A Post-Camino De Santiago (Primitivo Route) look at our packing list

What Worked & What Didn’t

I have added in red what things worked for us and what didn’t. We mostly made the right choices on things. The most notable failure being my choice of footwear. Merrell hiking shoes were definitely a wrong choice. I should have stuck with my boots. I have never had issues (other than an occasional blister) on any previous long distance hike. So I had no reason to think that I would have any issues on this trip which was much easier walking than my past endeavors. But I didn’t account for all the road walking which was never part of my wilderness treks.

However, I had an Achilles tendon injury a few years back while carrying scuba diving gear after a dive. That has healed but the tendon is weak from lack of stretching. Plus, I’d started to complain of heel pain quite a few months ago. I  didn’t think much of it. I just assumed that it was due to walking on hard surfaces at work. What I should have done prior to going on my Camino was to visit my podiatrist who has my history of sports related injuries. Had I done so, I probably would have been diagnosed with the plantar fasciitis and given proper orthotics as well as the advice that she gave me upon my return. Don’t wear anything but hiking boots with a stiffer mid-sole than the shoes that I settled on.

I will copy the entire list here since I know how much people hate having to click on links 🙂 This is the same list that is on the original page but with my comments now added in red. My original list is found in this post http://www.musingsfromthelastfrontier.com/packing-camino-de-santiago/

 

Equipment

 

Backpack

(3.55lbs): At 46 liters, this women’s specific backpack is bigger than is needed for the Camino, but I wanted to be able to use it for wilderness backpacking as well. The straight jacket design allows me to pack the bag to 3/4 capacity and cinch it down to reduce the size. Bill is taking the which is the men’s version and identical to mine. Except, of course, his hip pockets are bigger. The manufacturers seem to think that women don’t need big pockets. It should be no problem to take these packs on board the aircraft as carry-on luggage. We are not flying any budget airlines so the weight of the pack is not a concern.

There are several features that I really like about these packs. They both have sleeping bag compartments that are big enough to fit a one season sleeping bag. Trekking pole straps located on the side that makes it easy to stow and deploy the poles without taking off the pack. They have a side zip on one side that lets you access the contents of the bag without having to unbuckle and open the main compartment. It’s designed for quick removal or insertion of items. A zippered pocket on top that comfortably fits a light weight rain jacket. It also comes with a compartment for inserting a water bladder. Very good suspension and hip straps. I added a matching teal colored bungee to the back loops and the top. This will make lashing items to the pack a lot easier.

This is a heavy pack empty and Osprey, as well as the other pack manufacturers, do make lighter packs. This one was more comfortable for me and sat better on my hips and shoulders. Everyone is different, that’s why it’s important to try on packs in the store and make sure you get the one that is right for you.  I could easily have lightened my load by a pound if I’d gone with a smaller or a lighter pack. I didn’t want to compromise for the sake of a pound.

We have both an and a . We’ll decide which one of us takes what later. They are both 3 Liter bladders so it doesn’t matter. The Osprey is nicer because it opens at the top, horizontally, which makes it easier to refill.

The Osprey Backpack was the perfect choice. It was very comfortable and held up like a champ. Not so much as a scratch and it got thrown on the ground a lot. I was suffering from some pretty bad shoulder and neck pain prior to my Camino and it never flared up. Zero back or neck pain and no shoulder bruising. I definitely take this again on my next Camino.

Billy liked his Kestrel as well but he somehow managed to get his mesh pocket torn. We repaired it with some kinesiology tape that I had purchased (and forgot to add to the packing list). I took the 3 liter Osprey bladder which worked like a charm with the quick disconnect and wide mouth. Billy ended up deciding to take two 1 liter Nalgene bottles because the bladder was not to his liking when inserted in his pack. It bulged in a way that he didn’t like and made the pack sit oddly for him. Both our methods worked for us but it was a pain having to stop to get him his bottle since he can’t reach them from the side pockets. He would have preferred the bladder but the mechanics just wasn’t working.

 

Sleeping bag

REI Helio Sack 55: This is a synthetic, rectangular sleeping bag that is rated to 55F degrees. Bill’s sleeping bag is almost identical except it’s a North Face brand and is no longer sold. Mine is a regular length and weighs 1.9 lbs. There are lighter sleeping bags on the market but those are made of down. I prefer not to use down because when it gets wet it loses it’s insulation and takes forever to dry. Plus, synthetic bags can be thrown in a washing machine if you come across bed bugs. Not to mention cost. Down sleeping bags cost a fortune. This is the second place where I could have shed half a pound. But it wasn’t worth it for another hundred or so dollars. I also really wanted a rectangular bag that opened up into a quilt.

