What Is The Most Useful & Usless Item You Packed

[Wayne of LaVerne]

Most Useful: Zip Ties. Rack slipped & pivoted 90 degrees. Zips worked great. Note the blue zip routed around the cable guide, hence keeping the clamp from slipping back.
Most Useless: UE Boom Portable Speaker. Never used it. Visions of a party on the road?

 

[williamlittig]

Sleeping pad saw no use, light weight waterproof bags saved the day more than once.

 

[GaTeach]

Useful: My very tiny swiss army knife with scissors blades.

Useless: carabiners, boot laces, the just-in-case items

You're NEVER far away from a store.

 

[tomnorth]

I’m writing this from the perspective of the biggest surprise useful or useless item.

Useful: Bandana
Useless: Compass

 

[jagman2458]

Most Useful: Zip Ties. Rack slipped & pivoted 90 degrees. Zips worked great. Note the blue zip routed around the cable guide, hence keeping the clamp from slipping back.View attachment 40127
Most Useless: UE Boom Portable Speaker. Never used it. Visions of a party on the road?

I was glad to see your post. I am frantically packing and repacking my backpack. I leave tomorrow from Canada making my journey to SJPdP. I just got up and packed some zip ties! Great idea!

 

[CdnDreamer]

Useless: a knife - bought in SJPdP and I never took it out of the package.

Useful: safety pins - to dry clothing off the back of my pack, to hang up clothes to dry when all the clothespins were being used, to help hold pants up for the lucky people who lose weight on the camino

 

[dgallen]

Useful - old pillow case. Your albergue pillow may have seen 100's of drooling, sneezing pilgrims. Also gets used for dirty clothes bag.
Useless - heavy paper or book based guides. There are so many free Camino guides for the phone these days. Or if you must have, scan the paper to pdf.

 

[hecate105]

Useful -zip ties, nappy pins, pillowcase...
Not useful - preconceptions, expectations, hangryness...

 

[Jacobus]

I have to agree with zip ties as the most useful. Some variations cannot be undone so check carefully when you purchase
Also safety pins for laundry and backpack drying. Multi tool was handy for cutting, gripping and tying first aid, shoes, backpack repairs etc.
Most useless...headlamp. My iphone light was sufficient. And those just in case items that inevitably end up in albergue “take or leave” boxes. Usually clothing.

 

[Glenshiro]

Most useful - elasticated washing line, used daily

Most useless - first aid kit. Never used it (Now, there's tempting fate.............)

 

[Phil71]

Most useless: Rain coat in 2014. Most useful: Rain coat in 2015. Go figure.

 

[Helen1]

Wayne, with all that mud it looks like seriously hard going!

Most Useful: 1m of duct tape (Not a camino but I cracked my saddle bolt just after Penzance and tape held everything together for the final part of my JOGLE)

Most Useless: cheap tyre irons that snapped

 

[Ellen the Pesto]

Most : pocket knife
Least : I dunno, I think I weeded it all pretty well on my test walks. Or maybe I've forgotten.
Wished for : a couple more pair of undies.

 

[Anamiri]

Most useful: headlamp tied for first place with knife
Least useful: Spanish phrase book tied for first place with Compeed

 

[Kanga]

Most useful: money
Most useless: antibiotic tablets. But I was with a friend who regularly gets pneumonia. So they were useful to stop us worrying about her catching an infection sleeping in albergues.

 

[HedaP]

Most useful: Without a doubt, the most multi-purpose item I took was my mobile phone.
Least useful: Down vest. Left it in an unwanted items box in an albergue in the first week. Don’t regret taking it. Being unused to snow, it was one of the things I packed to make me feel more confident about walking the Pyrenees at the beginning of April.

 

[Kurt5280]

Most Useful: 1.5" straight blade knife with hard plastic sheath...cut...open...eat...and almost an attacking dog

Most Useless: Emergency weather cover...or...first aid kit...never used...but just in case...about 1-pound weight

Actually Tossed: I left about six-rolls of camping toilet paper on a mileage marker in the Meseta...I just suddenly realized that I would never use it...but I am sure it was found and put to good use.

