Altus Poncho In USA

[TheEzrahite]

Hi guys,

Does anyone know if the Altus Poncho is available anywhere in the USA, or if someone ships here?

Thanks!

 

[Canuck]

Hi!
You may want to try this store:

http://www.ramseyoutdoor.com

Good luck!

Cheers
Jean-Marc

 

[Arn]

Hi, Here is the link for the company I bought my Altus Poncho from...it arrived within a week of ordering.

http://www.barrabes.com/barrabes/dept.a ... arca_id=82

Buen dry is good Camino

Arn

 

[TheEzrahite]

Thanks!

One question though - I have an external frame backpack. Is this going to be big enough to cover that?

 

[Arn]

yes...plenty of room.

Arn

 

[crhutch]

Arn, thank you for your post regarding ordering the Altus Poncho. I just placed mine!

 

[Arn]

Crhutch,

You will find that the folks on this Forum are here because they have an interest in everyone getting the most from their Camino in the least expensive and safest Way.

Buen one step at a time Camino
Arn

 

[WolverineDG]

I ordered mine yesterday & they were rather quick about getting it out of Spain ASAP; however, it mucked around all day in East MIdlands, UK, arriving at 12:49 a.m., & leaving almost 24 hours later. :roll: Should get here (Texas) by Saturday, Monday at the latest!

Kelly

 

[grayland]

Is the Altus Poncho available on the Camino? In Pamplona?
I hate to order it from Spain.....and then just carry it back. :?

 

[WolverineDG]

It was very easy to order the poncho & have it delivered. I would have received it last Friday, but was not home when DHL came by. They did make sure to stop by my house first thing Monday before I went to work, though. Not bad, considering I ordered the poncho on Wednesday & it came all that way so soon. I've yet to have an Amazon delivery arrive that quickly!

Kelly

 

[grayland]

I understand that is possible to order the poncho on-line.....I am wondering if it is possible to purchase it in Spain. Perhaps around Pamplona????

 

[WolverineDG]

IIRC, I think there is a Barrabas store in Pamplona or Logrono. I've seen a reference to some kind of outdoor store in Pamplona before.

Kelly

 

[vjpulver]

IIRC, I think there is a Barrabas store in Pamplona or Logrono. I've seen a reference to some kind of outdoor store in Pamplona before.

Kelly

The Lonely Planet folks say there are a couple outdoor stores in Pamplona.Decathalon, in the outskirts, is a sports superstore open from 10-10. Take a taxi. In the historic district, look for Basati Kirolak (Plaza de Recoletos 5).

I am debating whether to splurge on the Altus poncho - I am travelling in late April...but price and wieght are issues...

"Ginn"
Under a Full Moon in Santa Fe

 

[WolverineDG]

I walked in May 2007 & it rained every day for the first week & a half. The Camino was just a trail of mud, up to our ankles all day every day. It was miserable enough. I can't imagine being soaking wet on top of that. I got my Altus poncho. It doesn't seem too heavy & if it's raining as much in April as it was in May 2007, it will be worth its weight in gold.

Kelly

 

[Anonymous]

I wonder if the Altos folk realise that it is the Caminos that has vastly increased their sales?

I love mine (well, ok, obviously not love of course) - I recently bought a cheap blue poncho and had the material used (doubled) to stitch an extra skirt all the way round so it is now ankle length - covers all the lower ends of my clothing so only my feet get wet and I really don't mind that (prefer sandals and I loathe wearing socks and boots - so constrictive) ...

could this be the end of two piece suits costing hundreds and hundreds of pounds?

 

[colinPeter]

I recently bought a cheap blue poncho and had the material used (doubled) to stitch an extra skirt all the way round so it is now ankle length - covers all the lower ends of my clothing so only my feet get wet and I really don't mind that (prefer sandals and I loathe wearing socks and boots .........

Hi Br. David,

Are you saying you the needed to add material to the Altus poncho?

