Is there really a waterproof solution

[BiggBlue]

I am convinced that if I ever manage to invent air-conditioned underwear or truly waterproof gear for the Camino that keeps you dry, I will become a millionaire. Today, I walked in heavy rain from about 7 in the morning until about 11. I wore a shower-proof jacket and topped it with my poncho. Within an hour, everything was wet.

If there is a secret to staying warm, I think it involves wearing merino wool next to your skin because it retains heat even when wet. Unfortunately, I didn't have merino wool on today, so I lost heat and felt very chilled by 11 o'clock, in the temperature sense, not the lifestyle sense.

Having done many Caminos, I am still unsure about the best formula for staying dry and warm. Any suggestions are most welcome.

 

[Anhalter]

When it rains for this long with some intensity there is practically no way to keep dry. Simply because your sweat has no where to go. So even with the best raingear, you will become wet. Period. The trick is wearing clothes that still provide warmth when wet, like merino or polypropylen.

(technically you use an umbrella, i hear good things about it, but that will also only get you so far)

 

[MikeJS]

Never had a problem with my poncho letting in the wet and it is a 10 euro one bought in Spain.

 

[Lindsay53]

Had the same issue this morning. My high tech waterproof jacket has armpit zips and all the bells and whistles but I still end up soaking wet from sweat. Basically, anything that keeps moisture out also keeps it in.

 

[K_Lynn]

It rained every day when I walked Ingles last year at the end of October. I wore a merino tank, light long sleeve shirt and a light merino jacket under my poncho. I bought my poncho from Decathlon (dead cheap!) full sleeves with elastic cuffs, seamed sides and a 1/4 zip that was very easy to put on over my pack. the front of my shirt would often get wet because I have the bad habit of unzipping my poncho to check the map on my phone (worn on a lanyard). I was never too cold while walking or excessively sweaty with the poncho.

On both my Caminos I was frequently chilly the minute I stopped walking. I would take off my poncho, and pull on an ultralight polartech fleece and be toasty in a few minutes. On chilly mornings I wore merino glove liners, they're very thin but worked even in the rain. On my first Camino (september/october) I did buy a pair of hiking pants and a light jacket along the way as I found my leggings were not keeping me warm enough and I hadn't discovered polartech fleece yet lol.

Short answer: layers are always your friend.

 

[BiggBlue]

Never had a problem with my poncho letting in the wet and it is a 10 euro one bought in Spain.

My poncho is waterproof- its the condensation that sneaks up rather unexpectedly

 

[MikeJS]

My poncho is waterproof- its the condensation that sneaks up rather unexpectedly

That is why I only wear shorts and a thin top under my poncho.

 

[emmanuel]

That is why I only wear shorts and a thin top under my poncho.

Sounds kinky.

 

[Robo]

Always lots of debate about this.
We wear Merino shirts and very light gortex rain jacket & pants.
It can pour with rain all day and we stay dry….bone dry.

I suspect a lot depends on the quality of the gear.
But maybe also, the amount you sweat.
I always learned to adjust clothing and / or reduce exertion so as not to sweat too much when hiking.

Loosen collars, use layers, adjust headgear, 30% of body heat is lost through the head. If I go fast up a hill, wearing lots of layers, I’m going to sweat a lot….and I might get wet under my jacket. So I don’t and I don’t….

 

[JabbaPapa]

There is no fully waterproof solution, though as to the feet a good pair of army boots works well.

Some people seem to have no problems with perspiration in a poncho, but really : lucky them, but not all of us are like that.

The solution that works for me to avoid sweat problems is use a cape instead of a poncho, and it wouldn't need to be a traditional one, but really any kind that is open in front to let moisture out but protects your back, head, shoulders, and upper arms.

Apart from that, I saw a YT video recently suggesting that alpaca wool is superior to merino, more breathable and better at keeping rain out.

Something like this ? https://fr.ecualama.eu/collections/...pen-poncho-cape-shawl-blanket-unisex-handmade

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I saw a YT video recently suggesting that alpaca wool is superior to merino, more breathable and better at keeping rain out.

I have an Alpaca scarf I received as a gift from Peru; I'll bring that next time.

