Forum member @Magwood uses those sleeves on her Caminos. She is a seasoned walker, but is not on the forum often. Maybe she will reply or you could try sending her a PM.
You do need to get a really good fit, though a few tacks to reduce the circumference at the top of the arm works as fine adjustment.
Decathlon have very reasonable priced ones that do the job but no fancy features.
I wear light gloves to protect my hands from the sun when it’s sunny especially when using walking poles. Heavy ones when it’s cold for warmth.
I learned a valuable lesson on my VDLP walk a few years ago. I started in late October. I thought it may still be warm when I left Sevilla in late October but didn’t want a short sleeve shirt or shorts. So I took two quick dry long sleeve shirts and one pair of very light pants. Turned out it was over 90F and sometimes 95F every day for about 8 days. The truth is the matter was I did not feel any hotter with my short or pants than with shorts and short sleeve shirt. My clothes had UV protection and my Outdoor Research Sun Runner hat that covered my head neck and almost my entire face I was just fine. Except of course I was hot as hell and had to carry 3 liters of water and the only shade I could find was sitting down and leaning against one of the stone walls that lined the route.
I used them in Sept/Oct last year and wouldn’t do another camino without! I bought the ones that go across the shoulders. They were super light and hardly took up any space in my pack. They are very comfortable and helpful for warmth and sun protection and were a real blessing in the heat when I wet them. I didn’t even bring a long sleeved shirt - used these with my short sleeve shirt for warmth. I would put them on when I set out at 6:30am and didn’t even have to stop to remove them when I got hot 30 minutes later. I simply pulled them off and wrapped them around my waist without having to take off my pack. I brought a white pair and a black pair but ended up only keeping the black as the white got, and showed, dirt easily. I highly recommend them. Not that you asked, but I also swore by my chargeable neck fan - the kind that look like headphones but just go around the neck. They acted as white noise during an all night festival in Torres del Rio and I slept like a baby that night. These two items helped me keep cool, and were a Godsend as I trekked along in the Spanish sun with my hot flashes! Got my sleeves from Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B091QGLLSD?tag=casaivar02-20
Is there a difference ? Wouldn't they be the same as long sleeves, at least you can roll them up?
Yes. Last August - September. Worked well. Took off in the evening and if it was a cool morning
I have used them on all my caminos. Initially I bought them from a golfing shop and paired them with fingerless SunSmart gloves but this year I bought them from Uniqlo for about half the price - they are very cool, fit snuggly but not uncomfortable and have thumb holes so keep the sun off my hands when I am using my poles and I don’t have to use the fingerless gloves .
Yes, I love mine. I started wearing them on a fall Camino a few years ago, more for warmth on cool days but even when the sun was warming up they did not feel hot. Worn with a short sleeved T-shirt they provided a bit of warmth on the arms without adding to the heat around my torso due to the backpack, and they allowed air circulation around the armpits. Also, they are so easy to take off or put on without removing the backpack or breaking your stride. Easy to carry in a pocket or side pouch. I never hike without them now. Mine are Nike but I’ve had them a few years so not sure if they still make them.
I used them last year as I walked in summer. They were excellent. Buy the ones used by golfers. They are a thin Lycra, very comfortable and cooling.
Yes. I’ve worn them for many hikes before for Sun protection. The Pearl IZumi Sun Sleeves from REI work great!
I love mine. Got them at REI, also available at their website. They have a thumb hole to keep them in place and go up past the biceps/triceps. They stay in place, no problem. Not too hot. The palms got discolored, mainly from gripping my trekking poles, but no effect on function. I washed them every few days and hung dry.
They stay up by being fairly tight, at least at the top of the arm.
I use Smartwool merino removable sleeves frequently. I wear them hiking, mostly for warmth needed in the AM, and I wear them while wilderness canoeing. I also use them for road biking trips.
I also brought two tops and on set of bottoms. Worked well. Brought two short sleeve merino t-shirts and a set of sleeves from Outdoor Research which had a thumb hole and covered my knuckles. Worked well other than that they slipped down. In part the issue is that I am slight of build and they only came in one size but the elastic at the top does not compare with that on my biking sleeves. My solution was elastic bands I picked up along the way. For my upcoming Camino I've gone to OR's light weight sun shirt which comes with a sun protecting hood to reduce skin damage on the sides of your face. Have been happy with how light this shirt is and how it has worked in my training hikes
I'm loving the 'sun hoodie' I bought for this purpose, lightweight (292 grams), with thumb holes to cover hands and hood to cover head, ears back of neck - all UPF50+. There's several big brands, I went cheap & got Uniqlo (AUD$50). I wear it for all my training walks & love it! eg: EgZjaHJvbWUqDAgBECMYJxiABBiKBTIJCAAQRRg5GIAEMgwIARAjGCcYgAQYigUyBggCECMYJzIHCAMQABiABDIHCAQQABiABDIHCAUQABiABDIHCAYQABiABDIHCAcQABiABDIHCAgQABiABDIHCAkQABiABNIBCDM3NjNqMGo3qAIIsAIB
I have bought things from Uniqlo in the US. In fact I love my AIRism Mesh UV Protection Full-Zip Hoodie, but it's definitely not the same as sun sleeves.
Hi TassietoVP,
I don’t see why. A lot of hiking gear that’s trying to optimise wicking advertises a snug fit for exactly that reason.
Disadvantage- they can slip down.
www.solbari.com.au
Ok. Thanks for the response.
That did occur to me as another disadvantage, but only after I posted my response.
This is both a great question AND a great response! I’m currently at the tail end of my first Camino and I have also found that “sun gloves” have been a game changer. What happened to me is/was very unusual and is unlikely to happen to many people, but I think it’s worth sharing nonetheless:
For me they are because I use them with merino short sleeve t-shirts ( I have tried, but don’t like, the tech fabric shirts) The sleeves just roll down when I stop for a break or am walking in the shade . They don’t slip down - I do get a new pair each Camino.
I am going in my first Camino, but hike extensively. I tend to really like featherweight sun shirts with thumb loops and hoods. I wear them over long line sports bras.
Agree , would rather have a sun shirt , sleeves too fiddly, or wear long sleeve merino
Sorry, try this:
