Packing List : What to sleep in and on ?

[Salty]

First time on the Frances : Will be walking in the shoulder season - What to bring sleep wise ? I get easily hot while sleeping. I bought a sleep liner and find it too confining. I cant get in and out of it easily. I hate it actually. So I went to work and I cut it open, now its like a wide open sheet. I want to sleep under it. But I dont like anything slippery and mine is slippery at the moment. What is on the albergue beds? A cotton sheet perhaps? Should I bring a small light weight pillow, the size of an airline pillow perhaps ? I have a Deuter 55 pack, that I took apart and took out a lot of the bulk and weight, so it will end up being smaller and light weight, possibly the size of a 40 L bag but much lighter than the standard Osprey or Deuter bags. I did a lot of needlework on my bag, it had 7 zippers, now it only has 2 zippers. So space is no problem. I was thinking to bring a thin light weight sheet ( to throw on my bed, and a pillow case of some sorts also and a small downfilled Eddy Bauer throw bl;anket. I do not want to bring a sleeping bag. I dont like anything that is slippery to lie on or under. Any advise, will be so much appreciated.

 

[trecile]

What is on the albergue beds? A cotton sheet perhaps?

Most albergue mattresses are vinyl covered and you are often given a very thin disposable sheet and pillow case. Cotton sheets are rare.

Should I bring a small light weight pillow, the size of an airline pillow perhaps ?

Almost every albergue provides a pillow.

You might get some ideas from this recent thread.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/down-quilt.76233/

 

[J Willhaus]

If you are in an albergue, some beds may have a paper sheet (disposible) Some may have a plastic cover. Some may have a cotton sheet and pillow case. I use a scarf as a pillow case which I can use for other things as well. Maybe get you a cotton sleeping bag liner rather than a silk one?

If you don't stay in albergues, but hotels or private rooms, you will almost always have sheets and blankets.

 

[Salty]

If you are in an albergue, some beds may have a paper sheet (disposible) Some may have a plastic cover. Some may have a cotton sheet and pillow case. I use a scarf as a pillow case which I can use for other things as well. Maybe get you a cotton sleeping bag liner rather than a silk one?

If you don't stay in albergues, but hotels or private rooms, you will almost always have sheets and blankets.

Thank you for all the advice so far. I do plan on bringing a big light weight scarf, maybe I can lay down on it. But I was thinking to make a fort /privacy curtain with my big scarf, around my bed, if and when I can.

 

[J Willhaus]

Thank you for all the advice so far. I do plan on bringing a big light weight scarf, maybe I can lay down on it. But I was thinking to make a fort /privacy curtain with my big scarf, around my bed, if and when I can.

Yes, possible at times if you are in a bottom bunk. Mostly I found that I was just tired and didn't care about privacy after the first few days...when walking with my husband I almost always had to be in the top bunk despite my fear of heights since he is older and heavier and I didn't want to risk being squashed in the night when he had to get up...

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

Just a thought but maybe you could make a sheet from some lightweight merino wool fabric. Most people find merino comfortable, not itchy. If the width of the fabric is too narrow you might want to get two lengths, cut one in half lengthwise and sew each of the two to the sides of the uncut one.

We have a recent pillow thread.

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/pillow.76441/

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Thank you for all the advice so far. I do plan on bringing a big light weight scarf, maybe I can lay down on it. But I was thinking to make a fort /privacy curtain with my big scarf, around my bed, if and when I can.

Consider a peshtemal towel as a multi use towel/sheet/curtain/shawl/table cloth . . . .

peshtamel towel

Or, instead of a sleeping bag liner a cotton single (twin) bed duvet cover with the side seam unpicked most of the way and the odd tape ties added in case you do want to snug it up?

 

[trecile]

Consider a peshtemal towel as a multi use towel/sheet/curtain/shawl/table cloth . . . .

peshtamel towel

Or, instead of a sleeping bag liner a cotton single (twin) bed duvet cover with the side seam unpicked most of the way and the odd tape ties added in case you do want to snug it up?

Or a rayon sarong, which can also double as a towel and bed covering.

