Thursday, February 15, 2018

The ALTUS Poncho - 2018



If you hang around Camino forums for very long, 
you'll hear people talking about the ALTUS poncho. 

What the heck IS an ALTUS poncho?

The ALTUS poncho is a rain poncho
but better.

The ALTUS has a large "hump" on the back 
that completely covers your backpack.
When you're not using that "hump,"
it snaps neatly down to the poncho,
making the back flat.

The ALTUS also has sleeves,
unlike other ponchos,
and the sleeves have elasticized cuffs,
so your arms stay completely dry.

Here you can see the coverage with Linda and Patty's ALTUS
The ALTUS both zips up the front,
and snaps up the front,
so a strong wind won't blow it up or off of you.
In fact, it makes a very good windbreaker
for those cold, windy days.

The ALTUS has a large hood,
which fits comfortably over your hat,
whether it is a baseball cap style,
or a Tilley hat with a larger brim.
In fact, though the ALTUS hood has a brim,
I find it better to wear it over my hat,
for stability and better vision.
In other words,
the hat keep the brim of the ALTUS 
from flapping around in the wind,
and keeps it stabilized.
It also keeps the hood up in a way 
that keeps the rain from hitting your face and neck.

The ALTUS is so good at keeping your warm
that I've literally used it
as a blanket at Roncesvalles,
when one of the pilgrims in my group 
didn't bring a sleeping bag, 
and I gave her my own.
I simply put on my longjohns 
and slept with the ALTUS over me
and it kept me toasty warm.

People have asked if it keeps you dry?
It keeps me dry as a bone.
However,
like any other gear, 
you must learn to use it.

You must vent the Altus properly.
in order to stay dry.
Because you are walking and sweating,
the ALTUS will collect condensation,
like any other rain gear,
and you will get soaked by your own sweat.

To keep that from happening,
I always leave the top several inches of the ALTUS open
when I'm walking in rain,
so the heat can escape.
And though you can't help but get a little damp
from condensation of your own body heat,
you do not get soaked if it's vented properly,
and you do stay warm.

If I'm walking on a day where it rains, then stops,
then rains, the stops,
between rains I simply unzip the poncho
take my arms out of the sleeves,
and let it hang loose from my pack.
It stays (unless of course it's  too windy,
in which case I'd wear it to block the wind).
It doesn't come off because of the neck of the poncho.
And then when the rain starts again,
I slip my arms in, zip it up, and off I go!

At the time of this writing (Feb 2016)
the  ALTUS cannot yet be purchased in the United States.
There are several places you can purchase it
at the beginning of your Camino.

In St. Jean Pied de Port, 
Boutique du Pelerin carries the ALTUS poncho
as well as other pilgrim needs.
If you email Pierre, and ask nicely,
he will hold a poncho for you.
You can pick it up and pay for it on the day you arrive.
Just be sure to give him your name, size, color, and date of arrival.
Here is his website link:

In Zubiri, there is a sports shop called Planeta Agua.
It is on the main street of the village.
Here is their website link:
In the past, they have carried the ALTUS,
and I see they take Paypal.
So you may be able to order ahead, pay,
and pick up your poncho when you reach Zubiri.
This might be your best bet if you are 
starting out in Roncesvalles
and did not get your poncho in Pamplona

In Pamplona, Caminoteca is the place to go.
Located in Old Town, they also carry the ALTUS poncho
as well as other pilgrim gear.
The last time I checked, 
the prices for the ALTUS were less here,
so if you're starting by flying into Pamplona
it would be worth a stop to get your poncho.
I'm not sure if they'll hold one for you.
I'm emailing them today to ask if they take Paypal
or if they'll hold a poncho (or sticks)
so come back in a day or two and I will post their answer.

Of course, you can take regular rain gear.
On my first Camino I wore a rain jacket and rain pants.
But the weight put me off and I needed something more lightweight
that would cover my legs and hips.

The ALTUS keeps my feet dry.
I am 5'3" and usually start the Camino weighing around 155.
So I should by most calculations wear a SMALL.
However, I buy a large,
because I like the way the large covers me 
halfway down my legs, 
keeping the rain off my feet.

Also, if you were to be injured or get lost,
the ALTUS can make a very good shelter,
using your walking sticks.
You could cover up with it 
to shelter you from the elements.

Ralph and Toni Marie, from Las Vegas, spent the night on the mountain!
I did meet one couple in 2014
who got stuck all night
on the pass between Orisson and Roncesvalles
because they started too late in the day
and were caught in the dark in a snowstorm.
They snuggled under a bush
praying the Rosary to stay awake,
until it was light enough to see the trail and walk down.
They were lucky they didn't freeze to death!
I've kept in touch with them,
and they did make it to Santiago.
If they'd had an ALTUS poncho,
or two,
they would have had a much more comfortable night!


OTHER PONCHOS

I have tried the Sea to Summit
and the Bluefield Poncho,
both of which can be purchased on Amazon.
I hated both.
The reason was because they did not zip up the front,
and I about had a heat stroke 
just sitting in my living room with the danged things on.
See my review of the Bluefield here:

And remember,
if you wear rain pants and rain jacket,
you'll need a pack cover,
which you do NOT need if you're using an ALTUS.

So,
those are all the reasons I love the ALTUS poncho.
If you have any questions, please list them below.

Buen Camino!
Annie

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2 comments:

  1. I do agree that the _old_ Altus was really good, but the newer ones (2012+) are, in my opinion, a waste of money. I had one, very briefly, but gave it away in disgust. The "new" model may be lighter than the old, but it clings to the body and the arms have elastic cuffs, so there's no chance of ventilation, whatsoever, leading to much condensation. I'm also told that quite a few of them leak. No thanks.

    I much prefer the Ferrino Trekker, which is somewhere in between the old and the new Altus. It's a bit more floppy then the old Altus, but it doesn't leak, it doesn't cling, and the arm have velcro cuffs. Using a billed cap with the hood is recommended.

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  2. I agree with you that the old ALTUS was a better poncho. However, the ventilation issue is a problem with any raingear. The answer for me has been to simply walk with the top few snaps open so heat can escape. My newer ALTUS has never leaked.

    Also, if it's raining so hard that you can't walk with the top snaps undone, then I'm usually under some type of shelter. That hasn't happened to me more than a handful of times in the 12 years I've been walking the Camino every year.

    I'm not a fan of the Trekker at all, but I know some people are. The time I used it, I found the exact same condensation issues that you find in most rain gear. The aluminized lining made it VERY hot compared to the ALTUS.

    When something is waterproof, it is waterproof. Water can't get in, but the water your body produces as condensation cannot get out either.

    I'd suggest a hat with a bill under either of these.

    In the end, rain gear is a matter of preference and experience. For me, the ALTUS has held its own and shown its worth over and over through the years and I will continue to recommend it until I find something better.

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