View Full Version : Pilgrimage: Gear
autolycus
11-25-2008, 15:44
Hello everyone! I've checked this forum like once a week för a few months, decided to finally become a member and ask some questions i know only you, very experienced ladies can answer!
I'm planning to do the Via Francigena this spring (leaving London early April, if everything goes according to plan) and I know you might be a bit more knowing about america, but I had nowhere else to turn, and I'm sure someone can help me! Well, it goes through south of england, through france, nothern italy and finally ends up in rome, which is the goal. I'm not doing it for religious reasons, just thought that the nature along the route would be extraordinary.
But my main issue right now is that i'm a student. and not the daddy's-trust-fund kind of student either, the financial aid sort of student. but i've been saving up for the trip itself for a long time, and have it all secured already, but when it comes to gear, it's a bit worse. shoes and backpack are coming this christmas, but the clothes and stuff are for me to provide.
So my initial thought was to make it a true pilgrimage, with second-hand clothes, most of it, and do it all real thrifty. It feels like if most of the pilgrims over almost a thousand years (or more) made it without synthetics, shouldn't I? So I guess my question really come down to synthetics or au natural? What's your opinions ladies?
Thankful for any input!
The main reason for synthetics is that they dry quickly when wet. Since it can be quite cool and rainy in April in England and France, I'd suggest you try to find some synthetics. Any thrift store types around? You just need one shirt and one pair of slacks (zip off maybe), plus rain gear and a wind shirt or fleece for warmth.
I have found alot a good gear "clothes" at Ross Dress for less.
autolycus
11-25-2008, 19:54
thank you both for input!:)
I know the weather in england (where I'll only be for two days though) and nothern france will have a high risk of rain and wind and general unpleasantness where synthetics would be very nice indeed, southern france and italy during may, june, july is hot and dry, and i would personally feel very uncomfortable in anything that isn't "natural", :( cotton and linnen for instance would be perfect. Also, the rain is probably very sporadic and will come in short showers or prolonged drizzles, never really pour down for hours. Is it really impossible to keep the pack dry? Is this just my vain hope talking? Of course I'm not talking about blue-jeans, i find those uncomfortable even here at home, but a cotton t-shirt? For warm, sunny days only? Please? :p
BumpJumper
11-25-2008, 21:31
:welcome:welcome:welcome:welcome:welcome
Auto!!
I like your idea of going with traditional fabrics. Wool would be great in England. Maybe a waxed cotton jacket and rain hat.
You might want to shop for clothing as you go along, as the weather and climate changes. As someone mentioned above, charity shops would probably be great places to find bargains.
And welcome to Whiteblaze! Your journey sounds as if it will be fascinating!
Yes, I'm thinking lightweight wool that you could layer would be great. Not sure where you could get it "cheap" though...I always go for the online deals on Smartwool stuff.
The pilgrimage sounds amazing. I could completely get on board with that.
I did a 160+ mile hike in Scotland a few years ago in May (probably much better than weather would be in April), but the weather wasn't as bad as I thought it would be. You just have to be prepared for variable weather.
autolycus
11-26-2008, 07:09
thank you all so much!
I live in sweden and we have pretty much every sort of second hand shop imaginable, we have everything from expensive vintage shops to charity shops that practically give the things away. The things I know I'll go a bit more modern on shoes (I have my eyes on a pair of goretex boots), the jacket is just a shell anorak which I've had all fall, and the backpack. I mean, Christmas is coming up, and you have to wish for something :D
I've actually been planning to go with smartWool all along, I've heard that wool would be the best, regardless of weather, but it does seem to warm, and I think smartwool just might do the trick. But for the rest og the clothes? natural trousers, will that work? The legs don't need all that much wicking, do they?
When I was doing a lot of hiking in the UK, I wore Patagonia synthetic tights. (I think they were sold as long underwear. Shhh. Don't tell anyone.) For rain and cold, I wore rain pants over them.
Traditional clothing of natural fibers...wool, of course. You might consider a wool skirt or kilt, with tights to go underneath when it's cold.
Before synthetics, hikers sometimes wore cotton corduroy shorts.
Another pre-synthetics hiking choice was knee breeches with long socks. Knickers, in American English:
http://outside.away.com/outside/gear/gearguy/200308/20030829.html
The article in this link suggests substituting capri-cut pants, since knickers seem to have disappeared from the market.
Yes, Smartwool is excellent. I wear it in all kinds of temps. It doesn't get sweaty or smelly. In pretty much all conditions I will pack a lightweight short sleeve top and a long-sleeve lightweight or mediumweight zip up top.
For legs I would use running type tights (you can get these in knicker length -- I like the Sugoi Jackie knicker) together with nylon pants. The pants could be zip off if you think you'll need shorts or you could use wind/rain pants. You should be able to find lots of cheap second hand nylon pants. I wouldn't go with anything too heavy though. You'll probably just want them for wind/rain protection.
I suppose it also depends on how "conservative" you need to dress in some of these other countries (ie. no shorts, etc).
autolycus
11-26-2008, 08:40
Well, really i don't need to be too conservative, these countries are actually a lot less conservative than most places i've been in america, so I don't think that'll be a problem. In the big churches, like the duomo in Sienna, they have a lot of tourists wearing practially nothing, and that is why there are dress-codes outside. But I really want to show respect for strong catholic faith in the village churches and monestaries, as that's where I'll spend most of my nights, on church floors and stuff like that, so I'm going pretty conservative. Also, when it's not too cold, the sun will be burning, and it would be good to be a bit covered up. I have a grey wool skirt I'm already thinking about using, it's rough-looking and greyish, and covers my knees. Perfect for me! and it doesn't show dirty much either, which always is a plus. I'm going with rather thick leggins, they're light and don't take much room in the pack, but should I bring trousers as well? I will be climbing through the alps in the middle of may, so there might still be some snow.
Again, i won't be spending more than one or two days tops in England, so the weather will hopefully be a bit better than in scotland!
This trip sounds really amazing. You're going to post a blog or a trip report or something when you're done, right??
I need to retire soon so I can start doing more of these trips. I love walking through Europe.
You might need nylon pants for wind/rain protection. They wouldn't take up much space. I have these and they've lasted for years: http://www.campmor.com/outdoor/gear/Product___11223
Yes, I imagine the weather anywhere you go will be better than Scotland!
As for conservative in the US, well, what I can say. I don't count myself among them (maybe it's because I'm originally from Canada? :)). But I am mindful of how I present myself in foreign countries and want to respect local customs.
autolycus
11-26-2008, 09:22
To post a blog while on the trail would be virtually impossible, i plan to live without internet for the three months I'll be away, but I'll write a journal and I'll most likely post that somewhere online when I get back. I've realised that very few people do the whole Via Francigena, most people just tag along when it comes through the alps and into italy, and they miss all of france, which is a shame!
Lucinda, so you have been walking in europe before? Where were you, and what kinds of accomodation did you find? As I said earlier, I'm planning on going the religious rout, sleeping in convents and church floors. There's almost always a church in every village. I've heard that there will be hardly any cheap hostels or shelters, like the ones alone the camino, so I'll have to bat my eyelashes and hope i don't look like **** when i get into a village. And I really have to practice both my french and italian, because no one speaks english, and even fewer speak swedish :P
Hi and welcome from me also!;
I do not have a very good budget for stuff either and I shop sales e-bay etc. also try wal-mart and k-mart arethey over in the UK? (Or thier eqiuvelent?) Anyhow a mix of synthitic and cotton is always cheaper.
Just some idea's.... try to have a dry set of camp cloth's to get into at the shelter or camps along the way!
Your hiking friend; "Cat"