Winter - clothing the bottom half

Donna Sch

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

VdLP-Sanabres-Fisterra '15; Levante-Invierno '19

• Apr 16, 2017

• #1

I'm thinking about doing a winter camino in February 2019 and am wondering what everyone has worn at that time of year! So many combinations re thermals/tights/shorts/trousers/rainpants. I know for trousers and shorts that I like big cargo pockets. I do like compression gear but I'm used to wearing these in summer conditions not winter ie compression shorts and calf sleeves. Since I live in the tropics these days I expect to feel the cold but I want to minimise the warm/waterproof gear causing too much sweating and getting wet as a result.

Any particular items you recommend?

 

Bradypus

Migratory hermit

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Too many and too often!

• Apr 16, 2017

• #2

Very difficult to judge how someone else will feel cold or heat. I always prefer several thin layers to carrying heavyweight clothing which may rarely be used. That way you can mix and match to suit the day and time. I wear lightweight walking trousers with zipped pockets at the waist where I can carry anything valuable in ziplock plastic pouches. Most of the time on a winter camino they are warm enough for me while I am actually walking and generating heat. If it is very cold - especially when windy or wet - then I will wear close-fitting synthetic thermal long johns underneath these. Also double as sleepwear if the albergues are chilly. You cannot always assume that the dorms will be heated to your own comfort level in winter.

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Apr 16, 2017

• #3

For my colder camino (October/November) I found silk long johns were fabulous under thin hiking pants.

 

mspath

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Frances, autumn/winter; 2004, 2005-2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015

• Apr 16, 2017

• #4

During all the good years when walking in winter this was always my kit. Nothing more nor less.

Happy planning!

 

Paddington Bear

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

May 2017

• Apr 17, 2017

• #5

mspath said:

During all the good years when walking in winter this was always my kit. Nothing more nor less.

Happy planning!

Click to expand...

Great blog. Thank you.

 

hillwalker

New Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Francès (spring 2017), Via Podiensis/Le Puy to Cahors (2018)

• Apr 17, 2017

• #6

... when walking in winter this was always my kit.

thank you @mspath for your well annotated list - helpful for summer planning too ... I'm reassured someone else wears socks for sleeping but sad to discover you're no longer walking, I was imagining being able to serendipitously thank you with a hug!

 

G

Glenn Rowe

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

.

• Apr 19, 2017

• #7

I've been accused of being half Polar Bear, so what works for me may not work for you.

With that said, even when walking in sub-freezing temps, I have found that lightweight long underwear pants worn under loose-fitting but tightly-woven pants are sufficient. If I need a bit more warmth, I use large rubber bands to "blouse" the bottoms of my pant-legs like a paratrooper. If the wind gets too strong, adding a pair of rain- or wind-pants keeps me toasty.

Though you probably already know this, clothing that keeps you cozy when you're inactive will prove to be much too warm when you're walking.

 

Last edited: Apr 24, 2017

katie@camino

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF, SJPDP-Finisterre 2016;CP (Central) Porto-SdC 2017;CP (Coastal) Porto-SdC 2018;CF Leon-SdC 2019

• Jan 19, 2019

• #8

Kanga said:

For my colder camino (October/November) I found silk long johns were fabulous under thin hiking pants.

Click to expand...

@Kanga where did you get these silk long johns?

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Jan 19, 2019

• #9

katie@camino said:

@Kanga where did you get these silk long johns?

Click to expand...

NZ Nature - here

 

FLEUR

Veteran Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Camino Frances 2012 - 2016
Voie de Paris / Tours Aulnay to Saintes 2017
Camino del Baztan 2018

• Jan 20, 2019

• #10

I've bought silk long johns and silk long sleeved vest from Landsend in u.k.
Like Kanga and Katie I wear mine under my lighter walking gear .

 

katie@camino

Active Member

Time of past OR future Camino

CF, SJPDP-Finisterre 2016;CP (Central) Porto-SdC 2017;CP (Coastal) Porto-SdC 2018;CF Leon-SdC 2019

• Jan 20, 2019

• #11

Kanga said:

NZ Nature - here

Click to expand...

Thankyou @Kanga. How did you go with washing silk on the Camino? Does it dry quickly? And can i ask why you choose silk? Does it provide enough warmth?

 

Kanga

Veteran Member

Donating Member

Time of past OR future Camino

Francés x 5, Le Puy x 2, Arles, Tours, Norte, Madrid, Via de la Plata, Portuguese, Primitivo

• Jan 20, 2019

• #12

@katie@camino I wash by hand - but as I only wear the long johns when it is very cold and as silk is rather like wool in that it resists odour, I don't recall having to wash them often. Drying depends on the weight of the silk fabric - the double knit takes longer than the single knit, but it is warmer and more opaque so can be worn by itself (mine are black). And yes, by weight, silk is warmer than wool, which is one of the reasons for choosing it.

 

Athena Atterdag

time&space traveller

Time of past OR future Camino

Invierno, Primitivo, Inglés+Fisterra/Muxía

• Jan 24, 2019

• #13

I walked the Camino this winter, and I wore Forclaz mountain trekking trousers* with very warm thermo leggins. They kept me warm in the early mornings when it was cold (often slightly below zero), and after walking for two or three hours, I would take off the leggins and walk on in the trousers. I was very glad that I decided on the combination of simple trekking trousers and thermo leggins and left my fleece trousers at home, because fleece trousers would be too warm for walking during the day. Not to mention the extra weight!

*No special reason for buying trousers for mountain trekking other that a special price for them at the store