Equipment in Summer: sleeping bag vs. Sleep Sheet

[ParistoCapeCod]

Hello, I am considering a silk sleep sheet and pad instead of a sleeping bag for July trek. Any thoughts?

 

[suzenripley]

Definitely.. I did my Camino 22/7 to 22/8/2013.. With a thermal liner (not silk) and it was fine.. The places known for being cooler generally provide blankets.

 

[suzenripley]

Not sure what you mean by a pad, but if you mean a roll mat.. Don't worry.. Unless you plan on sleeping outside you won't need it!

 

[ParistoCapeCod]

Definitely.. I did my Camino 22/7 to 22/8/2013.. With a thermal liner (not silk) and it was fine.. The places known for being cooler generally provide blankets.

That is great news. It's only 4.6 ounces!

 

[robertc]

How about the liner vs. bag question for someone starting from SJPdP in one week (i.e. Mid Sept). Am I gonna get cold? What's the strategy in albergues that don't have blankets available. (I read somewhere that happens in some places).

Many thanks for all opinions on this as its my one remaining "big" dilemma!!

Cheers
Robert

 

[Maggie97520]

How about the liner vs. bag question for someone starting from SJPdP in one week (i.e. Mid Sept). Am I gonna get cold? What's the strategy in albergues that don't have blankets available. (I read somewhere that happens in some places).

Many thanks for all opinions on this as its my one remaining "big" dilemma!!

Cheers
Robert

Hi Robert, I leave SJPDP on the 19-September and, after much deliberation, I have decided to take just my liner (a silk sleep sack). It was a difficult decision for me because I get cold easily, but the forum and my kids (who've travelled much more than I have) assured me that I could always ask for a blanket. The savings on weight is nearly 1.5 pounds without my sleeping bag! I figure if I still find that I'm cold I'll sleep in all my clothing and, if that doesn't work, I'll pick up a sleeping bag along the way. Good luck and buen Camino.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

(I read somewhere that happens in some places).

It is pretty much an urban myth. A thread specifically on this assertion came up with no blankets in the parochial in Roncesvalles (they may have blankets now), the parochial in Leon, and the xunta albergues in Galicia. Every other albergue has blankets. You may have to ask for one. I would not recommend any of them except Roncesvalles, by the way!!!

 

[dbjordan]

Thank you. Im leaving in 14 days from SJPdP and have been winnowing down my pack weight. Today I decided on the same strategy. ..buy it if I need it. Thanks for confirming my decision. Buen camino.

 

[Maggie97520]

It is pretty much an urban myth. A thread specifically on this assertion came up with no blankets in the parochial in Roncesvalles (they may have blankets now), the parochial in Leon, and the xunta albergues in Galicia. Every other albergue has blankets. You may have to ask for one. I would not recommend any of them except Roncesvalles, by the way!!!

What would you not recommend? The albergues or the blankets from the albergues? Just wanting to be clear.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

The municipal/parochial albergues in Leon and Galicia!

 

[Maggie97520]

Thanks Falcon. I thought that was what you meant, but i've learned the hard way that it's not a good idea for me to assume anything.

 

[hotelmedicis]

If you have a light sleeping bag you will KNOW that you'll have a warm night's sleep. I walked from SJPP to Santiago in July of 2001 with a fleece sleeping bag liner and because the Camino was so busy at that time many of the refugios were full, and I ended up sleeping on the floor many times. It was not warm enough, and many nights I was cold. I have since redone portions of the Camino and always bring my sleeping bag so I am nice and warm.

Don't forget that Spain is second only to Switzerland as the most mountainous country in Europe, and much of the Camino is at high elevations. Chilly.

 

[robertc]

My sleeping bag weighs 1.1kg. Would that be considered light enough?

 

[Deleted member 3000]

My nylon sleep sack is 5.9 oz., so, yes, 2.42 pounds is not very light! Only you know if you need to be toasty warm to sleep. You will be indoors sleeping, and the outside temperature is not likely to drop below 10C. Inside it is likely to be 20C or more. In late winter this year, I threw away my sleeping bag. It just was not necessary! The vague rumor that "some" albergues do not have blankets has been quantified elsewhere as about three or four places. Just don't go to them! The Casandras would have you believe that blankets are impossible to find.

After I tossed the sleeping bag, my 4.0-5.0 liter backpack was far too large, so you may be able to use a smaller pack if you leave the sleeping bag behind. By the way there are a lot of sleeping bags in the 600 to 800 gram range, so yours is a bit heavy for a lightweight bag.

Buen camino.

 

[robertc]

Thanks Falcon... If temps are likely to be 20+ indoors at night I may just leave it at home and take my chances. I want to avoid buying lots of gear that i may never use again on the offchance i may need it, and i think you're right - my bag is a bit heavy. Thanks for the pointers
Robert

 

[robertc]

Just back from the camino. I carried a very light pack of about 6kg but could definitely have done with a light sleeping bag in some albergues. I found more often than not that blankets were not available. Sometimes the room stayed warm and a bag was unnecessary. Other times in well ventilated rooms I was pretty cold... Guess it depends on the person. I still had a terrific time and only wish I could have continued to the end... I will be back!

 

[Cowboy]

I used a silk liner on my camino in April 2011 and it was mostly fine. I could most times get a blanket when I felt I needed it. Only problem was that the blankets were sometimes a bit dirty and smelly but if you can live with that, then you will be fine.

 

[Deleted member 3000]

the blankets were sometimes a bit dirty and smelly

Axiom: never use a blanket that is dirtier than you.

I have always been able to use the blankets...

 

[robertc]

No problems on that count with me either. In fact some of the blankets I did manage to find may have crawled off me in the middle of the night

I believe I caught the end of a San Miguel summer (aka. an Indian Summer), so some nights it was like a sweatbox - but after that...chilly

 

[hotelmedicis]

So a sleeping bag would have kept you cozy then.