 

[JamesVT]

Most useless: Rain coat in 2014. Most useful: Rain coat in 2015. Go figure.

lol!

 

[J F Gregory]

Duct Tape. Not a whole roll. I wrapped a few strips around my walking sticks.

 

[Kyle Hocking]

Useless: a knife - bought in SJPdP and I never took it out of the package.

Useful: safety pins - to dry clothing off the back of my pack, to hang up clothes to dry when all the clothespins were being used, to help hold pants up for the lucky people who lose weight on the camino

Did you not buy food from supermarcados along the way? I found my knife invaluable for cutting bread, fruit and a variety of other things.

 

[Kyle Hocking]

Most useful: Zip off pants that could be turned into shorts easily. Hugely valuable when the temps were +2C in Roncesvalles and +22C in the days leading into Santiago.

Most useless: binoculars. Never took them out of my bag.

 

[kelleymac]

Useful: jack knife bought in SJPP.
Not Useful: Head lamp (torch)-- never used it.

 

[Deleted member 29041]

Useful: Fiskars tomato knife. For cooking, slicing bread, tamates and cheese, etc., plus for cooking at knife-less albergues. Prevents having to eat too many pilgrim menus, plus saves a great deal of money. 37 gram
Useless: Head lamp. If the albergue is too dark, I can use the light from my phone, which doesn't wake others up. 80 gram, plus any extra batteries.

Useful: Small compass. Pretty damn nifty after missing an arrow or in a fog or at night. <10 gram
Useless: Guide book. Dead weight. About 240 gram

 

[Yoyo]

I brought but never used:
* Power pack for my iPhone – I had never trouble finding an outlet for charging.
* Carabiners number 3 and 4 (although number 1 and 2 were frequently used)
* Spork (only ever needed my pocket knife)
* Sunglasses
* Sewing kit

 

[J F Gregory]

Useful: jack knife bought in SJPP.
Not Useful: Head lamp (torch)-- never used it.

Actually most of our meals were purchased out of grocery store, meat, cheese, fruits and vegetables so we purchased a small pocket knife for about 3 Euros to cut our food and also for medical tape.

 

[Shaun-Castaneda-Rio]

Most Usless - a compartmented box of various vitamins and pills given to me by a nurse friend for which I lost the contents label in somewhere like Burgos, and after which I had no idea which tablet was for what !!.
All went down the WC at this point and I let my body decide what it wanted to do.
Please dont let Ela know she thinks I carried them to the end

 

[tomnorth]

I’m writing this from the perspective of the biggest surprise useful or useless item.

Useful: Bandana
Useless: Compass

I just remembered another surprise super useful item: safety pins! They were essential for drying socks from the back of my pack between sock changes. I would change socks and reapply vaseline every few hours to keep the blisters at bay.

 

[CdnDreamer]

Did you not buy food from supermarcados along the way? I found my knife invaluable for cutting bread, fruit and a variety of other things.

I only bought apples, bananas, granola bars and chocolate bars. I ate at the albergues when they had breakfast and then stopped for 2nd breakfast, tea, lunch, tea again, and then ate the pilgrim meal either at the albergue or in a restaurant. On the one or two days where there were less restaurants I bought an already made sandwich that I ate for lunch.

 

[tomnorth]

Useless: a knife - bought in SJPdP and I never took it out of the package.

Useful: safety pins - to dry clothing off the back of my pack, to hang up clothes to dry when all the clothespins were being used, to help hold pants up for the lucky people who lose weight on the camino

Wow, I used my knife a several times a day! Of course, I'm a huge fan of Spanish cheeses, so I'd buy a wedge and then slice off chunks for snacks. I also used my knife to cut the wonderful Spanish breads and sausages.

I have to agree with you on the safety pins. They were definitely an essential item.

 

[tomnorth]

Useful: jack knife bought in SJPP.
Not Useful: Head lamp (torch)-- never used it.