Both our sleeping bags were fine for a spring Camino. We weren’t cold on any night and only really used it as a sheet to cover ourselves for modesty. I would take it again in winter or late fall, but for a summer Camino I would only take a sleeping bag liner like the kind Sea to Summit makes. The temperature was comfortable inside all the Albergues along the Primitivo in May. They also all had heat and plenty of thick blankets that were in great condition. Would we take these sleeping bags again in May? I don’t think I would, not knowing what I know now about the amount of blankets and the inside temperatures. I would probably just take the .

 

Hiking Shoes

: I literally tried on every pair of hiking shoes in REI. After nearly 2 hours, I settled on this low cut pair from Merrell. I originally thought that I would buy a pair of mid cut shoes (ankle height) since my backpacking boots have always been above the ankle. My reasoning was that I would want a higher cut for walking across mud or puddles. But after walking around with the ankle height boots in the store, I decided against them. Why? because unlike my heavier weight Raichle (now branded as Mammut) backpacking boots, the mid height ones don’t go over the ankle. Instead, they sit right across my Achilles. This is problematic for many people but especially for me. I injured my Achilles tendon while carrying dive gear a few years ago and I still occasionally get pain. The last thing I need is a boot that puts repetitive pressure on that tendon.

Additionally, since I’m going to be carrying less than 20 lbs there is no need for ankle support. I purchased the shoe a half size larger than my regular size and in a wide width. I know from experience that my feet swell in hot climates, and that I need a bit of extra room in the toe for those long downhill stretches. I also need the room to fit my custom orthotics. My shoes are actually a full size larger than what my feet measure.

Epic fail. Even though I purchased a wide shoe it still wasn’t wide enough when my feet swelled in the heat. I would have needed an even wider shoe. The toe box ended up becoming too tight and caused a Morton’s neuroma in my right foot. The lack of ankle support and not very stiff soles caused a severe case of plantar fasciitis and Achilles tendonitis.

My podiatrist, who I ended up having to visit after my Camino for Cortisone shots, told me to stick with hiking boots. It turns out that I have a Morton’s Foot (my second toe is slightly longer than my big toe and causes those metatarsal bones to press together) People with plantar fasciitis and any history of Achilles problems should not be wearing light weight shoes on long distance hikes. Especially hikes with rough terrain such as pavement. So going forward I will stick with my tried and true boots. I should never have listened to the forum members who push their shoe preference. Not everyone has my foot problem and I took the advice of people with no knowledge of different foot issues. They all meant well, but let this serve as a cautionary tale to those of you reading this.

My podiatrist also prescribed a new set of custom orthotics. I’d also listened to all the hype about the expensive Super Feet insoles and of course, they were useless. I can’t even wear these Merrel shoes now just to stand in. They instantly cause pain in my neuroma. What a shame because they did stay perfectly waterproof during some down pours and deep puddles. So if you know that you don’t suffer from plantar fasciitis I’d recommend these shoes. Otherwise, stick with a boot that has a stiffer mid sole and wide toe box. Better yet. Go see a podiatrist and make sure that your aching feet, and whatever else you have going on, isn’t going to negatively impact your Camino.

 

: This s the boot that Billy chose. He prefers over the ankle boots for hiking, as opposed to low cut shoes. This is what has always worked for him and he has over 30 years of experience. He really likes them and just like my Merrell shoes, the insoles come out and can be replaced with custom or store bought orthotics. We both use custom made orthotics so this feature was important. But all good hiking shoe manufacturers now have removable insoles for this reason.

Billy like these boots. They aren’t his favorite but he had no issues with them. He used his custom orthotics in them which didn’t quite fit right in the heel. He bought them in wide and that seemed to work out. He really liked the wide toe box and how easy they were to clean. Just used a little Danner boot cleaner and a rag and he was good to go. Yes, he sneaked in a little brush and boot cleaner and was glad he did. He will wear them again on our next Camino.

 

Trekking Poles

: Ultralight aluminum with Dual Flick-lock mechanisms. Padded Wrist Straps are Left and Right hand specific for added comfort. They have progressive four-stage shock absorption within the grip. The Control Shock Technology that these poles employ prevent them from bottoming out when planted. It feels much smoother and is barely noticeable; unlike the Leki poles that I’ve had for 15 years. I am leaving the carbide tips on. Some people like to switch to rubber tips when walking on the Camino to reduce noise when going through small towns early in the morning. I see no need for this. I can just as easily not use my poles in those situations.