 

[Stivandrer]

Even the best of gear can clog up when constant rain hits, the internal humidity rises and the external layer is waterlogged.
I have an Endura MT 500 (bicycle) jacket (Sco)that has a very high water pressure number and still will get waterlogged in constant rain like yours does....

My merino solution is a 200 grams quality jumper with wool frotté fleece ( Woolpower, Sweden) that will become humid but still retains warming properties....

ps when indoors, I will turn it inside out and the loops will dry out fast and even faster in a bit of sunshine ( when there is any !!)

 

[david marquez]

Short answer, NO

 

[Bill905]

When you must walk in precipitation,
Exertion will cause some perspiration,
Rainwear will prevent its evaporation,
Hence you will have condensation.
I have found that on occasion,
Adjusting some zippers relieved frustration,
And allowed some controlled aeration
To reduce and control the condensation.

 

[amrmeaner]

I am convinced that if I ever manage to invent air-conditioned underwear or truly waterproof gear for the Camino that keeps you dry, I will become a millionaire. Today, I walked in heavy rain from about 7 in the morning until about 11. I wore a shower-proof jacket and topped it with my poncho. Within an hour, everything was wet.

If there is a secret to staying warm, I think it involves wearing merino wool next to your skin because it retains heat even when wet. Unfortunately, I didn't have merino wool on today, so I lost heat and felt very chilled by 11 o'clock, in the temperature sense, not the lifestyle sense.

Having done many Caminos, I am still unsure about the best formula for staying dry and warm. Any suggestions are most welcome.

The best gear for wet weather is either a cafe or a bar. Simply do not walk in the rain and you will stay dry.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

The best gear for wet weather is either a cafe or a bar. Simply do not walk in the rain and you will stay dry.

It rained on the Invierno all day yesterday. I'd love to hang out in a cafe or bar and wait it out, but all day is too long, and I ain't taking a taxi unless I would be injured.

 

[mcm]

When you must walk in precipitation,
Exertion will cause some perspiration,
Rainwear will prevent its evaporation,
Hence you will have condensation.
I have found that on occasion,
Adjusting some zippers relieved frustration,
And allowed some controlled aeration
To reduce and control the condensation.

Very clever!

 

[Thomas Yingst]

The best gear for wet weather is either a cafe or a bar. Simply do not walk in the rain and you will stay dry.

 

[Thomas Yingst]

Or a taxi

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Or a taxi

If a pilgrim has a week of straight rain, which luckily I have never had, I would be disappointed to be arranging a taxi day after day to my end stages, with very little walking and unable to "smell the wet roses".

 

[t2andreo]

Through all the hoops you will jump to try to find a solution - hah! - ft chance, consider these two maxims:

1. Being wet and warm is sometimes not bad, and depending on the circumstances, can be very nice indeed.

2. Being cold and wet is NEVER good. It hastens hyperthermia, illness, poor judgment and accidents. Avoid being wet and cold.

I have learned to be as minimally wet as is possible, while maintaining body heat. I concentrate on keeping my head, feet and hands warm, first. The rest of my prodigious corpus is drip dry. Human bodies are like that. They do dry fairly fast when removed from the source of the wetness.

While I may not LIKE being wet to the skin, either through condensation or precipitation, as long as I can regulate my temperature, I know I will be okay. I may be wet and uncomfortable when I arrive at my day's destination, but I will be safe. Besides, that is part of the "charm" of a Camino!

I also found that wearing a baseball type "ball" cap with a visor is superior to any other style headgear when worn under a hood. As I wear eyeglasses, this also keep the "windscreen" relatively clear of water.

Wearing any other hat with an all-around brim will channel water down your back. It will find it's way into your rucksack through the back panel - even if it is covered on the front, and worn under a hiking poncho. Water will always find it's own level.

I hope this helps.

Tom

 

[Scoutbuff]

I think someone has already mentioned something like this. I'm usually not a proponent of extra stuff but wondering how this partial hoodie/cape could pair with a jacket to moderate getting soaked. Caveat emptor, I live in arid Colorado and haven't had to deal with long lasting rain when backpacking. Just something to deliberate... https://lightheartgear.com/products/hoodie-pack-cover?variant=7912593293364

 

[Walkalong]

Yes,
Merino base
Breathable layers
Reduce exertion
Local weather radar
Find a cafe
Consider a half or zero day

Avoid the rainy season(s)?

