Getting geared up for the Camino de Santiago can be expensive - especially if you're starting from scratch. After much trial and error, I've discovered some pretty good resources to help. Below I list the most helpful that I have found. ! REI There is almost too much to like about REI. Although they have … Continue reading Camino Gear Shopping Tips
So many Camino decisions relate to weather like when to go and what to bring. To pack light, you need to carry as little as possible, but you can't wear the same clothes all the time and no single set will work in all weather. Clothes too insulated in warm weather and you rick being … Continue reading Camino Weather
We all make mistakes, and I've made several on this Camino prepping adventure. One, however, I really feel bad about and want to rectify right now. Marmot Gear Over the years - and without meaning to - I've amassed a nice collection of Marmot hiking gear. The first "technical" rain jacket I ever bought - … Continue reading Marmot Assessment Correction
Well I finally did it. Ever since I discovered the Altra Lone Peak "Magic Shoes" I've been itching to test out the waterproof version of the model (the "RSM" - short for rain, snow, mud). This week (thanks to a free $100 REI gift card and their annual sale) I got my chance. Why So … Continue reading Magic Shoes 2.0 – Testing the Altra Lone Peak RSM
Although there is allegedly plenty of water available on the Camino (the Frances route anyway), there are stretches on the Primitivo where we won't want to go in relying on easily accessible water. Planning on a few hours of hydration carry each day is just smart. (Definitely a situation where the rule is, "Better to … Continue reading Tricking Out My Water Bottle
Today I got my first down jacket: the Tactical Distributors Down Range Jacket 2.1. The fact that I posted the news on this blog might prompt the more experienced hikers out there to wonder . . . Why Bring a Down Jacket on the Camino? Down "puffy" jackets are a very common layer for cold … Continue reading Down Jacket / Puffy Pillow
They say that you avoid mistakes by gaining wisdom and you gain wisdom by making mistakes. I've got a running report of Muh Dumb Mistakes I've made during my Camino planning journey. So to be fair, here are some of the better moves I've made. (Hopefully I will be adding more to this list and … Continue reading Muh Good Ideas
Blanket Statement After much deliberation I have decided to remove my down blanket from my sleeping system. It all started during my first gear packing test when I discovered that the second heaviest item in my kit was my blanket. Even though it was down-filled and not terribly big, it still weighed in at a … Continue reading Sleep System Redo
Protective and stylish! (Except stylish.) Introduction I don't tan well and cancer runs in my family, so I am not about to tempt fate with sunburns on the Camino. I also don't like using sunscreen - it's often messy, sweats into my eyes, absorbs into the bloodstream (but is totally safe, of course), and the … Continue reading Ultra Adventure Hat(s)
As noted earlier, I am sold on the Altra design strategy for hiking shoes. While doing some gear comparisons at REI, I discovered they had the Mid Top RSM (rain snow mud) version of my shoes available in my size. I decided to give them a go. Knowing that they'd be comfortable, I had only … Continue reading Altra’s Waterproof RSM Mids Tested
Backcountry Pilgrim 