Gear to buy

I recently finished my second Camino (Ingles) and thought I'd recommend the star items in my pack.

1) Senchi half zip Polartec fleece, $110 US, size medium only 4.3oz/121gr!! This was perfect under my lightweight merino jacket for when we stopped for coffee or lunch and for the end of the day when it was chilly. I find I am freezing cold after I stop walking and this pullover was a perfect layer that warmed me up quickly and weighed nothing. They aren't cheap, and there are similar brands of fleece that all look like they are useless as they appear to be all loose weaves and open holes, but they work. I am so happy I had bought this last spring in prep for this trip!

2)Decathalon Hiking Poncho $35 CD, size medium 12oz/340g. Not the lightest poncho. but fit over my backpack and has full sleeves with an elastic cuff and a 1/4 zip front. Easy to get into on the go and put on over my pack. Kept me dry which was important as it rained every damned day! I know the Altus is the gold standard, but it's hard to get them shipped to North America and they are very expensive, this one is dirt cheap.

3)Icebreaker merino wool womens underwear, $35CD size medium 1.14oz/32gr. Love these. I bought them for my first Camino ((Frances) 2 years ago and will always bring them for future walks. Super light, comfy, no side seams, and most importantly: DRIES QUICKLY! My sister went against my advice and brought very thin cotton underwear. Those fuckers took 24-36 hours to dry if we didn't have a sunbeam. a breeze or a hot radiator. For the love all that is holy do not bring cotton! lol Merino underwear and of course socks are the way to go!

4)Icebreaker merino glove liners. $40CD 1oz/30gr these will not save your life in a blizzard, but on chilly mornings or cold rain they do keep your fingers and hands warm. Love them. These were bought 2 years ago as well, and do get relatively frequent use when out walking in spring and autumn.

5)Packing cube! I bought mine on Amazon for $25CD for a set of 3, I brought one on Camino. 3oz/85gr heavier than my tube shaped stuff sacks, but easier to find my clothes. It's nice to be able unzip the cube and be able to see my t-shirts, pants, socks and underwear without having to dump out the bag in search of something. Compressed down to nothing and fit nicely in my pack.