That’s it for the big ticket items. On now to clothes. This is where things got tough for me. I pride myself on being a light packer, but only taking one change of clothes was a challenge for me. I’m listing mostly my items because that’s what I am most familiar with at this point. The majority of the posts that I read on the Camino forum regarding packing lists are from women. We inherently have more issues with clothing and sizing.

These trekking poles were great. Took a lot of my weight on steep downhills and stood up to daily use. Didn’t cause any soreness or hand blisters. Definitely a keeper. Except, next time I will look at putting rubber tips on them. The metal click clack did get annoying. Billy took his 10+ year old Leki poles and they were fine too.

 

Clothes

• 1 REI Sahara long sleeve nylon hiking shirt: I love the hidden side pockets that fit my passport. It was too hot to wear this shirt. Comfortable, but for me, hiking in temps around high 60F and 70F it was just way too hot. I sent it to Santiago with the rest of the unneeded items. Will consider for winter camino and definitely for Alaska hiking.
• 2 REI short sleeve Tech  T-shirts: Blue and green-super comfy, wicking, quick drying, and long so they don’t bunch up with the hip belt. Perfect choice. They held up well to frequent washing and kept me comfortable. Wicked well and dried fast. Will take again.
• 1 REI Sahara Roll-up Pants: Nylon and spandex material make these stretchy and somewhat form fitting in a good way. They roll up to ankle and capri length. No leg zippers to contend with either. I only used them a couple of times during the day because the weather was just too hot. But they are comfortable to hike in and I used them in the evenings and over the Hospitales Route. Keepers for sure.
  
• 1 Purple Rain hiking skirt in Teal. This is a mid-weight nylon/lycra skirt handmade by Purple Rain (Mandy) in Portland, Oregon. Large pockets at a good height, and a yoga style waistband. Perfect alternative to shorts. Okay, I wore this skirt EVERY DAY! I never needed to do more than give it a rinse one day when I got a little dirt on it. But it is super comfortable. I sat down on the ground (gravel, dirt, grass, etc) and it never got dirty or damaged. HIGHLY recommend. I wish I could hike in it in Alaska but the mosquitoes would eat me alive!
  
  

  Purplerainskirts.com

   

• 2 : Only needed one but I fell in love with 2 and couldn’t decide. Used this once when I got cold going over the Hospitales pass. Didn’t need 2 of them. Would still take on the next Camino but only one. I thought I’d use it as a headband, but again, I was just too hot.
  
• 1 Bandana: Use as a pee rag instead of toilet paper. An old trick used by women on the Appalachian and Pacific Coast Trails. Environmentally friendly option. Came in handy as a pee rag. No need for toilet paper. Will use again.
• 1  These were a little heavier than I would have preferred (1 lb), but I’m glad I had them. Stiff enough to wear when my plantar fasciitis acted up. Wore them with socks in the evenings to give my aching feet a rest. Would never walk on the trail with them but for around the villages and short walks in Santiago and Lugo they were good. Comfortable and can use them for other trips.

 

Inclement Weather Gear

• 1 : Yes it’s light blue as well. Coincidence. They come in a bunch of different colors. I’ve had this jacket for almost 2 years and it’s super light weight and waterproof. Bill just bought the men’s version. Amazon seems to always have the lowest price. I bought mine at a retail store for twice as much! Yeup, worked like a charm. Kept me dry for the few hours that I wore it. Will take with me again. Billy never wore his jacket. Getting wet was better than being hot.
  
• 1 pair  Made of nylon/spandex and helps keep water and rocks out of my shoes. A saving grace with low shoes. I walked through a lot of deep mud and these helped keep water and mud out of my shoes. I stayed totally dry,
  
• 1 REI Revelcloud synthetic puffy jacket: This is my insulating layer. In the event that I should need warmth. Ultra lightweight, windproof and warm. I’m comfortable down to 15F degrees wearing just a t-shirt underneath. Mine is black. I wore this one or two days. It was too hot in May for this jacket. But I did need it going over the high sections of Hospitales route where it was raining, windy, and the temps had dropped to the low 50s. I wore it one night in Campiello when it was a bit chilly due to rain and altitude. I would take again and just send it forward to Santiago after the Hospitales. It’s lightweight and warm, So a good choice for those of you who get cold easy. I use it in Alaska down to the 20sF with just a long sleeve shirt on.
  
