We need some advice about shorts!

Hamilton-Arvisais

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

{2016}

• Mar 10, 2016

• #1

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

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Pt Norte/Pmtvo 2010
C. Inglés 2011
C. Primitivo '12
Norte-C. de la Reina '13
C. do Mar-C. Inglés '15

• Mar 10, 2016

• #2

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

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Yes

• Mar 10, 2016

• #3

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

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Eight routes; nine pilgrimages 2014-present

• Mar 10, 2016

• #4

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

Happy Trails

Time of past OR future Camino

English Camino (2013)
Portuguese Camino (2014)
French Camino (2016)
Way of Saint Francis April 2017

• Mar 11, 2016

• #5

Hamilton-Arvisais said:

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!

Click to expand...

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

Walking is the answer

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

s2015 & 2016, w 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022

• Mar 11, 2016

• #6

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

 

Last edited: Mar 11, 2016

S

spursfan

Veteran Member

• Mar 11, 2016

• #7

traveler said:

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

Click to expand...

For May-Sep, shorts plus sun-tan cream

 

Brian&Deb J.

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances Apr 2016
Frances Apr 16 2023

• Mar 11, 2016

• #8

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

 

mla1

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF (2000); St. Giles (2013); Le Puy-SJPP (2015); VDLP (2016); Mozárabe, Almeria to Granada (2018)

• Mar 11, 2016

• #9

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

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Vézelay/Francés 2011, Primitivo 2012, VdlP 2013, Via Domitia 2014, Inglés 2015, Francigena 2016

• Mar 11, 2016

• #10

Hamilton-Arvisais said:

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!

Click to expand...

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

Moderator

Staff member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Most years since 2012

• Mar 11, 2016

• #11

Hamilton-Arvisais said:

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

Click to expand...

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

 

JFG

Doing Caminos since 2003. Holy Cow!

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances, Portugues, Norte, Ignacio, Salvador, Tunnel, Ingles, and more...

• Mar 12, 2016

• #12

Hamilton-Arvisais said:

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!

Click to expand...

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

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

{2016}

• Mar 13, 2016

• #13

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!