited with its pack and all was sorted out (much to the delight of the pack's owner whom we met later). So, it might be an idea to have a few extra ziplock baggies with you to safeguard your envelope in case of very wet conditions.

 

[GettingThere]

Just a word of warning ..... One very drippy, wet rainy morning, while stopping for desayuno, we saw one of these paper envelopes, with money inside, on the wet floor quite separated from the packs slated for transportation. Fortunately, the Jacotrans driver arrived right then and noticed one pack minus its envelope. The errant envelope was reunited with its pack and all was sorted out (much to the delight of the pack's owner whom we met later). So, it might be an idea to have a few extra ziplock baggies with you to safeguard your envelope in case of very wet conditions.

That's a great tip. I also always made sure to attach the envelope very firmly. I noticed a few packs which just used a safety pin or something that could easily pull off. I took some string from home (yes, I was a Girl Guide!) and used that to tie the envelopes firmly on. Some of the time I booked online (which involves paying in advance) - they then send you a link to a luggage tag to print off and fill in. I printed a number of these before leaving home, and when I used one I put it in a small zip-lock plastic bag which i put a hole in and tied on firmly to the suitcase. Those were good because I could re-use them - the Jacotrans version (via hike-tech) only asks for your name and phone number, they have the destination details already if you do it this way. Great tip to use the zip-lock bag for the envelopes too though - I'll remember that for next time (and there will be a next time...!)

 

[SunnyCat]

Always - it worked really well. On the one occasion in our 8 week Camino that it didn't arrive (when a hotel staffer offered to call the transport for us and forgot!), the Jacotrans driver was brilliant and actually went back and picked it up for us on his next run. Of course, you do need to have a destination, so you really have to book accommodation ahead if using these services, so they have somewhere to deliver to. That wasn't a problem for us, we wanted that certainty, but it might not suit someone who prefers not to book ahead. All the accommodation providers were very familiar with the system (we used a combination of private albergues and small hotels/pensions/casas rurales) - it is very well-used right along the Camino - and they would have the envelopes to leave with payment, tell us where to leave our bag for collection and/or offer to book for us (I usually booked a few days ahead online, but you can just call the night before). Once we were within the last 100km we often didn't even need to call the transport services, as they just turned up anyway. I would definitely do it this way again - as I said, for us it made all the difference, as it allowed us to walk the Camino.

Hey GettingThere-
It sounds like that is a good plan. I am currently on the camino & became ill, so I would like to use a transport. I was also wondering if you had a list of the places you stayed as I am having trouble planning ahead right now - it would be nice to have a reference from another walker - it would be very helpful if you're willing to share. Currently I am in Pamplona

 

[GettingThere]

Hey GettingThere-
It sounds like that is a good plan. I am currently on the camino & became ill, so I would like to use a transport. I was also wondering if you had a list of the places you stayed as I am having trouble planning ahead right now - it would be nice to have a reference from another walker - it would be very helpful if you're willing to share. Currently I am in Pamplona

Hi SunnyCat, sorry to hear you are unwell. Hopefully you can rest for a few days until you feel better. I will send you a private message/ conversation.