{"id":1048,"date":"2021-04-11T13:28:07","date_gmt":"2021-04-11T18:28:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/santiagoinlove.com\/en\/?p=1048"},"modified":"2021-04-12T09:29:18","modified_gmt":"2021-04-12T14:29:18","slug":"3-bad-advice-3-better-ones-instead","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/santiagoinlove.com\/en\/3-bad-advice-3-better-ones-instead\/","title":{"rendered":"3 bad advice to really ignore (and 3 better ones instead)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Preparing for the Camino is an adventure in itself!<\/strong> It’s difficult to know what to do and how to equip yourself, especially when you are new to all of it\u2026 Thankfully, the pilgrim community is there<\/strong>, always ready to offer a helping hand<\/strong>. It’s a real blessing! But be careful, even if intentions are good, there are sometimes bad advice going around<\/strong>\u2026 The ones I discuss here are unfortunately so prevalent you can get them everywhere!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In this post, a quick tour of advice to ignore at all costs\u2026 and stop sharing<\/strong>. And alternatives that will be working for everyone<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Camino
Even shared with the best intentions, some advice pilgrims give each other are actually… bad advice. Be careful and be able to spot them!
Photo: Marion, Santiago in Love, CC BY-SA-NC<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n
<\/div>\n\n\n\n

1. “A 30L backpack is waaaaay enough”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Variation<\/strong>: “Take a 35L, it will be enough” or “If you camp, you need a 60L, at least”. Comes in all volumes: 30L, 35L, 40L, and so on<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Camino
Left: DIY extension to add gears on the outside, the bag is too small!
Right: not full at all and collapsing on itself, the bag is too big!
Photos: left Marion, Santiago in Love, CC BY-NC-SA and right Istockphoto.com<\/em> <\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why is this bad advice?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Let’s say it right away: yes, it happens that a 30L backpack is ok. Or a 60L for camping. But if “it happens”, it doesn’t make it good advice, it makes it a fluke<\/strong>! <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Even if they are meaning well, many pilgrim-advisors\u2026 don’t actually give a piece of advice. They’re sharing their experience<\/strong>, telling you what worked for them.
It’s very nice, but far from useful in a practical way: who says that what worked for this pilgrim will work for you? You will probably find yourself in this situation, so be careful and differentiate between personal experiences and real advice!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A fitting backpack is essential for your pilgrimage to go well<\/strong>. Not only for a simple question of volume management! Whether too big or too small, picking the wrong volume creates difficulties to pack your gears and to carry your backpack efficiently and comfortably<\/strong>.
If you get a (X) liters pack and your stuff don’t fit in, it’s an obvious problem. You’re left with gears you can’t place inside your backpack…
If you get a (X) liters pack you can’t really fill up, it’s a problem as well. When a backpack is too big, the extra space makes it hard to pack the content efficiently and in a comfortable way. Things tends to move around more, creating lumps and shifts in weight. It can also be harder to position, strap and carry correctly and comfortably.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s possible to give a rough estimate of the backpack capacity<\/strong> someone may need, based on that person’s preferences (albergue or camping, restaurant or cooking) and on what most pilgrims carry in the same situation. But this estimate is not really reliable<\/strong> and here are 2 reasons why:
\ud83e\uddd0 First, because when this estimate comes from fellow pilgrims, it’s based on perceptions, not hard evidence<\/strong>. Walking the Camino obviously gives everyone a lot of opportunities to see and compare a variety of different backpacks. However, it still doesn’t give pilgrims a trustworthy insight on their volumes! There’s a real gap<\/strong> between what pilgrims think <\/em>is the common\/average backpack size on the Camino and what it actually is<\/em>.
Indeed, many people seem to consider this average to be ~30-35 liters, while it’s in fact ~40-50 liters! (For a pilgrimage on foot and sleeping in albergues; what most pilgrims have<\/em> AND what really fits<\/em>. The too many 30L-packs with half of the stuff hanging outside because they don’t fit in\u2026 don’t count!)
\ud83e\uddd0 Second: what guarantees that any estimate or averages apply to you?<\/strong> A backpack is such an important piece of your equipment, it should really be selected based on your personal needs, not on generalities!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

