Gaiters required late March?

[dermotlavelle]

Hi there...we (couple) are doing the final Sarria-Santiago section of the Camino Frances over this coming Easter (last week of March). We'll have to see what the weather holds closer to the time - hopefully some fine days! However, we intend to be prepared for rain...would gaiters be advisable? We both have a pair but also have good rain pants. Perhaps they would not be necessary given the Sarria - Santiago section is pretty popular and may be a relatively good track overall? We're thinking if not, the pathways may be muddy after the Winter and it soon being the start of the busier season? Any advice appreciated! Thanks in advance.

 

[nellpilgrim]

Hi Dermot,
Lucky you it's a lovely time to walk and such a gorgeous section of the route. I really like gaiters as they allow you to avoid mud, heavy dew (if you have to strike 'off road' for a natural break) and snow. But if you have good over trousers then it's the weight issue that will decide this for you? I have a pair of cheap old lightweight gaiters which can be scrunched up and shoved into side pockets of pack (they don't even have the straps that go under your foot anymore) and, if walking for less than a week, I'd pack them but anything over that timeframe I'd be getting stricter with my weight 'allowance' so I'd just take the over trousers.
I know that putting on and off the rain pants can seem a bit of a chore but the good news is that this gives you a legitimate reason to take another little break :wink:

 

[jirit]

It is matter of personal preference.

I use to wear gaiters when I hiked the back country of Ontario's wild forests and hills. Then I knew I would be walking in the rain, through mud and pools of water. Gaiters helped a bit but when you walk through foot deep pools of water and mud nothing much works except those Wellington rubber boots.

But it is hard to carry a 60 lb pack wearing rubber boots. So gaiters made sense.

From memory, walking through Galicia at the end of March means more than likely you will run into some rain, maybe lots, meaning some of the track will be sloppy and muddy in places, especially where you crisscross the smaller farming hamlets. The track in some places tends to turn into something else that only cows and horses can pass through. The gaiters will help keep the rain from sliding into the cuffs of your boots and hopefully keep the uppers of your boots clean of mud. They will do nothing for the soles of your boots however.

But a couple of accidental footsteps into pools of mud and water followed by a slippery slide or two, can quickly change all my assumptions.

If it makes any sense, wear convertible pants and zip off the bottom sleeves of the pant legs and roll these down to the cuffs of your boots. They will basically do the same as your gaiters and they will are as easy to clean as gaiters (left unzipped, the bottoms of your pants will get muddy anyway - this is where wearing rain pants makes sense too)

 

[Rebekah Scott]

Gaiters are great, if the rain is really pouring down or it is snowing.
If you have waterproof pants already, gaiters are overkill.
Unless of course you are going for the hardcore Pilg Fashion Victim look: zipped-off zip-off pants (shorts). White socks. Gaiters. Flourescent-color Crocs/sandals. :arrow: :arrow: If you are really out to slay ém, wear the leg-tubes of your zip-off pants gathered round the tops of the gaiters.

I have seen it with my own two eyes.

 

[WalkingStar]

Gaiters are great, if the rain is really pouring down or it is snowing.
If you have waterproof pants already, gaiters are overkill.
Unless of course you are going for the hardcore Pilg Fashion Victim look: zipped-off zip-off pants (shorts). White socks. Gaiters. Flourescent-color Crocs/sandals. :arrow: :arrow: If you are really out to slay ém, wear the leg-tubes of your zip-off pants gathered round the tops of the gaiters.

I have seen it with my own two eyes.

Thanks for posting this. I am doing my first Camino starting May 3 in SJPdP and was wondering if I should get gaiters. I have waterproof pants and waterproof hiking shoes (not boots). So I guess I've been wondering If I would need more coverage for the area between mty ankle and the pants.

Does knowing that change your answer? Or do you think that's still overkill. Thank you.

 

[Icacos]

Take the gaiters. Don't you know that if you take every conceivable type of rain gear, you will have good weather??!! It works for me.

 

[frasert]

Gaiters are great, if the rain is really pouring down or it is snowing.
If you have waterproof pants already, gaiters are overkill.
Unless of course you are going for the hardcore Pilg Fashion Victim look: zipped-off zip-off pants (shorts). White socks. Gaiters. Flourescent-color Crocs/sandals. :arrow: :arrow: If you are really out to slay ém, wear the leg-tubes of your zip-off pants gathered round the tops of the gaiters.

I have seen it with my own two eyes.

That sounds like my look