For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
The only time that I would wear rain pants while out hiking would be to protect my lower body from a very cold wind rather than rain and even then there would need to be snow or ice on the ground. You are very unlikely to encounter this on the Portuguese Camino.Thanks for the great perspectives!
I wouldn’t pack the rain pants.Starting our Camino on May 6. Super excited! These forums have been awesome! Doing Coastal Portuguese from Porto with my daughter and her girlfriend. Definitely packing good lightweight rain jacket, but on the fence with rain pants. I'm probably in quick dry hiking shorts most of time based on the weather forecast, so my gut tells me I won't need the rain pants as will dry fairly quickly unless we get a downpour or hours of rain. Thoughts?
Don't forget your crampons.I walked the Camino Frances several years ago with my two sons and daughter in law. We got caught out unexpectedly on the Meseta shortly after leaving Castrojerez in very cold, pelting rain and sleet with high winds on April.30th...my worst weather day on any Camino I've walked.
We all had purchased inexpensive Frogg Togg rain suits and quickly put them on, except for one son who thought it not necessary to bring and carry his rain pants. He nearly "froze to death" and fully regretted his decision, especially when the sleet felt like painful needles on his legs.
None of the three of them were willing to use hiking poles either.
View attachment 168116
I always pack my lightweight Frogg Togg rain pants on early Spring caminos and have used them a few times on each one because I hate being cold...and hot, which is why I never walk in summer.I wouldn’t pack the rain pants.
In fact, I never have!
I walked in November also and i would sa some days torrential was an understatement!!!I walked the Portuguese coast last autumn. It was windy, rainy, and the rain was horizontal off the sea. I really WISH I'd had those waterproof pants for 2 reasons. 1) I would have been more comfortable I think and 2) my nylon pants quickly drained water into my wonderful, waterproof boots which were suddenly like walking in two enclosed puddles. So especially for reason 2), I'll have them next time. Or, as others have said, shorts & sandals & the *ell with the rain
Hi!
Kilt/rain skirt is all i wear i wont Camino in winter; but i wear shorts from end of March to Early December in UK
Rain kilt weighs 78grams on and off in seconds ;and you don't have to stand on one leg to put it on!
Wore it on the Portuguese Coastal in heavy rain for 7-8 hours great ventilation and it doesn't get clammy.
Wore it from Leon to Muxia will take to SJPP May 16th.
Link
ULA Rain Kilt
The ULA Rain Kilt is a simple solution for lightweight rain protection. Keeps moisture off of your lower body and provides excellent ventilation. Weight 2.8oz.www.ula-equipment.com
Every piece of gear falls into two primary categories, necessities or luxuries. Rain/wind pants fall somewhere in between. I think the decision boils down to the total weight to be added versus the total utility over the course of your trip. If you can afford the weight my preference is to have them in my pack. No they don't get used every day but when I want/need them, I'm glad I have them. I also use them in place of long pants so they serve double duty. This is clearly one of those personal judgement calls that doesn't have a right or wrong answer.Starting our Camino on May 6. Super excited! These forums have been awesome! Doing Coastal Portuguese from Porto with my daughter and her girlfriend. Definitely packing good lightweight rain jacket, but on the fence with rain pants. I'm probably in quick dry hiking shorts most of time based on the weather forecast, so my gut tells me I won't need the rain pants as will dry fairly quickly unless we get a downpour or hours of rain. Thoughts?
As a fellow Northener its shorts all year round.....rain, snow regardless...never feel.cold even in.the CheviotsIn May; I’d stick to shorts. They’re my preferred walking attire in any case as skin dries faster than cloth.
November through to March I pack waterproof over-trousers, which I hate with a passion and would only put on in torrential rain.
At home, where I walk frequently in the Cumbrian fells, my over trousers are known as my ‘going home’ trousers as if it’s wet enough to put them on whilst on the hills, I’m going home.
Several years ago, my daughter and I hiked the Portuguese from Porto, via the coastal for a few days, about the same time of year you'll be going.Starting our Camino on May 6. Super excited! These forums have been awesome! Doing Coastal Portuguese from Porto with my daughter and her girlfriend. Definitely packing good lightweight rain jacket, but on the fence with rain pants. I'm probably in quick dry hiking shorts most of time based on the weather forecast, so my gut tells me I won't need the rain pants as will dry fairly quickly unless we get a downpour or hours of rain. Thoughts?
BTW, nice carp!Thanks again for all of the great advice!
This is a "time of year" thing. From May through September, the rain pants are not needed. Synthetic fiber walking pants or shorts will dry very fast. We all know that bare skin is also drip-dry.I walked the Camino Frances several years ago with my two sons and daughter in law. We got caught out unexpectedly on the Meseta shortly after leaving Castrojerez in very cold, pelting rain and sleet with high winds on April.30th...my worst weather day on any Camino I've walked.
We all had purchased inexpensive Frogg Togg rain suits and quickly put them on, except for one son who thought it not necessary to bring and carry his rain pants. He nearly "froze to death" and fully regretted his decision, especially when the sleet felt like painful needles on his legs.
None of the three of them were willing to use hiking poles either.
View attachment 168116
This is my main reason for bringing rain pants. Not for intermittent light rain when it is a relatively warm day. I use a small, lightweight umbrella for that.For different seasons, when you might encounter hail, snow, sleet, etc., you might be wise to have the extra warmth layer of rain pants, or in other seasons when you expect to encounter high winds and sustained rains.
I found they made you sweat, so you were as wet inside them as outside. Also, they are noisy. Stick with quick dry hiking clothes. I left mine in a donation bin in an albergue.Starting our Camino on May 6. Super excited! These forums have been awesome! Doing Coastal Portuguese from Porto with my daughter and her girlfriend. Definitely packing good lightweight rain jacket, but on the fence with rain pants. I'm probably in quick dry hiking shorts most of time based on the weather forecast, so my gut tells me I won't need the rain pants as will dry fairly quickly unless we get a downpour or hours of rain. Thoughts?
I am just like you, Bob with cold, wet and wind.I'm cold natured. If it's raining and/or windy, I get cold.
Watching the people fighting the big jackets and ponchos is part of the "recreation"I am just like you, Bob with cold, wet and wind.
I use the both the Frogg Togg rain pants and matching jacket. It ain't pretty, but neither is the Altus...who cares.
If your looking for rain protection, trousers do well in cold weather. BUT they are as mention heavy and hot. Another option would be a rain skirt/kilt. I also like to hike wearing shorts. Skirts are very lite, waterproof, and cool. Buen Camino!Starting our Camino on May 6. Super excited! These forums have been awesome! Doing Coastal Portuguese from Porto with my daughter and her girlfriend. Definitely packing good lightweight rain jacket, but on the fence with rain pants. I'm probably in quick dry hiking shorts most of time based on the weather forecast, so my gut tells me I won't need the rain pants as will dry fairly quickly unless we get a downpour or hours of rain. Thoughts?
Yes, don't forget the convenience of wearing your rain gear on those days you've got a pile of laundry and really want to splurge and wash the whole lot all at once in a machine! We have done this more than once and it has been super nice, even if it feels a little weird.80 gram rain pants live in the bottom of my pack. I prefer shoulder season walking so bad weather insurance. Also useful on laundry days.
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?