A knife is a must. I decided to bring a little key ring LED light rather than a head lamp. I'm glad I did, although there were a few mornings right before we went off Summer time when it was pretty dark in the morning. I do have a lightweight head lamp that I'm debating bringing next time. We shall see.

 

[GettingThere]

Most useful item I didn't take but acquired along the way: the Tape That Saved My Shoes!! I'd read many recommendations here on the Forum to take some duct tape or similar - and didn't. Then a couple of days before Burgos I discovered that unnoticed gentle friction had rubbed a hole clean through the lining at the back of both my shoes (Asics running shoes, otherwise super comfortable). My first thought was that the shoes were done for, and I started looking up shoe shop locations in Burgos. Then I thought of duct tape, so after rigging up a temporary "dressing" for the shoes from my first aid kit (also useful!) which got me to Burgos, I went shopping and found some strong tape, similar to duct tape, in one of those "everything" stores. Score!! Fixed it carefully to each shoe, a longish piece starting outside the heel and going up and over and onto the inner sole. I expected to have to change it regularly, even that it might worsen the damage, but it stuck like concrete, never wrinkled, and saw me to the finish line! (Well, as far as Sarria where everything ground to a halt but that's a whooole other story!) So next time I'm taking the tape!

 

[Stivandrer]

Two champagne corks!
- put one in either damp sock as you change ( as you should) every 1- 2 hours, turned inside out and placed in the elastic hooks on my Osprey Kestrel.
They (socks) will not risk slipping out due to these stoppers.
Can use 2 stones, but they weigh more !!

 

[JennyH94]

Most useful: My rubber gloves! They weigh practically nothing and protect my hands when hand-washing my hiking gear each day. They're also useful in albergue kitchens of course.
My preferred brand is an English one - Marigolds - they're the Rolls Royce of rubber gloves - 'love them!
Most useless: one of my two new Platypus water containers - it burst before the start of my camino. Note to self: thoroughly test water container before leaving Oz next time!

 

[DJMR]

Universal sink plug from hardware store - most albergue basins don't have plugs. Also anti bed bug sheet - no bites in 1100 km! Oh, and also karabiners and S hooks.

 

[brian560]

Rubber suction hook for showers where there is nowhere to hangyour towel.

 

[Debora]

Useful - old pillow case. Your albergue pillow may have seen 100's of drooling, sneezing pilgrims. Also gets used for dirty clothes bag.
Useless - heavy paper or book based guides. There are so many free Camino guides for the phone these days. Or if you must have, scan the paper to pdf.

AGREE!! I brought my own pillowcase from home and used it over whatever pillow I was given and then folded it up in the morning and put it back in my zip lock bag. It was so comforting when I laid my head down at night.

 

[Debora]

Rubber suction hook for showers where there is nowhere to hangyour towel.

Love this idea...no hooks happened often...if not the suction ones you suggest..maybe even a hook that would hang over a shower door would have been so helpful.

 

[Ian L]

Most useful: Its a tie between the earplugs and a small massage ball for my feet

Most useless- insect repellent for mosquitoes

 

[Anniesantiago]

Useful: umbrella
Useless: gloves

 

[BetzNH]

Most useful - my Macabi skirt - used as a sarong after the shower - kept me cool, water resistant.. lots of pockets for items you need while walking - oh and safety pins - big ones. AND Leukotape.
Most useless.. the ceremonial spork - but I carry it anyway.

 

[Henry Appelt]

Most useful:
A4 grip lock high density freezer bags. Keeps everything neat in your rucksack. Change of clothes in each one; squeeze all the air out and seal. All your bits stay nice and dry.
Most useless:
Headphones, never used once as I like all the sounds around me.

 

[JRO]

I was glad to see your post. I am frantically packing and repacking my backpack. I leave tomorrow from Canada making my journey to SJPdP. I just got up and packed some zip ties! Great idea!

