Sleeping Bag or not?

[Pablo Campo]

I will be starting my Camino in the first week of April from Sevilla. I want to travel as light as possible, and have a 35L rucksack. I already have a sleeping bag liner, and am ok to wear clothes in bed, so will I really need to take a sleeping bag as well do you think?

 

[bsewall]

There are many good reasons for taking a sleeping bag in April on the VdlP and most of them have been discussed on this forum. Let me add one observation - on my two walks on the VdlP I never met any pilgrims who just carried a liner. Everyone carried a sleeping bag (me - I carry a very light sleeping bag and a liner for cold nights).

 

[whariwharangi]

You don't need a sleeping bag; you're allowed to be uncomfortable.

Some people consider that suffering is part of a pilgrimage ... so not having a sleeping bag might be a good way to achieve that ~*~ level of misery.

 

[SYates]

But if you don't want to join that suffering pilgrim lot - do take a sleeping bag ;-)
Buen Camino, SY

 

[justin credible]

I would recommend a light sleeping bag, I only used mine a few times but it made the difference between a comfortable and a cold nights sleep.

 

[flewitheagles]

I used only a poncho liner during May on Frances - 2009. I didn't think it too uncomfortable. I used a very light (less than 1 lb.) bag during the Portugal Interior in September 2014. I Liked the comfort. But, in short, we all learn to live with our decisions!

 

[dougfitz]

I have not walked the VDLP, but have walked in Apr in northern Spain. I carried a +5 deg C bag and silk liner, and there were several nights in unheated dormitories that would have been very unpleasant without the bag. People who did walk without sleeping bags had to be more selective about where they stayed. I don't know whether there are sufficient choices on the VDLP to be selective about where you might stay.

In its stuff sack and with a liner, my rectangular bag takes up about 5 li, mummy bags would need less volume in your pack. Whether you have space for three to five litres of bag in a 35 li pack might be an issue, although it could be carried externally in a good, waterproof compression sack if you did decide to carry a bag. Not necessarily ideal, but I suspect it would still be workable.

 

[spursfan]

I'd suggest bringing the liner but adding a Helly Hansen base layer and Merino top that can be used for both sleeping and/or walking

 

[brickthomas]

Hi Pablo. I have not walked a Camino with only a bag liner in April but I have in September and October, I never suffered. Twice I asked for a blanket and was given one. A base layer and bag liner is a great option also. It's also a good idea to spray your bag liner with Permethrin which kills and repels bed bugs. Something you may want to keep in mind is the Camino Frances (and Portuguese) is not a wilderness hike. You pass through towns everyday and if you are cold you can buy more clothing, in some towns you can buy a blanket or sleeping bag. But whether you carry a bag liner or a bulky sleeping bag you will adapt. And if you happen to freeze one night it will probably become a memory you talk about for years. Enjoy!
More gear thoughts: https://brickthomasblog.wordpress.com/2013/10/17/camino-what-to-pack/

 

[ortemio]

To keep weight down, I took a silk liner and a cotton liner and there were nights when it was just not enough. A good nights sleep is well worth the price of carrying the extra kg. The bugs are normally found in the blankets, specially if they have been stored away and you pull one out to cover the liner, a personal experience I do not wish for you. ;-(

 

[bsewall]

The original question Pablo asked was about the VdlP (starting in Seville). The Camino Frances is like Disney Land compared to the VdlP. On the Camino Frances you have abundant resources and choices for support. On the VdlP you often have just one or two. Take Fuenterroble de Salvatierra near Salamanca. It is a small town in the middle of cold, windswept farm land. The only choices for a bed are the parochial albergue and a casa rural. The average nightly temperature for April in Fuenterroble de Salvatierra is 4 (degrees centigrade). That's the average. I've seen snow and ice there on April 28 with 40 km winds.

If you only carry a liner, then the casa rural is the best option. The rooms are heated. But it will be expensive. The only other option is the albergue where they use a small wood stove to heat the drafty bunk room. The fire usually goes out around one in the morning. If someone does not get up every hour or two to feed the fire, the room temperature plummets to 7 or 8 (probably 2 to 4 on a really cold windy night).

