Shston Girlfd
Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Spring 2023
For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here. (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation) |
---|
Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding?
- Oh these aren't my snake-proof gaiters (I live in Arizona in the US). A must if you bush-whack in the warm months around here.Gaiters might keep your feet dry depending on the conditions , but then they can also make them wet because they trap so much heat and moisture in your shoes .
What they do do ; and very well at that, is keep stones and worse still grass seeds and burrs out of your shoes and off your socks, they will also give some protection from grazing your ankles on particularly rocky paths . The added advantage , especially for Australian ' bush bashers ' is the mild protection from snakes they provide .
Like everything we do, it is a personal choice of what to take on the Camino. I personally would not bother. I walked for about a week with a guy from Tasmania who used them only once on the whole of the Camino. If you have quick drying hiking pants and you do get wet the consolation is that they will dry quickly.Starting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
I mentioned it on here numerous times, but on over 120 days on the Camino, I was rained on only 4 of those days. When it rained on me I was wearing shorts and just regular non-waterproof Merrell Moab hiking shoes. Rainproof cover on my pack and a Columbia packable rain jacket. My feet got wet, but it wasn't that big a deal. The shoes dry out, just like anything else.My boots are waterproof and I have opted to not bring my late-husband's very nice and altered to fit me waterproof pants because they are too heavy (11 ounces). I think my foul weather plan is a hooded rain jacket covered by lighter weight poncho over me and backpack and bare legs. If my boots start getting damp I can fashion gaiters from my convertible pants lower leg sections. Thanks all - but man I have some uber-groovy gaiters now for snow-trekking when I get home!
Starting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
Starting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
Well, I did experience a little bit of rain, say 4 out of 120 days. That's about 3-4% I suppose.You sure you are on the same camino than the rest of us @Mark Lee ?
No rain, no mud, no bedbugs.....
and of course some on my shoes from dodging the bog created by the cursed bicyclists.
Please excuse my ignorance but "snake proof" - how thick/heavy are they?? Whilst I (luckily) have had no close encounters the Western Rattlers I would have thought that for any gaiters to be snake proof would require them to be quite heavy. Best of luck with your Camino - I am also starting from St Jean on May 1st, see you at Orisson for coffee. Cheers- Oh these aren't my snake-proof gaiters (I live in Arizona in the US). A must if you bush-whack in the warm months around here.
Hello Shston Girlfd,
A very light not see-through extra large scarf . I used it for privacy when needed, as a pillow case on occasion, as a saron for a night trip to the washroom (I slept in my undies and a t-shirt), as a blanket on the plane, as an extra towel,as a light blanket on a dreadful hot night, as a warm scarf in the chilly mornings and of course....as a "stylish" scarf in the evening. It was the only "pretty" feminine thing I had and it boost my moral when wearing same-old/ same-old for 5 weeks!
Mine had a lovely colorful pattern that did not show wear and tear, washed easily and dried in no time. Bring one, if you find it useless... gift it on you way, you might make someone's day.
Buen Camino
In two Caminos (first Sept & April, second April-May) I had quite a few rainy days but only one drenching where I wished I had had gaiters. It was just outside Pamplona in mid April. My Gortex shoes filled with water and the albergue where I took refuge had turned the heating off. I drained and stuffed my shoes with many newspapers which got successively drier, and went to dinner (& in fact slept with) with my innersoles under my shirt against my stomach to dry them out. They were completely dry by morning. The albergue finally turned the heating onto low late in the evening and after a few hours under that my shoes were fine the next day when I left for Alto de Perdon to see the sunrise. Happy decision making!
I drained and stuffed my shoes with many newspapers which got successively drier, and went to dinner (& in fact slept with) with my innersoles under my shirt against my stomach to dry them out. They were completely dry by morning
With all due respect....my experience would suggest any dusty path can turn into mud with the application of sufficient water. (But I still wouldn't take gaiters)and as one respondent has said, there is only one section coming towards Roncesvalles where mud may be an issue.
Beuno Camino Andy - I will watch for you along our shared path!Hello Shston Girlfd -
I, too, am leaving SJPP on May 1, and have also been wondering about gators. You beat me to the punch on the question. Nice to read all of these responses. Can't wait for May! If I don't see you on the way, Bueno Camino!
Andy
- It does and thank you. Sometimes it takes a conversation about a topic to make the obvious clearer.IMHO and direct experience, gaiters are not worth the added weight. If you are wearing hiking pants with removable bottoms that are made of synthetic (e.g. nylon) fabric, the nylon does double-duty.
