Poncho with Rain Pants

[Waka]

Good Morning Pilgrims

As I mentioned in and earlier thread I have opted for the poncho over the jacket, I have read somewhere that also rain pants are advised. These I have, but am wondering if they are really necessary, if I leave these at home it will save 420 grams on my pack weight.
As usual all suggestions considered.

Buen Camino.

 

[MichaelSG]

Three simple truths: If it does not rain hard, you won't need them. If you leave them home, it will rain hard. If you take them, it won't rain.

I've done 3 Caminos and only needed the pants one day. If I didn't have them on that one day though, I would not have been able to walk. On one September day, freezing sideways rain and howling winds on a mountain kept everyone else inside shelter until about 1:00pm. Maybe that wasn't too bad but I wanted to walk.

I'll always take mine.

 

[Robo]

Getter lighter pants? Mine were 200 gms.

 

[Kiwi-d]

I think it may depend on when you're walking. In October last year I walked in driving rain for three days, and fell so in love with my rain pants I could have married them!

I agree with Robo though, the ones you have seem very heavy. Mine only weighed 195gms.

 

[Mike Savage]

Columbia Rebel Roamer rain pants for me. Not particularly light but the price was right. 9.8oz/278 grams.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

it will save 420 grams on my pack weight

That seems a bit heavy. My Sierra Design pants are 210 grams. I have taken them a couple of times, but never used them. On one camino with 26 days of rain in May, they would have been handy, but were back home in the storage bin! I think I just prefer wet lower legs; they do dry pretty quickly in intermittent or light rain.

 

[frasert]

2 Caminos later both with rain and mud and I would recommend a good poncho ( I bought a ferrino in St Jean) and rain pants. They kept my feet dry and that splashed mud off my pants. Also in April they were an extra layer at times.
I had a cheap Rainbird brand that weighed hardly anything though fell apart at the end.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Waka, it just depends on you.
My hips get cold and ache, so I like having rain pants.
My walking partner, Joe, wears shorts even in the cold and rain.
It's just a personal thing.
If you have an ALTUS poncho, it will cover you to your knees.

 

[scruffy1]

A poncho will keep you dry for a short period. The pants a bit longer. If you haven't opted for a quality set you will suffer from lack of ventilation and your own sweat will make you wetter than the rain. I always carry never mind the weight, if you need them you need them, but ventilation is no small issue even with a good set so I always think twice before breaking them out.

 

[Mark Lee]

Two Caminos, never brought rain pants and never needed them.

 

[Tincatinker]

The blessed Bill Bryson recounts, in Small Island, meeting two good Yorkshire lasses hiking in vests and shorts in proper Yorkshire weather ( cold and wet): their explanation "skin drys faster than cloth". Or as Bill Tidy had it (in reference to a potential tsunami on Brighton (England) beach "Roll up your trousers to the knee. Krakatoa has exploded".

Shorts under a poncho has worked well for me but you need to be aware of the potential chilling effects of continuous rain and wind.

 

[Waka]

Thanks for all the advice, I've decided that I'll take them along, as has been said I may never need them.
I have bought a pair that zip from the top and the bottom so I can get load of ventilation.
Another decision made, still loads more floating around my head, just less than 2 months left before I taker that big step in SJPdP.

 

[NavyBlue]

Hello,

Rain chaps,
e.g. http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=77
could be handy, and a little more ventilated.

I have got a pair (of another brand) and found them useful under daylong downpours in Galicia. But don't expect to keep dry, due to condensation

 

[Peregrino Falcon]

Just a thought, but another use for rain pants is pants to wear while your others are in the washer/dryer.

 

[Singingheart]

I think it may depend on when you're walking. In October last year I walked in driving rain for three days, and fell so in love with my rain pants I could have married them!

I agree with Robo though, the ones you have seem very heavy. Mine only weighed 195gms.

What brand of pain pants did you use?

 

[Robo]

What brand of pain pants did you use?

Probably two sizes too small

I used Berhaus Goretex. Only about 200 gms in weight. They were great.

 

[Urban Trekker]

Good Morning Pilgrims

As I mentioned in and earlier thread I have opted for the poncho over the jacket, I have read somewhere that also rain pants are advised. These I have, but am wondering if they are really necessary, if I leave these at home it will save 420 grams on my pack weight.
As usual all suggestions considered.

Buen Camino.

I've never used rain pants. It's hot enough with just the poncho, that and I don't mind wet shoes or lower pant legs.

 

[gerardcarey]

Hello,

Rain chaps,
e.g. http://www.mountainlaureldesigns.com/shop/product_info.php?products_id=77

I'm a bit impressed by this idea cobber.
Thank you
Regds
Gerard

 

[wayfarer]

I used rain pants as much if not more for the cold as for the rain.

 

[MartinZ]

I kept my pants dry by taking them of! Walking in my undies and leather boots under my poncho.
All accorded within the spirit of that moment of course.

 

[Kiwi-d]

What brand of pain pants did you use?

They are Rainbird, but unlike Frasert's they are still in good condition, so I'll hopefully get another Camino out of them.