The guy flying by in light poncho, t and shorts left a lasting impression (as I was ringing the water out of my shorts). Then again, a mate starting uncontrolled shaking, lips turning blue, also left a lasting impression.

 

[Purple Backpack]

I live in Colorado and am in the outdoors a lot, bad weather or good. Got home a couple of weeks ago from the West Highland Way and some English trails. I brought my bomb proof rain jacket and it was completely soaked through in a couple of hours, never had that happen before. I had long days and it was chilly so pretty miserable. I ended up finding an outdoor store and spraying the heck out of it and my boots with waterproofing Nikwax, then taking a blow dryer to it. That got me through the last half of the trip, along with a tiny umbrella.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

No rocket science but to simply choose the correct layers and wear them in the correct order. I understand that wearing a jacket under a poncho is essential to try to keep the cold out but if that jacket was replaced with a puffy down jacket or even a vest, it may have made a big difference. Rain jackets do have a place but as the weather cools down, they need to be replaced with warmer options. Buen Camino!

 

[MikeyC]

There is a technical measure for waterproofing which doesn't seem to feature much in this thread.
The much recommended Altus has a 2000 mm schmerber rating and their blurb says this offers maximum protection. My Quechua poncho is rated at 5000 mm and keeps me bone dry. For sailing a Musto jacket offers me a 10000 rating.
Are we sure we are comparing like for like when we extol the virtues of a particular product?

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have only used Frogg Toggs rain jackets on my Caminos and very occasionally used the matching pants. They are inexpensive,very lightweight and have always served me very well. Not sure about its "virtues" because I have not used any other brand nor checked out its mm rating.

 

[Philtration]

I wear an Altus in the rain. If I start to sweat, I take my arms out of the sleeves and open the front a tiny bit, similar to post 10. It has worked well for me, even with driving wind.

 

[Gobsmacked by the World]

Sounds kinky.

OK, we are going to “go there”. The best base layer (IMO) for both cold and heat is…fishnets.
Yup. Creates a dead air layer that captures heat, or insulated from heat.
The only drawback is that you look like you’re an extra in The Rocky Horror Picture Show. On the plus side, you’ll probably get a lot of “alone” time on your Camino, lol.

Brynje Sportswear Super Thermo Shirt with shoulder inlay Black

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www.brynje-shop.com

 

[Gobsmacked by the World]

I am convinced that if I ever manage to invent air-conditioned underwear or truly waterproof gear for the Camino that keeps you dry, I will become a millionaire. Today, I walked in heavy rain from about 7 in the morning until about 11. I wore a shower-proof jacket and topped it with my poncho. Within an hour, everything was wet.

If there is a secret to staying warm, I think it involves wearing merino wool next to your skin because it retains heat even when wet. Unfortunately, I didn't have merino wool on today, so I lost heat and felt very chilled by 11 o'clock, in the temperature sense, not the lifestyle sense.

Having done many Caminos, I am still unsure about the best formula for staying dry and warm. Any suggestions are most welcome.

Wearing the poncho on top of the other waterproof jacket maybe what did you in. My son (who spent some years as an infanteer) corrected me on this. The condensation under the poncho builds up fast which is why it’s best to wear something light and wicking underneath, as other posters here have noted. The advantage of a poncho, imo, is you can easily billow it getting rid of hot air and moisture.
The only other thing to do, sadly, is as you sometimes see on “morale” patches, “Embace the Suck”.

 

[Paladina]

Yes, there really is a fully waterproof jacket: Gore Shakedry. It’s breathable, amazingly light, rolls up into a ball the size of your fist, and looks like a black bin liner. But, of course, it’s not a perfect solution: the ultimate waterproof jacket comes at an eye-watering price. More to the point, no backpack should be worn on the biker’s version and only a light pack on the hiker’s. I have both versions, each bought at sale price. Gore does not define ‘light’, but my hiker’s jacket, which is my regular rainwear, remains perfectly waterproof despite some abrasion from a daypack. If it works in Ireland, it will work anywhere, but just watch your back — and beware of briars!

