Rain proof gloves necessary in April?

[Wanderingfriend]

I am planning to start walking from Burgos in early April. Before on my May and September Caminos I just had merino wool gloves. Do any of you have thoughts about a rain proof glove for an earlier spring walk?

 

[wayfarer]

I use Merino wool gloves, warm even when wet.

 

[C clearly]

I am indecisive and get cold hands, so I take a light merino liner inside a rain-resistant glove.

 

[Grousedoctor]

I have always carried a light pair of liners with me. In the early morning and on rainy days, I’ve enjoyed having had them.

 

[Wanderingfriend]

I have always carried a light pair of liners with me. In the early morning and on rainy days, I’ve enjoyed having had them.

Rain proof?

 

[Grousedoctor]

Rain proof?

More water repellant. Like other garments and my pack, I use a silicone spray which helps a great deal.

 

[4sallypat]

When I fish the wet weather months on the rivers, I use DWR spray on all my outer gear and pack.

During the season when it starts to wear off, I tumble them in a low setting dryer and the finish is restored.

 

[Susan Peacock]

So I've walked two times in April (same dates/different years) both for 38 days. One time, it rained some part of 75% of the days, another year my rain gear never came out of my pack. I personally don't like the waterproof gloves when using my poles. I take my Smartwool gloves and these waterproof mittens to wear over them that weigh like an ounce.

 

[pasiño a pasiño]

I am using gloves only in winter under 0° otherwise i sweat....

 

[Susan Peacock]

I am using gloves only in winter under 0° otherwise i sweat....

May 12th at Cruz de Fero. No gloves as it was a "spring Camino." I froze wearing wet socks on my hands and some people got frostbite that day. Two years later same day, same place....snowed again

 

[Camino Chrissy]

May 12th at Cruz de Fero. No gloves as it was a "spring Camino." I froze wearing wet socks on my hands and some people got frostbite that day. Two years later same day, same place....snowed again

I've walked up to Cruz de Fero twice, both in late April 2015 and again in 2017. I had chilly, but nice weather both times.
I do take a pair of $3 Dollar Store fleece gloves that I have used mainly on colder mornings.

 

[Eve Alexandra]

End of March 2017, O Ceb. Earlier in the week around Astorga it was hot. My winter running gloves were not enough for this level of cold. I had merino socks over them and it was still awful. I’m taking fleece mittens this time. I think some form of gloves is a necessity for a spring Camino. Anyone know if you can spray fleece with camp dry?

 

[Just 2K]

If it keeps rain out, it keeps sweat in. Sorry, Gortex.
When hiking, your body produces a lot of heat. I climb a lot of mountains in the winter in CO, and hate putting on heavy gloves, as my hands just get wet inside the glove, which leads to cold.
I find it better to hike with breathable wool or fleece and count on my activity to keep me warm. Then, when I stop, I break out the insulating layer and gloves.
I’ve hiked the Camino in April and been in snow and driving rain. I use a pair of Buff fishing gloves. They are light enough to not overheat in the mornings, and warm enough for hiking down to about 25-30*F (with no wind).
They breath to let out the sweat, have dexterity to open a can of beer, magic fingertips to dial your mom on your smartphone (60% of the time), and still keep your hands warm in the rain in the 40s.
If it’s freezing rain and snowing, Then you want winter gloves.
I did find a pair of Black Diamond Polartec gloves with an integrated nylon mitten that pulls over from the wrist cuff. I use them regularly on the mountain down to the 20’s and pull the shell over to cut a 25mph wind and am quite warm and comfortable. I haven’t tested them in the rain, but I imagine the nylon shell is waterproof.
But, and this is a big but. Nothing comfortable is waterproof in long term exposure to rain, especially when subjected to body movement such as arm swinging (changing angles agains the rain) and gripping and re-gripping poles.
If you don’t like walking for 6-7 hours in a nylon sauna and getting wet no matter what you wear, take a rain day.
Buen Camino

 

[Marbe2]

I take silk gloves. If it rains I put the poles under my Ikea rain poncho, tie a chord around the waist loosely, so it won’t blow off when gusty and this works fine. The poncho also helps to insulate the hands from the cold as well. The silk gloves dry quickly!

 

[edtrudeau]

On Frances now, liners are plenty.

 

[trecile]

End of March 2017, O Ceb. Earlier in the week around Astorga it was hot. My winter running gloves were not enough for this level of cold. I had merino socks over them and it was still awful. I’m taking fleece mittens this time. I think some form of gloves is a necessity for a spring Camino. Anyone know if you can spray fleece with camp dry?

I left my merino gloves at home when I walked in July/August of 2017.
It was so cold at O Cebreiro on August 1st that I had to wear socks on my hands. Unfortunately I hadn't packed wool socks, and my hands still froze. Brrrrrr!

 

[Susan Peacock]

On Frances now, liners are plenty.

It is nice to hear that your weather hasn't been too cold and I hope it stays that way. I have rarely seen the weather stay the same across the entire country of Spain on my Camino's, particularly in the spring. If you have not made it to Cruz de Fero or O'Cebrerio yet, I suggest you check the weather forecast. I walked in a white out blizzard in May and was in short sleeves two days later. If anything this discussion shows, is that weather is part of the "Art" of the Camino, is different for different pilgrims and certainly not within our control. Buen Camino! We are all envious that you are on Camino and having good weather.

 

[Mary M]

I am planning to start walking from Burgos in early April. Before on my May and September Caminos I just had merino wool gloves. Do any of you have thoughts about a rain proof glove for an earlier spring walk?

I wore merino wool gloves and bought a pair of lightweight water proof mittens which I used a couple of times when I walked in the rain and one day in a surprise snow shower!

