They say it is smart to travel light, what I want to know is, how light is light?
poz- (and anyone else)
I am headed to South America for 4 months and plan on trekking occasionally (not a ton). My plan was, like Lauralee, to bring boots, chacos, and buy a pair of flip flops there (my old havaianas served me well in Europe). I would rather bring the trainers just because they are lighter and a little more versatile. But I'm worried it will be harder on me when I want to hike.
I was going to bring my hiking boots but after reading your post I reconsidered. Do you think that trainers are suitable for the Inca trail and/or trekking in Torres Del Paine ect? Is it worth it to drag a pair of boots around for the whole time for the occasioanl trek or will i really miss them for the more intense hikes?
Thanks for all the great posts guys!
Reply to this Tori, don't listen to those gals with all of their shoes/boots/sandals/flipflops; they've gone nuts! ha ha ha! 😊
I really didn't enjoy hauling my trekking boots around SA. In my opinion, you should try to go with trainers unless you expect to trek in any of the following circumstances: 1) extreme weather (eg snow, etc), 2) serious off-trail routes, 3) with weak ankles, or 4) with very heavy loads.
When will you be trekking in Patagonia? This is a place where trekking in trainers could get you into trouble. The weather can be seriously nasty--freezing horizontal rain or dumping snow. You might be OK if you are only doing the "W" in Torres del Paine, though.
I opted out on the Inca trail. Someone else should probably respond on this region. Although, I've heard the trail is a real ankle-buster.
Maybe you could do a happy-medium with a pair of waterproof light-weight trekking boots. I wouldn't bring both sandals and flip-flops; seems slightly redundant. You can wear the sandals around town and take showers with them. (good choice with the Chacos!)
Enjoy SA!
poz
Reply to this Tori - I would absolutely not trek in trainers, and absolutely not take hiking boots, unless hiking is going to be a very big part of your trip (if it is though, definitely go for it!) because they are SO heavy and lumbering. Trainers fall apart really quickly when travelling, I find. I think by far the best option is to get trekking trainers - these are tougher, have better grip, and give more ankle support than normal trainers but are pretty much the same size/weight.
Reply to this Thank you both for your replies! 😊
I am most likely going to be in Patagonia in March. I think if the weather is as bad as you described I wouldn't be trekking at all because I'm not bringing the gear to do that sort of trip! If that is the case I will stick to the easy stuff. 😊
I think the best all-around option for me is going to be a pair of gore-tex trail runners (is that "american" for trekking trainers??) that I use for hiking here. They have worn very well, and although they don't have the ankle support the boots have, they are lighter, less cumbersome, and more practical for the rest of the stuff I want to do.
Thanks again!
Reply to this Check out these boots:
I haven't tried them, but they are certainly very lightweight.
Keen Targhee II eVENT Mid Hiking Boots - Women's
Targhees feature Waterproofed nubuck leather and flexible nylon mesh uppers offer ample durability, flexibility and breathability for comfort on the go, Mid-height cuff offers additional ankle support to prevent sprains, Secure-fit lace capture system with sturdy nylon webbing eyelets and heel wrap help lock feet to footbeds for increased support, Webbing pull loops at heel and tongue allow easy entry/exit; padded, gusseted tongue keeps out debris and moisture while relieving lace pressure, eVENT® waterproofing lining allows perspiration to dissipate before it saturates the inside of the shoe, Patented rubber toe bumpers protect feet and uppers from abrasion, Substantial Metatomical EVA footbeds are shaped to provide ample cushioning and arch support; can also accommodate orthotics, Compression-molded EVA midsoles offer shock-absorption and padding for all-day comfort; Supportive ESS nylon shanks provide torsional stability and protection from uneven and rocky terrain, Non-marking carbon rubber outsoles with aggressive 4mm multi-directional lugs provide durability and traction.
Weight of a pair of size 7 is only 1 lb 12 oz or 800 grams
a link to hiking shoes Reply to this Monica,
it all depends on your weight. I'd say 1/5 of your body weight should be the maximum.
I’m a mountain guide working in the Alps and I always recommend my clients to take the absolute minimum. Even then, many times they don’t use all the staff they carry.
You say you’re small, maybe a 50L backpack is too big for you. I’m 1m94cm tall and weight 86 kg, and my standard backpack is a 45L one. Just use something you’ll be able to carry all your holidays and being comfortable at the same time. I think it’s crucial. What’s the point of carrying 15Kg around if you are exhausted after 1 hour hike? And if you intend to do a trek, plan to sleep in mountain huts if possible. This will allow you not to bring a tent.
In short, just take the absolute minimum. You can read a few more tips in my webpage. It focuses in the Alps, but the same applies to South America: www.yokmok.com/faq.html
Reply to this YokmoK,
There's just a tiny fraction of mountain huts in the Andes (where Monica is headed) compared to the number in the Alps... Sure, Patagonia has some, but those often get flooded with EVERYONE... Peru also has some, but they are very limited (catering mainly to climbers).
In the central Andes, not bringing a tent is a great option if the person doesn't want to trek
all of the time. In Peru and Bolivia, it is very cheap to rent trekking/climbing equipment on location, although the gear isn't always in the best condition. If trekking is the
main goal, bringing a tent is almost mandatory...
poz
Reply to this Tori - I did the Inca Trail in new balance running shoes. It was fine... not fully recommended to other people but I didn't walk away from that with a sprained ankle. Just buy a cheap walking stick when you go which helps disperse the weight when walking down the slippery steps and helps to provide balance.
as for "trail runners" the north american view is its more of trying to run on a mountain trail so you're not trekking per say (taking your sweet time, etc).
