Boots or shoes is one of the main considerations. Boots provide more ankle support and are often waterproof. Shoes dry quicker and are lighter. I read a lot about shoes and boots...more than I wanted to know. In the end I opted for New Balance trail shoes which fit perfectly and give no discomfort at all. They are extremely light and will dry very quickly. But my choice means that some days I will get muddy feet.
The other big thing I learned about the gear is to take lightweight and quick-drying fabrics. That means no cotton. Once wet, cotton tends to stay wet, and draws heat away from the skin, leaving you with a cold damp feeling. Products made from Spandex, Lycra, polyester and similar fabrics are lightweight and offer beter insulation. The t-shirts I am taking have "wicking" properties which will hopefully make me feel dry. They will dry quickly which is important as most days I will be washing my clothes in a tub at the hostel and they need to dry by morning.
The formula for long-distance backpacking is the weight of the pack and all its contents should not exceed 10% of a person's body weight. My body is 212 lbs. and my pack and contents weight 15 lbs. so I did okay! Even FTSO (from the skin out) -- everything including pack, contents and all the clothes I will be wearing -- come to just less than my 10% of my body weight. So in theory anyway, I meet the guidelines.
Here's what I am bringing:
Let's see how many of these items I ditch along the way to save some weight! The only absolutely essential item is the last in this list.
- backpack (46L)
- sleeping bag ("tropical kind" with light sleeping bag on one half and sheet on the other half)
- silk sleeping bag liner (in case it is quite warm I will not use the other)
- pillowcase
- T-shirts (2), made of wicking material
- long-sleeved t-shirts (2), one wicking, one made from bamboo
- micro-fleece
- cargo pants (2) that zip off into shorts
- Underwear (3)
- Hiking socks (3) and sock liners (3)
- luxurious pair of kid mohair socks for resting in the evening (thanks Jose!)
- New Balance train shoes
- light-weight sandals for shower and/or evenings
- hat with wide brim
- bandana
- rain jacket and pants
- Altus rain poncho (picking this up in France)
- swim suit
- towel
- sunscreen, lipbalm
- toothbrush, toothpaste, floss, razor
- shower soap for body and clothes
- universal sink plug (for laundry, because often they are missing)
- bandages, alcohol swabs, blister pads, Vaselin, Voltaren, Ibuprofen
- bowl with lid
- folding spork
- Swiss army knife with corkscrew
- flashlight, whistle
- water bottles, including a collapsible one
- camera and charger
- mobile phone and charger
- Kobo booker reader and charger
- paper journal
- map book
- pen, sharpie, glue stick
- prescription meds for two months
- ear plugs (lots of them! thanks Pati) and sleep mask
- gum
- passport, pilgrim passport
- a little stone for the Cruz de Ferro (more on this later when I get there)
- a wee heart from my cousin Yvonne, for when I am discouraged
- open mind
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