I was considering getting one, but was wondering how people found them, who do wear boots & socks.
Do you end up up with sodden feet, possibly leading to blisters. It seems that "rain pants" would at least cover the tops of your boots in continous rain.

What has been the experience of others?

Col

 

[Anonymous]

No, no - not at all .. it was quite long anyway but I found that I could add 9 inches to the bottom and turn myself into a scout tent with me being the central pole! (it is really to do with the clothing that I personally wear and the bottom of it getting wet).

The Altus Poncho is quite full and therefore wonderfully airy underneath but as with any waterproof material the water necessarily runs down the outside (most important!) and off at the bottom :wink: - so it has to go somewhere. If you stand still in any waterproof outfit the water will drip off onto the ground - as soon as you move your clothing moves as well so it can wick onto exposed clothing.

Waterproof trousers are terrible things, don't you think? even the gortex ones - all enclosed and windless and sweaty ... awful, men end up with fungul infections and women with cystitus - awful thing, to cover up those areas in synthetic material (only cotton or silk or fine wool against the skin in 'sensitive' areas is the way to go) - but .. here's the thing - if you are concerned about the tops of your footwear getting wet what about spats ... errm, no, not spats .. errmm ... no 1920's man-about-town .. yes, what about gaiters? then you will be cool but covered ... :wink: and very sartorial too!

 

[colinPeter]

... Waterproof trousers are terrible things, don't you think?

I've only ever worn them when skiing & then just for a short period in heavy snow.
This is our first long trek so we're "kitting" ourselves out for the first time.
As we're setting out from SJPP on April 17th, my thinking was that "over pants" might be also a good option if we face extreme cold. Never really gave much thought to the implications of heat, although some claim to be breathable.

Col

 

[Anonymous]

Oh, then you don't want to take any advice from me - I'm not much of a walker compared to some serious serial caminoists - Johnny and Sil come to mind and I hope they put in to this thread from their experiences ..

it's just, well, for me, as little restrictive clothing as possible - I'd rather be 'cleanly' wet than sweaty and overheating - but, really, this is just my own personal opinion ... you might as well ask the next person that walks past you in the street!

(and this is the man who walked over the Napoleon Pass in deep snow sections in shorts and when I realised, at some ridiculous height, that I was rather cold and finally found a pile of stones large enough to be a windbreak to sit behind - wind was rather raging and it had started snowing sort of horizontally, though that didn't last long - to get at my pack to get the zip-on bits of my shorts to make them into trousers and also ALL the other clothing I had to put on I found I couldn't actually flex my hands and fingers and get them working into an 'open the rucksack' mode until I'd stuck them under my armpits for a bit and if I hadn't been so cold and brain not working quite right I might have been a little scared - but I was too stupid for that)
So don't take my advice!! :shock:

 

[vjpulver]

OK, my sweet spouse ordered the Altus poncho for me - he went online Saturday (or was it Sunday?) and it arrived here in sunny Santa Fe on Wednesday morning. Qucil service! And they included a sucker! Yep, a sweet lollipop!

I think I will looooove my poncho.

My spouse got me a size large, so there is lots of room. It falls below my calves and is quite loose. I love the zipper and velcro front (you can moderate the flow of air so you don't sweat). It is a bold, poppy red...boy will they see me coming! I believe I could use it as a small tent if I needed to! It is light wieght and the hood has a nice brim.

It is called a poncho, but it has underarm seams - the wind won't blow it up so easily.

I look like a crazed hunchback, no doubt...my friends have already dubed me "Ginnimodoa" (as in Quasimodo). I know I will be very grateful for this poncho when I am trekking through rainy, muddy Spain in a few months and my sweet spouse is here in the uSA, warm and dry.

OK...now I still must settle on an ultralight sleeping bag and acquire my pack (I am leaning toward the Gossmer Gear Miniposa).

Thanks again Sil...I appreciate your good advice!

