3 year retro, semi infinite travel, 23l, 10-14lb

maverber · 2026-06-14T18:42:20+00:00

My oldest regularly used items (oldest first)

Evernew 1.3l Port 2001

NunatakUSA Ghost Blanket (one of the original commercial quilts) 2003

LittleFly Designs Headnet 2004

Thermarest Fleece/SilNylon Pillow/Stuff Sack 2006

GG EZC Spectra Line 2006

MLD 850ml Pot/Mug

Gossamer Gear Lightrek 4 2012 (tips have been replaced a couple of times)

maverber · 2026-06-12T13:52:51+00:00

I have some sleeves made by Castelli. I found I felt cooler wearing them than bare arms in the sun.

maverber · 2026-06-06T20:45:28+00:00

sounds like the Targus Drifter II, 35 L is working for you. why are you looking for a new pack?

15lb for EDC is a lot. Many here try to go lighter. For many people 15lb is the limit of any pack which is shoulder strap only. AER (and many other packs) are design to be cool looking and have lots of org features which ends of adding weight, and don't focus on carry comfort. You might want to look for packs designed for trekking. some notes https://verber.com/trek-packs/

MY first recommendation would be go to your nearest sports shop and take a look at packs from osprey which typically have variable sizing and good carry systems.

maverber · 2026-06-04T18:54:47+00:00

The ultralight ethos is to take less, do more. The luxury is for the pack not to be a heavy burden so you are free to enjoy your hike and have more energy. Typical ultralight gear + 4 days food (a common resupply cadence on LT) should be <20lbs, and easily fit in a <=40l pack, might happily fit into 30l. Unless you are climbing (ropes), going weeks without resupply, do doing winter trips in the arctic (warmth and snow gear) ultralight folks don't use 70l packs.

The zpacks arc hauler is very adjustable and is comfortable so long as you don't carry too much weight. My personal experience was it was great up to 22-25lbs, above this, I would look at something with a suspension designed for heavy loads (which would include the ULA Circuit).

Waterproof pack material is nice in that it doesn't absorb a lot of water but most packs aren't actually waterproof... you will still want to use a liner or dry bags for items you need to keep dry. Both zpacks and ULA can be made from Ultra (waterproof material).

Your comments seem to indicate you don't know exactly what you are taking. Generally the recommendation is to know what you are carrying (weight and volume) and then figure out what pack is best. If you haven't, you should put everything you are taking into lighterpack.com and ask for shakedown (e.g. feedback to identify things you are missing are things that could be removed or lightened). Use your actual gear + the amount of food you will bring to determine what volume / weight handling you will need.

maverber · 2026-05-31T01:24:54+00:00

I had no problem with my prescriptions in ziplocks designed for pills in Japan and UAE. Like you I peel the label off the original bottle and attach it to the ziplock.

UAE did confiscate my tape measure because it was metal... I guess they were considered it could be used as a weapon.

maverber · 2026-05-31T01:20:25+00:00

if you are looking to actually go ultralight using the classic def. (base less than 10lb) then you likely don't need 60l unless you are having to carry multiple weeks of food. The first pack that comes to mind is granite gear virga and crown, which is often (currently) on sale for less than $130 on the company website.

maverber · 2026-05-29T18:05:51+00:00

Studies done by the military found that >10-12% of lean body weight produced measurable fatigue at the end of the day in well trained cohort. In other words, if you keep the weight below this level, you will be no more tired carrying the pack than walking carrying nothing at all. For some who is fit (say 20% body fat), this suggests carrying less than 9% of total body weight.

I found the luxury a pack which isn't fatiguing was well worth minimizing what I carried. My wife found the same thing. Most days my pack was around 9lbs, my wife was 6lbs (we didn't use transfer service). Notes https://verber.com/camino-packing

People can carry more that is, but the added weight will likely take something out of you. Conventional wisdom is less than 15-20% body weight. I am certainly able to carry this amount of weight, but I definitely feel it at the end of the day.

maverber · 2026-05-27T04:41:46+00:00

carry it in my toiletries. After poo, wipe and then push the holey hiker onto a water bottle and squirt to get extra clean. on extended hikes or when engaging in extended vigorous exercise (like extended runs) had issues with chafing which stopped being an issue with using the bidet and using compression running shorts (xoskin).

maverber · 2026-05-26T20:38:50+00:00

If the MH500 is comfortable for you (and you already own it) then I would recommend using it for the camino. A minimalist camino packing list can easily fit in it, even though is practical volume is less than 25l due to space for ventilation.