 

[JohnMcM]

I am planning to start walking from Burgos in early April. Before on my May and September Caminos I just had merino wool gloves. Do any of you have thoughts about a rain proof glove for an earlier spring walk?

I guess, like me, you have a real reason for considering taking gloves and for asking this question. My chosen waterproof and windproof gloves are from the Porelle range. Perhaps a search under that name might be helpful to you.
Buen (happy-hands) Camino

 

[Colette Z]

I am planning to start walking from Burgos in early April. Before on my May and September Caminos I just had merino wool gloves. Do any of you have thoughts about a rain proof glove for an earlier spring walk?

I carry light gloves plus surgical gloves over top in case of rain. Has worked well for me especially on camino del Norte when it rained 85% of the days.

 

[davebugg]

Most often, my hands stay perfectly warm and comfortable in the rain, no gloves.

If it is cold - whether raining or not - and my fingers are getting cold (which is seldom) then I will put on a thin pair of nitrile exam gloves first, and then put on a pair of polartec power-stretch gloves over the nitrile gloves. I prefer nitrile gloves because they are fairly tough and reusable, but vinyl or latex exam/food handler's gloves will also work.

The nitrile gloves create a vapor barrier. This allows perspiration to stay inside the nitrile glove. Like a wet suit, the vapor barrier will warm any perspiration which keeps hands warm. The outer glove provides additional thermal insulation. If the outer glove becomes wet, the inner nitrile glove provides an additional barrier against the cold wetness reaching the skin.

A lot of folks prefer to put a waterproof glove over the insulating glove, but I do not want to get the insulating glove wet from perspiration if the weather is dry, and if the weather is wet, the thermal, insulating effect of a vapor barrier is missing.

If I am worried about 'pruned skin' or maceration, I will put a light coating of a goop on my hands first - vaseline, BodyGlide, HikeGoo, etc. At breaks, I remove gloves, dry my hands, turn the nitrile gloves inside out and dry them. When ready to go, apply goop, put on the gloves, and start smiling because I get to walk a pilgrimage rain or shine .

 

[ken2116]

I am planning to start walking from Burgos in early April. Before on my May and September Caminos I just had merino wool gloves. Do any of you have thoughts about a rain proof glove for an earlier spring walk?

My experience with waterproof gloves is they can develop leaks, sometimes within a few days, or body moisture condenses on the inside (especially when cold or wet on the outside) - either way one's insulation gets wet and skin cold. The same goes for jackets and sleeping bags.

I've used the following approach in winter - wear a pair of thin water or vapor proof gloves on the inside, maybe over thin fabric gloves for comfort (I have a pair from Stephenson's-Warmlite that combine thin fabric with a vapor barrier, but 'single use' polyethylene or surgical rubber gloves also work, or plastic bags if you're wearing mittens), wear an insulating glove or mitt in the middle, followed by waterproof gloves or mitts on the outside. Insulation stays dry and your hands warm. The humidity near your skin will get high, but is less likely to condense (because it's warm), and even if it does condense your skin stays warm.

The same can be done with foot ware - a thin liner sock, polyethylene vegetable or bread bag, wool socks, followed by another polyethylene bag. Even with very wet boots one's insulation stays dry and feet warm. The liner sock might get damp, but that's a small price to pay for warmth.

 

[Cicada]

I am planning to start walking from Burgos in early April. Before on my May and September Caminos I just had merino wool gloves. Do any of you have thoughts about a rain proof glove for an earlier spring walk?

Not sure about rain proof but definitely cold proof gloves! Buen Camino

 

[Cicada]

So I've walked two times in April (same dates/different years) both for 38 days. One time, it rained some part of 75% of the days, another year my rain gear never came out of my pack. I personally don't like the waterproof gloves when using my poles. I take my Smartwool gloves and these waterproof mittens to wear over them that weigh like an ounce.

I must say terrific photos Susan!!!

 

[OZAJ]

I have never worn gloves on the camino, but have never walked in winter. Not sure whether I would need them in winter or not. I would start without, and if I found I needed them I would buy them in Spain.

You can get too tech about this stuff. As a boy in UK I wore short trousers in the winter. Didn't have a choice!

 

[legless]

I start walking next week and I'll be taking my neoprene gloves that I use when working my traffic management extra job. Cold hands are miserable as are wet woollen gloves in my opinion plus these are the gloves I have and I don't want to spend out on anything else!

 

[Scott Sweeney]

I am planning to start walking from Burgos in early April. Before on my May and September Caminos I just had merino wool gloves. Do any of you have thoughts about a rain proof glove for an earlier spring walk?

Anything that is rain proof also won't let persperation out, I would think your hands would more easily get cold

 

[linkster]

I always have a light pair of gloves with me because my hands get cold easy. I did buy a pair of dishwashing gloves in the supermercado to wear over the top of my liners. They made a huge difference after several days in a row of rain. The idea caught in and I saw a few other peregrinos with bright blue, yellow, and green dishwashing gloves ... we all laughed.

 

[Wanderingfriend]

I always have a light pair of gloves with me because my hands get cold easy. I did buy a pair of dishwashing gloves in the supermercado to wear over the top of my liners. They made a huge difference after several days in a row of rain. The idea caught in and I saw a few other peregrinos with bright blue, yellow, and green dishwashing gloves ... we all laughed.

That is funny and also a great reflection of the spirit along the Camino.

 

[Eve Alexandra]

I always have a light pair of gloves with me because my hands get cold easy. I did buy a pair of dishwashing gloves in the supermercado to wear over the top of my liners. They made a huge difference after several days in a row of rain. The idea caught in and I saw a few other peregrinos with bright blue, yellow, and green dishwashing gloves ... we all laughed.

That’s brilliant as a quick last minute solution!