Useful: a small packet of lambs wool from drugstore - padded any and everything!
Useless: makeup

 

[Jeep500]

Useful: light bags that separate my clothing, I used them like a drawer, Elastic washing line, sun cream, soap that could wash body and cloths, my Miam Miam dodo and Nok creamto keep your feet hydrated.
Useless: head lamp,ductape,rain pants (you get wet anyway) camelback you never know how much water left in it.
Keep in mind pilgrims will carry their unsecurity.

 

[Sunbun]

Love this idea...no hooks happened often...if not the suction ones you suggest..maybe even a hook that would hang over a shower door would have been so helpful.

Yes, find or make a plastic ‘S’ hook. Suctions didn’t work

 

[Sunbun]

Useful: small phone recharger.

Useless: nothing. I used every item or threw it out.

 

[Sunbun]

Useful: small phone recharger. And nylon net produce bags to put small items in. They weigh nothing and are silent.

Useless: nothing. I used every item or threw it out.

 

[John Hussey]

Most useful item for me would be any multi-use item and my favorite is one that combines my towel, my bandana, my neck scarf, my neck shield from searing sun, my head band, my head and ear cover from the cold, my buff, and, likely, other uses for which I may have forgotten.

That item would be just a simple large silk scarf. I bought it online from a silk supplier (Dharma) and it came a natural cream color so I dyed it to a more sedate combination of OD green and dark brown. I have used it on my last three or four Caminos and I wouldn't leave home for another without it. After drying my body it hangs on whatever I use for drying my just washed briefs and socks. It's dry in minutes. It's weight is minuscule and it crumples up into almost no space at all.

 

[stinmd]

Most useful item for me would be any multi-use item and my favorite is one that combines my towel, my bandana, my neck scarf, my neck shield from searing sun, my head band, my head and ear cover from the cold, my buff, and, likely, other uses for which I may have forgotten.

That item would be just a simple large silk scarf. I bought it online from a silk supplier (Dharma) and it came a natural cream color so I dyed it to a more sedate combination of OD green and dark brown. I have used it on my last three or four Caminos and I wouldn't leave home for another without it. After drying my body it hangs on whatever I use for drying my just washed briefs and socks. It's dry in minutes. It's weight is minuscule and it crumples up into almost no space at all.

How well did that silk scarf work as a towel? Just wondering... Maybe you are onto something!

 

[pilgrim gurl]

Useful?
Me, preparing for my first Camino, I’m wondering what I’ll bring as devotional/ prayer/ musical enrichments... that weigh little and nourish my spirit. On the path, in evening recovery, and pre-sleeps. Printed? Saved on phone or iPod? As well, what format for my journal?

 

[habanerocat]

Useful - Multi-tool swiss army type thing
Useless - Needle and thread.

Problem with the mulit-tool was I had to check in my rucksack because of it. Not sure if it was worth the additional cost.

 

[Saint Mike II]

..... little key ring LED light rather than a head lamp. I'm glad I did, although there were a few mornings right before we went off Summer time when it was pretty dark in the morning. I do have a lightweight head lamp that I'm debating bringing next time. We shall see.

Ah - bloody Spanish Summer time - I actually had to wait about 10-15 mins (after I was "thrown" out - most politely by Tom at Rabanal at 8.15 am) until I could actually see the trail or road. I ended up on the road until Foncebadon. I too for-went the head torch and used a small pocket flash light, and I rarely rode before 8.15 am. The small knife I took was also very useful at lunch time - for bread/cheese/fruit etc!!

 

[Mark T17]

Useful - If I think of what I used everyday - Kathmandu gortex shell rain jacket - good against the rain, cold and wind. Small valuables bag to put your wallet and passport in at night and take to bed rather than leaving them in your bag or losing them in your bed.

Useless - laptop computer - too tired to use it at night and weighed too much during the day.

 

[BoH]

Most Usless - a compartmented box of various vitamins and pills given to me by a nurse friend for which I lost the contents label in somewhere like Burgos, and after which I had no idea which tablet was for what !!.
All went down the WC at this point and I let my body decide what it wanted to do.
Please dont let Ela know she thinks I carried them to the end

Why do you think fishes in the sea needed the medical better than yourself??