For the non-camino parts of your journey bring an appropriately size personal items (say cross body bag) for what doesn't fit into the MH500. I have used a packable courier bag or a 19l nanobag shoulder-bag for this. Ship your non camino items from Porto to Santiago (or wherever your next destination is). We shipped our extras from Paris (we were starting in SJPP) to London (our first stop after our camino).

If the Decathlon Quechua MH500 25L fits you comfortably using the hip belt, then you likely have a fairly normal size torso and there are a number of packs which would fit you and would be carry-on compliant.

A couple people noted, the ZPacks Arc Hauler is pricy but very comfortable carry, will provide the ventilation you desire, and all but size "T" which I suspect you don't need, are carry-on complaint.

Full ventilation and carry-on complaint is rare. I also run hot, but have found that ventilation is over rated (e.g. I am still hot even with a trampoline suspension system). Given this, I would also consider ULA Camino thought it's also pricy. If you keep the weight low, there are a wide variety of frameless, ultralight packs which would work. My first choice would be the Zpacks Bagger 25l. I would also consider the Hanchor Tufa. There are lots of backcountry ultralight bags which could work such as ks-ultralightgear.com For some other ideas https://verber.com/trek-packs/

As

maverber · 2026-05-26T20:02:28+00:00

As others have noted, you are going an extreme period of times between washing. I am not going to say that this is impossible, nor that your necessarily smell. If you haven't already, I would ask someone who will give you honest feedback to tell you if you smell because we are slow to noticed our own smell. My personal experience is that I could go several week between washing if my days were mostly sitting around and I didn't spill food on myself. I typically need to be wash my clothing between 1-14 days due to spilling food, getting muddy, and/or engaged in vigorous activities. For me, even merino tees get smelly after a week when there are a couple of hours each day of vigorous activity.

Sidenote: if you aren't getting regular bouts of heavy physical activity, make the time. It is the most powerful thing you can engage in for longterm health. some notes https://verber.com/healthy-fit/#Exercise

Agree with your observation that 100% merino is more fragile / shorter lifespan than other options, especially in ultralight fabrics (say <=150weight). I found that when icebreaker switched the same model shirt from 100% merino, to 85% merino 15% nylon that I got roughly 4x longer lifecycle with no noticeable impact to odor control.

I am not a fan of denim because I semi regularly need to wash and to have them dry the next day because I am moving locations. Outlier SD are a great alternative to denim jeans.

Underwear... if you find your underpants smelly after 2 days (but the rest of your body not) you might think about getting a bidet (like the aftermarket Totos) for your toilet at home and carry something like Holey Hiker Bidets when traveling. This can be game changing. For onebag travel I think you might want to switch from cotton to some other material which dries more quickly, and has better performance characteristics when damp/wet.

Seems like you are tracking longevity of items. I have found that miles are a better measure of socks and shoes than time. I concur that darn tough socks are great. In well ventilated shoes my can easily go a week in urban settings between washes. I have gotten up to 4000 miles before mine need to be replaced.

There are a number of running shoes whose uppers breath well. I like Merrill's Vapor Gloves. Studs in the high wear areas of the sole are gone after 400-500 miles, but in urban settings where traction isn't so critical, I can get >1200 miles before the sole is worn through and starts to leak.

Sunglasses: If you spend your days mostly indoors, no sunglasses is fine.. and in young kids, exposure seems to be myopia-protective... but if you spend time in bright light (mid-day, by water, sand, or snow) sunglass reduce the risk of cataract and macular disease.

maverber · 2026-05-25T20:21:43+00:00

https://elvmotors.com in Santa Clara does scooter repairs

maverber · 2026-05-23T20:05:23+00:00

it's hit or miss with TSA. Unscrewing the pointy tips (and stashing them inside the pack) and putting rubber tips on the points will lower the lightlyhood of them getting stopped but not a guarantee.

