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It will likely be warm but I also like the comfort of a super light sleeping bag and carry a pillow case. That way I'm pretty confident of a good night's sleep. Many people carry just a liner and seem to be fine. Oh and earplugs. Definitely earplugs.Hi - I will be arriving mid-May starting my hike at SJPP. I think I have many of the basics down for very light travel bag, but I'm still debating on 3 things:
1) Should I do a sleeping liner or bag? I know this has been covered a bunch of times for various months, but I'd love someone to confirm a sleeping liner will serve me well.
2) For sleeping at night, I have a cotton nightdress - it has straps and the length falls like I'm wearing a pair of shorts. It is the most light weight sleeping outfit I currently own (so no need to buy anything) and I thought it would be easy to also put on after a shower, but I'm not sure if a nightdress is inappropriate? Thoughts?
3) How concerned should I be leaving my backpack at the auberges if I decide to depart into town for a bite to eat? I would take my passport and $$ with me, but the bag, and hiking boots I'd prefer to leave behind. Do I need a lock of any kind? Thoughts?
Thank you to everyone for your useful tips in helping me prepare. And apologies, in advance, if I didn't scour the site fully enough to find these answers.
xL
I don't CARE if anyone sees my undies. You'll often be sharing space with men - underwear will be seen. In fact, my black tech sports bra and Patagonia underwear often double as bathing suit. Shrug.Oh, goodness! I didn't even think about climbing up a bunk bed and the poor souls who could witness my bottom! Thank you both for your kind answers to all of my questions. I will follow your leads.
Provocative? I see men in auberges walking around naked and in tiny thong type underwear. I am not going to trouble myself with how "provocative" my sleeping attire might be to some peregrino!Hi
1) I always carry a very lightweight sleeping bag at all times of the year. May can be chilly and not all albergues have blankets. My very small microfibre towel (which has dried between shower and bed time) covers my pillow;
2) A nightdress is totally inappropriate in a dormitory (others may disagree); it is provocative (in my opinion) and impractical. I wear tomorrow’s (clean) hiking top and light pyjama bottoms.
3) No need for a lock. Most places you have to leave your boots on the shelf at the door (tie the laces together), and don’t leave anything valuable in your pack.
P.S. Welcome to the forum! Jill
Welcome Jill to the forum , I am also starting my trip mid -May. I wish You well.
I brought a pair of ExOfficio underwear, and a couple pair of cheapie wicking underwear by Hanes or Fruit of the Loom. They all dried quick enough. As far as a bra goes, just wear what you find comfortable. I would avoid a sports bra that you have to pull on over your head, as it can be hard to do in a tiny shower cubicle when you aren't fully dry.Speaking of things lingerie, does anyone have any suggestions about quick drying underwear and a comfortable supportive bra?
It's a personal choice but you might like to consider nightwear that doubles up as outdoor clothing if needed, like leggings, light tracksuit bottoms, shorts, t-shirts etc- all helps towards a lighter, smaller pack.
Sue, I'm not sure if you're from the States, but if you are and you don't mind getting things from Walmart, they sell some great Fruit of the Loom Breathable Mesh underwear that are Quick-Dry. Very comfy. For bras, I just take those stretch bras that are soft and can be pulled overhead - they're quick-dry too. Another thing I do to save having to do laundry right at the beginning is I wear an old, decrepit set of underwear that's ready to be pitched, and maybe take another set for the day transiting to the camino, and then I leave them in the garbage can wherever I'm staying. Maybe TMI, but it really helps not to have to wash and dry things in a hotel room right away on the first day or two.Speaking of things lingerie, does anyone have any suggestions about quick drying underwear and a comfortable supportive bra?
Such great advice and tips from everyone. Thank you. I decided to take a sleeping bag and ordered the Marmot Nanowave 55 from REI. It's priced well and I think will do the trick while remaining reasonably lightweight. I also like the idea of sleeping in my outfits - so far, I have 2 t-shirts, 2 zippered hiking pants, a fleece, raincoat, 2 pairs of socks, and maybe 1 long sleeve, besides my minimal undergarments and bare essential others. Whatever else I need, I will buy.
@Kris53 - Thanks for the warm welcome and I hope our paths cross. (P.S. I'm not Jill, though.)
@HighlandsHiker - I am hoping for no snow on this trip, but I realize that is a definite possibility; your note confirmed what was really on my mind - what are the chances of snow in which case I would most definitely want a sleeping bag. I plan to monitor the weather so, should the worst happen, I will just delay my trip in SJPP and enjoy life. Thanks for your insights!
xx
I am Canadian and I got my "wicking" underwear from Mountain Equipment Co-op. Love them!!Speaking of things lingerie, does anyone have any suggestions about quick drying underwear and a comfortable supportive bra?
