windbreaker or altus poncho?

[mauveglass]

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

 

[Deleted member 3000]

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]

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]

Yep take both.
Buen Camino.

 

[BoldenMD]

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]

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]

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

 

[SCL]

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]

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]

Windbreaker, Fleece & Poncho is what I take.

 

[gerardcarey]

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]

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.