 

[judydaisy]

Pays your money, takes your choice.

Just back from Frances (Roncesvalles to Logroño). Walking/scrambling down into Zubiri was the usual difficult 3 or 4 km BUT it was dry and sunny. The next day to Pamplona was everything but... I've lived in Malaysia, I know what monsoons are like but never have I seen rain like day 2 on the Camino. However, I stayed more or less dry - 8.95€ poncho from Decathlon and thanks to the pilgrim cafe after the crossing the river at Zuriain. There must have been about 80 of us sheltering there. The following 4 days were sun, sun and sun. Make an educated guess combined with common sense!

 

[Susan Peacock]

All rain is not created equal. I’ve walked Caminos with intermittent rain that comes straight down and varies in intensity. I usually stay dry with my Altus. This year I had 9 days of intense rain and sleet and 60KMH head winds and the rain would breach anywhere it could. I had Gortex boots on but the tops of my socks got wet and acted like a wick, so the inside of my boots got wet.
I believe of course I could carry my expensive and heavy rain gear from Alaska and gators and stay dry, but the weight isn’t worth it as I just might not need it. We survived and savored the end of the day when we shower and dried out.

 

[Bart Johnson]

Never had a problem with my poncho letting in the wet and it is a 10 euro one bought in Spain.

It’s not the letting in, it’s the inside wet from sweat.

 

[BarbaraW]

While waiting in a queue to enter St Marks in a wind and rain swept Venice this morning I had plenty of time to observe the demeanour of people in different sorts of rainwear. The unhappiest looking people were those wearing short rain jackets or light plastic ponchos with jeans or leggings. Those in long heavier raincoats or well-fitting sleeved ponchos looked relatively contented. Some with sturdy umbrellas were clearly doing better than the rest. Sadly the place was littered with broken folding umbrellas.
A few people were toughing it out with bare legs and sandals and looked quite chipper.
All the street vendors were selling what I can only describe as galoshes, consisting of a light plastic sole attached to elasticated plastic gaiters. These were no good to me as my trainers and socks were soaked within a few minutes of leaving my hotel, but I bought a pair to try tomorrow, which is also set to be rainy.
In this context sweating from exertion obviously isn't an issue, but my wholly unscientific observations support the view that the quality of the waterproof layer matters a great deal, and that a strong umbrella would be good to have.
As I was wearing my lightweight Marmot waterproof bought specially for the Camino, and got pretty wet. I shall be reviewing what I take before walking again.

 

[Richard Smith]

I bought my poncho at the shop more or less across the road from the pilgrim office in SJPdP and was happy with it except my arms got wet from condensation due to the elastic cuffs at the wrists - so I cut the cuffs off. Leaving ther ends of the arms open made all the difference!
I walk in shorts, lower legs dry naturally and the poncho covers the shorts, but if I wear a rain jacket I need to ensure there is no cotton exposed below the jacket because moisture wicks up. Nylon or similar is your friend here.
Feet in wool sox stay warm, air your feet when you (socially) can - what works out in the bush may not be great in a cafe! and newspaper scrunched up in the wet boots overnight helps them dry.

 

[Joynz]

If your rain gear was wet on the inside, it was almost certainly because you had not invested in really breathable gear. In that case, the wetness on the inside was condensation from your swea not from rain getting in ( assuming that it was zipped and all storm flaps sealed). If you have breathable gear, sometimes the durable coating that helps with the breathabiliry needs restoring. This is seperate from a jacket being waterproof to external rain.
There is a lot more nuance to this - but you can look it up online.

 

[Teddie]

That is why I only wear shorts and a thin top under my poncho.

I would do the same in 'warm to hot weather'...BUT...I witnessed two pilgrims very close to hypothermia using that set-up...it was cold, wind driven rain on a mountain pass.

 

[Scoutbuff]

Does anyone use a rain kilt or have experience with them?

 

[MikeJS]

I would do the same in 'warm to hot weather'...BUT...I witnessed two pilgrims very close to hypothermia using that set-up...it was cold, wind driven rain on a mountain pass.

Sure, but then I wear more…...

