Umbrellas—Walking Camino Frances April-May 2020

[ElnaJune]

First I want to say a hello to all and a special thank you to Ivar for creating and maintaining this wonderful forum. Many members’ posts have already helped me in the planning stage for my first Camino.

I have so enjoyed geeking out on gear choices, and albergues and routes, O My! I hold a special place in my heart for Dave Bugg, whose detailed answers to previous questions have changed my perspective on the pilgrimage—Thank you Dave!

I have questions for those of you pilgrims who have very fair skin and are susceptible to sunburn, eye strain and overheating. I am a former redhead with light eyes. Have you used umbrellas on the Camino? Do you like the hands-free kind? I generally walk with trekking poles. What about umbrellas with the protective silver coating? Are they worth it? I live in Sonoma County California. We have a mild marine climate and I generally can find a way to work around full hot sun. All advice is greatly appreciated.

 

[trecile]

I have used the Euroschirm hands free telescoping umbrella twice on the Camino Frances - invaluable for shade on the Meseta! Last year I bought a lighter weight umbrella - the Euroschirm Light Trek Ultra. They both have the silver outer coating. I made my own attachments out of velcro for the Light Trek Ultra umbrella, but they weren't nearly as stable as the clip attachments that come with the handsfree model. And the other thing that makes the hands free umbrella more stable is the extra long handle that attaches at the hip belt. I'm planning to modify one of my clips from the hands free umbrella to fit the smaller diameter of the shaft of the light weight umbrella and see how that works.

 

[ElnaJune]

Thanks so much, Trecile. I was McGyvering a velcro attachment to an umbrella I already own and the result did not feel real secure. I will look at the hands-free telescoping model. Great feedback.

 

[trecile]

Thanks so much, Trecile. I was McGyvering a velcro attachment to an umbrella I already own and the result did not feel real secure. I will look at the hands-free telescoping model. Great feedback.

If you do end up making your own attachments you should have at least two points of contact with your backpack.

 

[ElnaJune]

Again, great feedback. Thanks! Did you use your umbrella for sun only or is is part of your rain gear as well?

 

[trecile]

Again, great feedback. Thanks! Did you use your umbrella for sun only or is is part of your rain gear as well?

I use it for sun and rain. I also have a poncho, because when it's raining sideways an umbrella won't keep you completely dry.
So I use the poncho and umbrella, and then I don't need to wear the poncho hood, which I find obstruvtsymy vision.

 

[alhartman]

I use cheap collapsible umbrella mostly for sun. I just pay $2 for a used one at a resale shop and throw away when it fails.
Handle stuffed under the sternum strap and rest the ribs on the top of my pack-gives my two points of contact. Cheap and jury-rigged to work. And I still have hands for my poles.
I use an Altus poncho over the pack for rain protection--enough wind with the Spanish rain to make an umbrella worthless.
Trekking umbrellas are better but not in my budget.