 

[BoH]

Useful - Multi-tool swiss army type thing
Useless - Needle and thread.

Problem with the mulit-tool was I had to check in my rucksack because of it. Not sure if it was worth the additional cost.

A folded knife is not ok. And the blade must not be more than 60 mm.

 

[flickchic98]

Most useful - bandanna (which can become your towel if you lose yours!)
Least useful - second book with maps and albergues. For Spain Caminos take a John Brierley guide, in France take a MiamMiamDodo (and learn enough French to book a room over the phone)

 

[Tony Murray]

Useful?
Me, preparing for my first Camino, I’m wondering what I’ll bring as devotional/ prayer/ musical enrichments... that weigh little and nourish my spirit. On the path, in evening recovery, and pre-sleeps. Printed? Saved on phone or iPod? As well, what format for my journal?

Dear Jo Ann, I would suggest you bring noting but a very light and simple journal. The Camino is about nothingness so the more you bring the more you bring (if you get my meaning). Listen to the silence, listen to the sun rise and the darkness. You will hear your own soul and that will speak volumes. Your prayer is the sound of your own feet and the rhythm of each step. Do nothing -- that is the way of the Camino.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Yes, find or make a plastic ‘S’ hook. Suctions didn’t work

I made an S hook out of a metal coat hanger...perfect and used it often.

 

[domigee]

Most useful - elasticated washing line, used daily

Most useless - first aid kit. Never used it (Now, there's tempting fate.............)

Yes, but you still shouldn't go without it! Never know when it can come in useful
I should know, I packed the most minimalist first aid kit when walking the Via Francigena last year, ended spending more per day in chemists than I did in accommodation AND meals Spain is cheaper fortunately!

 

[Wiebmer]

I do

Useful?
Me, preparing for my first Camino, I’m wondering what I’ll bring as devotional/ prayer/ musical enrichments... that weigh little and nourish my spirit. On the path, in evening recovery, and pre-sleeps. Printed? Saved on phone or iPod? As well, what format for my journal?

I downloaded an audio Rosary n my phone...also listened to Podcast homilies from my Church back home.

Made a special music list downoaded from Spotify - one inspirational and energetic (think Mandisa!) and another meditative...Chant.

We kept a blog - used a laptop - but a small diary would work, too.

Our second Camino is Burgos to Sarria starting April 16. Buen Camino!

 

[MikeOK]

Useless: smartphone, dropped it on day 3 and broke the screen. Decided to walk the CF without it and therefore without guidebook, gps etc. Great decision, easy enough just to follow the arrows.

Usefull. Quality earplugs, essential to increase the chances of a good nights sleep.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Yes, quality earplugs for sure. I couldn't even hear the pre-dawn bag rustlers!

 

[zinco]

Duct Tape. Not a whole roll. I wrapped a few strips around my walking sticks.

Great idea

 

[LGLG]

Useless: my worries
Useful: my faith

 

[Cambridge Pilgrim]

Most useful - elasticated washing line, used daily

I accidentally left mine hanging up outside at the municipal albergue in Fromista. If anyone sees it, feel free to claim it as yours with a clear conscience!

A very useful item.

 

[KathyEK]

I just remembered another surprise super useful item: safety pins! They were essential for drying socks from the back of my pack between sock changes. I would change socks and reapply vaseline every few hours to keep the blisters at bay.

I notice a lot of people mention safety pins. One of our mentors for the trip recommends baby safety pins, the ones with the big plastic tops. those sound ideal for hanging clothes to dry

 

[tomnorth]

I notice a lot of people mention safety pins. One of our mentors for the trip recommends baby safety pins, the ones with the big plastic tops. those sound ideal for hanging clothes to dry

Yes, those would be ideal. That’s what I’m bringing next time.

 

[trecile]

I notice a lot of people mention safety pins. One of our mentors for the trip recommends baby safety pins, the ones with the big plastic tops f. those sound ideal for hanging clothes to dry

I used those big diaper pins on my first Camino, and only found them useful on clotheslines that were perfectly straight. On most clotheslines gravity caused all of my clothes to slide down the line. Now I use miniature clothespins (pegs) from the craft store. They are strong enough to hold my lightweight clothing. I still bring some diaper pins to hand clothing from my backpack.