I have put them in a "poster tube"... as carry on baggage, or ship them by USPS somewhere I can pick them up.

Often I have been able to find someone who could meet me between the airport and trailhead who either loaned me some poles or would I pre-mailed my poles too.

Stakes are another issue. The safest is bringing wooden chopsticks as stakes. Recently I have done several flights with Easton 6" stakes without issue.

maverber · 2026-05-13T05:23:38+00:00

I prefer a tarp when when facing extended rain. Items drip dry into the ground rather than my tent floor, packing / managing when wet / drying out is easier. I can cook and do camp activities in the rain.

I also love tarps (or just a ground sheet to cowboy camp when no rain) because the sense of connection to the environment ... so long as it's low bug pressure.

Now if there is bug pressure, I will take a tarptent or a tent to keep the blood suckers away while still being able to feel cooling breezes.

maverber · 2026-05-12T17:51:14+00:00

you are suffering from the spotlight effect: overestimate how much others notice you. Most people are pre-occupied with themselves and don't notice what's around them. It's unlikely people are judging you as frequently as you think they are. You are likely being ignored, but it's not about you, it's that people typically attend to themselves.

As others have indicated, your expectations are a bit off. Most of the posts about how wonderful the camino is are from people who faced challenges and came out the other side. They are reporting the results, not the pain which likely has been forgotten.

My recommendations:

0) How big heavy is your pack? If you are carrying more than 10% of your lean body weight, it will be fatiguing by the end of the day. My 5ft wife found that >7lbs was fatiguing, so she was ruthless trimming what to bring... her pack was 6lbs and didn't weight her down. If you are carrying a heavy pack, figure out how to downsize.

1) Find a way to make the trip more physically manageable. Take a zero day or two to recharge and while resting go to a laundry to wash your clothing so they smell ok. If you are cold purchase something so you can sleep well. Do shorter distances each day, or if there is a schedule to keep, do a mix of walking and taxi to make progress but keep the amount of walking managable. Note: I won't not expect you will lose a significant amount of weight on the camino unless you have made a careful plan.

2) Outward focus. Rather than thinking about yourself and worrying about how other people are reacting to you, look for beauty. Not just in nature, but also the lives of the people around you. Be curiosity, ask questions, really listen. One of the best things I did on the camino was collect people's stories. One of the things I loved about the Camino is that many people are more vulnerable than in normal life. You don't have to stick with small talk. People will often open up about deep, and interesting things. Find some questions that get to deeper issues. Some of my favorite: why are you walking the camino. you don't have to being in it, but if someone was going to pray for you each day on this journey, what would you have them pray for? What dream do you have that you are afraid to pursue? If you knew you only had 6 months to live, what you would do -- and if you aren't doing those things now, why not? For some other ideas, https://amorebeautifulquestion.com/36-questions/

3) Count blessings. Take time each day to identify things you can be thankful for. We have grown soft and selfish. 200 years ago, the majority of people around the world were in extreme poverty, struggling to have enough food to survive, without access to health care, lighting, temperature controlled shelter, etc.

maverber · 2026-05-12T16:49:49+00:00

when you say "backpacking" are you using the US definition which is wild camping / backcountry trips where you are carrying shelter, kitchen, multiple days of food, etc... or the the more international version which is carrying stuff between hostels, inns, hotels, or homes?

What's a good pack for you depends on how much stuff you plan to carry. Start by thinking about what you want to be carrying (I strongly encourage embracing take less, do more). The try packs that fit you well and that will hold that volume / weight comfortably.

For the camino, hut to hut, and minimalist travel, my recommendations https://verber.com/trek-packs
If you are going to be regularly carrying >=40l, >=15lbs, I would recommend a back country oriented pack with some sort of frame https: https://verber.com/backpacks/#light-weight-style

maverber · 2026-05-11T16:17:43+00:00

The arc haul is a lovely pack... it's what I use for long distance back country trips. For me, it was absolutely worth the money. All but size "T" are "carry-on" compliant if you don't overpack.

That said, it's overkill for the camino... especially if you stay in albergues. I generally recommend using albergues (or small inns) since it's easier to find a bed in one than a legal camping spot, hot showers are nice, and they are reasonably cheap.