Sue - you'll laugh when you see the Camino way of drying clothes. Especially if the humidity is high from rain, if your albergue doesn't have a dryer sometimes it's really hard to get especially cotton to dry overnight by air-drying. What people do then is use safety pins and tack damp things to their backpack to air dry the next day whilst walking. If it's still raining the next day, if you roll your half-damp clothes up in a bag to hike, then air dry them a second night at the next albergue, they always finish drying. Another thing people do in crowded albergues is to throw their clothes into the dryer together, since most people aren't doing all that much laundry each night.Indeed! All I have is cotton and I don't want to spend a lot of money...it doesn't have to be the high tech "chunk o change" variety. Just so it dries overnight!
Yeah, non-cotton the way to go and I have found the tech type synthetics to dry fast. As suggested on another post, the dark colors are preferable as your clothes never really get all that clean hand washing them, but honestly it's only for a month and not that big a deal.Indeed! All I have is cotton and I don't want to spend a lot of money...it doesn't have to be the high tech "chunk o change" variety. Just so it dries overnight!
It's not the fact of showing your bum to anyone, just have a thought about giving old blokes like me a heart attack!! - only joking!!! but I agree with notion900, after a while the sight of people in various states of attire becomes the norm, after walking all day you just want to put your feet up, rest and have something to eat. I will be on the Way in May also, the same time as the last, the weather was great, so fingers crossed it will be the same, have a wonderful Camino and the best advice I can give is, do not rush it, it's not a race, keep a journal or take photos so in years to come you will have something to look back on. Buen CaminoOh, goodness! I didn't even think about climbing up a bunkbed and the poor souls who could witness my bottom! Thank you both for your kind answers to all of my questions. I will follow your leads.
HiHi - I will be arriving mid-May starting my hike at SJPP. I think I have many of the basics down for very light travel bag, but I'm still debating on 3 things:
1) Should I do a sleeping liner or bag? I know this has been covered a bunch of times for various months, but I'd love someone to confirm a sleeping liner will serve me well.
2) For sleeping at night, I have a cotton nightdress - it has straps and the length falls like I'm wearing a pair of shorts. It is the most light weight sleeping outfit I currently own (so no need to buy anything) and I thought it would be easy to also put on after a shower, but I'm not sure if a nightdress (kind of like a sundress) is inappropriate? Thoughts?
3) How concerned should I be leaving my backpack at the auberges if I decide to depart into town for a bite to eat? I would take my passport and $$ with me, but the bag, and hiking boots I'd prefer to leave behind. Do I need a lock of any kind? Thoughts?
Thank you to everyone for your useful tips in helping me prepare. And apologies, in advance, if I didn't scour the site fully enough to find these answers.
xL
Speaking of things lingerie, does anyone have any suggestions about quick drying underwear and a comfortable supportive bra?
Hi - I will be arriving mid-May starting my hike at SJPP. I think I have many of the basics down for very light travel bag, but I'm still debating on 3 things:
1) Should I do a sleeping liner or bag?
In May, absolutely. I've frozen my butt off in June.
2) For sleeping at night,
I would just wear underwear and a teeshirt
3) How concerned should I be leaving my backpack
No to the lock. As long as you don't leave anything behind that you couldn't easily replace, I wouldn't worry.
I often leave my pack at the albergue, and just take my money, passport, and any electronics.
So far I've been lucky, although I DO know of people who've had their packs rifled through.
I always bring a small travel lock in case albergues have lockers. It weighs little next to nothing and allows me to leave my stuff out of the way, and safer that just on the floor, but this does not mean I don't still carry passport, money, credit cards and electronics.
For bedtime, you see all sorts. Some sleep in a camisole or sports bra with boxer shorts. I have taken pjs or have worn my leggings and long sleeve T to bed. Some people get up in the morning, grab their clothes and get dressed in the bathroom (what I do), others will get dressed on their bed whole trying to be discreat. Others don't get and change in full view of others.
Have yet to see one who lends locks. Have seen them sell them, such as at Bella Muxia.I found that the albergues/hostels that provided lockers also provided locks. Usually you needed a Euro coin to use the locker, which is returned to you.
Really? The albergue in Roncesvalles has lockers with locks for a one euro deposit, and there were several others I remember; La Mochila in Itero de la Vega, Albergue Pereiro in Melide, and Hostel León.Have yet to see one who lends locks. Have seen them sell them, such as at Bella Muxia.
