Packing A Cruelty Free Backpack Part 1

Big Bear, Ca. near Bertha's Peak 2017

I can't lie.  I'm addicted to hiking. I mean, how else do you describe something you can't stop doing even when it can be painful, that each time you do it you end up needing to do it even more and more, and that occupies your every waking moment as you plan when you are going to be able to do it again. Yes, I've been pulled in...hook, line, and sinker. I love it and wish I were out doing it right now. 

I'm leaving for Europe in September to hike the Camino de Santiago.  I will need to carry a backpack that contains all of the things I will need to get by for over a month.  

One of the first rules of hiking mimics that of the doctor's Hippocratic oath in that we must first promise we will do no harm.  As a doctor must try to help and not hurt his patient who comes to him in trust, the hiker must try not  to damage the path he will borrow. The hiker must not harm the fauna or flora of the forest, desert, mountain, or coast that he is entrusted with as his boots press their weight into it. 

It is natural to expect the nature lover to be considerate of nature...and it dawned on me that, as a vegan, I should be considerate of nature before I even got to the trail.

I was packing when I realized that I had never considered whether the gear I was stuffing into my backpack was appropriate for me as a vegan backpacker.  It was time for me to pack a cruelty-free backpack...and make sure I continued to do so for the rest of my life.  I thought I would share with you what I found out as I began to prepare for my pilgrimage on the Camino.

                                                                                  

Osprey Tempest 40L

At first I took it for granted that my backpack was cruelty free, but then I realized that we can't ever get lazy when it comes to combating cruelty to any living things.  I checked, and thankfully Osprey is proud to have cruelty free back packs. What a relief! It was already the second backpack I had bought, the first one being a Deuter...(a great bag, but it is a 60 liter and just too big for what I need on the camino.) I didn't know if I could afford to replace the Osprey and I really wanted to backpack without the extra weight of guilt on my back.  

This is the second bag I will bring.  It will stay inside my back pack until I reach the village I will be sleeping in. When I leave the dorm to find dinner in the evenings, I won't be lugging around my 15lb Osprey. Instead, I will use this adorable, lighter bag from PLNT BSD as a drawstring pack. Not only is it cruelty free, it may start up a conversation about how cool it is to be plant based and vegan.

I am happy to say that the cap I already owned was accidentally cruelty free.  It turns out it is not wool and is made of 100% synthetic materials.
The bandana I'm using is made of cotton.  I had to order this one via Amazon as bandanas are usually too small to be comfortable on me or they are hard to tie around my head.  It's hard to get a big head when you have a big head...

Bandanas have so many purposes on a hike so I was glad to add this XL one to my gear list.

I will be taking one pair of long zip-off-able hiking pants, one pair of hiking shorts, and two tees.  Everyone of these items is lightweight and made to wick off moisture from our bodies...so they are made from mixes of nylon and spandex.  The two pants/shirts are from REI, one shirt is from there also, while the other shirt is a Northface tee.

Looking into the main body of my backpack, you can see that I have several bags placed in their vertically.  This is a trick that I learned while watching DarwinOnTheTrail, a YouTube channel I really like.  When the compartment bags are packed vertically, I can get into any one of them without having to dig past the other ones.

I use the same white mesh bags to pack my clothes and hygiene gear that I use to shop for produce with.  The mesh bags are lightweight and have drawstrings to pull the bags closed.

                                          

I have my new hiking shoes that I've been breaking in...and so far...so good!  I have a nagging, weird concern about my shoes because I know they have a life expectancy of 500 miles.  The camino I'm walking is 500 miles. So every time I go for a practice hike, I feel guilty that I am going to start wearing out my tread ...and run out of shoe before I make it to the finish line of the Camino.

I have another white pair of sock liners that I will bring but they are on order...so they're not in the picture.  Same goes for another pair of synthetic socks I ordered...they are on the way.  The smaller grey socks aren't going with me.  I looked inside them and found some wool.  I will probably sell these socks at one of the REI garage sales.

So know that we know what I'm going to wear while I hike, I'm ready to share some of the products that are going to make my journey a little more comfortable.

I've used the sunscreen below as I train, taking long mountain and/or street hikes.  So far it has done really well on my hot, summer treks in Southern California.  The temperatures has gotten up to three digits most days...and hikes of length usually mean I am exposed to a harsh sun for possibly hours.  I would say that this lotion passed a pretty difficult test!

This is Bare Republic Clearscreen Sports Sunscreen Gel


                                                                                      

 Alaffia Coconut Body Lotion

I've noticed that I have to put most products into smaller, lighter bottles or jars.


 

                     

Can you tell I already love my Alaffia Coconut Lotion?  It's almost empty.  It was  a no brainer to choose it for my hand lotion.  I love having the coconut smell on my hands.

I purchased the lotion below at a Conference for Plant Based Women.  It really keeps my skin feeling moisturized for quite a while after I've applied it.  I am honestly deciding whether or not I should just fill one bottle with just one of these lotions instead of bringing two different kinds.  It would make for a good comparison, though.  Hmmm....

Miracle II Skin Moisturizer

I will continue this list on another post.  I have so much more to share with you! I found the coolest deodorant, shampoos, and other awesome items you will want to put in your pack as well.  Tomorrow I will be taking my full pack to Mt. Baldy, a mountain with trails that really command respect.  I will keep testing out these items as I train...and share with you if I change my mind about any of them.

In the meantime,

Take a hike!

Peace !