We need some advice about shorts!

[Hamilton-Arvisais]

Hello all,

Two of us (Canadians, so cold is in our blood, keep in mind) will be hiking the Camino Frances from the start of May to the start of June. My hiking partner is convinced he can wear shorts the whole way! For those pilgrims that have walked at this time, we are wondering if this is true, so we can pack accordingly. Thank you!

 

[Tia Valeria]

We are May walkers and wear zip-offs. Good if it is cold but also if it is hot to avoid sunburn. In May it is cooler but it can turn hot suddenly so options are always good.

 

[grayland]

Many people do. The mornings can be chilly but it does not seem to be a probl m to many.
Rain does not bother me in shorts...it just means less to dry out later.
Just be sure to have something to wear if cold sets in. You will probably need pants of some kind at some point as shorts are not accepted everywhere.

 

[Jo Jo]

Based on walking in July 2014, I would use long sleeve shirts and pants. This is about sun, not temperature. There is no shade on most of the route. We saw some amazing sun burns.

Buen Camino,
Jo Jo

 

[Urban Trekker]

Hello all,

Two of us (Canadians, so cold is in our blood, keep in mind) will be hiking the Camino Frances from the start of May to the start of June. My hiking partner is convinced he can wear shorts the whole way! For those pilgrims that have walked at this time, we are wondering if this is true, so we can pack accordingly. Thank you!

See Ivar's picture from yesterdays forum. Tell your friend to take his zip off trekking pants. Shorts and base layer bottoms is risky at best. Besides the pant legs might weigh a couple of ounces at best. Buen Camino

 

[traveler]

I walked May - June and wore hiking shorts every day (as did many others). But we didn't see any snow.

 

[spursfan]

I walked May - June and wore hiking shorts every day (as did many others).

For May-Sep, shorts plus sun-tan cream

 

[Brian&Deb J.]

A good Canuck should have no problem in shorts even in the snows of the Pyranees, eh?!

 

[mla1]

On the CF you might want long pants in the Pyrenees, where there could still be snow in May and also in Galicia - where I froze from being so damp all the time. Years ago on my first camino, which was in May, I did wear shorts many days - but usually with a long-sleeved shirt, a fleece, a touque, and gloves on many mornings! Socks that could be pulled up quite high (and then pushed down later) also helped! Now I tend to wear long pants no matter what - mostly for the sun. I've never been able to find a pair of zip-offs that I find comfortable enough - but lots of people swear by them. Lots of women's pants now have little snaps that allow you to roll them up to just below the knee - and I find that works really well. I'm not sure why men are assumed not to want to benefit from this feature! It's useful.
Buen camino!
Mary Louise

 

[Harington]

Hello all,

Two of us (Canadians, so cold is in our blood, keep in mind) will be hiking the Camino Frances from the start of May to the start of June. My hiking partner is convinced he can wear shorts the whole way! For those pilgrims that have walked at this time, we are wondering if this is true, so we can pack accordingly. Thank you!

I wore shorts all the way from SJPdP to Santiago from early May to early June, but the weather was great in 2011. I think you can wear shorts, but how about the trousers that unzip to make shorts?

 

[C clearly]

My hiking partner is convinced he can wear shorts the whole way!

Assuming he is a semi-competent adult, why argue?

 

[JFG]

Hello all,

Two of us (Canadians, so cold is in our blood, keep in mind) will be hiking the Camino Frances from the start of May to the start of June. My hiking partner is convinced he can wear shorts the whole way! For those pilgrims that have walked at this time, we are wondering if this is true, so we can pack accordingly. Thank you!

I take only 3/4 length pants (rock climbing type pants) because I can't decide between shorts or pants and don't care for zip -offs. My wife only wears shorts. This is true in May or September and includes northern higher elevations.

 

[Hamilton-Arvisais]

Great, thanks for the advice everyone! I think many of you are right when you say that zip-offs are a smart way to go. However perhaps I agree most maybe with the post that says, "If he's a semi-competent adult, why argue", haha. Thanks all!