 

[JillGat]

Most useful item I didn't take but acquired along the way: the Tape That Saved My Shoes!! I'd read many recommendations here on the Forum to take some duct tape or similar - and didn't

For the record, duct tape is called "Cinta Americana" in Spain.

 

[KJFSophie]

Without a doubt THE most useful item is a simple "s" hook ...over the shower door to hold clothes/towel, over the bunk rail to hold backpack off of wet floor or items that need drying. More substantial than plastic, better than a suction hook...comes on every camino. can be found in hardware stores in different sections ie: shower curtain hooks, pots and pan hooks, tool hooks,,,can also be found on amazon. I bring several and give them away

 

[Mick0]

Most useful: Zip off pants that could be turned into shorts easily. Hugely valuable when the temps were +2C in Roncesvalles and +22C in the days leading into Santiago.

Most useless: binoculars. Never took them out of my bag.

Doh, in my list of wants vs needs. Though, i’m walking so maybe. The other is a little gas stove + cup + coffee stuff

 

[Roland49]

Most usefull item: socket-tripler, most useless item: powerbank.

 

[Donna Sch]

Most useful: Sarong, buffs, battery charger, phone, dry bags
Most useless: tablet - used it once

 

[Robo]

Most useful. Sun umbrella.
Most useless. Nothing really. I use all I take.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Most useful: Heavy duty white trash compactor bag to line my pack, and small laundry mesh bags inside.
Most useless: Dry bags as totally unnecessary with the above items.

 

[krystianw]

Most useless: a full print-out of everything that Gronze.com had about the CF.
Most useful: collapsible water bottles for the VLdP.

 

[Buffy]

Useful: carabiners, safety pins. Often clipped items to my bag to dry while I walked.

Useless: first aid kit. Would have reduced down to just blister essentials or not brought at all, and just picked up what was needed (if anything) along the way.

 

[peregrina2000]

Though I have only had to use it twice on the camino, I would say that the tick key turned out to deliver the biggest bang for the most trivial weight. It weighs not much more than a quarter of an ounce. The two times I used it, both times on remote caminos not near any medical services, the consequences of not having it could have been really bad. So though it is certainly not the most useful in terms of frequency of use, I would never start walking without it tucked in my first aid kit.

Not to induce hysteria, but the number of ticks in Spain is increasing at a very fast clip, with climate change the apparent cause.

 

[Robo]

Though I have only had to use it twice on the camino, I would say that the tick key turned out to deliver the biggest bang for the most trivial weight. It weighs not much more than a quarter of an ounce. The two times I used it, both times on remote caminos not near any medical services, the consequences of not having it could have been really bad. So though it is certainly not the most useful in terms of frequency of use, I would never start walking without it tucked in my first aid kit.

Not to induce hysteria, but the number of ticks in Spain is increasing at a very fast clip, with climate change the apparent cause.

Added to my packing list
I agree.
There are sometimes things we might take, that would rarely if ever be used.
But that for a negligible amount of weight are worth taking.
I have a couple of medical things in that "get me to the next town" category.

 

[domigee]

Though I have only had to use it twice on the camino, I would say that the tick key turned out to deliver the biggest bang for the most trivial weight. It weighs not much more than a quarter of an ounce. The two times I used it, both times on remote caminos not near any medical services, the consequences of not having it could have been really bad. So though it is certainly not the most useful in terms of frequency of use, I would never start walking without it tucked in my first aid kit.

Not to induce hysteria, but the number of ticks in Spain is increasing at a very fast clip, with climate change the apparent cause.

I’ve mislaid mine, you just reminded me to get another one. Thank you!

 

[henrythedog]

Added to my packing list
I agree.
There are sometimes things we might take, that would rarely if ever be used.
But that for a negligible amount of weight are worth taking.
I have a couple of medical things in that "get me to the next town" category.

