CaminoJoy123
Active Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- 2017
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I have a Ferrino rain coat that is similar to the Altus, but I think it weighs a little more.
Got it on Amazon and have used it for three Caminos. It covers a backpack, but is a coat not a poncho. I love it.
I am taking the Sea to Summit poncho. It will need to be belted around me if there is a high wind with the rain (have a long shoe string for this, and laundry line if needed). It is very cool in hot weather, you can wrap it around your pack and have most of yourself uncovered for light rain. I did go out in the rain with it on, I did get wet on the sides of my clothes. Using hiking poles, I would get some water in no matter what.
Hubby has a non-vented over the head poncho. I will be great in colder weather and he chills easier than I. It will keep you and your pack very dry. Wear a billed cap under the poncho head covering and take a clip to attach the two, otherwise the rain cap will blow off in the wind.
We start walking 9/9.
I have a Ferrino rain coat that is similar to the Altus, but I think it weighs a little more.
Got it on Amazon and have used it for three Caminos. It covers a backpack, but is a coat not a poncho. I love it.
Given wet NZ tramping conditions, and that we usually walk the Camino in northern Autumn, we invested in good lightweight coats and rain paints. Nothing worse them getting wet day after day and these work well. While blokes may get by with the simple draw string pants, Sheila's should consider ones with zips down both sides, this makes them easier to get on and off and you can usually zip them up from the bottom for your boots/ shoes or to just vent your legs, mine were designed for snow boarding and are light weight and dry... If a little snug these days.Seems many like the Altus ponchos/jacket but I'm a long-time fame of rain pants and jacket in colder months but in September a poncho may be a great idea. I use a Sea to Summit tarp poncho in warmer weather because it's got a lot of airflow. Some don't like the air flow however because if flaps the poncho around quite a bit. I once had a scare standing in front of a large cow with large horns, in the wind, with a madly flapping poncho. In my mind it was a bull and my poncho was a red flag just begging for him to charge me. After those first few seconds of irrational fear my right brain kicked in and I've laughed at myself for several years now! That said, I've never had even 2 secs of fear wearing my rain jacket
Not the one that can be a tarp. This one is lighter. 6.4 oz.Which Sea to Summit poncho?
Not the one that can be a tarp. This one is lighter. 6.4 oz.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B01CORQPW8/?tag=casaivar02-20
I just purchased the Sea to Summit tarp poncho. Looked like the best option.Seems many like the Altus ponchos/jacket but I'm a long-time fame of rain pants and jacket in colder months but in September a poncho may be a great idea. I use a Sea to Summit tarp poncho in warmer weather because it's got a lot of airflow. Some don't like the air flow however because if flaps the poncho around quite a bit. I once had a scare standing in front of a large cow with large horns, in the wind, with a madly flapping poncho. In my mind it was a bull and my poncho was a red flag just begging for him to charge me. After those first few seconds of irrational fear my right brain kicked in and I've laughed at myself for several years now! That said, I've never had even 2 secs of fear wearing my rain jacket
I leave the same day from St.Jean. I hope to meet you Jo.I am taking the Sea to Summit poncho. It will need to be belted around me if there is a high wind with the rain (have a long shoe string for this, and laundry line if needed). It is very cool in hot weather, you can wrap it around your pack and have most of yourself uncovered for light rain. I did go out in the rain with it on, I did get wet on the sides of my clothes. Using hiking poles, I would get some water in no matter what.
Hubby has a non-vented over the head poncho. I will be great in colder weather and he chills easier than I. It will keep you and your pack very dry. Wear a billed cap under the poncho head covering and take a clip to attach the two, otherwise the rain cap will blow off in the wind.
We start walking 9/9.
I hope you'll like it, @LukeK but I'll impart just one more piece of (unsolicited) advice... wait for the windiest day back home before you leave for Spain and go outside with your pack on and practice putting and taking off the poncho. I made the mistake of not doing this before standing in SJPDP. This is an snippet from my blog about that fateful day... "My first moments in St Jean Pied-de-Port quickly went from inspired to slapstick. I exited the taxi only to have the skies open up with the first of many downpours and/or snow storms over the next 5 weeks. No problem, I’ve got this. I dug into my backpack and brought out a shiny new Sea-to-Summit backpackers poncho, the kind designed to envelope the pack and the packer in one neat and tidy waterproof package. As luck would have it, I didn’t try this poncho out at home in the wind and rain. Nope, just in a dry, windless store with two sales clerks helping me put it on. Now, on my own in Hurricane James, in front of a cute old Basque couple in their car having lunch, I began the ‘Dance of the Poncho’. Visualize a pudgy, middle-aged Canadian Peregrino wearing a 50L backpack in a wind stiff enough to bring the rain down sideways trying to finesse a billowing poncho over his head and then further dislocating both shoulders in a vain attempt to slide the poncho further down over his backpack while delicately balancing his trekking poles with an unoccupied hip. At one point during the dance I looked over at my Basque couple and saw a piece of Jamón Serrano (just fancy words for Spanish ham, pfffft) snort out of the man’s nose as he spasmed with laughter at my plight. She, the gentler and kinder of the two, was much more restrained, however, still needed to wipe the tears of laughter our of her eyes. An eternity (4 minutes if precision is warranted) later, on stiff legs, I went off in search of my recently lost dignity, poncho firmly planted in the bottom of my pack."I just purchased the Sea to Summit tarp poncho. Looked like the best option.