Because the weave is necessarily very tight, the lower pants legs shed excess water. They do get soaked, but when soaked, the pores in the fabric are temporarily sealed with water and the trouser legs actually help insulate your legs, by protecting them from wind. Also, this material dries out VERY fast.
In addition, the removable lower leg sections come into their greatest value when you realize you can just zip off and rinse out the bottom leg sections if they become muddy and grimy...they will. Just rinse them in the bottom of a shower stall, wring them out, and they are typically good to zip on and go again after 30 minutes hanging or pinned to the outside of your rucksack. I have even rinsed off mud in an animal trough along the way.
I hope this helps.
They are very thick, stiff knee-high canvas and yes they are heavy but then when bushwhacking around here I have 3 priorities - water, sunscreen and my snake gaiters. It is so empty and quiet that you could hike for 3 days naked without worry of scaring anything but a passing deer. Perhaps you will come up lame and our paths will cross. Bueno Camino!Please excuse my ignorance but "snake proof" - how thick/heavy are they?? Whilst I (luckily) have had no close encounters the Western Rattlers I would have thought that for any gaiters to be snake proof would require them to be quite heavy. Best of luck with your Camino - I am also starting from St Jean on May 1st, see you at Orisson for coffee. Cheers
A dear friend gave me a lovely and very practical scarf which will also be my only 'pretty' - I am currently focused on what I am going to mail forward to Ivar. I just this week realized that I will be wearing the same things for 40 days, almost a nightmare for me! For sure Ivar is going to get a tube of lipstick and a 'real' bra for safekeeping - perhaps a nice pair of dry shoes? Bueno Camino!Hello Shston Girlfd,
A very light not see-through extra large scarf . I used it for privacy when needed, as a pillow case on occasion, as a saron for a night trip to the washroom (I slept in my undies and a t-shirt), as a blanket on the plane, as an extra towel,as a light blanket on a dreadful hot night, as a warm scarf in the chilly mornings and of course....as a "stylish" scarf in the evening. It was the only "pretty" feminine thing I had and it boost my moral when wearing same-old/ same-old for 5 weeks!
Mine had a lovely colorful pattern that did not show wear and tear, washed easily and dried in no time. Bring one, if you find it useless... gift it on you way, you might make someone's day.
Buen Camino
No Mud? I have watched many Camino you tube videos and in April there seems to be plenty of mud. In the UK I usually wear gaiters all the time when on the moors. I wear them even when wearing shorts.
Can I make it clear that the gaiters protect part of my boots and socks and that is all they do. My boots do and would protect me from the mud even without the gaiters.
As previously stated I have a problem with certain insects (animal fleas) and arachnids (ticks) which are totally absurd , but they are my fears and no one will convince me otherwise. In my imagination with my gaiters on not only will I have less boot to clean but total protection from the wee beasties that lurk in my mind.
Or almost anywhere in the southeastern US. Along the central Gulf Coast (Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, northwest Florida) we had six types of poisonous snakes: three rattlers, cottonmouth, copperhead, and coral snake. I wore high-topped boots and watched where I stepped. My hiking staff always preceded me, so that a surprised snake would strike IT instead of me.- Oh these aren't my snake-proof gaiters (I live in Arizona in the US). A must if you bush-whack in the warm months around here.
They are very thick, stiff knee-high canvas and yes they are heavy but then when bushwhacking around here I have 3 priorities - water, sunscreen and my snake gaiters. It is so empty and quiet that you could hike for 3 days naked without worry of scaring anything but a passing deer. Perhaps you will come up lame and our paths will cross. Bueno Camino!
... if you loathe wet feet as I do, those extra few ounces may just be worth it.
I wear rain pants when the rain is coming down hard and steady. I wouldn't bring gaiters. By the way, your gaiters weigh as much as my rain pants, which seems heavy to me for gaiters.Starting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
Hi its up to you if you want to take them, while on the Camino in July 2010 - one wet day, and in July - 2015 no wet days, then again it was July not May, but I would still not take them, if you do get wet feet ,they will soon dry out.Starting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
Used rain pants in 2015, real nuisance getting on and off. 2016, brought gaiters. Weighed less than the pants and easy on and off. Good in muddy areas even when not raining. Must admit though, only used them twice as there was very little rain last September/October.Starting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
Which trip/ time of year did you have all the rain?I have the opposite experience to @Mark Lee. I have had weeks of rain on the camino. And sometimes with no hot shower for a few days and everything still wet the next day.