"Ginn"
Watching the Full Moon Waning in Santa Fe

 

[Anonymous]

the bells the bells - there you go, ginnymodo gives a perfect description .. and there is strong liking there, which is what you feel when you put it on .. and that hunchy press-stud flap at the back that is so errmm , yes, 'hunchy' - makes a good gutter for run'off - and the hood is a proper hood with a brim and all - perfect -
though a bright red one .. hmm .. Spain ... Bulls .... Capes ... bright Red ... hmmmm ...... :? perhaps that is what the lollipop is for - a bribe :wink:

 

[WolverineDG]

Hey! I didn't get a lollipop. out: Glad to hear you like your poncho! And yes, the service is very fast! Buen Camino!

Kelly

 

[Deleted member 3000]

A competing product, but much lighter:

http://www.lifeviewoutdoors.com/store/s ... elter.html

 

[colinPeter]

Hi Ginn

My spouse got me a size large, so there is lots of room. It falls below my calves and is quite loose.

I'm 6.0 solid build, so would think Large Altus would be my size.
My wife is 5.9 solid build do you think the Large Altus would be OK?

Col

 

[Janwood]

I was going to order one of the ponchos that go over the backpack and is more fitted to the body for protection than just the regular one that would flop in the wind. However, is the Altus one more superior to these ones? The ones I was looking at are on ebay and run around $25 US...

 

[Arn]

All rain gear have positives and negatives...that said:

The Altus poncho covers pack and all...it's easy on and easy off...there's plenty of venting, so minor, if any sweating.

The only situation I had is that as I'd go up or down slopes...the lower edge would catch at my knees. I fixed this by pining back the leading edge on both sides.

Arn

 

[lynnejohn]

Hi Janwood -

Is it this one? Pretty good deal at the price. There are differences from the Altus though, sleeves are shorter, for one.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?Vi ... 0631384697

lynne

 

[WolverineDG]

the Altus Poncho covers both you & your pack. I only had to use it a few of times on my camino, but it kept me dry & warm on the days that I had to use it.

Kelly

 

[bfletcher67]

Howdy!
Do any of you USA pilgims have an Altus Poncho that they would be willing to part with (I would be happy to pay you for it, of course!)? I'm going in March and am sure to hit some rainy times!

If no luck with the above, any advice on how easy it would be to purchase one once on the ground in Barcelona or Pamplona? I hate the thought of having to order one all the way from Spain before I leave, but don't want to risk not finding one when I get there.

Thanks!
Brigitte

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Just north of the Pamplona train station is a Decathelon store. They should have it.

Decathlon Pamplona
Avenida Guipuzcoa s/n 31013 Berriorzar, Navarra
Spain
948 30 95 95

 

[bfletcher67]

That should be easy enough to find. Thank you, thank you Falcon!!

 

[Deleted member 3000]

Browsing Decathlon's website, I don't see the Altus brand. There is a comparable Quechua poncho for 37€95.

 

[Kitsambler]

@bfletcher: For US customers, Amazon carries the Ferrino Trekker, which is the same as the older Altus models. I have one, and it works great.

 

[redhat]

Seems to me the Packa is nearly the same and available here ... http://www.thepacka.com
I used it for my Appalachian Trail hike and will be using it on the Camino. Mine just about covers my knees, but I am debating taking rain pants as well for April/May...

 

[bfletcher67]

@Kitsambler-

The Ferrino Trekker looks perfect...thanks for the tip! One question-I'm 5'5". Should I order the S/Med or L/Xlg? Want it to be long enough to cover most of my legs (bringing gaters, as well), but don't want it so long as to stumble along the way.

Appreciate the advice!!

 

[Fishern1]

I am 5' 4" and I got Ferrino Trekker in the sm/med and it comes down to the bottom of my calf/top of my ankle. It is very roomy!!

 

[Anniesantiago]

The problem I have with the Ferrino is that it does not open all the way down. I like just slipping my ALTUS off my arms and letting it hang off my pack. It doesn't fall off and then if it starts raining again, I can just slip my arms back in and voila!