• 1 REI Blast Cap: This is a lightweight, packable ball cap with mesh sides for cooling. It’s not really inclement weather gear. I plan to wear it for sunny days as well. Mine is in Titanium (aka off white). It worked well when it was raining and it kept the rain off my glasses. But I personally can’t walk with a hat when it’s hot. Definitely lightweight, though. Fit into the hip pocket of my Osprey. In colder, wetter weather I would opt for the OR waterproof sombrero.
• 1 Wander Wrap Rain Skirt: This is another handmade item. Jen at Wandergoods out of Seattle makes these. They are such a great alternative to rain paints since they still let air in and I can put it on and off without having to take off shoes or sit down. Waterproof nylon with snaps down the side. Big pockets on both sides and it has a reflective strip along the bottom. Not the kind of thing you’d wear to go mountaineering, but for walking and hiking in easy terrain I think it works well. I bought the shorter length (Wander Wrap) because at my 5’3″ height it falls at my shins instead of lower on the ankle. Perfect for those downpours. I will never wear rain pants. These produced no condensation and lots of airflow. So much more comfortable than pants and when it was time to take it off, I just unbuttoned it. No need to take shoes off.

 

 

Underwear and Socks

• 2 in black: Offers zero support so it’s a good thing that I’m walking and not running. However, this bra is super light, comfy, wicks moisture and dries incredibly fast. It has no buckles to get pinched under straps and is not a racerback style, which I despise. Easy to put on over my head thanks to the lack of compression. In black these are great under light colored thin shirts for modesty. Perfect choice. Comfy and dried fast. Support wasn’t needed even for my C cup since I did no running on the Camino 🙂
• 2: The Sport Mesh Briefs are the only style that I like. The are mid-rise and not as low as the other styles. The pictures make them look like they are very low rise, but they aren’t. If you prefer a higher rise, they also sell a high cut brief that is also very comfortable. I wore the original style on my trek to Nepal years ago and they worked fabulously. Wicks moisture away and dries quickly. Perfect choice. Super comfortable and never got the swamp butt feeling you get with cotton. Will definitely take again.
• 1 Men’s ExOfficio Give-n-Go Boxer Briefs: Yes, men’s. This is for when I wear the hiking skirt to prevent chafing. I bought the men’s because it has a fly and I’m also taking along a Pibella urinary device so that I can pee standing up along the side of the road. Yes I have penis envy. Don’t judge me. I have priorities. I ended up not using the pibella, but these were perfect for wearing with my skirt. Very light weight and lots of airflow. Plus they provided modesty when I was sitting on the ground with my skirt in not very lady like manners at times. Will take again for sure. They are also comfortable with the pants.
• 3 : Bill bought some for himself as well. They are well made and don’t get all stretchy and bunch up under my feet. Wicks away sweat very nicely. Worked well and will wear them again. NO blisters. Just wish they came in a wider size. When my feet swelled up they felt tight. I might try the men’s socks. They seem wider, so I would just buy my size in that style.
• 1 pair of REI Silk Long Underwear: Super lightweight (and a bit see through to be honest) and comfortable to sleep in. Coed dorms pose a problem unless you want to sleep in your panties. Which given the right temperature (hot) I’m totally prepared to do. But these long johns can also be worn under my skirt and hiking pants in the unlikely event that I run across cold weather. Which for me to wear these hiking will have to be in the 20F range. Never used this and ended up sending it forward to Santiago when we got to Lugo. It just never got cold enough in May for long johns. Would take again for a winter Camino, though. I slept in my boxer briefs and t-shirt every night. So did most other women. In the dark nobody cares what you wear to bed. Plus they look like shorts and aren’t see through.
  

 

Stuff Sacks

• 1 : For my sleeping bag this is just the right size. You will have determine what is the right size for your bag.
• 1 : For my puffy jacket I’m using the 6 Liter one because I don’t want to compress it too much.
• 1 : To store my iPhone, 2 passports, and wallet during a downpour. Also useful when I go to the shower in the albergue to keep them with me.
• : Cube, half cube, and quarter cube. I have the set with 3 different colors because I’m a tad too organized and wanted to color code things. I told you not to judge me.

All of these stuff stacks worked perfectly. Would definitely use them again. Nothing in my pack got wet and I never used a pack liner. Just the cover that came with my Osprey pack. However, Billy set his pack down on the ground at an outdoor bar just before a torrential down power hit. The place got swamped fast and by the time he got to his pack, the bottom compartment was soaked. His sleeping bag was a little damp when he took it out that afternoon. Dried fast enough because it wasn’t made of Down. But it might be worth investing in a waterproof compression sack if you have a Down bag. Neither of us bothered with trash liners and nothing got wet inside the pack.