 

[Anhalter]

Does anyone use a rain kilt or have experience with them?

Used mine on all my caminos. Love that thing. But your lower legs and feet will get wet. I can live with that, since i generally walk in spring. For colder/wetter seasons it might not be optimal.

 

[domigee]

Having done many Caminos, I am still unsure about the best formula for staying dry and warm. Any suggestions are most welcome.

Depends on which season you walk... When it's cold,merino clothes are best, keep you warm even when wet. Until you can get dry again... In Summer it isn't such a problem.
If it is VERY wet, ie torrential rain, nothing - imo - will keep you dry.

 

[JWST]

Sitting in Lalin atm, trying to dry todays clothes unsuccessfully, merino base keeps me warm, poncho keeps me sweaty which is ok if I can dry out overnight

 

[wynrich]

Does anyone use a rain kilt or have experience with them?

We've used them quite a lot. They are great. Extremely light weight, easy on and off, keep our legs dry except, as mentioned above, ankles and feet. So much easier and lighter than rain pants.

 

[Rita Flower]

There is a technical measure for waterproofing which doesn't seem to feature much in this thread.
The much recommended Altus has a 2000 mm schmerber rating and their blurb says this offers maximum protection. My Quechua poncho is rated at 5000 mm and keeps me bone dry. For sailing a Musto jacket offers me a 10000 rating.
Are we sure we are comparing like for like when we extol the virtues of a particular product?

The more something keeps the rain out the more it keeps the sweat in. I thought of getting a sailing jacket with a high waterproof rating but considered that I would probably generate more heat and sweat walking than sailing???
My best combo was waterproof layering over merino layers: light shower jacket - decathlon poncho - umbrella. I used various combinations depending on the conditions and always had a warm dry core (except once when I got my layers wrong).
Note - I have never walked in cold heavy windy rain. If it was for more than one day I would rethink my plans.

 

[ShoshTrvls]

Does anyone use a rain kilt or have experience with them?

I have used one and love it - after using it on the Camino, I now use it when I ski in the rain (I’m a ski patroller so no choice in the matter) and it has worked well even under those conditions!

 

[PJN]

I am convinced that if I ever manage to invent air-conditioned underwear or truly waterproof gear for the Camino that keeps you dry, I will become a millionaire. Today, I walked in heavy rain from about 7 in the morning until about 11. I wore a shower-proof jacket and topped it with my poncho. Within an hour, everything was wet.

If there is a secret to staying warm, I think it involves wearing merino wool next to your skin because it retains heat even when wet. Unfortunately, I didn't have merino wool on today, so I lost heat and felt very chilled by 11 o'clock, in the temperature sense, not the lifestyle sense.

Having done many Caminos, I am still unsure about the best formula for staying dry and warm. Any suggestions are most welcome.

This is a typical New Zealand problem.
So what I did in June this year walking our last 10 days to Santiago , where it rained most days, I had this plan
A woollen ( yes probably merino , tho unimportant ) vest or 2 followed with a blouse / shirt. Followed with a normal uniglo light down jacket / mac, with a hood. PLUS a Katmandoo FULL LENGTH poncho.
Of course the poncho had a hood and it accommodated the back pack
Boots of course

We called into cafes a couple of times to take off the poncho and breathe !
No worries
No problems
No soaking.
Get the right gear especially underwear.
Best
PJN X

 

[Hikoi]

I had buckets of spring rain around Merida and Cacares for several days. My pack (Aarn) has built in wetbags which kept everything bone dry. It also has front bags. For walking I used a fleece zip-up top (no jacket or poncho), shorts and a trekking umbrella. My shorts got a bit wet, but dried off quickly, merino wool socks got soaked but not cold. The pack and umbrella kept my torso and head dry and no sweat! It also rained - a soft rain - off and on in Galicia especially heading into Santiago. I did have a waterproof jacket which I used after walking for the day had finished, and I was showered and dry clothed and exploring wherever I was.

 

[bks]

Always lots of debate about this.
We wear Merino shirts and very light gortex rain jacket & pants.
It can pour with rain all day and we stay dry….bone dry.