I still would not take gaiters. Dry clothes to change into at the end of the day - absolutely! Eventually your walking gear dries out.
HiStarting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
Re: "where the weather is more stable" Santiago lies in Galicia where the weather is very versatile. There is a good chance that you have good use for the gaiters towards the end of your way.Hi
Just from my perspective after two Caminos and walking long distances in Great Britain and the Alps.
Gaiters are fine against dust and mud. Against rain they are only useful long term if you have also over trousers and a poncho.
All the stuff should be GoreTex or similar breathable textile. Otherwise you will be soaked in sweat. This in particular if you wear gaiters to prevent stuff falling into your boots. Some outdoor stores here offer such gaiters for a reasonable price below 15 GBP.
First week out of Seville in May 2016 = 7 days rain (but temperatures in the 30s either side of the rain).Which trip/ time of year did you have all the rain?
Good idea!First week out of Seville in May 2016 = 7 days rain (but temperatures in the 30s either side of the rain).
More rain on the Sanabres in June (same trip).
Rain in Portugal for a few days in June 2015.
First and last three days of a 1,500km hike were in rain in 2014 (May and July) with eight weeks on sunshine in the middle (rain in France and from Fisterra to Santiago)
@Kanga is right - getting warm is key. I would now take a fleece vest to wear while walking because we got really cold as we "saved" our thermals and fleece jackets to wear after walking so they would not get wet. Whenever there were no hot showers at the end of the day we were pleased with this decision! I'd take a lightweight fleece vest before I took gaiters.
Very good point!Waterproof pants that only weigh 1.3 ounces more than the gaiters is a no brainer. Take the waterproof pants. They can also pass as a pair of long pants when your others are still wet from laundry and you need long pants to go out for dinner because it is too cold to wear shorts. I have walked in May and believe me, we had sunshine, rain, sleet and snow in our 42 days of walking. Eight of the days were very wet.
Well, I did experience a little bit of rain, say 4 out of 120 days. That's about 3-4% I suppose.
The mud slide on my backside, and of course some on my shoes from dodging the bog created by the cursed bicyclists.
but bedbugs? none....still batting 1000 there.
Maybe I should do a April or May Camino. Experience the cold and wet. ha ha
I hope those angels stick with me. I kinda like the dry and warm experience.Mark: You lead a charmed existence. Either that or you have two heavy duty, VERY buff, Guardian Angels who lift you over the stuff the rest of us merely slog through.
If it is Spain and not paved, and if it is wet, it is likely MUD! I hate the stuff but accept it as the "cost of doing business."
Yes, the bicycles make it worse. But so too do the farm machinery in farm and vineyards. However, I acknowledge their precedent and primary right to be there and do what they do.
In the end, ours is not to reason why, ours is but to do and get dirty. I have learned to avoid mud. Plus, I know that, anything that can get dirty can get clean.
I hope this helps.
Waterproof boots and shoes are only useful if the water does not go into the footwear from the foot opening. Whether or not they should be used is another topic.Starting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
Starting my Camino from SJPP on May 1st. Just bought a FABULOUS pair of brand new, waterproof boot gaiters for $2USD (1.6GBP, 1.85Euro) at a community sale. They weigh 9.7ounces (.27kilog) which would put me 3 ounces over my maximum dry weight. Knowledgable pilgrims, are they worth adding? I kinda fear wet feet and I would have no issue leaving them for others once in an area where the weather is more stable. Thanks in advance and Bueno Camino all.
Where were you crossing the stream? Wow!You never saw mud coz you almost never saw rain;-)
View attachment 32743 View attachment 32744 View attachment 32745 View attachment 32747 View attachment 32748 View attachment 32750 View attachment 32751 View attachment 32752 View attachment 32753 View attachment 32754
I hope those angels stick with me. I kinda like the dry and warm experience.
That spot just before Roncesvalles is about the only one I have had problems with when it's a muddy slush.
C'mon on! The more the merrier.On the Via de la Plata. That lovely gentleman waited by it in the pouring rain, knowing we were behind him and knowing I could use help getting across. It was COLD and fast.
Next time I'm gonna walk with @Mark Lee !!
Walking in 3 days of pouring rain and blowing wind and entering into Santiago soaked from my knees down to my thoroughly soaked insoles of my waterproof boots, gaiters is the one thing I wished I had... having to wear our flip-flops around rainy Santiago wasn't all that bad.
Maybe I should do a April or May Camino. Experience the cold and wet. ha ha
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?