Sleeping on the del Norte in April/May - bag/quilt advice, please

[Satírico]

Dear All,

A last minute wobble.

Ten days to go and I'm having doubts about my Quechua sleeping bag & liner. I really like the look of those sleeping quilts everyone is raving about, but time is running out so, a few questions:

1. Can you buy sleeping quilts in the London area? (They certainly look pricey on the net!)
   
2. Would a season 2 or season 3 sleeping bag be best for the camino in May? (the one I own has "arpenaz basic 20 degrees" written on it)
   
3. What is your recommendation for an ultra-light sleeping bag? (The one I have now is 700g but quite bulky)

I'm shopping in the UK, so delivery times and all...does anyone have any insights to share?

Many thanks,

Phil

 

[Rajy62]

I used a sleeping bag, also 700g quechua 15c on the Norte in May/June. Most alberques do provide blankets in case you need more cover.

If you really want something lighter than 700g, down bags/quilts are the way to go. Yes they are expensive. I ordered the Cumulus 125 from Poland and had it shipped to Seville for the start of my vdlp last year. So That is one option to consider....
Here is a comparison of the ones suggested, under 1kg:

------- Model --------- Weight ---- Style ---- Comfort --Fill -------- Size ------------ Price usd$$
1. Down blanket ----- 196g ------ quilt ------- 13c?? --- 650 ---- 60 x 40in --$ 72, Discont'd
2. Magic 125 zip ----- 285g ------ bag/quilt --- 13c --- 850 ------ std --------$175, Cumulus
3. Yeti passion ------- 320g ------ bag/quilt --- 15c ---- 850 ------ std -------$350,outdoorfair
4. Zpacks 900 ------- 323g ------- bag/quilt ---- 5c ---- 900 ------ std ------$350, zpacks
5. Multi blanket ----- 340g ------ quilt ------- 13c?? --- 800 ---- 78 x 45in --$189, Monbell
6. Spark spl ---------- 348g ------- bag --------- 12c ---- 850 -------std ------$299,submithut
7. Traveller TR1 ----- 389g ------- bag/quilt -- 14c ---- 750 ------- std ------- $220,Lacordee
8. Western everlite -- 400g ------- bag -------- 7c ----- xxx --------std ------- $295,Backcountry
9. Shenandoah ------ 430g ------- quilt -------- 7c ----- 800 -------std ------- $180,jacksrbetter
10. Down Hugger ----- 461g ------- bag --------- 8c -----900 ------- std ------- $420,montbell
11. Atlus superlight -- 600g ------- bag -------- 14c ---- synthetic -- std ------ $ 60,ferrovicmar
12. Baikal 750 -------- 613g -------- bag -------- 9c ---- synthetic ---std ------ $ xx, millet
13.Flicker nano quilt - 624g ------- quilt ------ 4.5c ---- 850 ------- std ------ $229fetheredfriends
14. Traveller 50 ------- 650g ------- bag ------- 11c ---- synthetic ---std ------ $50, Mt warehouse
15. Quechua ---------- 700g ------- bag -------- 15c --- synthetic ---std ------$ 80,decathelon
16. EMS Boreal 40 --- 805g ------- bag -------- 4.5c --- synthetic ---std ------$160, ems
17. Cooper-7 ---------- 950g ------- Rectangle -- 7c ---- synthetic ---std ----- $ 70, hotcore

 

[Satírico]

I used a sleeping bag, also 700g quechua 15c on the Norte in May/June. Most alberques do provide blankets in case you need more cover.

If you really want something lighter than 700g, down bags/quilts are the way to go. Yes they are expensive. I ordered the Cumulus 125 from Poland and had it shipped to Seville for the start of my vdlp last year. So That is one option to consider....
Here is a comparison of the ones suggested, under 1kg:

------- Model --------- Weight ---- Style ---- Comfort --Fill -------- Size ------------ Price usd$$
1. Down blanket ----- 196g ------ quilt ------- 13c?? --- 650 ---- 60 x 40in --$ 72, Discont'd
2. Magic 125 zip ----- 285g ------ bag/quilt --- 13c --- 850 ------ std --------$175, Cumulus
3. Yeti passion ------- 320g ------ bag/quilt --- 15c ---- 850 ------ std -------$350,outdoorfair
4. Zpacks 900 ------- 323g ------- bag/quilt ---- 5c ---- 900 ------ std ------$350, zpacks
5. Multi blanket ----- 340g ------ quilt ------- 13c?? --- 800 ---- 78 x 45in --$189, Monbell
6. Spark spl ---------- 348g ------- bag --------- 12c ---- 850 -------std ------$299,submithut
7. Traveller TR1 ----- 389g ------- bag/quilt -- 14c ---- 750 ------- std ------- $220,Lacordee
8. Western everlite -- 400g ------- bag -------- 7c ----- xxx --------std ------- $295,Backcountry
9. Shenandoah ------ 430g ------- quilt -------- 7c ----- 800 -------std ------- $180,jacksrbetter
10. Down Hugger ----- 461g ------- bag --------- 8c -----900 ------- std ------- $420,montbell
11. Atlus superlight -- 600g ------- bag -------- 14c ---- synthetic -- std ------ $ 60,ferrovicmar
12. Baikal 750 -------- 613g -------- bag -------- 9c ---- synthetic ---std ------ $ xx, millet
13.Flicker nano quilt - 624g ------- quilt ------ 4.5c ---- 850 ------- std ------ $229fetheredfriends
14. Traveller 50 ------- 650g ------- bag ------- 11c ---- synthetic ---std ------ $50, Mt warehouse
15. Quechua ---------- 700g ------- bag -------- 15c --- synthetic ---std ------$ 80,decathelon
16. EMS Boreal 40 --- 805g ------- bag -------- 4.5c --- synthetic ---std ------$160, ems
17. Cooper-7 ---------- 950g ------- Rectangle -- 7c ---- synthetic ---std ----- $ 70, hotcore

Thank you for this very considerate reply.

 

[Rajy62]

Thank you for this very considerate reply.

Welcome. These are bags used by this forum members that we compiled last year.
Enjoy your walk. Norte is stunning.

 

[Satírico]

Thanks again to Rajy62 for their reply to my question about sleeping bags. For anyone interested, following advice from staff, I opted for the Microlite 500 from Mountain Warehouse, a season 2-3 bag which weighs in at 1kg. When unzipped and turned upside down it becomes, to all intents and purposes, just like one of those sleeping quilts.

I paid approx. £30.00

One possible shopping error, was the Osprey Airporter, also £3o, because I discovered Mountain Warehouse also make these sorts of bags and they only cost a tenner. Still, it is a handsome brand and the smaller one worked beautifully in 2014 getting to and from the CF.

Phil