So the question is Pablo - If you are willing to sleep in your clothes with a liner and a blanket in 2 to 4 degrees, then the liner will be adequate. In my case I used a light sleeping bag, a polyester liner, and a heavy blanket, and I was still uncomfortable in the cold. And, yes, I was the guy who got up every hour or two to feed the fire as everyone else snored away. Warmth is a necessity.

 

[jsalt]

Hi, if walking in April I would replace the liner with a minimal lightweight compressible down sleeping bag, i.e. one that weighs not much more than a liner, but packs up small, and will be much more effective than just a liner on very cold nights - which you will probably get in April. On hot nights – just sleep on top of the bag in next day’s top and broekies, scants, undies, whatever you call them where you live
Jill
P.S. Bedbugs do not live in blankets stored on a shelf – there is nothing to eat there!

 

[C clearly]

The bugs are normally found in the blankets,

Bedbugs do not live in blankets stored on a shelf – there is nothing to eat there!

The blankets may not have any more bedbugs than other hiding places in the room. They make forays out for night feedings. Also, they don't need to eat everyday in order to survive.

 

[tillyjones]

I've been surprised by these replies. I am departing Seville on May 5th and did not plan to take anything other than a liner. I did the Frances June/July and didn't need anything more than a liner, so am assuming starting in the south in May will also mean I don't need anything. Hope not or that will change the whole game plan...will need a new bag!

 

[AZgirl]

I've been surprised by these replies. I am departing Seville on May 5th and did not plan to take anything other than a liner. I did the Frances June/July and didn't need anything more than a liner, so am assuming starting in the south in May will also mean I don't need anything. Hope not or that will change the whole game plan...will need a new bag!

I only took a silk liner when I did the vdlp mostly in May. While most nights I was fine, there were some when I was freezing and even wearing all my clothes I was uncomfortable, I didn't see any blankets to use. I decided it is worth the added weight for me to carry a synthetic down blanket for my next Camino, I love sleep more than saving the oz's. But like everything in terms of Camino gear, it will depend on your personal preferences and how warm you like to be.

 

[C clearly]

I've been surprised by these replies. I am departing Seville on May 5th and did not plan to take anything other than a liner.

The OP was planning to depart a month earlier - the first week of April. That could make quite a difference.

 

[Hiawatha]

Knitted polypropylene liners are much warmer albeit heavier than silk liners . They fill that void between a light summer silk liner; used usually for mosquitoes or modesty and a heavy two or three season sleeping bag . A very light summer sleeping bag with polyprop. liner can be as warm as a much heavier and correspondingly bulkier bag .

 

[sharon w]

Just bought a down sleeping bag that weighs 475g and takes up a little more room than the sleeping bag liner I usually take.

 

[Joodle]

The blankets may not have any more bedbugs than other hiding places in the room. They make forays out for night feedings. Also, they don't need to eat everyday in order to survive.

So you're saying just to make sure you're there on the bedbugs "off days"? Tee hee.....

 

[Joodle]

So you're saying just to make sure you're there on the bedbugs "off days"? Tee hee.....

And by the way, do you have the bedbugs "schedule"? Sorry, couldn't resist!

 

[C clearly]

And by the way, do you have the bedbugs "schedule"? Sorry, couldn't resist!

Yes. They monitor my whereabouts and come on the days I am there.

 

[hotelmedicis]

An ultra-lightweight down sleeping bag for warm temperatures could weight as little as 450g and would only be a bit heavier than a fleece liner and would afford you a lot of warmth at night. It would be highly recommended to bring one.

 

[tillyjones]

Yes. They monitor my whereabouts and come on the days I am there.

Hey Clare...right now...are you needing more than a liner??

 

[geraldkelly]

A sleeping bag is a good idea on the Via de la Plata. There will be cold nights and unheated albergues.