Life's a Stitch

How do you walk an average of 20k a day, in the delugenous (OK not really a word, but you get the picture) rain, and stay dry? It’s a matter of personal preference, but here are my priorities in order of preference:

1. Dry feet. I live in the Pacific Northwest and dry feet are a must or i’d never go out walking.  Hiking shoes or boots with a waterproof membrane and gusseted tongues changed my life. Think goretex or the equivalent. There are several brands available and not all are as good as they’re cracked up to be. My worst pair recently were Saucony. Generally I’ve had good luck (three Camino’s worth) with the Salomon brand. I haven’t had a problem with sweaty feet as I use absorbent foot powder and lighter weight Injinji toe socks. In my case there is no tolerance for squishy cold or hot feet.
2. Hiking in a sauna is not allowed. On our first Camino I carried a rain poncho. Although it was constructed of breathable material it sealed in the heat and at times I was just a wet inside as on the outside. I generally wear no rain gear unless it’s very windy, then I only wear rain pants over shorts.
3. The secret weapon? How to stay dry without full-on rain gear? A hiking umbrella, mine is a EuroSchirm Swing Liteflex, made with fibreglass ribs, short handle and EVA hardfoam grip. It comes with a shoulder holster and is light as a feather. It’s large enough to extend over my pack, keeping the contents dry. The best part is the ability to use it hands free so that I can still use my hiking poles. There are many resources online with instructions, just search for “attach hiking umbrella hands free” and pick what works for you. I used Velcro straps and a short length of foam pipe insulation for padding near my collarbone. The only problem was on one day in strong wind where it blew inside out twice, but as it’s made from fibreglass there was no damage. 

Chuck has a waterproof pack, doesn’t like being hot, but doesn’t mind being a tad wet. It’s a matter of priority.