Not only a wise lady - a wise pilgrim and an idea that ALL can aspire to. My ex-officio briefs are black but I have both white & black singlets - I usually sleep in the black one. As for "averting the eyes" - you will be surprised how soon you become blind to the dress state of fellow pilgrims. CheersA wise lady i spoke to, suggested black underwear as it is more forgiving when hand washed and doesn't show the grime!!
Very true, but there are many Americans around, and they are more modest. Here in London everyone strips naked in single sex communal changing rooms, but people are reasonably modest in front of people of the opposite gender.A body is a body - everyone has one. Europeans are generally more blase' about the whole thing.
Very true, but there are many Americans around, and they are more modest. Here in London everyone strips naked in single sex communal changing rooms, but people are reasonably modest in front of people of the opposite gender.
On camino, I think it's particularly important not to be seen to be trying to look 'alluring' in the dorm, ie lacy nighties, sexy mesh bras, brazilian knickers and whatnot. Sporty is much more comfortable and appropriate. No one is trying to ogle, but some things will draw the eye of the guys and embarrass people.
Have not been in the new albergue in Roncesvalles. I was lucky to be there when ot was in the great big stone hall with massive chandeliers and just rows and rows and rows of bunk beds. Such a fantastic experience. There would not have been any room for lockers back then.Really? The albergue in Roncesvalles has lockers with locks for a one euro deposit, and there were several others I remember; La Mochila in Itero de la Vega, Albergue Pereiro in Melide, and Hostel León.
I had bought some three meters of elastic rope (four millimeters thick). Together with a couple of unexpensive carabiner snap hooks (help to secure stuff to backpack at daytime) it makes a clothing line in between beds, fence posts......Sue - you'll laugh when you see the Camino way of drying clothes. Especially if the humidity is high from rain, if your albergue doesn't have a dryer sometimes it's really hard to get especially cotton to dry overnight by air-drying. What people do then is use safety pins and tack damp things to their backpack to air dry the next day whilst walking. If it's still raining the next day, if you roll your half-damp clothes up in a bag to hike, then air dry them a second night at the next albergue, they always finish drying. Another thing people do in crowded albergues is to throw their clothes into the dryer together, since most people aren't doing all that much laundry each night.
I'll give my thoughts on 1 and 3. I tested a silk liner before setting off and decided against it. I found I got tangled up in it and didn't stay warm enough. I generally sleep warm, but I don't like sleeping with just a sheet. I like a bit more weight in a covering. I used a lightweight fiber fill sleeping bag from North Face. I'm so glad I had it. There were definitely times where I needed extra warmth. I walked in the fall, but I suspect you'll run into cool nights when you're walking.Hi - I will be arriving mid-May starting my hike at SJPP. I think I have many of the basics down for very light travel bag, but I'm still debating on 3 things:
1) Should I do a sleeping liner or bag? I know this has been covered a bunch of times for various months, but I'd love someone to confirm a sleeping liner will serve me well.
2) For sleeping at night, I have a cotton nightdress - it has straps and the length falls like I'm wearing a pair of shorts. It is the most light weight sleeping outfit I currently own (so no need to buy anything) and I thought it would be easy to also put on after a shower, but I'm not sure if a nightdress (kind of like a sundress) is inappropriate? Thoughts?
3) How concerned should I be leaving my backpack at the auberges if I decide to depart into town for a bite to eat? I would take my passport and $$ with me, but the bag, and hiking boots I'd prefer to leave behind. Do I need a lock of any kind? Thoughts?
Thank you to everyone for your useful tips in helping me prepare. And apologies, in advance, if I didn't scour the site fully enough to find these answers.
xL
Ditto. Silk t-shirt and silk shorts, total weight 158 gm or the equivalent of a small glass of water. Used for sleeping, swimming and as emergency wear about albergue or town when washing everything else in my backpack.I did that in my Camino Frances and will do again in the Portugues! I had my 2 walking tshirts and pants, plus a very light 3rd t-shirt and shorts that I only used for sleeping (as I love to sleep in clean clothes). But they could double as walking clothes if it got too hot, too cold or too wet!
I'd bring a sleeping bag. I almost froze in Leon (3degree C at the end of May) sometimes when tired and/or hungry you can feel the cold more. As for sleeping, I always wore my next day's hiking base layer cotton/lycra cycling shorts and a snug fitting T shirt. ALWAYS keep your valuables with you. I'd be less worried about my pack.Hi - I will be arriving mid-May starting my hike at SJPP. I think I have many of the basics down for very light travel bag, but I'm still debating on 3 things:
1) Should I do a sleeping liner or bag? I know this has been covered a bunch of times for various months, but I'd love someone to confirm a sleeping liner will serve me well.
