Camino in September or October

[FrankBurke]

I am planning on undertaking the coastal Camino from Porto in mid-September or mid-October. I would be grateful for an insight into what the weather will be like for walking at these times. Thanks!

 

[KariC]

For me, the weather was great - got hot by the afternoon, but not intolerably so; brisk in the mornings. Only one rainy day, and it was a drizzle. I walked the last 1/2 of Sept. For me, ideally, the early part of Oct. would be even better, when it was even a bit cooler.

 

[Robert Long]

Four Old Guys Walking had the same experience as Kari. We walked last Sept early Oct. Only one rainy day. Most days very pleasant.

 

[debbie vanover]

Would you recommend taking a poncho or do you think you could get away without it

 

[Robert Long]

I find poncho's are ineffective without rain pants. The rain tends to wick down your legs and into your boots.

I did wear a rain jacket last year during the one storm and found I became more wet from perspiration that rain. I would have been better off with rain pants and tee shirt, just letting the Tee get wet.

A poncho is a single use item. It is only good for rain. A rain jacket and rain pants double as insulators. I don't carry long underwear and one less layer on top. If I get cold I don my rain gear.

So in the end I recommend rain jacket and pants and no poncho. BTW I just returned from an 11 day trek with the Boy Scouts in Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. We were rained on 6 of the 11 days there. Both heavy rain and hail. The Boy Scouts recommended rain jacket and pants not a poncho, worked well.

Buen Camino

 

[DrVJMJ]

I find poncho's are ineffective without rain pants. The rain tends to wick down your legs and into your boots.

I did wear a rain jacket last year during the one storm and found I became more wet from perspiration that rain. I would have been better off with rain pants and tee shirt, just letting the Tee get wet.

A poncho is a single use item. It is only good for rain. A rain jacket and rain pants double as insulators. I don't carry long underwear and one less layer on top. If I get cold I don my rain gear.

So in the end I recommend rain jacket and pants and no poncho. BTW I just returned from an 11 day trek with the Boy Scouts in Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico. We were rained on 6 of the 11 days there. Both heavy rain and hail. The Boy Scouts recommended rain jacket and pants not a poncho, worked well.

Buen Camino

Terrific advice, thanks! I will be walking the coastal route in Portugal from September 23rd until mid-october. I was debating the rain issue. I figured I needed the rain pants, but was wondering about a poncho. Sounds like the wind makes a poncho relatively less useful and it is a single-use item as you say. Thanks again.

 

[Stewart K.]

If we are going down the rabbit-hole of rain gear, I throw my $0.02 in and recommend a rain kilt over rain pants. Pants are better in cold and windy weather. Otherwise, kilts are more convenient, take up less space in the pack and give nearly the rain protection of pants. your walking shoes and feet are going to get wet regardless of what you wear.

 

[DrVJMJ]

Interesting points: 1. Your feet WILL get we whatever you do. I don't suppose that's a problem unless the extra water causes chafing and blisters. 2. Pants better for cold and wind.... Which is what I might find on coastal route in October.

 

[Anamiri]

And I dont care if my legs get wet, and my shoes dry quickly enough (whatever you do your feet will get wet). I always take a poncho, it also doubles as a pack cover , and ground or seat cover. Its a personal choice thing. I almost never wear rain pants even in NZ (although they are great for water blasting) . I wear shorts on Camino, and skin dries quickly. Lightweight running shoes or hiking sandals, I never wear boots either, as I have always walked between May-October.

 

[DrVJMJ]

I am planning on undertaking the coastal Camino from Porto in mid-September or mid-October. I would be grateful for an insight into what the weather will be like for walking at these times. Thanks!

Have you firmed up your dates?

 

[DrVJMJ]

I am doing the same coastal route from Sept 26 to Oct 11. Your dates?