I’ve always got one on me - my dog’s a tick-magnet. Out of the country I carry the first couple of days of a course of doxycycline also. Lyme disease is serious and if I saw the distinctive rash after a tick-bite I’d be self-medicating on the way to the nearest pharmacy.

 

[CTLawGal]

Most useful item I didn't take but acquired along the way: the Tape That Saved My Shoes!! I'd read many recommendations here on the Forum to take some duct tape or similar - and didn't. Then a couple of days before Burgos I discovered that unnoticed gentle friction had rubbed a hole clean through the lining at the back of both my shoes (Asics running shoes, otherwise super comfortable). My first thought was that the shoes were done for, and I started looking up shoe shop locations in Burgos. Then I thought of duct tape, so after rigging up a temporary "dressing" for the shoes from my first aid kit (also useful!) which got me to Burgos, I went shopping and found some strong tape, similar to duct tape, in one of those "everything" stores. Score!! Fixed it carefully to each shoe, a longish piece starting outside the heel and going up and over and onto the inner sole. I expected to have to change it regularly, even that it might worsen the damage, but it stuck like concrete, never wrinkled, and saw me to the finish line! (Well, as far as Sarria where everything ground to a halt but that's a whooole other story!) So next time I'm taking the tape!

REI sells a compact mini roll of about 50" intended for backcountry repair jobs (like yours) - it's not much bigger than a (thick) thumb, weighs almost nothing and useful to keep in a first aid pack. I ended up not needing it for myself, but was able to offer to other pilgrims who needed a repair.

 

[CTLawGal]

antibiotic tablets. But I was with a friend who regularly gets pneumonia. So they were useful to stop us worrying about her catching an infection sleeping in albergues.

This is one of those things that you WANT to be useless! I have a tendency to ear infections and once found myself with a GI infection in a place I couldn't find a doctor for several days. My doctor gives me prescriptions for both, I carry them with me and know I don't need to worry about (or wasting time) finding a doctor. I'm happy not to use them, but glad to take them with me - usefully useless

 

[Takahiwai]

Most useful: the Strava app on my phone
Least useful: everything else about the phone, which stubbornly refused to function unless linked to WiFi - not too useful on a couple of the less-populated camino routes.

 

[J Willhaus]

Least useful first Camino- rain gear. Wore it once for about 15 minutes in summer of 2016.

Most useful 2024 January Camino-rain gear. It rained almost every day!

It's all relative.

 

[Mick0]

Though I have only had to use it twice on the camino, I would say that the tick key turned out to deliver the biggest bang for the most trivial weight. It weighs not much more than a quarter of an ounce. The two times I used it, both times on remote caminos not near any medical services, the consequences of not having it could have been really bad. So though it is certainly not the most useful in terms of frequency of use, I would never start walking without it tucked in my first aid kit.

Not to induce hysteria, but the number of ticks in Spain is increasing at a very fast clip, with climate change the apparent cause.

Noticed them on the pet cats. Didn’t pick up any myself though. I too packed a remover, and duly de ticked the cats

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

Noticed them on the pet cats. Didn’t pick up any myself though. I too packed a remover, and duly de ticked the cats

Your cats walk the camino with you?
I stayed at a place in Canada many years ago where the cat did day hikes with us, but there's a big difference from a day hike to a full on Camino!

 

[MountainMiMi]

Useful: a town outfit separate from hiking biking outfit, and separate from sleeping clothes
Useless: laundry detergent. The laundromats we used all included detergent already.
Surprised that I used: headlamp. Got stuck biking in the dark one day due to multiple snafus, and was VERY grateful for the light.

 

[williamlittig]

Useful - old pillow case. Your albergue pillow may have seen 100's of drooling, sneezing pilgrims. Also gets used for dirty clothes bag.
Useless - heavy paper or book based guides. There are so many free Camino guides for the phone these days. Or if you must have, scan the paper to pdf.

I bought and photographed Brierly's travel guide, to save weight. When I met John I didn't have his book.