So with no Camino this year, I am left to read up on the many Irish pilgrim routes and walking paths in Ireland. And there are many. With many of my favourite walking routes within reach from Monday, I have gone all out with a new day-pack, recommended by L over on Somewhereslowly.com. I had been looking for one for some time and the Alpkit Gnarl is just what I was looking for. At 15 litres, it holds enough space for a day’s walk and it has enough space for that water bottle. Now to sew that patch 🙂
With a date set for the Kerry Camino at the end of August, I won’t need a change of gear or a new equipment. The walking in Kerry is not what I am used to so I may change to a mid-ankle boot instead of a shoe for that trip.
With news that all albergues are disposing of blankets once they open, it got me thinking that my Sea to Summit liner just won’t do the job if I plan to keep staying in albergues next April. So I have reverted to my old friend, the sleeping bag..in this case, an Ayacucho Sirius 200. The last time I used one was 2016 when I walked the Camino to Finisterre. I left the bag in Santiago to save on weight returning home. Hopefully, 2022 I can use a liner again?
If you are thinking of walking one of the many Caminos de Santiago this year, now would be a good time to get your kit and bits and pieces in check. As Roy Keane once said “Fail to prepare, prepare to fail” and I would agree with him to a extent. Even I, after my many Caminos, am continuously looking to improve my kit.
Last week, Camino Society Ireland hosted it’s annual Information event in Dublin (You can read about it here). Lots of information was provided about the specific routes, the background, and the history of the Camino however there was good practical information provided on what to bring and what not to bring in your pack. What you bring is your own personal choice but the rule of thumb is you will be looking after your kit for the length of your Camino so try to keep it to a minimum.
So in this post, I am just going to go through my kit for my upcoming Kerry Camino in May and my Portuguese Camino in September and if you have any questions, please feel free to comment or email me at clearskiescamino@gmail.com.
Backpack – Lowe Alpine 35 litre Trail
I have used this for a number of Caminos. Lowe Alpine backpacks have served me well but that doesn’t mean that this will be the best fit for you. 35 litres is plenty of space for me and it gives me a rain cover. That said, there are many different brands out there – Osprey being the most popular. The right thing to do is to speak to someone in an outdoor store and get fitted. Never buy online!
Shoes – Salomon X Ultra GTX / Crocs Men’s Swiftwater River Sandal
Probably the second most important box to tick, in my opinion. We will get to the sandals in a second. I have walked with Salomon for 4 years now and love them. Some pilgrims like mid-ankle shoes, some pilgrims like sandals, some pilgrims prefer to walk with no shoes! Whatever your inclination, make sure you have a comfortable shoe before you go or else you will not enjoy yourself. Ensure that water doesn’t get into them or stones for that matter. The sandals are to wear after walking and to let your feet rest. You might not want to spend a whole lot of money on them. It might also be an idea to have waterproof sandals to bring into the shower.
I could count on one hand the number of days I have encountered rain during my 10 Caminos. It won’t stop me from bringing rain gear, however. Every time I enter Galicia, I have an irrational fear that the skies will burst open, even if the sun is out. But it is not only Galicia. You may also encounter rain, hail, or snow in April/May or Sept/October in most parts of Northern Spain. So it is worthwhile bringing along some kind of rain protection. Then we have the poncho v rain jacket debate…which I won’t get into. I wore a poncho in 2012 and the wind blew it off me. That was the end of that. The great thing about the rain jacket is you can wear it for everyday use during the year also.
Clothes
Craghoppers NosiLife Zip off Trousers – perfect when it gets warm or when it gets cold.
Craghoppers NosiLife Long-Sleeved Shirt
Colombia Short Sleeve T-shirt
RAB Micro Fleece – good to have a fleece to have an extra bit of protection in the morning or in the evenings.
2 pairs of Under Armour boxers & 2 pair of Bridgedale Sock – lightweight, quick dry – having 2 pairs means I will be washing each night.
Jack Wolfskin Baseball cap – to keep the rays from the head!
Water Bottle – Contigo 720ml bottle
There are tonnes of ways to carry your water on the Camino. You can buy your water in stores as you walk thereby helping the local economy, you could carry a platypus, there are many pilgrims carrying nothing but 500ml bottles and refilling them in the fuentes. Now, I am not saying any of these are the right way but be sure you have enough water with you at all times. For me, I carry the above bottle, and it just about works. On the French Way, there are plenty of fountains and places to refill and on the Portuguese Way, the same applies.
Sleeping Bag – Sea to Summit Silk Stretch Liner – Mummy
Again, when it comes to sleeping bags, there are so many options. Your choice of sleeping bag will depend on the time of year. If you are walking in the summer months, a liner will be fine, however if you are walking in the winter months, a sleeping bag might be needed. Don’t forget, some private albergues will provide blankets if it is cold, some at an extra cost.
