Some women (and some men) have discovered the joys of ditching the trousers and shorts and walking in a skirt, kilt or even dress. After my Best Ever Hiking Trousers developed a critical material fault (totally worn out) and no other trousers came close to being comfortable enough, I needed to rethink my hiking outfit. … More Walking in skirts and dresses
My post about camino sleeping bags always sees a lot of interest. When I started out, it was one of my main concerns – how to stay warm and comfortable in the night so I could get a good restorative rest and make the most of my days. So yes, I ordered, I returned, I … More Sleep system rethink
With one week to go before I head for Spain, I am doing the usual packing, unpacking, panicking and repacking, tweaking the contents of the pack and the toiletries and … and … and then I thought about all the other times I have packed and how the packing list always changes as you learn … More Stuff they don’t tell you
A camiga asked me if I had a packing list to share, and I kind of do, though they are getting a bit outdated. I realise that I mostly post un-packing lists these days, because I think it is more interesting to see, after the fact, what actually worked and not. This informs my next … More Updated packing list 2023
Now that my foot is still bruised and I haven’t been able to do all the training walks I wanted, I really have to think about the weight I am putting in my pack. I want to carry it, because it gives me freedom and flexibility and also because it works as a brace to … More Backpack weight loss hacks
The second best part of any camino is planning for it. But where do you even start? With a guidebook, is one answer, and I always recommend having a (decent and recent) guidebook available when planning. These days there are also lots of websites offering bits of information, and just deciding on which website to … More Top pilgrim tip: Planning websites
After the pressure blisters – or possibly before them – plantar fasciitis is my most common/feared/painful recurring issue/worry/problem on the trail. I first got it on my long camino Francés in 2012, towards the end of the 800 km walk. I was planning on going on to Finisterre, but after arriving in Santiago my heels … More Avoiding Plantar Fasciitis
There are many reasons why you might want to limit your drinking or avoid alcohol altogether while on the camino. For one thing, when you are spending your day walking through the heat and dust and relentless sun, alcoholic drinks are not your best friend – what you need is hydration, hydration, hydration. Obviously your … More Top pilgrim tip: Non-alcoholic drinks
I have always liked the idea of shampoo bars for portability as well as saving plastic bottles and truck miles, so I have kept an eye out for that perfect camino bar. I don’t have many strict criteria but I really like an invigorating blast of uplifting citrus, fruity or floral smell to mark the … More Shampoo bars tried and tested (and updated)
Last year I wrote a post about the perfect pilgrim present, and this year I thought I might expand on it. The perfect present never needs to be expensive, just thoughtful and fit for purpose, and in a pilgrim’s case – lightweight and practical. Buying the big 3 – pack, shoes, sleeping bag – can … More More perfect pilgrim Christmas presents
Somewhere Slowly 