<HTML><FONT FACE=arial,helvetica><FONT SIZE=3 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" LANG="0">Jennifer, in footwear, you have to decide between trail shoes and lightweight boots. Do not get heavy boots. If you have strong ankles and are used to walking with low topped shoes on uneven ground, then you can save weight by using trail shoes. Among long distance hikers, I think New Balance 80x series are the most popular. The current one is 806.<BR>
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Boots must feel comfortable when you first put them on, and remember that your feet will swell when you are walking 10-13 miles a day. Be sure your toes are not at all cramped, and will not hit the front of the boot when going down steep hills. Now I'm using Lowa Renegade GTX and like them - used the lowest cost Vasque's when doing the Camino, but they finally wore out. My wife used a lightweight Lowa model on the Camino. www.backpackgeartest.org reviews boots and trail shoes.<BR>
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On pack, etc. really work to keep the weight down - something like 15 lbs before food and water. We both used a Golite Breeze pack. If you want a waist belt use something like the GVPGear G4, which I used on a John Muir Trail thru-hike. It has a slot for a sleeping pad. On the Camino, we didn't carry a sleeping pad, and always had a mattress to sleep on, but frequently worried about having to sleep on the floor. Carrying a pad would relieve that worry. We both carried lightweight umbrellas, and there were both some hot days and rainy days where we really appreciated them. There is a lot more info on our camino web page, so I recommend that you read it soon: <A HREF="http://www.backpack45.com/camino2.html">Camino Website</A>.</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=2 FAMILY="SANSSERIF" FACE="Arial" LANG="0"><BR>
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</FONT><FONT COLOR="#000000" style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: #ffffff" SIZE=3 FAMILY="SERIF" FACE="Palatino Linotype" LANG="0">Ralph Alcorn<BR>
www.backpack45.com<BR>
Shepherd Canyon Books<BR>
Publisher of We're in the Mountains, Not Over the Hill: Tales and Tips from Seasoned Women Backpackers</FONT></HTML>