Wash kit – Microfibre Travel Towel / All Purpose Soap
The towel is 130cm x 70cm and is really light and fast drying. You hang it on the end of your bunk when you are done in the shower and in a few hours it will be dry. I used to use Dr. Bronner’s soap but I found it really messy. So I changed to Lifeventure. This soap covers all the bases – hair, clothes, body and you can bring it on the plane.
Others – anything I have left out
Buff
Several safety pins for hanging laundry – you can even hang the safety pins on your back
Earplugs – for the albergue
Cream for feet – I was recommended Gehwol by a Podiatrist and I haven’t looked back since.
I carry a small over-the-shoulder bag which includes my credencial, passport, a small amount of money, debit card and phone.
In my backpack, I have a clear plastic pocket envelope which contains the important things – copy of a prescription, boarding pass, contact details if my phone is lost/stolen
I’m lucky my family appreciates that I enjoy wandering through Spain, Portugal and indeed Ireland with a backpack on my back. Santa (or my family, you decide) has been to the Smith household and he certainly is a pilgrim at heart. I have a number of walks planned for 2020 and these few gifts really hit the spot.
For preparation walks leading up to my Kerry Camino and my Portuguese Camino, I was surprised with an Osprey Daylite Plus pack. Not the first Osprey pack I own, this is the first Osprey 20 litre pack I own. I will still use my Lowe Alpine 35 litre for my Caminos, however this day pack is perfect for daily walks.
I was also surprised with replacement dry bags. These are essential if you are walking on a Camino, in my opinion. I was looking to buy these before I leave for Porto in September.
All in all, it was a good day with the family but I look forward to my first walk of the year. I hope you all had a good Christmas and were pleasantly surprised.
It is quite normal to change your packing list if you are one to return to the Camino frequently. There may be items that just don’t work for you or a better item might be available for sale. So I’m just going to post what I have scribbled down for my Camino in September. I weighed this at 7kg last week, the lightest pack I have brought so far. This is without water and snacks.
Pack – 33 litre Osprey pack
Wearing: North face microfleece 1/4 zip Craghopper shirt Craghopper trail trousers Bridgedale socks 1 under armour underwear Salomon trail shoes with superfeet insoles 1 baseball cap 1 buff Small over the shoulder bag containing the following: Phone and Earphones, Passport, Flight details, Debit card, Small amount of money, Camino Society Ireland Credential
Within the backpack: Vaude Backpack raincover Silk liner 1 pair of Sandals 700ml Water bottle – attached to pack with carabiner Small plastic folder containing: – Flight details – Prescription – E111 card
Top pocket of pack: Craghopper Kiwi Classic Jacket – Hooded rain/wind jacket (replacing the Helly Hansen Loke Jacket) Berghaus Rain trousers
Within a Compression sack: 1 pair of shorts Helly hansen t shirt Icebreaker coolmax t shirt 2 under armour underwear 2 pair of bridgedale socks
Within a dry sack: First aid kit (ibuprofen, motillium, etc – includes blister kit, germoline, small swiss knife with scissors)
Within a dry sack: Toiletry kit (Travel toothbrush/toothpaste, roll on deodorant, Lifeventure all purpose soap 100ml, disposable razor, hand sanitiser) Quick-drying REI packable towel Medication Wet wipes
Within a dry sack: Ear plugs 12 safety pins for drying clothes Phone charger / lead / Adapter Power bank for phone (Still debating whether to bring my action camera with strap attachment) Camino Shell (take out when I start walking) Spork
Just a quick post about the above. I’ve been eyeing it up for quite a while now, even before my recent Camino Finisterre. There are many different sites and forums that rave about it, because of it’s many pockets, because it is well-ventilated and because it is probably the lightest pack on the market. However, this particular rucksack is not sold in Ireland for some strange reason. So, for my recent trip to Spain, I stuck with my trusted and loved Lowe Alpine Airzone 35-45litre and left a change for another day. It’s a great bag “but” it’s a little too big for the Caminos that I usually take, which are 1-2 weeks.
The left is the Osprey Talon and the right is my current Lowe Alpine.
As mentioned before, my next outing in Spain will be along the Camino Ingles next May. However, before then, I have a good bit of testing to do when it comes in the post. This is the first time I have purchased a pack online without trying it out beforehand, but I can always send it back if it doesn’t suit. I think it’s safe to say that 2 packs will suffice now 🙂 Here’s hoping my Lowe Alpine doesn’t read this post!!
Hello, my name is David. I am a peregrino living in Dublin, Ireland. I have visited Spain and Portugal and walked its many roads to Santiago since 2011. On this site, you will find my stories, photos, and observations from my Caminos and my planning for future Caminos. Feel free to get in touchwith me here
Hello, my name is David. I am a peregrino living in Dublin, Ireland. I have visited Spain and Portugal and walked its many roads to Santiago since 2011. On this site, you will find my stories, photos, and observations from my Caminos and my planning for future Caminos. Feel free to get in touch