Whatare the bare essentials to pack/bring

[belloc]

Dear all

For a long trek what would your experience lead you to suggest if one wanted to pack ONLYthe bare minimum --to be as light as possible and yet not forget the essentials( raingear,linens to list two I might have tried to do without but not now after folks' helpful posts)

Thanks very much for your experience on traveling very light but not to forget the essentials

Regards
Belloc

[geraldkelly]

Hi Belloc

I realise your post was a while ago so maybe this comes too late for you but maybe someone else will find it useful.

The question of what you'll need (and what you won't need) is a very important one, especially for first-timers who don't know what conditions to expect.

I go on the Camino as often as I can and I have a packing list I use every time. It varies slightly depending on the season but the main stuff stays the same. There's a link to it below:

http://www.caminoguide.net/packing.xls

Gerald

[Leslie]

I have a packing list here Packing for the Camino de Santiago - Packing Tips

This is really the bare minimum - most I have found will pack more.

[dolcevespa]

I am leaving Monday the 20th of Sept for my first ever Camino walk. I will be starting with my girlfriend on the 24th from Pamplona. I'm going to do as much as I can. I do plan on taking breaks though and I'm in know hurry to get anywhere fast. I think I've read every forum on the internet dealing with packing for the Camino Frances. I think I started to freak myself by over analyzing and which produced high anxiety. I really don't want to take any more than 14lbs. The way I see it, if I really need something I can get it there. My girlfriend is getting sick of me saying that "Spain is a modern country and anything I need I can find it there." I have clothes for 2 days, underwear for 3 days, socks for 3 days, a fleece bag liner, fleece jacket, first aid, hygiene, medical and sun protect products for at least a week or more. odds and ends, mobile phone which will be my camera, money belt, knife, safety pins odds and ends, sandals for night time, cap in case it gets cold in the mountains, polarized prescription sun glasses, my hiking shoes, bandana, 1 pair of long johns that are extremely light weight, poncho,little notebook for writing. Thur far my weight is at 12.5 lbs. I know for me my comfort level will be directly related to how much I walk. I just turned 60 and I'm not interested in anything but having a great experience. Hope to see some of you along the way. I'm getting very excited now.

[Leslie]

Personally I find 12.5 lbs bloody great. I managed to get down to about 6/7kg which was way lighter than most I came across - but I was a man then who didn't need much.

I am planning on waking or cycling next year and I think my pack weight will be much heaver - I now run a few websites and never go anywhere without a computer, (hackers, spammers etc). And I now have a fairly good camera - but it is not light - once you start to add in the chargers for this it adds up - so much so on our last holiday I was over weight at the airport and my other half was not, that was a first.

I look forward to the day when the one charger can be used for everything. Oh and GPS - I could just add so much more to this site with my modern toys compared to what I had in 2005 on my last walk down the camino frances.

[dolcevespa]

I know what you mean about the electronics. :-) Well my weight is now up to 15.5 lbs. and I'm thinking to go back through and see if I can reduce it but I also know that if I need to send anything back to my friends in Madrid I can. Since we have a little over 3 weeks to walk we're going to start in Pamplona. This forum has been amazingly wonderful and I've learned so much from reading other people's experiences. Thanks to everyone who has contributed their stories and their experiences. I'll be checking in as much as I can.

[Sarah P]

Hi there

I am sooooooooooooo excited about starting the camino for my first time this Saturday. I have my train ticket to Ponferrada and was hoping to get a bus to Cebreiro and start my walk from there.

However, I had a minor bike accident a couple of weeks ago and I am a bit apprehensive about carrying my rucksack. I am keeping it very light and only with the items recommended to take.

In the case, where the pain in my chest or back flairs up again... is there a bag carrying system that can take my bag for me to the next destination. If so, could you please give me some more info about it.

Kindest regards,
sarah

[Covey]

Virtually every albergue has posters on the notice board advertising the companies running the bag service. Some are companies that are very professional and offer a range of "Camino Services" and others are usually local taxi operators who transport pilgrims and/or luggage. Going rate for a rucksack for 20kms is €5 and they will deliver either to the main albergue, or the nearest cafe.

If you think your back might play up, then err on the side of caution and send your bag on ahead.

There are no injuries I know of on the Camino that get better the more you walk and carry!!!

[zenb]

This was my 6.5KG 33 Litre pack...
I didn't feel like I wish I had something I forgot, but neither did I feel like any of it was unnecessary.

2 T shirts
1 Long sleeve
1 Trousers
3 Socks
3 Underwear
1 Fleece
1 Waterproof coat (light)
Light sleeping bag
First Aid kit and compeeds
Toiletries (toothpaste/brush, deoderant, travel-soap, razor
Travel-towel
Water pack
1L Bottle
Phone/Charger
Camera (film - no batteries/charger)
Route Guide, pleasure reading
Loo-roll
Clothes pegs
Flip flops
Sun-cream