 

Toiletries

•  Less than half a bar of Dr. Bronner’s Lavender and Hemp soap: To hand wash laundry and my body. My husband is taking the other half for his needs. REI sells these for about $5 and they have other scents. But I’ve been told that the peppermint one will sting if you have cuts or abrasions on your skin. The scent doesn’t linger so don’t worry about smelling like perfume afterwards. We found that we only needed one half between the two of us. We used washing machines several times and just didn’t need so much soap. We sent the other half forward to Santiago.
•  About 10 : These weigh the same as carrying a small travel size bottle. But without the plastic bottle to add to the weight. I just need to take 1 packet into the shower with me and then pitch it when I’m done. Solves the issue of conditioner/shampoo. Perfect choice. Definitely will buy again. There was enough gel that could also use it to wash my body so I used the soap even less.
• A small razor: I can use the Dr. Bronner’s soap as shaving cream. I plan to wax my legs and underarms so this will only be for a touch up toward the end, if needed. I did wax the day before I left and typically it lasts 2-3 weeks. I used it once towards the last couple of days when my legs needed a mild touch up. I would still take again because it weighs almost nothing. It was nice to touch up those stray leg hairs that had grown out. I wore a skirt every day and going hairy legged is not my thing.
  
• Comb
• 2-3 Hair ties: To put my hair in a pony tail when I get hot. My hair is long right now (past my shoulders) and I will cut it shorter prior to leaving but still leave enough to put in a pony tail. The reason being that there are no hair dryers at the albergues. My hair takes well over an hour to dry naturally if there is no sun. If it’s warm and sunny then it’s not a problem. But I don’t want to take the chance. I just don’t want to wander around the villages or go to bed with damp hair. I cut 4 inches off my hair the day before I left, so my hair was just touching my shoulders. This way my hair dried significantly faster. I also only used scrunchies instead of rubber ties. It was gentler on my hair. I only needed one but would still take a second just in case I lose one. I tended to misplace them every night and then find the other one the next day.
  
• Travel sized hand/body lotion: I just buy one at the travel section of the Safeway. St. Ives is my favorite. I don’t need much and I can always buy more there. Didn’t really need it. Send it forward to Santiago when we got to Lugo. The humidity was enough that it kept my legs from getting dry.
  
• 2 Nivea Soft Cream Tin: I only need 2 for 2 weeks I think. Might take a 3rd. You get buy these at Walgreen’s. They are tiny and light weight. I only needed 1 tin for using in the evenings.
  
• Sunblock stick: I just bought the travel size stick that they sell at the local grocery store. I don’t use a lot of it. I got a good tan prior to leaving and since I tan quickly, I ended up using very small amounts on my face and shoulders. Used it on Billy’s arms and legs. Sunblock is ridiculously expensive in Spain. Just be aware of that if you need to resupply. 1 stick barely got us through the 2 weeks. Literally just enough. So if you aren’t tanned prior to leaving and burn easy, take a second stick.
  
• .35oz
  Used it on my feet every morning and my thighs. No chafing problems at all. Got the tiny tube and it was enough for a 2 week hike.
• Travel Toothbrush
• 1 oz of toothpaste We had 3 little grocery store travel tubes between us and that was enough.
  
• 1 Perfect size and felt nice and soft. So glad I decided to buy the larger size and not take one of my smaller ones.
  
• Female Urinary Diverter:  This is the smallest and easiest to use on the market. You can buy it online but I just saw them for sale at REI as of 4/5/17.  So maybe they are testing out the market for them. It’s a small tube that fits snugly and let’s a women urinate standing up. Very good for those crowded trails when there isn’t much tree coverage to go hide behind. Wiping with the bandana is a breeze since it’s just a trickle. Just like the guys do, but without the “shake” part. I believe in providing as much information as possible for the ladies. 🙂 Didn’t use it at all. It was just faster to drop my drawers since I was wearing a skirt. Sent it forward to Santiago.

 

 First Aid

• A few band-aids
  
• 1  small bottle of Naproxen (Naproxen did nothing for my Achilles pain or my plantar fasciitis. I got a COX-2 inhibitor in the local pharmacy that worked better (like Celebrex but a different brand. I carried a bunch of these as I was taking them every 8 hours. Easy to buy in Spain over the counter. Unlike the US where you need a prescription.)
  
