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My Lightweight Pack

I’ve never bought and returned so many items in my life. Trying on clothes, trying to find those perfect sandals, the best dress. The most lightweight shampoo and conditioner that doesn’t make me itch.
 

Luckily, I had a lot of backpacking supplies from when we trekked down to Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon and when I backpacked Europe in 2009. Oh! Forgot to mention that…we’re backpacking. It’s like a flashback to my 20’s. Why am I doing this again? 

;)

The name of the game is Ounces. I need all supplies that enter my backpack to be as light as possible but of the best material so that it can withstand being worn often. The Camino Powers that Be recommend carrying only 10% of your body weight and since water weighs 2.2 pounds per liter, I’m not left with much room to carry clothes and supplies. Plus we have to account for all weather possibilities: hot, cold, rain, potentially snow. And cold weather gear takes up so much space/weight. 

Truly, my main concern is the first two days when we’re hiking through the Pyrenees Mountains. Temps are supposed to drop to the 30’s and maybe rain/snow. Putting out the vibes: clear weather. 

Anyways, wanna see my packing list? I feel compelled to show you. Keep reading for the detailed list or view the excel sheet below. 

Pack

I’m bringing my Osprey Tempest 30 (2.62 lbs).
 
Add in the 3L water bladder (0
.412) and the rain cover (0.198) and I’m already at 20% of my suggested weight. Yikes. 


Footwear - Most vital

Boots (1.312): LOVE LA Sportiva hiking boots. Apparently, they’re a rock climbing company so their hiking shoes have excellent grip. No wonder I love them when I climb over rocks. I had to buy new ones because my old pair was beyond overused. Chose their trail runner version because it’s so light. Still waterproof, heavy duty, and the awesome grip. Went 1 size larger than my regular shoes because apparently LA Sportiva sizing is different than other hiking shoes plus the 1/2 size for swelling  

So, the first few hikes mentioned in the previous post were getting used to the boots to see if any hot spots crept up. Also, playing with socks. Decided a liner with a pair of wool socks will be the best way for my feet to survive. Fingers crossed!

Sandals (0.972): Ugh Sandals. I’m still not feeling happy about this choice. I bought and walked in Chacos and Tevas, random brand names. Nothing felt good. I ended up with a Chaco pair - similar to their basic. I worked in it yesterday so 930AM-5PM when I had to switch to the tennis shoes I brought because my feet were crazy hurting. Lesson learned: no hiking in my sandals - but will hopefully be good for the shower, evening, or the occasional feet breathing moments. (Foreshadowing: these shoes get dropped or shipped to the end at some point). 


Clothing

There’s a huge debate over rain jackets or ponchos. I’ve never been a fan of a poncho, so grabbed the waterproof outside portion from my winter jacket (1.153).

Fleece (0.877): happy news! I bought a Kuhl fleece jacket at REI about 10 yeas ago. Loved it so much. Wore it on all my trips. So, had the thought to find another similar and found a beautiful maroon/red one for half off! It’s not water proof but should keep me warm. 

Short Sleeve Shirts (0.492): bought this Columbia Shirt from Amazon. Word of caution: if you buy the orange, it’s vibrant orange, not faded orange as it appears in the photo. But no complaints from me - you’ll always be able to find me. :) 

I researched shirts for antimicrobial and the Lululemon Swiftly Tech Short Sleeve Tee kept popping up. So found it on Poshmark in a blue marble. 💪🏻

Long sleeve (0.278): I grabbed the light maroon Patagonia top I wore when I backpacked Europe in 2009. It’s comfortable and quality. Not quite sure if it’s “worn down” but temps are supposed to be 40’s-60’s. Should be fine. 

Dress (0.628): a dress or skirt seems to be required for the evenings, after showering/hiking all day. Or just for the times you want to be a little dressed up. Could even sleep in it. Found this prAna dress and it seems perfect for what I need.  It’s 93% recycled material, which is cool. Also, bought it for 65% off. Woot Woot. I liked this one because it will ideally keep me warm in the evenings and cool during the day. 

Pants (0.745745 + 0.463): 

I have hiking pants that zip off but they are tan in color and I didn’t want to bring anything that was black, white, or a version of brown. Color was the name of my game. 

I typically hike in leggings, but wanted hiking pants for their lightweight feel and quick drying capabilities. So, I tried these on from REI and it felt so comfortable, I bought them. We’ll see if that love stays strong after wearing for 2 months.

The leggings were more difficult for me to find because I had to consider the 40 degree evenings and if we’re lounging about. When traveling to Iceland in 2019, I made a quick stop into REI before my flight and found a pair of Kyodan pants that had a thin fleece liner. Those are exactly what I imagined for this trip - a little added warmth but not overwhelming. So, I googled and bought two pairs online (they were having a 50% off sale!). 