I suspect a lot depends on the quality of the gear.
But maybe also, the amount you sweat.
I always learned to adjust clothing and / or reduce exertion so as not to sweat too much when hiking.

Loosen collars, use layers, adjust headgear, 30% of body heat is lost through the head. If I go fast up a hill, wearing lots of layers, I’m going to sweat a lot….and I might get wet under my jacket. So I don’t and I don’t….

A comment about bodily heat loss. The body looses heat in proportion to the amount of skin that is exposed; therefore as the head makes up 10%, of your body surface area your head loses 10% of your body's heat, not 30%. (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-heat-loss) With this in mind if you want to cool down wear shorts, and throw away your rain pants.
Other advantages to wearing shorts include having less gear to carry and clean and during rainy times less stuff that you have to dry.

 

[dougfitz]

A comment about bodily heat loss. The body looses heat in proportion to the amount of skin that is exposed; therefore as the head makes up 10%, of your body surface area your head loses 10% of your body's heat, not 30%. (https://health.clevelandclinic.org/body-heat-loss) With this in mind if you want to cool down wear shorts, and throw away your rain pants.
Other advantages to wearing shorts include having less gear to carry and clean and during rainy times less stuff that you have to dry.

I think that this is a very strong case that the experimental conditions used when determining this were far different from anything we might face on the camino. Here is a quote from the abstract of the 2008 study referenced in the Cleveland Clinic article at the link you provided:

It is, of course, a different matter when the body and head are immersed in water, as in the experiments quoted, when a measured 10% of total surface heat loss occurs from the head.

Results like this would clearly be of more interest to mariners than walkers.

The Cleveland Clinic article also dismisses the advice from the US Army FM 3-05.70 (May 2002) suggesting heat loss through an unprotected head could be 40-45%, but the author doesn't suggest any alternative range.

What is the correct value? It could be @Robo's 30%, or an even higher value similar to the US Army FM 40-45%, but it seems unlikely to be the 10% derived water immersion. More importantly, does it matter? It seems in all of this the general advice is to have some form of head covering in cold conditions.

As a further observation, suggesting that all skin is equal when it is exposed to the cold doesn't make any sense to me. The head, neck, wrists and ankles, areas more likely to be exposed, are generally areas with little insulating fat, and I would expect that they would be better radiators of heat than other parts of the body. As such, I think they would contribute more to heat loss than other areas of exposed skin.

 

[Robo]

A comment about bodily heat loss. The body looses heat in proportion to the amount of skin that is exposed; therefore as the head makes up 10%, of your body surface area your head loses 10% of your body's heat, not 30%.

I shall inform whoever wrote the British Army training manual, to read the “ClevelandClinic”

The key message, is that removing and replacing headware as required can be quite effective in regulating body heat and hence sweating.

 

[dougfitz]

I shall inform whoever wrote the British Army training manual, to read the “ClevelandClinic”

I'm not sure I'd bother, if you were even serious about this suggestion. If you read my earlier post, the 10% figure comes from experiments where the body and head were immersed. I am imagining that this was research conducted to better understand survival at sea. It certainly isn't anything that I would expect on the camino (nor land forces generally).

Besides, the Cleveland Clinic article is rather lightweight, and I suspect that modern armies are looking for more robust science advice than was evident in that short piece!

 

[Robo]

and I suspect that modern armies are looking for more robust science advice than was evident in that short piece!

Hmm. In that case the British Army may have it wrong….

 

[ParisOslo]

Absolutely waterproof!

 

[IntlGuyJim]

Saw a post asking about head protection for rain and sun. Can't track back to it, so posting here the solution I've just purchased (though not yet trail tested...)

Amazon.com

 

[Kanga]

A perennial question. I’ve just changed my avatar to reflect my latest wet weather gear. Last year I “swam” on the Prinitivo and to Finisterra from SDC wearing this gear. It poured for days, and some days were also very windy. This kept me absolutely dry and warm. A cheap long raincoat/poncho/backpack with a hood, hi biz stripes, full length front zip, huge roomy size for airflow, tightening pull in waist if wanted. An amazing accidental find on a cheap Chinese site. Bright orange, no car driver could possibly not see me! With visor underneath the roomy hood, anchored on in high wind with a buff (as in the avatar), fine merino underneath and possum/merino gloves.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

@Kanga, so nice to see you on the forum today. Welcome back!
BTW, that is a very interesting piece of rain gear and looks like it possibly glows in the dark.

