Via Tolosana: The longwalker’s packing list

Longwalker’s packing list

I have been practice-packing for months. It can only mean one thing – my next longwalk in France is long overdue.  I’ve booked it and July approaches. In preparation I have reviewed my Via Tolosana longwalker’s packing list, and have come up with a list of items I’m happy with for today. It might change tomorrow, and my inclination always seems to be to add more, rather than subtract. The just-in-case syndrome.

I’ve read somewhere, that you can walk with only one spare change of clothes, and that all the small things, first aid kits etc and things you don’t absolutely use every day, can be bought if you need them. I agree with this for clothes, but for first aid, I think it is handy to have it with you. I attempt to keep my packing to what for me are (mostly) the bare essentials. Whilst this is a long list, many things don’t take up much room.

Ideally, you don’t want anything in your pack that you’re not using every day. But on the other hand, if you’re walking for 60 days, you may want to go out to dinner in a dress one night instead of your daggy walking clothes. So I compromise with finding the lightest/most compact version of anything I won’t use every day ie. an umbrella.

If you find you have to take everything out to re-pack every morning, it is actually a good thing, because it means you’re using everything in your pack.

Longwalking backpack and accessories

• Backpack – North Face Terra 30 litre (purchased in 2008) (Update 2022 Osprey 35 litre)
• Pack cover (came with the pack)
• St Jacques shell
• Walking sticks (I didn’t use these, however the going is easier with them – other people loaned me theirs to try out)
• Aluminium clips
• Plastic bags (or pack liner or large zip-lock bags – for the 2-3 days you may walk in heavy rain, plastic bags are plenty – especially if you have a pack cover – which I’d highly recommend)
• Waterproof bags (for technology/passport/phone) – Kathmandu
• Water bottles (Take a drink bottle plus buy 1.5 litre plastic one when you’re there)
• Swiss Army knife (make sure you pack it in the bag that gets put under the plane otherwise it will be confiscated)
• Money belt (It can come in handy on planes and trains and where you feel security is not great, but mostly I didn’t need it along the way)
• Compass (didn’t use it but it may be useful one day)
• Compact umbrella (IsoToner make tiny ones that weigh only 250g)

Although my pack is heavy (even without anything in it), I really like it for its compact design and comfort. All straps are adjustable, and there are great outside zipped and open pockets to store things for easy access.  I love the top ‘lid’ which was great for carrying the day’s quiche or flat peach and it has a zipped section inside, so I could keep my pocket-knife and small things like salt/pepper and the compass in case. You won’t walk using an umbrella, but I found when looking around towns at the end of a day of walking, it is very uncomfortable walking around in the rain – handy to have a tiny umbrella.

Shoes for a longwalk along the Via Tolosana

• Hiking boots – Salamon
• After hours light sandals (I couldn’t successfully walk on cobblestones in flip-flops) – Teva
• Flip-flops (for shower) – Havianas

Suitable clothes for a pilgrimage

• 1 waterproof jacket – Kathmandu
• 1 inner jacket shell/lightweight polo fleece – Kathmandu
• 2 t shirts – Bonds
• 2 long sleeve t-shirts – Bonds
• 2 pairs long pants/shorts (depending what you are comfortable in) – Kathmandu
• 3 bras
• 3 pairs underpants
• 2 pairs socks (thick Wool/synthetic blend hiking socks)
• 1 dress (light-weight and compact for evenings)
• 1 pair leggings
• Pyjamas
• Hat
• Lightweight shawl
• Bathers/swimmers/togs – whatever you call ’em. Yes there are some swimming pools.

Doing the washing and sleeping along the Via Tolosana – what do you need?

• Sleeping sheet
• Quick dry towel
• Stretchy clothes line
• 5 pegs
• Eye/sleep mask
• Ear plugs (if you need them)

If you stay mostly in pilgrim accommodation – gites or Chambre d’hotes, pillows and blankets are mostly provided, so I found carrying a sleeping bag was unnecessary, and it freed up a lot of space when I posted it home.

What paper do you need on a longwalk?

• Journal
• Morning pages (A4 notebooks if you’re a writer)
• Miam miam dodo (Food and Accommodation guide)
• Pencil case – small round-blade scissors, small glue stick, pens for journalling
• Purse
• Passport/plane ticket
• Pilgrim credential
• French phrasebook (if you’re still learning)

Encouraged by Alissa Duke and her gorgeous sketches, this time I’m going to try water-colour sketching – more to carry, but more memories!

Technology and electrical equipment on a pilgrimage

Some people take GPS technology like Garmin watches, but I find I like the old-fashioned paper version.

• Phone (and charger & extra battery)
• Electrical adapter

Toiletries/First Aid on a walking trip

The other area I don’t economise on is toiletries.  I like carrying lotions and potions in the smallest sizes available, because at the end of long day of walking, after I’ve showered, I like to have a little tube of peppermint foot balm at my disposal or some arnica creme to massage my legs. OK, I might only use the paw-paw ointment once or twice, but I’d rather have it than not. A little block of ‘friction block’ instead of lots of bandaids for feet is a must that was loaned to me by my friend Isabel. I only used it once, but it worked by stopping a blister coming, and I was so glad I had it.

• Soap (in a mesh bag you can peg to the washing line to dry overnight. Wash yourself and your clothes with it)
• Shampoo
• Toothbrush/paste
• Baume de St Bernard (muscle liniment)
• PawPaw ointment (these come in mini red containers)
• Jojoba (JoJoba make mini travel sized bottles)
• Aloe vera (mini version)
• Sunscreen (Avene make a cute-sized tube)
• First aid kit (small)
• Bandaid – or any other ‘friction block’ blister stopper – excellent (so much better than any sticking plasters and it really works, but difficult to find in Australia)
• Large safety pins
• Small amount of real wool – excellent for shoving between your toes to prevent blisters
• Salvital – a little container worth for hot days
• Tampons/pads – can’t quite bring myself to go on the pill just to walk, but it would certainly make it easier from a packing perspective
• Toilet paper – wind your own without the cardboard tube

What not to take on a via Tolosana longwalk

• Sleeping bag (I found I didn’t use it on the Via Tolosana – may yet be proved wrong this time)
• SLR camera (still deciding on this) and charger
• Heavy sandals – don’t take Keens unless you’re walking in them (they’re too heavy to carry for after hours wear)
• iPad (next time I won’t try to blog while on the trip)

Other useful notes for a wander along the Via Tolosana

Space for food

• Leave enough space in your backpack to pack the food you need each day. Sometimes you might have to stock up for over 24 hours worth on the Via Tolosana as there are not always epiceries/boulangeries in the smaller towns. Ask about the provisions of food in the towns ahead from Office de Tourisme/hostelliers you stay with.  Other pilgrims are a also a good source of info about this. Miam Miam Dodo is a good resource, but may not be up-to-date or accurate.

Use space on the outside of your pack

• Use large safety pins to dry your socks on the outside of your pack if they don’t dry overnight.
• Buy aluminium clips to clip drink bottles and other extras to the outside of your pack
• I carried two posters in a post-pack carton strapped on the outside of my pack for the last 6 days – not recommended, but it is possible for those must-have souvenirs.

Follow my next longwalk over at Instagram

After the rain

Pack cover

All the necessary – chocolate, coquille shell and Miam Miam Dodo guide

 

St Jacques coquille shell. Pin socks to pack if they don’t dry overnight. Drink bottle attached with clip

Beech walking stick, hat and post-pack tube with plastic bag

Swiss army knife

Rest break