(Edit) Let me take a small break here to write an important note on stuff hanging outside of pilgrim’s backpacks<\/span>…. I got lots of feedback from people defending it!
In this post, I’m actually not<\/em> talking about the “convenient hangings”<\/strong> that are done by choice. Everyone<\/strong> (myself included) hangs things outside of their bags, and it’s a very useful practice!<\/strong> For example, a rain jacket to have close-by because it may rain, some wet laundry left outside to dry, dirty shoes that are obviously better out than in, a bulky mattress that would never fit inside the pack, and so on!
No… Here, I’m talking about “hangings” that are not a choice<\/strong>. It happens when a ill-fitted backpack forces pilgrims to attach “leftover gears” on the outside of their pack because there’s no more room inside… It may seem unreal, but there are actually A LOT of pilgrims in this situation!<\/strong>
It’s really better to have a backpack that really fits and then hang things outside if you <\/em>want it \ud83d\ude42 <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Back on tracks… We were discussing generalities!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By definition, generalities don’t take individual<\/strong>s into account<\/strong>. So, estimates don’t always work<\/strong> when we want to use them to make personal choices and decisions.
For example, pilgrims often think that sleeping in albergues = small volume backpack<\/strong>. It can be true! But a pilgrim who sleeps in albergues may just as well need a 45 liters pack. Because it’s the best s-he could do to reduce his gears or because her-his sleeping bag and\/or fleece (or else) are bulky. Or because her-his morphology makes a bigger pack more comfortable to carry, or for any other reason!
On the other hand, pilgrims often think that sleeping outside = big volume backpack<\/strong>. Once again, it can be true! But a pilgrim who sleeps outside can be 100% equipped and fit everything in a 35L pack. It may be more tricky than for pilgrims who sleep in albergues but it possible! And it’s becoming more and more common with the rise and spread of the lightweight hiking philosophy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

To sum it all up\u2026 It’s impossible<\/span><\/strong> for anyone to give a good advice on the ideal size of your backpack without knowing about your project and the actual gears you will use. The volume of a backpack in liters depends on many parameters<\/strong>. Like the season, the type of accommodation, the volume of the things carried or even the person’s morphology! It’s such a personal and important item, please chose it with care and thinking of your needs first!<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

What’s best instead?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Buy your bag last, after<\/em><\/span> you have gathered the rest of your stuff<\/strong>. Strange? Maybe, but if you only remember one thing, remember this!
The excitement of the upcoming departure and preparations makes you want to buy your bag right away\u2026 Understandable. However, you will really benefit from waiting!<\/strong> Once you know what you’re going to take with you, the question your backpack’s size will almost solve itself, because you will have a precise idea of the volume<\/strong> you need!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

It’s only logical<\/strong>\u2026 If you rent a storage unit, you do so after you’ve estimated the volume of your stuff as best as possible. Otherwise, you’ll either end up with stuff on your hands, or you’ll be paying for empty space. Same goes for your bag<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you’ve gathered your gears, use one or more of the following techniques to get an idea of their volume\u2026 and of your future backpack:
Be careful, don’t forget to include water and food!
\ud83e\udd13 The garbage bag trick<\/strong>: fill one with all your stuff and check its size. Is it a 30L? A 40L? A 50L? Bingo, so easy! It also works with a travel bag or a suitcase whose volume you already know
\ud83e\udd13 The friends trick<\/strong>: borrow hiking backpacks around you to test them with all your stuff. Again, works with travel bag or a suitcase whose volume you already know
\ud83e\udd13 The store trick<\/strong>: go to the store with your stuff and try out various backpacks. This is recommended anyway to test different packs “in real life”.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Once you know the volume of your equipment, have it in mind as a reference<\/strong>. Don’t take anything smaller, but accept a small margin of difference<\/strong> to choose your actual backpack.
A volume a little bigger than just the one of your stuff will allow you to pack everything comfortably. You will also be able to add unexpected items more easily. Like fruits received or plundered in an orchard, extra water or that sleeping bag you had to buy on the way because you didn’t think of it before (yes, it’s common!)\u2026 \ud83d\ude09
Flexibility is especially true as you need<\/span> to take other criteria into account<\/strong> when you choose your backpack. The most important of all: your backpack’s size in height, relative to you’re back’s length. This one is more important that your pack’s volume!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here you are! Ready to find the perfect backpack’s volume\u2026 that fits your particular needs<\/strong>!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

<\/div>\n\n\n\n

2. “Your bag must be a maximum of 10% of your body weight”.<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Variation<\/strong>: “8kg? But you’re 70kg, so that’s way too heavy! “or “Your bag should be no more than 15% of your weight” or 20%, depending on the source\u2026<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n

\"Camino
The lighter the better!<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n

Why is this bad advice?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Several explanations! I’ve already detailed them in this article I dedicated to this (in)famous “10% rule”<\/a>. Here they are again, in a few points:<\/p>\n\n\n\n