Rain trousers or not?

[ConnieAdriano]

Good afternoon all,

We are walking the Central CP from Lisbon in July / August (summer, yes but we are Aussies). After arriving in Santiago de Compostela we are going on to do Santiago-Finisterre/Muxia-Santiago. We have full rain ponchos but are wondering if we will need rain trousers or not? Could anyone help out?

Kind regards, Adriano and Connie

 

[OzAnnie]

Hi Adriano and Connie
Phew! temps can get really high then and (IMHO) I haven’t found being an Ozzie makes it any easier!!
But as long as you’re ready for it.
With respect to rain trousers., I’d just enjoy getting a bit wet (at that time of the year- may cool you down) ; others may disagree tho.
I did carry rain pants on my first camino (Porto to Santiago ). 2012 and left them at an albergue .
Buen Camino
Annie

 

[Arn]

Rain trousers...put on when raining. Sweat when wearing. Muddy when taking off. Seldom used except in Galicia ( rains most often). I use an Altus poncho, hood, pack cover, breathing ports, light weight, easy on-easy off.

 

[HedaP]

Yep I agree. In spring and autumn I wore them for warmth but in summer I would take my chances and live with wet legs.
Buen camino, peregrinos.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

Yep I agree. In spring and autumn I wore them for warmth but in summer I would take my chances and live with wet legs.
Buen camino, peregrinos.

Yep, me too. I took my Frogg Togg rain suit on two of my spring Caminos and did not regret bringing the pants. I didn't need them often, but they kept me warm and dry on a few cold, wet, windy days. They are very lightweight, breathable and I never got sweaty.

 

[Peter Fransiscus]

Don't like to wear rain pants . A person get wet on both sides .
During spring and summer time when the temperatures are higher.
Wish you well,Peter

 

[trecile]

In August? Absolutely not. The only rain that I experienced last year in July/August was a couple of thunderstorms at night. And it wasn't cold at all. You'd be better off in shorts and bare legs.

 

[Risky]

I usually walk in spring and I only use a rain pants if it is cold and / or it looks like being heavy or consistent rain. This is because without the rain pants I have found that the rain runs down my legs, fills my boots / trail shoes and I end up with more water in my boots than out.

 

[Mark Barnes]

I walked Pamplona to Santiago Sept through end of October 2017. I took breathable rain pants and wore them for one hour and then took them off. I sweated with them on so found it better for me to just get wet from rain instead of sweat. I would highly suggest walking in the rain pants you plan to take with you while at home. If you do not sweat in them and like them then you will have a good idea if you want to take them or not.

 

[surya8]

I wouldn't bother bringing rain trousers. Most of the time you'll spend walking in Portugal and that's supposed to be dry this time of the year. Galicia could be slightly more unpredictable but won't be utterly unpleasant in terms of rain. The cooler temteratures there are more of an advantage, and the rains in summer don't normally last for days. I took rain trousers walking in May from Porto to Santiago, then went from Fisterra to Muxia, and in late Oct from Lisbon to Porto. Didn't use it much on my first trip, although I used a ponco occasionally, and didn't use trousers at all on the second.

 

[peregrino_tom]

Hi Adriano and Connie
Waterproof trousers won't be necessary - or comfortable - at that time of year. I think most people would just wear their shorts under their poncho and accept getting wet feet. However lots of running shops now sell ultralight gaiters, which you might consider. These stop the rain/splash trickling down into your shoes, which should keep gortex shoes dry for a couple more hours. Otherwise, just wear your lightweight trousers and let the bottoms of these absorb the rain and eventually they'll dry out...
If you really want something more substantial, there are rain chaps which work perfectly with a poncho and allow for much more ventilation than full trousers. The Mountain Laurel Designs ones weigh 2 ounces (60g) for a pair.
Cheers, tom

 

[ConnieAdriano]

Well thank you everyone for your responses. We had thought 'no' but just wanted to confirm specifically for the Finisterre/Muxia section. We don't mind getting wet in the rain so a few 100kg less is great.
Many thanks everyone, Adriano and Connie

 

[Jo Jo]

That time of the year in that terrain, no, not with a poncho to give you some lower coverage. That is the set-up my wife uses and really likes. If you think of rain gear as something not to keep you dry but to keep you warm (i.e. no hypothermia) that will help you make better choices. I always carry a rain jacket (doubles as my warmth layer--in the summer, my only warmth layer), so on a summer camino I'd take not rain pants, but a rain kilt (or skirt). Lighter, more breathable, easier on and off--basically just the bottom to a poncho, which you already have.