Ross Sheeran
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- November 2015
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We are starting the Camino in late October and expect to encounter rain at times. We can't decide whether we should buy wet weather ponchos or complete waterproof pants and jackets (rain suits). We would appreciate any advice and suggestions from prilgrims who have experienced the Camino during wet weather.
Hi Kanga,Ah rain gear - one of those hiking problems that has not been satisfactorily solved.
I use an umbrella in rain plus an Altus in heavy rain and/or wind. The umbrella I love, but it is no good in wind.
The big problem, as pointed out by @MichaelSG , is that all waterproof rain gear will cause sweating. Don't believe the marketing hype about so-called "breathable" fabrics - if it's waterproof, it's going to get hot inside. The minute someone invents a truly fully breathable waterproof fabric, I'll be buying it.
For now my Altus will do. It is at least loose, and merino clothing underneath helps.
I've tried various Goretex jackets (and rain pants) but got too hot, and also found them harder to use. The Altus hangs off the back of my pack if rain is threatening and is easy to pull on and off.
The not-so-satisfactory part is the sleeves - I'd love pit zips like in the Packa. I've considered the Packa - I like how it stays on the pack, like the two way zips, like the pit zips. Don't like how fitted it seems, how short, and the cost. So sticking to the Altus for now.
I've never needed rain pants with an Altus - but I'm not tall and the Altus comes to below my knees.
Unfortunately when you are soaked you can be doomed! Thus always carry a second set of winter underwear!!
Kanga what about something to tie around the poncho in the event of very high winds? I'm thinking a bungie cord?? I would think it wouldn't take up any more space than regular cord.Ah rain gear - one of those hiking problems that has not been satisfactorily solved.
I use an umbrella in rain plus an Altus in heavy rain and/or wind. The umbrella I love, but it is no good in wind.
The big problem, as pointed out by @MichaelSG , is that all waterproof rain gear will cause sweating. Don't believe the marketing hype about so-called "breathable" fabrics - if it's waterproof, it's going to get hot inside. The minute someone invents a truly fully breathable waterproof fabric, I'll be buying it.
For now my Altus will do. It is at least loose, and merino clothing underneath helps.
I've tried various Goretex jackets (and rain pants) but got too hot, and also found them harder to use. The Altus hangs off the back of my pack if rain is threatening and is easy to pull on and off.
The not-so-satisfactory part is the sleeves - I'd love pit zips like in the Packa. I've considered the Packa - I like how it stays on the pack, like the two way zips, like the pit zips. Don't like how fitted it seems, how short, and the cost. So sticking to the Altus for now.
I've never needed rain pants with an Altus - but I'm not tall and the Altus comes to below my knees.
Ah rain gear - one of those hiking problems that has not been satisfactorily solved.
I use an umbrella in rain plus an Altus in heavy rain and/or wind. The umbrella I love, but it is no good in wind.
The big problem, as pointed out by @MichaelSG , is that all waterproof rain gear will cause sweating. Don't believe the marketing hype about so-called "breathable" fabrics - if it's waterproof, it's going to get hot inside. The minute someone invents a truly fully breathable waterproof fabric, I'll be buying it.
For now my Altus will do. It is at least loose, and merino clothing underneath helps.
I've tried various Goretex jackets (and rain pants) but got too hot, and also found them harder to use. The Altus hangs off the back of my pack if rain is threatening and is easy to pull on and off.
The not-so-satisfactory part is the sleeves - I'd love pit zips like in the Packa. I've considered the Packa - I like how it stays on the pack, like the two way zips, like the pit zips. Don't like how fitted it seems, how short, and the cost. So sticking to the Altus for now.
I've never needed rain pants with an Altus - but I'm not tall and the Altus comes to below my knees.
another one….can you carry an umbrella and use walking poles at the same time??Ah rain gear - one of those hiking problems that has not been satisfactorily solved.
I use an umbrella in rain plus an Altus in heavy rain and/or wind. The umbrella I love, but it is no good in wind.
The big problem, as pointed out by @MichaelSG , is that all waterproof rain gear will cause sweating. Don't believe the marketing hype about so-called "breathable" fabrics - if it's waterproof, it's going to get hot inside. The minute someone invents a truly fully breathable waterproof fabric, I'll be buying it.
For now my Altus will do. It is at least loose, and merino clothing underneath helps.
I've tried various Goretex jackets (and rain pants) but got too hot, and also found them harder to use. The Altus hangs off the back of my pack if rain is threatening and is easy to pull on and off.
The not-so-satisfactory part is the sleeves - I'd love pit zips like in the Packa. I've considered the Packa - I like how it stays on the pack, like the two way zips, like the pit zips. Don't like how fitted it seems, how short, and the cost. So sticking to the Altus for now.
I've never needed rain pants with an Altus - but I'm not tall and the Altus comes to below my knees.
I usually fold my walking sticks and put them away in my backpack when holding my umbrella. Otherwise you can squeeze one stick in your underarm and keep using the other stick. It's a balancing act!another one….can you carry an umbrella and use walking poles at the same time??
We are starting the Camino in late October and expect to encounter rain at times. We can't decide whether we should buy wet weather ponchos or complete waterproof pants and jackets (rain suits). We would appreciate any advice and suggestions from prilgrims who have experienced the Camino during wet weather.
I saw many people who wore ponchos get soaked on windy , stormy weather, especially in Galicia-O'Cebreiro area. The ponchos blew off up high, allowing rain underneath.
another one….can you carry an umbrella and use walking poles at the same time??
how very clever. ThanksYes, you can either buy a "hands free" umbrella (there is at least one on the market) or use an ordinary umbrella. To use a normal umbrella as handsfree it needs an elasticised fabric loop coming out of the bottom of the handle. All hiking umbrellas seem to have the elasticised loop.
