Camino #19: How Heavy are our Backpacks? (Frómista to Carrion de los Condes)

[@TomChase-yb7fg]

Lovely video. It’s nice to know that there are options for sending a bag to the next town. Although we generally carry our bags, we are getting older and it might be nice to give ourselves a break now and then. I’m surprised how often you guys get a private room and bath for such low prices. That’s nice to know. I’ve seen other videos where people say the cheaper options were full and they were forced to pay over $200 a night. Your experience doesn’t seem to indicate that at all. And, I think we travel more like you guys and these other people are simply not frugal travelers.

[@tendegreeswarmer]

That's why we wanted to share where we stayed and how little we booked ahead, because you hear so many different things. Time of year is definitely a factor, but the few times we paid close to $100 a night was in big cities where we were deliberately splurging, not because we couldn't find anything else. And even so they balanced out with the normal lower priced places. Plus there were always Albergue dorm beds that would have saved us a lot of money if we had wanted to more. We preferred to splurge on accommodation more than food/alcohol, and that decision was a good one for us.

[@jenniferjuniper9118]

After watching many Camino videos , it’s a bit off putting when sponsored / professional KZbinrs carry +400 € backpacks and really expensive gear … You were very gentle, genuine and honest about it , good job 👍 enjoying your duo-talk videos very much … whilst I’m packing for Monday 🎉🎉🎉

[@tendegreeswarmer]

Thank you for the kind comment! And Monday??? How exciting!! Buen Camino, I predict you are going to love every second of it, even the hard bits. It was all so much easier than we had anticipated, no need for expensive gear. And the best advice we got, was remember to turn around every so often. It is beautiful behind you too! 😀👍

[@ExploreTayo]

Thanks for the take on backpacks. Coincidentally, a chiropractor friend posted about back-to-school. His rule of thumb from a biomechanical perspective is 15% of body weight.

[@tendegreeswarmer]

Interesting! I think lighter is always better but it is good to know what you can handle.

[@ExploreTayo]

@@tendegreeswarmer that also assumes your back is relatively strong and healthy. So, yes, lighter is better.

[@J9KingTrav]

Where did you leave the rest of the gear (suitcases, etc) while you are walking the Camino?

[@tendegreeswarmer]

We sent the rest of our stuff ahead to Santiago from Saint Jean Pied de Port, using a company called Express Bouricott, which was 70 Euro per bag and was stored at a hotel in Santiago for as long as it took us to get there. We talk more about it in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/rpCphIaZbb6eqbc

[@nncadi1]

Sorry if this has been asked before…did you book ALL your accommodations prior to the walk.

[@tendegreeswarmer]

It is a good question. We only booked the first few days before we left, because that was what everyone said to do. Which was fine, but walking the Frances in June/July we didn't have to book ahead at all. We talk more about that in this video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/o5yUYWCgi7-hhrc