Reply to this Although this might seem obvious, just a friendly reminder to break in your new shoes - whatever kind they may be - way before your trip! The last thing you want is achy arches and blisters! Happy hiking/trekking =)
Reply to this I managed to get around the word with a 10 kg, 40 litre pack. The pack contained cross trainers, some t shirts, 2 pair quick dry/ zip off pants, board shorts, a small towel, an even smaller sleeping bag, 1 fleece, some deoderant, tooth brush, tooth paste, digital camera, journal, 1 book and a headlight. I had no problems with this amount of stuff through Europe, the Middle East, South East Asia and Australia. The only place I suffered was in NZ during winter where some charity shop shopping was in order.
This being said- I was a dirty kid who stole soap from hostel soap dispensers, and could't go to any self respecting night club due to my footwear and smell. To reiterate what many comments have said before me- it really depends what kind of a person you are and what kind of trip do you want to go on.
Do you need? - camping gear, nice clothes/shoes to go out in, warm clothes, things to make yourself pretty?
Best of luck!
Reply to this thanks so much for alle your answers. I think it is really difficult packing,
I have now nought myself a backpack 50L for ladies. I hope its not to large.
About the shoes I think I will bring flipflops and cross trainers. But still not sure.
I think I will just pack just the absolutely neccesary, and buy the stuff I need on the way.
Does any of you know if its possible to survive in central america on 20$ a day?
Reply to this Might be possible if you were eating worms from the ground, but otherwise no. Cheapest you could do it for would be around $25/30 I'd say ($30 being the most realistic, and that's a push). In CR, normally I budget $35 per day.
Reply to this Okey, much more expensive than I thought..
So if I budget $30 a day, I should be fine? I want to always choose the cheapest option (but not if its unsafe.)
But I still want to live normal, not cheap to the point where my experience gets cut off because of my low budget.
Where is CR?
Reply to this CR is Costa Rica. To be honest, everyone has different definitions of what 'living on a budget' actually means, so how much you need is going to vary from person to person. Have a look at some guidebooks and websites - most will have a guide budget for you to have a look at. I try to make myself a budget, but make sure I have enough money available so that if I'm out by say $5 each day, my trip is not a disaster - it usually means that I come home with some savings, which is always a nice surprise!
By the way - I'm leaving on my next trip in a week and I've just tried weighing my bag with all the kit in. My 50L is just under 10kg, with a fair amount of space left at the top.
Reply to this Ok, sounds good. I want to have space left for things that I might find on the way, so I hope I manage to pack it right.
I am really exited because I am going on my first trip in 2 weeks, am a little nervous but I guess Ill be fine.
Where are you going? Travelling alone?
Reply to this Ok for me i am 6 foot.
* if you camp i would say min 65L i have 75L and that just fits everything in.
* if you do north and south of south america e.g patagonia and brazil you need warm clothes trekking boots etc plus ur cool clothes flip flops boardies etc. sure u can layer stuff but i think in patagonia u need at least 1 decent jumper. anyways i think this requires an extra 5-10 litres i.e if you were thinking 50L i would go with 65L.
* if you are travelling with someone tho you could prob cut back 5 - 10L.
and on the mailing stuff home...
* i found it highly unreliable because of customs issues etc. and expensive.... $200 american to send 2kg to australia. i don´t know about sending to other countries but i think that is pretty expensive u would almost just chuck your gear instead.
for me travelling solo camping and doing cold and hot weather and not willing to send stuff home or chuck alot of my good stuff away... 75L is the minimum. mabey a contraversial answer as everyone here is saying 50L and 65L but there is no way i could do it.
Reply to this Matty D - when you say camping did you actually bring a tent and stove with you?
Reply to this Bloop - wanted to change my answer to your budget question - i've been looking at how much I spent on that trip and actually you can do it for $20 - probably $25 would be more comfortable but if you're very budget, $20 will probably be alright.
Matty, I agree - I've got 2 different packs, one 65L rucksack for camping and one 50L travelpack for hostelling.
I'm doing a bit of a random trip revisiting some places i've already been and discovering some new ones - basically an old friend from primary school decided she wanted to go travelling so naturally I said i'd hop along! Going back to Thailand, then Cambodia, Australia, Fiki, NZ, Argentina, Brazil, Costa Rica.
Reply to this Hei!
Vi er 2 jenter som også skal reise rundt i Sør/ og Mellom- Amerika i 6 mnd nå i januar!! Og vi har sekker på 60/ og 65 l.
Det vi også kommer til å gjøre, er å ta med klær som vi kan bytte ut etterhvert! Vi vet begge at det er umulig å ikke shoppe noe på 6 mnd,
så på denne måten får vi med oss så mye som mulig hjem igjen! Nå kommer det jo også ann på hvor man reiser først og på hva ann skal, men vi kommer også til å kjøpe noe av det vi trenger av hvertfall klær og sko der borte! Så vi skal forsøke å ikke reise med fullpakket sekk... Selv om det til nå ikke ser så lyst ut:P
Ønsker dere hvertfall en kjempe god tur!
Reply to this Hehe, takk i like måte! Nå er det bare en uke igjen til vi drar.. gleder meg! Hva slags sko har dere tatt med? Jeg synmes sko er så dyrt og er ikke hypp på å bruke alle de pengene egentlig. Vurderer å satse på at jeg finner noe billigere der nede. Hvor starter dere turen deres?
Reply to this 
