windbreaker or altus poncho?

mauveglass

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francis (Sept/Oct 2012) Portuguese Central (2016), Portuguese Coastal (2018), Del Norte (2020)

• Jul 29, 2012

• #1

I've been reading the posts on this subject but need to ask it again...I'm leaving on Sept 1st from Roncesvalles and planning to walk through mid Oct. Would you recommend both a windjacket and Altus poncho or just the poncho? I'm really trying to get the weight down.
Cindy

 

D

Deleted member 3000

Guest

• Jul 29, 2012

• #2

I suggest taking both. The wind jacket should not weigh much, it is good for layering, and it is much more convenient in the evenings than an Altus.

 

norelle

Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances (2011 April, 2014 March) San Salvador, Primitivo, Finisterre, Muxia (June 2015) Del Norte (Sept/Oct 2016)

• Jul 29, 2012

• #3

I took both. The windbreaker was excellent as an extra layer. The Altus poncho - even though I only used it a handful of times, was terrific during heavy rain. So, I didn't mind carrying it the rest of the way. I walked in April / May 2011 and was very lucky with the weather. Buen camino!

 

wayfarer

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2012, 2013, 2014.

• Jul 29, 2012

• #4

Yep take both.
Buen Camino.

 

BoldenMD

Member

• Jul 29, 2012

• #5

Just trying to understand as I lay everything out, pack it, unpack it etc. (It really becomes an obsession.) So, the recommendation is to take a windbreaker, a poncho AND a fleece for September/October?

 

Josefine

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés Primitivo Aragonés/Francés, Portugues Fisterra/Muxia Norte San Salvador Via Gebennesis

• Jul 29, 2012

• #6

Yes, windbreaker, poncho and fleece for September/Octuber. You'll need all three before your camino is over. I walked this summer in June and needed all three, I walked in August 2010 and needed all three. Never trust the weather in northern Spain.
Josefine

 

Sheesh

Active Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

2009, 2013, 2022

• Mar 14, 2013

• #7

Finally my kit is ready for my May 12, 2013 continuation from Burgos. Though I will still be a pudgie peregrina, I’m happy to say that I will be 35 pounds lighter than when I walked in 2009, which is a combination of body weight and pack weight.

But one piece of kit that was eluding me was an ultralight wind shell. I had toyed with the idea of making do with my Altus poncho for any windy sections on the trail and, if needed, for sightseeing after my daily walk; but I wasn’t really satisfied with that prospect, so I kept looking for a wind shell.

I am very pleased with the Nike garment I finally located. I bought a women’s large and it weighs 110 grams. It is not seam sealed so it does not replace a poncho, but does bead a light mist, and my trials around town in the wind are proving that it could be a very valuable piece of kit for my camino.

I’m posting a link here to EBay on the off chance that some other "generously proportioned" ladies may be looking for a similar garment. I am not taking any other jacket, though I will be taking a light weight fleece. My total pack weight is 14 pounds.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NIKE-WOMEN-WIND ... 257bbe9fe5

 

S

SCL

New Member

• Apr 1, 2013

• #8

I walked from late September to ate October and took a North Face rain parka and a pair of rain pants and a fleece. I wore all sorts of combinations. Sometimes my parKa over a tshirt to block the wind, other times over the fleece when warmth was needed. It was great in windy rain.

Same with the rain pants. Near the end I wore thermal underwear followed by long ants, topped with rain pants just for the warmth. Would peel off layers throughout the day. Never had the need for a poncho and will not take one when I walk again in May. Liked the versatility of a rain coat and pants better. Much nicer in the evenings when going for dinner.

Wearing rain pants kept my feet bone dry even in heavy downpours, something a poncho cannot achieve.

 

Christine15

New Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Francis (2013)

• Apr 1, 2013

• #9

We are walking starting from Roncevelles on the 4th Sept so we might come across you. I have read lot's and watched lots of movie clips and decided that rain pants and top with a cover for my back pack would suit. Even though the Backpack will have it's own cover I will still be putting clothes, underwear etc in zip lock bags. I have seen plenty of film's with poncho's blowing up in the wind and everything under getting wet. I also feel it will be a lot simpler with out having to navigate the Poncho if I need to get to Backpack.

 

colinPeter

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

SJPP-SDC (2009) Somport-Jaca, Burgos-SDC, Cee-Muxia (2012) Le Puy - Aumont-Aubrac (2014) SJPP-SDC (Oct 2015)

• Apr 2, 2013

• #10

Windbreaker, Fleece & Poncho is what I take.

 

G

gerardcarey

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CFx2, CPx1

• Apr 2, 2013

• #11

I walked CF Sep/Oct. Used the Altus poncho as my windbreaker, maybe once or twice as my lined fleece was usually sufficient.
However I use a windbreaker when training.
I'd check out clothing suppliers for cyclists. Those guys know all about weight, wind, rain and snow.

Regds
Gerard

 

jennysa

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF 2011,2012 2013,2014, 2015 Aragones 2012, 2017 2018 Via Francigena 2016,2017 Primitivo 2018,2019

• Apr 3, 2013

• #12

I walked in torrential rain last year in September/October and used windbreaker, altus and fleece. If you dont have waterproof trousers, please consider taking gaiters to prevent the rain from pouring down your trousers, straight into your shoes. I had neither and squelched my way in soaking wet shoes for several days.