Put the umbrella up. Thread the handle and shaft down through the carrying loop at the top of your backpack, directly behind your head, at the back of your neck. Pull the handle round to the front over one shoulder. Then secure the umbrella by tieing the fabric loop to your waistband. You can make adjustments to suit; it can go under your sternam strap or fixed with a gear tie in various ways. A bit of experimenting is needed.
Here's a YouTube showing how
At least he's a dry turtle. That's the type of poncho I'm after . . . one that has sleeves and covers your backpack.Yes, good point @MichaelSG - the Altus (and there are other brands that are similar) is more like a raincoat with a hood that covers the backpack. This photo of my husband on an awful day makes me laugh - a turtle?
View attachment 20319
Thanks a lot. That's another option to try. We get a few don't we!Never tried chaps but in the "turtle" photo above Ian is wearing Sealskinz (trade name, no animal involved) waterproof socks with sandals - worked very well to keep out the cold and water. They come a fair up the legs. It's a bit like wearing a wetsuit on ones feet and lower legs.
Annie IYO, what would be the best type of liner for my bag? Some have mentioned trash bags, but I find them very flimsy..I hope to keep my pack as dry as is possibleI've done both and they both work fine.
I like the pants because they keep my hips warm.
But I also love my ALTUS poncho and would never walk without it.
It goes over my pack and down to my ankles nearly, and keeps me toasty as long as I leave the top unzipped a ways.
I'd say do what feels best for you.
Thanks so much Cclearly. MEC has become my home away from home here in Victoria. It never occurred to me that they had such a thing. Brilliant…..@movinmaggie If you are looking for something to go inside your back pack, you might consider this pack liner from MEC. The medium size weighs 88 g and nicely fits inside my Osprey Talon 33. (It should be a bit bigger than the inside of the pack, so it can "flow" into the internal shape of the pack and fill it completely.) I also have a pack cover. I am a bit obsessive about organizing my things, so I am willing to carry dry bags that others could consider unnecessary.
Annie IYO, what would be the best type of liner for my bag? Some have mentioned trash bags, but I find them very flimsy..I hope to keep my pack as dry as is possible
Annie it's not an Altus. I got it locally here in Victoria. It's JR Gear, but it is the type that covers your backpack. I just thought if there might be a few days where I wouldn't be wearing the poncho. I'm taking a rain jacket that will also service to keep me warm. In that case, I just wanted some extra protection for the backpack if it were a light rain...Maggie, if you use an ALTUS, you do not NEED a liner for your bag. My pack has never gotten wet, even in the strongest downpours.
Annie IYO, what would be the best type of liner for my bag? Some have mentioned trash bags, but I find them very flimsy..I hope to keep my pack as dry as is possible[/QUOTE
Nobody ever believes this when I say it, but my wife and I walked from SJPP to Santiago 16 Aug through 25 Sep, 2013, and never got rained on until we reached the outskirts of Santiago. Yes, there were foggy, misty mornings in Galicia, a light shower or two along the Meseta (none of which required donning rain gear), and one terrific thunderstorm at night after we were in bed at the albergue in Villarmentero, but it was not until we crossed the bridge over the motorway at the foot of Monte de Goza that we actually used our rain gear for anything other than warmth on a couple of cool mornings. For that reason -- which is probably not a good reason due to those unusual circumstances -- I place myself in the rain jacket and pants group. Oh yeah, we stayed in Santiago for four days and used our rain gear everyday we were there.Of course you could just walk on warm dry days?
2010 was the last Holy Year.Wasn't 2013 a holy year?
Thanks for sharing your experiences - I am leaving on Sunday for Irun (starting Norte and changing to Primitivo at Oviedo) and have found so many of your post very helpful. As an experienced hiker in South Africa, we are used to the debates about ponchos vs rain jackets! The Altus sounds great - we don't have anything like the Altus available here, so I am going to buy it in Irun.To clarify:- our ponchos are rectangular, side poppered and no sleeves. The latest Rohan poncho is more like the Altus with one significant drawback, the poppers are still there but in such a way that they let water run inside when worn over a rucksack. We bought new ones in the sale last year (planning to wear up the old ones training over the winter) but have made them 'home wear' instead after modifying them. We have drawn Rohan's attention to the problem as the only solution is to carefully stitch the flap-over to seal it, so making a pull-over-the-head style jacket. At present they are not really Camino wear, glad we still have our old ones which have been wonderful. If we needed new then we too would probably go for the Altus.
Thanks for sharing your experiences - I am leaving on Sunday for Irun (starting Norte and changing to Primitivo at Oviedo) and have found so many of your post very helpful. As an experienced hiker in South Africa, we are used to the debates about ponchos vs rain jackets! The Altus sounds great - we don't have anything like the Altus available here, so I am going to buy it in Irun.
Just want to acknowledge the availability of silnylon rain chaps. For an Altus wearer like me who hates getting his feet wet from the rain wicking down his socks, they appear a cooler alternative to rain pants.
Advice from chaps wearers please?
I have worn rain chaps, as an alternative to full rain pants. They were an an attempt to avoid heavy sweating through lack of ventilation. They didn't work, any more than the rain pants. I quit wearing them. Excess perspiration is also why I use an open-sided poncho (with a light jacket to keep my arms dry, left open at the front) as my raingear. If I have to get wet, I prefer from the outside in rather than from the inside out.
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