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How necessary is a sleeping pad on the CF?

G_the_D

Member
Time of past OR future Camino
CF May - July 2017
CF Oct - Nov 2017
Future -2022
I'm trying hard to cut my pack down as much as possible.

I've not yet seen anything about pilgrims sleeping rough unless it is by their own choice. Is it truly necessary to carry a sleeping pad?

Gord
 
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G_the_D said:
Thanks all. *places pad back on the shelf*. *continues to evaluate contents of pack*

Cheers!

Gord
Click to expand...
Totally not necessary for sleeping though I use my mat almost every day on the Camino for really comfortable rest breaks or a shared seat on wet ground etc.
 
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Gord, if you had worries about having to sleep rough (and I would have them too), you could take some of that tough plastic sheeting cut down to size. It weighs very little, but would keep the ground dampness away.
 
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Just an FYI, if anyone gets in the position that you are stranded in the wild (anywhere, not just on Camino) a large garbage bin liner is your best friend.
Tear a hole for your head in one corner of the bin liner (bag if you prefer), find a tree to lean against and assume an upright fetal position (sitting with your knees against your chest).
The bag should be large enough to cover your torso and legs, keeping you warmand dry enough to make it through the night.
Comfort isn't the goal, survival is....

They also make great emergency ponchos....

Gord
 
onwayhome said:
Totally not necessary for sleeping though I use my mat almost every day on the Camino for really comfortable rest breaks or a shared seat on wet ground etc.
Click to expand...


I had 2 squares of bubble wrap for this purpose. And even with that, I didn't use them much. Next time I might bring one square, which has negligible weight.
 
I might take a section for comfort in sitting for picnic lunches.
That seems to be a great idea!

It was cheap enough, but not worth carrying without use. a 1.5x1.5 section seems reasonable for on trail comfort
 
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Ian Afloat said:
Roncesvalles had a big basket of them left behind by pilgrims who thought better of it when i was there in 2015.
Click to expand...
This is where I picked one up as I hadn't taken one with me. It mostly proved useful for helping to keep my overfilled backpack upright when I put it on the floor. Duly abandoned in a Santiago hotel having possibly never been unrolled.
 
What a great idea!
Thanks!

G
 
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I did not have a mat but I slept rough one night on the Norte two years ago. I was not alone but with a young German. The large hostel was full of schoolchildren and consequently all other accommodations were full of pilgrims. We found a rural ruin. I carry camping gas which meant we could boil water from the stream. We had just about enough food between us.
 
Have never used a pad and come to think about it, in 4 years have only used my sleeping bag 3 times.
My wife and I tend to prefer private rooms at albergues, pensions and hotels, so little use for a sleeping bag except on rare occasions.
So worth it to get a good night's sleep. No grumpiness ever due to sleepless nights listening to the snore fest typical of most bunk rooms.
Still meet lots of people each day.
Costs a little more, but a Camino is still such a cheap trip compared to virtually anything else involving over seas travel.
 
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