2) For sleeping at night, I have a cotton nightdress - it has straps and the length falls like I'm wearing a pair of shorts. It is the most light weight sleeping outfit I currently own (so no need to buy anything) and I thought it would be easy to also put on after a shower, but I'm not sure if a nightdress (kind of like a sundress) is inappropriate? Thoughts?
3) How concerned should I be leaving my backpack at the auberges if I decide to depart into town for a bite to eat? I would take my passport and $$ with me, but the bag, and hiking boots I'd prefer to leave behind. Do I need a lock of any kind? Thoughts?
Thank you to everyone for your useful tips in helping me prepare. And apologies, in advance, if I didn't scour the site fully enough to find these answers.
xL
Speaking of things lingerie, does anyone have any suggestions about quick drying underwear and a comfortable supportive bra?
I was in the municipal albergue in Granja de Moreruela with a guy who was pulled out a dressing gown out of his pack. Now that was hilarious.Sleeping bag liner or sleeping bag is all dependent on how cold you sleep, and you could actually just carry a liner and wear a fleece pullover if you get cold. For me, keeping my torso warm is most important. I'm a proponent of Camino gear multi tasking. The fleece pullover also acts like an insulating layer for sleep in addition to keeping me warm otherwise. You could carry a pair of light base layer synthetic long bottoms for your legs if you get cold at night. Either way, the fleece top and the base layer bottoms multi task. Also, in my experience a lot of the albergues had blankets and I used them.
If you do decide on a sleeping bag, I don't recommend hauling around one that weighs more than 1-1/2 pounds.
No need for PJ's to sleep in, in the albergues and I can't say I really saw any pilgrims wearing any. In Portomarin I did see one guy wearing silk looking pajamas, slippers and one of those silk looking robes walking around the sleeping quarters of the big albergue there. I had to look away from him because I would start laughing. I mean, who wears that stuff?
No need for a lock for your backpack. Just never, ever, never leave your money, passport, credit cards or expensive electronics in it unattended.
ultreia
Ha! I haven't worn anything to sleep in in many decades. Decided months ago I'd spare my fellow peregrinos and would wear my next-day T-shirt and long johns.Looking at this thread, it got me to thinking, I haven't owned or worn a pair of pajamas since I was about twelve years old. I don't even know if they sell them anymore for adult males. Never crossed my mind to bring specific sleeping attire to walk the Camino. Maybe it's a guy thing?
Sue - you'll laugh when you see the Camino way of drying clothes. Especially if the humidity is high from rain, if your albergue doesn't have a dryer sometimes it's really hard to get especially cotton to dry overnight by air-drying. What people do then is use safety pins and tack damp things to their backpack to air dry the next day whilst walking.
Breathable nylon for panties--whichever cut you like, Ex Officio is good but not the only model of nylon mesh panty out there--and for the bra, just make sure the straps are not lumpy under the pack strap. If you find a deep red mark on your shoulder after the first day's walking, you have the wrong bra. Go without rather than get a pressure sore! (Been there, done that. Free boobing across all of northern Spain is not something so comfortable that I would ever want to repeat it either.
ladies, you should not be so good looking as to warrant the attention!! buen camino!!
Ohhh spare my eyes some pensioner in the banana hammock.Turning48, I froze in Roncesvalles in later May last year when it was sleeting and hailing from before the Col de Lepoeder the whole way down to Roncesvalles. Because at that point I only had a liner (didn't bring my bag because many said a liner would be fine) and didn't realize that the desk sold bags, I ended up sleeping in every item of clothing I had including my fleece to stay warm (was sick to boot). Roncesvalles doesn't provide blankets. Even at albergues in the mountains that are colder at night where they DO provide (sometimes kind of grubby.....) blankets, it's a real comfort to crawl into your own bag at night. Mine from the first Camino is very lightweight and was very inexpensive.
I saw only a couple of women wearing nightie-like things at albergues, and I would not have wanted to be one of them among a dorm full of men from all over the world. There was only one albergue in Carrion de Los Condes with a separate women's dorm, although some others like Casa Magica in Villatuerta tried to put women traveling alone or with other women in one room if the numbers worked out. You'll see guys in old Speedos or only wearing briefs or boxers, which can be a little odd the first time for non-Europeans, but which quickly becomes irrelevant. I wore the top I was going to hike in the next day (most people shower and do laundry first thing on getting to the albergue) to sleep in and took some comfy lightweight pajama bottoms.