That you - some excellent advice. It is very windy in Sydney at the moment so I will just do as you say. Sorry to hear your sad story.I hope you'll like it, @LukeK but I'll impart just one more piece of (unsolicited) advice... wait for the windiest day back home before you leave for Spain and go outside with your pack on and practice putting and taking off the poncho. I made the mistake of not doing this before standing in SJPDP. This is an snippet from my blog about that fateful day... "My first moments in St Jean Pied-de-Port quickly went from inspired to slapstick. I exited the taxi only to have the skies open up with the first of many downpours and/or snow storms over the next 5 weeks. No problem, I’ve got this. I dug into my backpack and brought out a shiny new Sea-to-Summit backpackers poncho, the kind designed to envelope the pack and the packer in one neat and tidy waterproof package. As luck would have it, I didn’t try this poncho out at home in the wind and rain. Nope, just in a dry, windless store with two sales clerks helping me put it on. Now, on my own in Hurricane James, in front of a cute old Basque couple in their car having lunch, I began the ‘Dance of the Poncho’. Visualize a pudgy, middle-aged Canadian Peregrino wearing a 50L backpack in a wind stiff enough to bring the rain down sideways trying to finesse a billowing poncho over his head and then further dislocating both shoulders in a vain attempt to slide the poncho further down over his backpack while delicately balancing his trekking poles with an unoccupied hip. At one point during the dance I looked over at my Basque couple and saw a piece of Jamón Serrano (just fancy words for Spanish ham, pfffft) snort out of the man’s nose as he spasmed with laughter at my plight. She, the gentler and kinder of the two, was much more restrained, however, still needed to wipe the tears of laughter our of her eyes. An eternity (4 minutes if precision is warranted) later, on stiff legs, I went off in search of my recently lost dignity, poncho firmly planted in the bottom of my pack."
I don't know what the newer Altus rainwear is like...such a misconception when it is referred to as a "poncho" since as Kanga says it is a coat. What I know is that it is my non-negotiable item for my second Camino late September - November this year. (Just four weeks to go....So excited!!) Last time, ten years ago, I envied people who had one and when I purchased mine finally in Lyon it gave me such a sense of security....even though the rain stopped soon after. I figured if necessary I could camp out in it! Granted, I'm pretty small and it's pretty huge! Certainly not fashion gear so I will also bring a light wind/rain jacket for rest days etc@LukeK it is probably too late to say this, if you have spent your money. But for the sake of others....
Altus raincoats are available in Madrid, St Jean Pied de Port, Pamplona, and Sarria. They cost about 49 euros. They don't blow about the way a poncho does, and they open all the way down the front so that they are easy to take on and off and for ventilation. They can be left hanging off the back of a pack and pulled on in a sudden downpour, and pulled back onto the pack when it stops raining. I have an old fashioned one, which weighs a bit more, but the newest ones are quite light.
Here is a link to the shop in Madrid - with photos so you can see what they look like.
Great work. Thanks @Kanga@LukeK it is probably too late to say this, if you have spent your money. But for the sake of others....
Altus raincoats are available in Madrid, St Jean Pied de Port, Pamplona, and Sarria. They cost about 49 euros. They don't blow about the way a poncho does, and they open all the way down the front so that they are easy to take on and off and for ventilation. They can be left hanging off the back of a pack and pulled on in a sudden downpour, and pulled back onto the pack when it stops raining. I have an old fashioned one, which weighs a bit more, but the newest ones are quite light.
Here is a link to the shop in Madrid - with photos so you can see what they look like.
Since cattle are green/red colour blind (daltonico in Spanish) you need not have worried about the colour of your raingear - it would have been the madly flapping poncho that would have caused it to chargeSeems many like the Altus ponchos/jacket but I'm a long-time fame of rain pants and jacket in colder months but in September a poncho may be a great idea. I use a Sea to Summit tarp poncho in warmer weather because it's got a lot of airflow. Some don't like the air flow however because if flaps the poncho around quite a bit. I once had a scare standing in front of a large cow with large horns, in the wind, with a madly flapping poncho. In my mind it was a bull and my poncho was a red flag just begging for him to charge me. After those first few seconds of irrational fear my right brain kicked in and I've laughed at myself for several years now! That said, I've never had even 2 secs of fear wearing my rain jacket
I think the most frequent question is about backpack weightIs this the most frequent question? If not it will have the most opinions, next to socks and shoes.
Put my vote in the jacket column. Double use when it is cold, and not raining. Mine is bright "Safety Yellow" better in the dark and on roadways..... Ultreya... Willy/Utah/USA