Personal Care

Packing

Toothpaste, Shampoo, showering gel, hair styling products, shaving foam, creams: they should be packed in small amounts because they significantly add up to the weight your carrying. There are multiple travel bottles/cups etc on the market. It’s important to test them so you are 100% sure they do not leak. In our shop you can find the ones that passed our tests.

Need it or not?

Some pilgrims will not shave during the walk and some may decide not to floss.
Depending on your own needs, you’ll need to consider packing;

A comb or brush
A Toothbrush (normal or electric? It makes a big difference in the result by the way…)
Tooth floss
Shaving gear
Q-tips
Tampons and/or sanitary napkins

Efficiency

Like with everything you carry with you, double-roles for utensils is key.

Wash anything with all-in-one soap: it’s your shampoo, showering gel, laundry-soap – all in 1 small bottle. If you prefer to smell differently than your clothes, you will find a simple mini-bar of natural soap will do the trick!

Hit the showers

It can be very crowded in albergues, so having a plan of action will make sure you are not the last one leaving (and the last one arriving in the next albergue).

If you are not one of those who need a shower in the morning to help you wake up, you might consider showering only in the afternoon. If you do need that morning shower, then it’s wise to pick a bed as close to the showers as possible so you won’t disturb other pilgrims too much during your morning ritual.

Most albergues have lockers. Use them and don’t leave your gear unattended! If there are no lockers you can use, make sure you have your valuables in a water resistant pouch and take them with you into the shower facilities.

Don’t forget your flip-flops! Don’t want to get athlete’s foot (or give it to others).

Pilgrims can smell nice too

There is no reason for a pilgrim to smell bad. Some can’t do without their deodorant or an extra eau de toilette. Beware of the ‘extra’ odors though: bugs in nature might think you’re a flower and feel attracted to you.
If you decide to take them: consider travel-sized products or refillable toiletry bottles.

Clothing cycle

Assuming you won’t be carrying your complete wardrobe with you, let’s share some clothing cycle tactics. Which one you choose will all depend on your personal preferences. Here are some examples from other pilgrims:

1. Pack 2 pair of clothes. Wear one while walking, hit the showers upon arrival and wash that pair. Put the second pair on after showering and hang your washed pair in the sun. Walk the next day in the pair you put on the previous evening.
2. There are pilgrims who even avoid the weight of sleeping wear: they sleep in their undies.
3. Some pilgrims sleep in the pair of clothes they will wear the next day: it saves a lot of time in the morning. Beware though: this is usually the main lift-method bed bugs use to get to the next albergue, especially if you are an early riser and disturb them while they are still in the ‘drive-in’ enjoying their meal! Ha! You didn’t actually think of that possibility did you? Well, it’s true: think about it and keep a good personal hygiene, which does not involve sleeping in the clothes you will be wearing the next day…

Our way may work for others as well:

We don’t like to be doing the laundry every day. We don’t like to smell bad. We like comfort :-). To get this done we went 100% Icebreaker and Smartwool Merino wool a couple of years ago. You hang your shirt out and the next day is ready to wear again, and again, and again. We take 4 sets of undies so we only have to do laundry every 4 days :-).

In addition, we love to plan a resting day to be able to sit and relax all day and meet pilgrims that check-in or out during that day. We do the complete laundry on those days.