I took ANYTHING anyone could possibly want with me in a featherweight back sack in the evenings, and then didn't worry about the backpack. I tied my shoes with the piece of fabric that I tie to my backpack for baggage claim recognition so that nobody takes my shoes by mistake thinking they're theirs. Have seen a couple of people lose their hiking shoes that way, which was really irritating for them. Buen Camino!!!
Ok, finally added a photo with my lovely wife Ann, who will be joining in Sarria. We will be a 10 strong motley crew at the Finish. Soooo looking forward to every thing coming my wayOhhh spare my eyes some pensioner in the banana hammock.
Yes, the walking clothsline! My walking partner 2 years ago spoke fluent Spanish, and overheard a Spanish mother outside a cafe explaining to her surprised young child about the realities of peregrino life when I walked by with a bra and boyshorts pinned to the back of my pack.
Thank you, Texas Walker. "Free boobing" is now my favorite new verb.
Please be more mindful of comments like this. The implication that "hot" women deserve to be ogled and it's their own fault for being "good looking", and the inverse that women deemed not "good looking" do not "warrant attention" is lecherous and sexist. I'm sure you did not mean to be lecherous and sexist, but your comment has that impact. The peregrinas here will all be staying in co-ed dorms and comments like the above can set many of us on edge.
Men on the camino, and in general, should behave and speak respectfully and non-threateningly around women, regardless of a woman's judged "attractiveness", and regardless of whether she is wearing a night shift or is covered up like a nun.
Thank you.
I do appologise if my entry caused you any offence, I did not mean it to sound like that, just a light hearted throw-away remark on my part. I shall pay more attention in the future and I will consider myself suitable "told off" Buen CaminoYes, the walking clothsline! My walking partner 2 years ago spoke fluent Spanish, and overheard a Spanish mother outside a cafe explaining to her surprised young child about the realities of peregrino life when I walked by with a bra and boyshorts pinned to the back of my pack.
Thank you, Texas Walker. "Free boobing" is now my favorite new verb.
Please be more mindful of comments like this. The implication that "hot" women deserve to be ogled and it's their own fault for being "good looking", and the inverse that women deemed not "good looking" do not "warrant attention" is lecherous and sexist. I'm sure you did not mean to be lecherous and sexist, but your comment has that impact. The peregrinas here will all be staying in co-ed dorms and comments like the above can set many of us on edge.
Men on the camino, and in general, should behave and speak respectfully and non-threateningly around women, regardless of a woman's judged "attractiveness", and regardless of whether she is wearing a night shift or is covered up like a nun.
Thank you.
Very true, but there are many Americans around, and they are more modest. Here in London everyone strips naked in single sex communal changing rooms, but people are reasonably modest in front of people of the opposite gender.
On camino, I think it's particularly important not to be seen to be trying to look 'alluring' in the dorm, ie lacy nighties, sexy mesh bras, brazilian knickers and whatnot. Sporty is much more comfortable and appropriate. No one is trying to ogle, but some things will draw the eye of the guys and embarrass people.
Hi! I arrived in SdC on May 5, 2015. It was an amazing walk and I hope yours is the same. My pack was 7.5 kg, and I brought only a polyester fleece sleep sack, and a small polyester pillowcase to encase my very light down jacket to use as a pillow. I used an albergue blanket every night, and at the Samos Monastery I borrowed a second one off of an unoccupied bed. All of the blankets appeared to be clean. Some mornings I draped my poly-fleece sweater over my chest for more warmth. I encountered one public albergue that did not have blankets, so I just went on to a private one. However, I agree with your decision to take a light sleeping bag. If it's really cold, ask for a blanket when you check in, just in case.Such great advice and tips from everyone. Thank you. I decided to take a sleeping bag and ordered the Marmot Nanowave 55 from REI. It's priced well and I think will do the trick while remaining reasonably lightweight. I also like the idea of sleeping in my outfits - so far, I have 2 t-shirts, 2 zippered hiking pants, a fleece, raincoat, 2 pairs of socks, and maybe 1 long sleeve, besides my minimal undergarments and bare essential others. Whatever else I need, I will buy.
@Kris53 - Thanks for the warm welcome and I hope our paths cross. (P.S. I'm not Jill, though.)
@HighlandsHiker - I am hoping for no snow on this trip, but I realize that is a definite possibility; your note confirmed what was really on my mind - what are the chances of snow in which case I would most definitely want a sleeping bag. I plan to monitor the weather so, should the worst happen, I will just delay my trip in SJPP and enjoy life. Thanks for your insights!
xx
Me too in Mid-May. First night booked at Orrisson already is 13 May. With hubby for his "round year".Me, too! Maybe we will all meet!
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