Base Layer

[Jerri Kerley]

I am walking the Camino Frances, and beyond, mid September thru mid November 2017. Will I need a thermal top and bottom? I plan to bring a rain suit and light weight down jacket. My thought is that if I layer, I should be fine. Thoughts? (I would prefer to hear from Pilgrims that have walked the Frances during that time frame.) Thanks!

 

[Anemone del Camino]

When I walked the Primitivo in May I had thermal top and bottom. I used them to sleep in, wore the bottom under my skirt in the afternoon when it was chilly. I also wore them under my rain pants in May on the Portuguese. Top was my "1 long sleeve tshirt". Very versatile pieces, even in warmer temps than mid-November. I say yes.

 

[Deleted member 43985]

Not so much in September but you'll be up on O'Cebriero late-October/early November and the possibility of snow is very real. It is also likely that Albergues won't have any heat on that early in the year so could be quite cold over night so Anemone's idea of wearing the base layer to bed comes strongly into play. I don't know if you are a warm or cold person by tendency but myself, I am a warm person so I'd only take a long sleeve Merino wool base layer shirt as my legs don't really get affected by the colder weather.
Good luck and Buen Camino

 

[HedaP]

Walked the Frances from 15 Sept till 29 Oct in 2015. Carried silk thermals. Wore them once to sleep in when in an albergue without heating and no blankets on a particularly cold night. I did have a lightweight sleeping bag. Wore the bottoms twice walking for a few hours on very frosty mornings towards the end of October. Otherwise no but would probably have worn them more if walking into November. I took them again when I walked this year in early spring and wore them more often. I considered them my insurance policy. And before anyone jumps at me, I also had a real travel insurance policy. I just had more faith in immediate returns from my own version.

 

[C clearly]

I used a light thermal layer for sleeping. It is then available if needed for unusually cold weather.

 

[Jerri Kerley]

Not so much in September but you'll be up on O'Cebriero late-October/early November and the possibility of snow is very real. It is also likely that Albergues won't have any heat on that early in the year so could be quite cold over night so Anemone's idea of wearing the base layer to bed comes strongly into play. I don't know if you are a warm or cold person by tendency but myself, I am a warm person so I'd only take a long sleeve Merino wool base layer shirt as my legs don't really get affected by the colder weather.
Good luck and Buen Camino

Jazero, I had not considered snow! This Texas girl might be out of her element (pun intended) Thank you for your advise.

 

[nycwalking]

Also, carry gloves. Inexpensive, lightweight dollar store brands in many colors suffice. The mornings mid-September on can be chilly.
Buen camino.

 

[J F Gregory]

My Wife and I use light weight smart wool. We live and hike in the mountains of Washington State. We did our Camino in Winter and the were perfect base layers. 1 pant base layer, 1 long sleeve and one short sleeve with a light zippered fleece and rain jacket. most of the time I would shed my fleece because it would to warm under my rain jacket. We walked through snow, sleet, hail and heavy rain. light weight layering is the best and I really like smart wool products. We slpt in them since there were some albergues without heat.

 

[Jersey]

Jazero, I had not considered snow! This Texas girl might be out of her element (pun intended) Thank you for your advise.

Take a look at the historical temperatures along the route and plan accourtingly but be ready to call a Tony Romo audible when you are a week or so away from leaving. Coming from Texas I'm guessing you are going to feel the cold more than most. Better to bring too much than not enough & being cold.