Full disclaimer: I’ve never backpacked for more than a few days at a time, and I have always ended up with more gear in my backpack than I probably needed. The overpacking thing is a hard habit to break, but faced with 500 miles in about 5 weeks’ time I’m doing a lot of rethinking.

I assumed when I closed in on walking the Camino de Santiago, going the so-called French route from St. Jean Pied de Port to Santiago de Compostela, 500 miles (pardon the repetition of 500, that’s 500 miles, but I’m still working to convince myself that’s no typo, but reality), I would put my Kelty expedition style pack to work. I’ve been proud of that pack since I bought it years ago, but I’ve never really put it through its paces. Sure looks cool, though. I blew the dust off old Kelty, unloaded camping stuff packed inside, and began trying to imagine what I might need to carry on the Camino. Josu, in Spain, whose advice I have solicited, took a look at a picture I posted and wrote me that he thought that was too much, that’s without even asking how much “stuff” was in there and how much it weighed.

Josu’s concern reinforced the advice I’ve been seeing posted on the internet, or in the book, “A Pilgrim’s Guide to the Camino de Santiago.” But . . . but, I thought, I need to be allowed a few more things – a camera, an audio recorder, a camcorder, and some sort of device for blogging out my experiences to the curious (many just wondering, secretly, if I’ll even make it over the Pyrenees pass on day one). It’s true. I do need a few things beyond a pilgrim’s bare essentials.

Excuse me, Kelty, but you’re about to be demoted. A new brand of backback, new to me but maybe around for some time already, called Osprey, has caught my attention. Someone nominated it for consideration in an online packing list, along with $24 underwear, and I swallowed both links to see what the fuss was about. Osprey, apparently, is a leader in the field of minimalist backpacking. The argument, as applied to walking the Camino, is that 30-35 pounds of stuff is probably the max. Some will recommend carrying a sleeping bag, others don’t. The hostels and albergues are spaced out such that a bed should be available at the end of each of the 33 legs of the journey. I’m still out on whether I will carry a sleeping bag, or not, but for now that’s just a distraction.

I browsed backpacks at REI, looking for sales, and found none. However, I found what looks like a great price on last year’s model of one of the Osprey ultralights at Whole Earth and spent time as well getting advice from the woman who was overseeing that part of the store. I rarely solicit advice, so maybe the tide is beginning to turn, thanks to Glynda at WE and Josu, plus some other folks I will be talking to in the week’s ahead. Glynda sized me up and determined I needed the “large” version of the Osprey Exos 48, which unfortunately they did not have in stock. However, the good news is one of the Austin stores is sending one over for me to try. My fingers are crossed that it will be adequate for my needs.

Meanwhile, I’m field testing a pair of $24 boxers, promoted as comfortable and fast drying. The recommendations say you only need two pair for a thirty day journey. Pack light, they say!