The Run Herringone Jacquard Warm Leggings are the ones I’m taking with me. 

Underwear (0.225): grabbed the two hiking boy shorts I used for the European backpacking trip plus two current ones. 

Socks (0.318): I bought new hiking socks. Mine are quality but worn and stretched out. I wanted new, especially if I have to wear them for 50 days in a row. Also, not able to hike with a thin sock or liner only. So, I bought the full cushion for my hiking socks and will add a running sock or thin liner beneath. 


Protective wear

I brought kira’s beanie (0.093), thin gloves (0.0861) for the early mornings, as well as sunglasses (0.064)


Toiletries

This one was fun to narrow down: what do I absolutely need for 30 days that I’ll use on the daily? What can I leave at home? 

All those face creams, night washes, make up and smelly things - leaving at home. 

Bare necessities. 

Shampoo/conditioner bars (0.218)- these were a nice find and I love how they make my hair look and feel. Cut them in half because they’re supposed to last 3-4 months. Time will tell! 

Quick drying towel (0.198): I used this brand during the Europe trip and it dries so fast. Bought a bigger towel for this trip though, since I’m not sure how the shower/changing area is set up. Need to cover all the goods. ;) 

Laundry detergent sheets (0.022): Brought a few cut up sheets as there are washers in the hostels for a price or we can wash it at wash stations. Used it on a few loads at home - seemed to do the trick.  

Clothesline + S Hooks (0.1339): A fun item that was recommended by a few people that I ended up buying. It’s 11.5 feet! The S hook is to hang my pack from the bed.

Toiletry Bag (0.004): bought a cheap zippered bag with handles from the dollar store. Not sure how long it will last but that’s a problem for tomorrow. Handles to hang from the hooks in the shower stalls. 

Foldable toothbrush (0.042): 

Toothpaste (0.203)

Deodorant (0.198)

Face moisturizer (SPF) (0.172)

Light Comb (0.033)

Hair clip (0.029)

Hair brush & ties (6) (0.011)

Razor (0.013)

SPF lip balm (0.018)

Hand lotion (0.143)

Muscle relief oil blend (0.095)

Magnesium spray (0.187)

Massage golf ball (0.018)

First aid kit (0.185)blister patches, KT tape, safety pins

I brought my pStyle (0.101) (standing pee device) because I love it so much and it’s uber easy to use while fully clothed. 

Added the pee rag (0.031) because I feel like it completes the process. I bought mine from https://kulacloth.com but there’s a bunch on Amazon as well. 


Tech

Foldable keyboard (0.346): this is my favorite item that I’m bringing. I’ll hopefully find time to write. It says it has 40 hours of continuous battery life or 180 days of standby time. How cool. And it’s so cute  

Euro adapter (0.165): of course. A requirement for the electronics. They recommended a longer cord for inside the albergues so I bought this one that is fast charging. I’m sure there are lighter ones but this was one of my last minute purchases. 

Tech Bag (0.004)

Phone (0.668)

Phone charger (0.178)

AirPods (0.123)

Keyboard (0.346)

Apple AirTag (0.026): placed in the bottom of my pack…just in case

Headlamp (0.139): for if we decide to do any morning hikes or have to keep going to further village to find a bed. 


Misc

Sleeping bag liner (0.571): Donna let me borrow her Sea to Summit liner. Most of the Albergues have bedding and blankets, but they recommend everyone have a liner or thin sleeping bag. I’m not sure if that means they don’t wash the sheets? Or maybe just not that often. I’ve chosen to not think about it.

Rock (0.121): Apparently, we’re supposed to bring a rock from home to leave halfway through our journey. So, I grabbed the heart shaped one I had on my altar that was given to me by one of the ladies on our Guadalupe hike. 

Money belt (0.13)The common dilemma of a backpacker: money belt or fanny pack. Went with a money belt, to hide everything under my clothes. Seemed to do the trick last time. We’ll see how it goes. Plus, I like that it has the RFID blocking as well as a warranty you can sign up for that they’ll reimburse you $200 if your belt gets stolen. Lastly, it’s uber soft on the inside, where it rests against your body. Fingers crossed it doesn’t get annoying.

Packing cubes (0.212 for 4): you want to know how to live out of a backpack and not drive yourself crazy? Packing cubes. Life saver.. Tops/dress in one. Socks, underwear, bra, extra pants in one. Tech in another. Toiletries in a 4th. Eventually moved my “healing” supplies to a 5th bag that I brought that weighs .001 lbs. 

So there you have it: my gear and supplies that I’ll carry with me for 30+ days. I have no idea what I’ll use the most, the least, what I’ll regret taking or if I’ll need anything I decided to leave at home. 

That’s half the fun though, right? Living and adjusting based on the current information. Plus, there are stores in Europe  ;) 

Wish me luck! 

SFK 





 

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