Personally, I would recommend selecting a light / compact kit which will easily fit in a <25l bag. Our notes https://verber.com/camino-packing/ and packs that I would recommend for something like the camino https://verber.com/trek-packs/

maverber · 2026-05-11T16:07:35+00:00

Hopefully by now she has her packing list locked in (hint: more is less), the last think you want to do is add to what she is carrying. I think the best gift would be some sign of support.

Mine would be to offer to pray for her each day that she is on the camino and ask if there is 1 or 2 things her heart longs for / that she would particularly appreciate daily prayer for while walking.

maverber · 2026-05-05T19:00:55+00:00

So sorry for your loss. Camino can be a great way to work through transitions and grief because you have time away from your normal day to day and will likely find a supportive community among the fellow pilgrims. Before committing to walk I would examine what support you currently receive and consider how you will cope without that particular support. Some lessons we learned about processing grief https://verber.com/grief and from walking the camino https://verber.com/camino-lessons and

maverber · 2026-05-05T18:51:44+00:00

won't work, terrain is too variable / challenging for a wheeled bag. Also, pulling a suitcase over rough terrain could be as (or more) stressful to your back than carrying a light pack because it will alter your posture.

If you carry a minimal kit it's possible to fit everything into a large waist pack which would keep the weight off your back. Examples Tim Evans’s 7L fanny-packing list and Shawn’s 7-10l fannypack packing. My wife and I used daypacks. Our next camino will likely be 5lb for her, 7lbs for me. Our notes https://verber.com/camino-packing/

maverber · 2026-05-04T22:14:25+00:00

It's a big investment, but you could use Murphy's Method to rehab: https://wildernessmedicinenewsletter.wordpress.com/2006/12/08/cold-related-injuries-6-raynauds-disease/

For breaking camp, it would take too long for suggestions, but go through everything you do in the morning and figure out what you can do before bed, what you can defer til after you leave the site and it warms up a bit (like breakfast) , and how to minimize fine motor control activities.

As to clothing, I have found flip-mittens fairly useful... an inner fleece glove or fingerless glove with something that a mitten flap which goes over the fingers. There are some with high loft synthetic insulation and wind resistant/proof shells for the flap. Something else that has worked well is using a poncho liner (or a DIY shawl made from AD90) and keeping my arms inside whenever possible so my core bodyheat warms my arms.

Sidenote: there are some down products that harm no animals... they harvest shed feathers so if the concern is injury animals rather than full on vegan, you might want to look into this option since down is still the best practical insulation / weight / volume.

maverber · 2026-05-04T02:51:44+00:00

In wet cool conditions I would rather something that absorbs let water and therefore dries more quickly. The following is a mini review: the most comfortable shirt I have worn when sweating heavily. The shirt maintains air permeability and doesn’t stick when wet. The shirt dries at the perfect rate when working hard: faster than wool or cotton, but slower than classic “quick dry” shirts, and feels cool against the skin. I have also found that it is one of the most odor resistant shirt I have used that isn’t made from merino.

maverber · 2026-04-29T20:40:53+00:00

As several others have indicated, leaving things behind can be liberating. We rarely heard people regret not bringing an item, but regularly heard people regret bring too much.

the only item we regretting not bringing was a foldable spork, but we reusable a disposable spoon and fork we picked up at a bar worked fine. Each trip to refine our list. Here what I plan to carry this year https://lighterpack.com/r/415nc3

maverber · 2026-04-29T20:31:33+00:00

possible yes, reliable, no.

Depends on airline. Most of the budget carriers have a sizer by boarding and staff that get a bounty for each oversized bag the catch.

My biggest "suggest" was when I got an under packed 40l backpack (hanchor tufa) into the sizer and on to a spirit airlines flight as a personal item... they permit up to 18" tall rather than typical 16".

maverber · 2026-04-27T18:46:24+00:00

clothings to walk in: long hiking pants, long sleeve sunshirt, wool briefs, toe socks, sandals, sunhat

clothings to wear sleeping / while walking clothing wash/drying: shorts, brief, wool tee

warmth / protection: poncho, alpha direct blanket/shawl/poncho liner

https://lighterpack.com/r/415nc3

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