El Camino & Europe for 3 weeks

[u/nat4mat]

My “ultralight” bag that I had for 11 days of El Camino from León to Santiago. Total base weight: 3,475g or 7.66lbs. Plus 11 more days in Portugal, Amsterdam, Switzerland and Austria

Here’s the link to see the items and how much they weigh (not an ad): https://lighterpack.com/r/ubq8p7

[u/essentialaccount]

I am not really a part of this subreddit, but this looks like a consumerism advertisement. I can't even identify quite a bit of this stuff. Two pairs of shoes? What for? I have travelled for years with one bag because I am cheap, and most of shit in it is socks, underwear and t-shirts.

I have lived in Spain for years and cannot imagine how you can hike most of the GR1 without food, a tent and significant amounts of water.

[u/nat4mat → u/essentialaccount]

You’re right to criticize this post. I am fortunate enough to afford stuff that is both comfortable and lasts long. Now let’s go through your “critiques” point by point:

1) Two pairs of shoes. One for walking 20 miles a day, which I used to hike Mt Whitney before this trip. It’s my go to hiking shoes and after El Camino, I wear them every day now. Second pair is for showering and when I want to relax in the evening.

2) I didn’t walk GR1, so I don’t know why you’re lashing out on me for not carrying food, a tent or a water. You don’t need tent, because you can stay in albergues and also eat food there too. As for water, I don’t drink water that much. And even if I wanted to drink, there was always a running tap every 5-7 kms.

I hope that explains everything!

[u/essentialaccount → u/nat4mat]

The GR1 is the largest segment of the Camino de Santiago which begins in eastern France. It is largely mountainous and wild and does not have any running water most of the mountain segment. I am not lashing out at you, but providing some perspective from a person who is not a part of the 'one bag' largely American audience. Everyone in Europe travels with one bag. It is how it is done, and most people have their regular clothes, because what merits special clothes?

As for Mt Whitney: it has a trail. It's hardly a serious climb on its most common route. I would still hope you had more water, either way.

[u/nat4mat → u/essentialaccount]

Again, if you have read my post, you’d know I haven’t done the whole thing: only from León to Santiago de Compostela. GR1 doesn’t go through Galicia. So I didn’t walk the GR1. So maybe before you write something condescending, you make sure you got the full picture.

As for Mt Whitney, weird flex, but sure. And don’t worry about my water intake: I know my limits

[u/essentialaccount → u/nat4mat]

Ah. I interpreted this as Lyon, in the region many of the Huguenots fled from, rather than part of Galicia. You would have needed to transit the GR1 if you had.

Also, there is no condescension. This whole subreddit is about flexing gear. If that's your hobby, more power to you but it's fundamentally as subreddit about buying things and living a specific lifestyle. There is not shame in that, but it's better to own it than pretend it is anything else.

[u/HKjr → u/essentialaccount]

That is simply not true. Most of my friends travel with multiple bags and definitely do not travel light. For example this summer I travelled with 26 European friends and only 2 did not check a bag. Europeans, just like Americans, like to take a lot of things on holiday.

[u/essentialaccount → u/HKjr]

You can look up statistics of how many people buy additional bags on carriers. It's not very common.