 

[hawkeyepierce]

I sleep hot as well. I have a pair of very lightweight running shorts from North Face that I wear after showering for the day and then in bed. They can also serve as a swimsuit on occasion. I’ve been quite happy with them.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

Sleeping hot or not, I find that the human body needs covering even if it is 25C. For me, I sleep in the clothes I will wear the next day, saves in commotion around Peregrinos still sleeping. T+Wake up, take up your pack, go to the washroom and take care of your toiletries and you are out the door.

No need for a liner. But I do use a Snugpak Jungle Blanket. Tuck it in on one side of you and it stays, usually. If it is cold, arms in, If it is hot, arms out, maybe a leg out too. It is a blanket, no zippers. More than a liner, a lot less than a sleeping bag.

 

[Former member 92300]

Few albergues have "real" sheets. Most have disposable paper sheets that are very thin and not well fitting. They mostly stay somewhat put - but not great. Some places don't have even the disposable sheets. You don't need a pillow. They all have pillows (unless you are picky about your pillow). Blankets - it varies widely. Last year due to COVID - most places did NOT offer blankets. More do this year. But blankets are not guaranteed in dorm rooms. But private rooms almost always have them. Bringing a lightweight sheet or liner is a must IMO if you are planning to sleep in any dorm style rooms. Blanket/sleeping bag is optional - but I will tell you last June/July it was VERY cold at night on the Camino Frances (unseasonably cold) and those of us without blankets/sleeping bags were pretty miserable (even men who are normally very warm at night) and I couldn't find a light enough blanket/bag to buy in Spain so I never bought one. This summer I walked the Norte and Primitivo and it was mostly cold at night (late May through June) but most places on the Norte/Primitivo did have blankets. My daughter walked the Frances starting late June through July and it was HOT for her (record heat compared to my unseasonably cold nights just a year earlier during the exact same time period). So - I do recommend a liner/sheet and a very lightweight blanket/bag even in the summer months. What you actually need can be unpredictable and the blankets/bags in Spain were heavier than what I have at home. I do down filled blanket/bag because they are so lightweight and compressible. Good luck finding something not slippery though - a regular sheet will work - but most of the down blankets/bags I have found have been a bit slippery.

 

[aerialobserver]

One modification I made to my liner really made a difference. I had three loops sewn opposite each other on both sides on the liner. To the back set of loops, I tied lengths of thin nylon cord, then ran the cord under the mattress and tied each length loosely to the loops on the outside edge. This arrangement kept the liner in place as I changed position during the night and kept me from getting tangled up, which is what happened when I experimented with the liner at home. Worked great. I packed a Costco down blanket as well, but found it too warm and too slippery. Next time I'll bring a very thin fleece throw instead.

 

[DBC]

Thank you for all the advice so far. I do plan on bringing a big light weight scarf, maybe I can lay down on it. But I was thinking to make a fort /privacy curtain with my big scarf, around my bed, if and when I can.

Use your travel towel to add a privacy screen. It will also dry quicker when hung out.

 

[Jodean]

I have a very lightweight nighgown that weighs about 125 gr. and sleep in that.
When I bought my sleeping bag, it was important for me to find one that had a brushed cotton interior, not one of those slippy ones. Almost like flannel. I unzip the whole thing and either lay on top or under it, as there is always some sort of sheet on the beds, either disposable or cotton and I did find a lot of albergues using real sheets now and doing laundry instead of throwing away all those disposables. Good move.
I also bring my own pillowcase, just because.

 

[ParrisPair]

I take a large thin cotton scarf which serves several purposes, including pillow case, bunk bed curtain, sun shield, fashion accessory . Controversially I also take lightweight pyjamas, for modesty as I can also feel confined in a sleeping bag liner and quite often wriggle out of it. I like to know I am wearing something fresh each night, and can put on fresh clothes when I wake up. I don’t consider this unnecessary weight as my pack still weighs 6kg.

 

[J Willhaus]

I take a large thin cotton scarf which serves several purposes, including pillow case, bunk bed curtain, sun shield, fashion accessory . Controversially I also take lightweight pyjamas, for modesty as I can also feel confined in a sleeping bag liner and quite often wriggle out of it. I like to know I am wearing something fresh each night, and can put on fresh clothes when I wake up. I don’t consider this unnecessary weight as my pack still weighs 6kg.