• 1 Blister pack of Benadryl (Never used it and will not take again)
  
• 1 Blister pack of Loperamide (Definitely needed it one day in a location where there was no pharmacy, ie the middle of the woods. Will take again)
  
• 1 Blister pack of Zyrtec Allergy tablets. (Probably won’t take again. We discovered my husband had no allergies in Spain)
• 1 Package of Compeed blister pads (Definitely take one multiple size pack with you. You can buy more on the way. I only need one pack for a couple of hot spots and Billy bought another pack for his small blister)
  

 

Miscellaneous Items

• 
  Never used it.
• 10 Diaper sized safety pins: To safely attach drying clothes to the bungee on my pack. Used these every day. Very necessary.
• 2 Kleenex packs-purse size (I actually forgot them at home. never missed them)
  
• for my phone 7 Plus: This tiny flash drive connects to any iPhone and lets you download photos so that you don’t fill up your phone’s hard drive. No need to worry about having WiFi or Internet connection to backup to the Cloud. Used it and will take it again.

 

 

• The only phone we are taking is my iPhone 7 Plus. I decided to take a portable charger because I will also use it as my camera and to read the guide books. I can easily run out of power during a long day. This gives my iPhone 7 Plus a 50% charge. I bought it in pink just so that it would match the red 6ft long charging cord. Harder to miss than black when packing up in low light. This little baby is small. Unlike my Mophie Power Bank. This weighs just 62 grams! If you want to be able to charge to 100% and you have a 7 Plus, You will need to get the larger Reserve 2x. Weight on that one, as I recall is twice as much. Never needed it. Send forward to Santiago when we got to Lugo. The iPhone 7 Plus battery was enough to last the entire day even with GPS turned on. Won’t take again. You might need one if you have a different phone

 

 

• 1 EU charger so that I don’t need a separate adapter plug. Similar to this one. Very useful in a couple of albergues where I shared outlets.

 

Well, that’s pretty much the whole Camino packing list. I’m also taking my iPhone 7 Plus in an , and the above mentioned EU charger, US Passport, Pilgrim Credential, tiny wallet with credit cards and cash, a bunch of Ziploc bags (I keep my passport and credencial in a quart sized one), my sunglasses and regular glasses (with a soft case each). About 13 pounds without the water bladder filled. Just as I planned. The 3 liter bladder was definitely needed by me. The long 10 ft charging cord is a necessity.

 

 Billy’s Packing List

If you are wondering what Billy’s packing list looks like here it is. It’s pretty similar to mine.

 

• 1 A shade of blue/violet. I bought it for him. He like it. Worked well.
• 1 REI Sahara Long Sleeve nylon shirt: Some shade of grey. He like it. Worked well.
• 1 He never wore it walking. Just to bed at night because he didn’t take a short sleeve one. But he really, really liked this shirt.
  
• 2  He has a bunch of hiking pants but these are the likely ones. He’ll decide which ones to take the night before we leave. That’s how he rolls. I’ betting he’ll take a beige pair and dark grey pair. He took 2 pair of convertible pants. but only one set of legs. He wore the legs in the evenings when we went for dinner or church.
• Socks and Rain Gear: As I mentioned above, we both have the same Darn Tough socks, RevelCloud Puffy jacket, Packtowl, and rain jackets.
•  1 He’s not taking rain pants. He walked in shorts even over the Hospitales. He’s a tough Alaska man. Don’t use him as a guide.
• 1 To protect his Irish skin from burning to a crisp. He liked his hat and wore it almost every day.
• 1 Pair of light weight nylon shorts: To sleep in and can be used for swimming when we move on to the touristy part of our trip after the trek. Worked fine.
• His half of the Bronner’s soap. I carry the medicines and he carries the blister and first aid supplies. (We sent his half to Santiago. It wasn’t needed. We used washing machines a lot)
• Since he’s a former Army Ranger he goes commando in the underwear area. Nothing left to say there…
• 1 It weighs 54 grams. He really wants to take a little camping stove to make me hot tea and soup along the way. Many long stretches on this Camino route that we can just sit on the grass and take in the view. How can I argue with that? The fuel canister will be purchased when we arrive in Oviedo at the local Decathlon store. We had plans to use this over the Hospitales to have a warm lunch. But it was too windy and rainy and there was no shelter. We did use it afterwards when we made dinner on the beach after our walk. I would convince him not to take this next time.

Billy’s packing list was perfect. Of course.

 

Leave your questions and comments for me in the comment section. I may have missed something that you are wondering about.