 

[MikeyC]

My weird, cheap, but very workable rain gear
I tried to download a photo unsuccessfully. Hope the link works.

I bought one of these in blue as I liked the transparent hood. It's fine but a word of caution on sizing. I bought the XL but it's an L at best.

 

[henrythedog]

Hmm. In that case the British Army may have it wrong….

The British Army has made the odd mistake in its time. Commissioning me wasn’t the venerable institution’s greatest moment; but the Cleveland Clinic’s reported 10% is either being misrepresented, refers to a different environment or is plain wrong.

I spent several years in a volunteer UK mountain rescue team and have friends in the altogether more challenging cave rescue organisation. On finding a casualty they 1. Put an insulated hat on them 2. Put an insulated pad under them.

 

[dougfitz]

The British Army has made the odd mistake in its time. Commissioning me wasn’t the venerable institution’s greatest moment; but the Cleveland Clinic’s reported 10% is either being misrepresented, refers to a different environment or is plain wrong.

I commented about this in post #50 earlier. They used a figure derived from test on whole body immersion. While some of use might feel like we have been immersed on some rainy days, it is nevertheless not what might expect on the camino.

 

[NualaOC]

Having done many Caminos, I am still unsure about the best formula for staying dry and warm. Any suggestions are most welcome.

Skin is waterproof and dries quickly (in warmer weather)
Or, as I used to tell my kids 'we're not made of sugar, we won't melt.'

 

[AlbertoCamino]

I think there is no material that is breathable and waterproof at the same time, if it is one thing it is not the other.

 

[dougfitz]

I think there is no material that is breathable and waterproof at the same time, if it is one thing it is not the other.

You are perfectly entitled to think what you like, but it is unhelpful to those seeking genuine discussion on the topic to post misinformation like this. It just isn't true, even if you feel like that. From development of the early vapour permeable membrane, Gortex, through to today, there are now a range of waterproof and breathable fabrics available for manufacturers of outdoor clothing.

It seems to me more important to understand what the limitations of such fabrics are, such as the range of conditions over which they are both waterproof and breathable, or under what conditions one will exceed the maximum transpiration rate of the fabric and it will no longer pass any more vapour, or the mere fact that when your body is actively sweating, waterproofness works both ways, and when you get wet inside a jacket from your own sweat, this isn't a failure of the fabric.

 

[JabbaPapa]

I think there is no material that is breathable and waterproof at the same time, if it is one thing it is not the other.

Wools generally are, though most of them do absorb some part of the water and so get heavier in the rain. They can also be hot to wear on rainy days in summer.

Of them, apparently it's alpaca wool that works best, though I've not tried it personally yet, but am planning to.

 

[BryanandJoan]

I am convinced that if I ever manage to invent air-conditioned underwear or truly waterproof gear for the Camino that keeps you dry, I will become a millionaire. Today, I walked in heavy rain from about 7 in the morning until about 11. I wore a shower-proof jacket and topped it with my poncho. Within an hour, everything was wet.

If there is a secret to staying warm, I think it involves wearing merino wool next to your skin because it retains heat even when wet. Unfortunately, I didn't have merino wool on today, so I lost heat and felt very chilled by 11 o'clock, in the temperature sense, not the lifestyle sense.

Having done many Caminos, I am still unsure about the best formula for staying dry and warm. Any suggestions are most welcome.

I can answer you with two words, Paramo or Rohan the first was worn by most mountain rescue teams when I was active and is totally breathable. On the Frances I wore a Rohan walking system from the skin out and never got wet. My wife and I were highly amused one day when it poured all day and we’d stop at cafes and hear the hand dryers going constantly drying underwear. The only problem is both Paramo and Rohan are quite expensive I think.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I have only worn very inexpensive Frogg Toggs on my Caminos and never have gotten wet in rain, nor sweaty. The only exception was on an extremely wet and windy long bridge crossing and the jacket flipped up in back exposing my derriere. I didn't think I'd need the matching pants, but I was wrong.