In the summer I take a lightweight tanktop dress that works well to take with me to cover without juggling too many clothing items in the shower. (You know the ones without hooks or anyplace dry to set anything?) The dress I took this year was marketed as a swimsuit cover up, but I also have a lightweight merino wool one. I also use my dress for evening activities or church, and I sleep in it at night so I can get up to the bathroom without worry of "scaring" anyone with my matronly and blindingly white body in the bunk room. I have a scarf (multipurpose) and a little mesh jacket to cover my shoulders and dress it up if needed. It all wads up in my stuff sack and comes out wrinkle free. I don't like to sleep in the same clothes I walk in although that works well for some people.

 

[J Willhaus]

Use your travel towel to add a privacy screen. It will also dry quicker when hung out.

My travel towel is tiny and would offer no privacy at all...

 

[Kathy F.]

Since I, and many pilgrims, tend to keep valuables in my sleeping bag at night for security, sleeping in a sleeping bag is the way to go for me.

I have a summer-weight sleeping bag from Decathlon, I think it is good to 59 degrees. I have learned that I MUST have warm feet at night, so I carry wool socks for sleeping. I bring separate sleeping clothes. I'm usually so tired by the end of the night that I don't care about privacy.

Not every albergues I slept in had covers for their mattresses. One was just a sleeping pad on the ground on the upper floor of a Church - clean, quiet, spartan.

You just go with the flow!

 

[Tom Hagger]

Salty, you may find that the Lifeventure silk sleeping bag liner is far less confining than the liner you have tried. I am a fairly large man of 72 who finds it very roomy and who has no trouble getting in and out of it. It has a built-in pillow cover, is bug-treated and, in England at least, is a very reasonable price. Buen Camino! Tom

 

[PercPisk0t]

Salty, you may find that the Lifeventure silk sleeping bag liner is far less confining than the liner you have tried. I am a fairly large man of 72 who finds it very roomy and who has no trouble getting in and out of it. It has a built-in pillow cover, is bug-treated and, in England at least, is a very reasonable price. Buen Camino! Tom

Drap de sac de trekking en soie MT500

Drap de sac de trekking en soie MT500 au prix de ★ 40€ ★ sur Decathlon.fr. Passionnés de trekking, nos concepteurs ont créé ce drap de sac pour dormir en refuge ou gîte, optimiser la thermicité et l'hygiène de votre sac de couchage.

www.decathlon.fr

Would that be a good liner to use for sleeping if im travelling without sleeping bag, is it sufficient? Thank you for any advice from anybody!

 

[Tom Hagger]

PercPiskot, the Lifeventure silk liner is all I ever take, apart from on my rare Winter Caminos, when I also take a three-season sleeping bag. The great majority of albergues and other hostels have spare blankets, although I have only rarely found them necessary. From April to November, the liner suffices. Buen Camino! Tom

 

[Ladydigs]

Is there no such thing as a decent sleeping bag liner with zippers? I don't like the ones that force you to shimmy in and out of them. I want to be able to get my legs in and out. I've been looking but haven't found anything.

 

[trecile]

Is there no such thing as a decent sleeping bag liner with zippers? I don't like the ones that force you to shimmy in and out of them. I want to be able to get my legs in and out. I've been looking but haven't found anything.

If you can sew you can add a zipper to a ready made liner.

 

[Embee12]

I have a very lightweight nighgown that weighs about 125 gr. and sleep in that.
When I bought my sleeping bag, it was important for me to find one that had a brushed cotton interior, not one of those slippy ones. Almost like flannel. I unzip the whole thing and either lay on top or under it, as there is always some sort of sheet on the beds, either disposable or cotton and I did find a lot of albergues using real sheets now and doing laundry instead of throwing away all those disposables. Good move.
I also bring my own pillowcase, just because.

If you lie on top of it, do you also use one of their blankets, or nothing? Is your goal to avoid any linens to do with the accommodation, or the uncomfortable linens themselves (or bedbugs or Covid)? Just trying to still figure out for myself. I hated the slippy ones, too, and am awaiting something from Sea to Summit. I also dislike the movement and tangle of the sack. Not sure I get quite how you did the loops.

 

[Ladydigs]

If you can sew you can add a zipper to a ready made liner.

I can't, but maybe I could hire someone to do it.

 

[C clearly]

Is there no such thing as a decent sleeping bag liner with zippers?

Not so many, since the liner is intended to go inside a sleeping bag, and having zippers on both seems excessive. Some liners have ties instead.