I think I solved my sleeping bag/liner dilemma

[HoosierOldLady]

I'm starting my Camino next week(!!!!!) in Logroño, but I'm only walking the Frances to León; then I will walk the San Salvador and Primitivo to Santiago. I've gone back and forth about whether to take a sleeping bag liner and a sleeping bag. I sleep cold, and it's been a chilly spring, and the mountains are colder at night, but I'll be walking until early July; plus I'm a small person and trying to shave ounces from my pack. My sleeping bag is more like a quilt and weighs 24 oz and my Thermolite liner weighs 11.3 oz. Together, they take up more space and weigh more than I wanted. So my "genius" solution was to cut off the top half of the liner and sew it to my sleeping quilt. I now have a sleep sack that can be a liner on bottom/quilt on top for cold nights and a quilt on bottom/liner on top for warmer nights. I left a gap at the bottom so I can stick my feet out of the sack if needed for thermoregulation. It all fits into the sleeping bag compression sack, takes up less space the two did, and it weighs 30 oz. I tested it the other night and it's roomy and comfy. I can't wait to use it soon for real.

 

[Former member 92300]

So together they would have been 35.3 ounces or 1000.7 grams and you got them down to 30 ounces or 850 grams? Nice job!

If you plan to walk more Caminos in the future - at some point you might want to invest in a silk liner (mine weighs 103 grams) and a summer temperature down sleeping bag or quilt (mine weights 250 grams). But sounds like you came up with a good compromise for now.

 

[Texas Walker]

You may find that you're warm enough anyway.
BC

 

[J Willhaus]

Great work! I am not talented enough to make this kind of seamstress magic! Enjoy!

 

[Former member 92300]

Great work! I am not talented enough to make this kind of seamstress magic! Enjoy!

Me neither! I was thinking the same thing

 

[Flory]

Great solution. I bought a cheap sleeping bag and got rid of the filling on one site. So i too have a thin side with only the fabric and a thicker side with the filling. I also have a two way zipper for temperature controle.

 

[HoosierOldLady]

Great solution. I bought a cheap sleeping bag and got rid of the filling on one site. So i too have a thin side with only the fabric and a thicker side with the filling. I also have a two way zipper for temperature controle.

Brilliant!

 

[HoosierOldLady]

So together they would have been 35.3 ounces or 1000.7 grams and you got them down to 30 ounces or 850 grams? Nice job!

If you plan to walk more Caminos in the future - at some point you might want to invest in a silk liner (mine weighs 103 grams) and a summer temperature down sleeping bag or quilt (mine weights 250 grams). But sounds like you came up with a good compromise for now.

I’ve invested so much money in backpacking gear, that I don’t need another money pit! I think this will be my only Camino, but I suppose that’s what many people think, and then next thing they know, they’re off again and again. Vamos a ver.

 

[Janetlawson]

Would love to see a photo. A great solution

 

[Former member 92300]

I’ve invested so much money in backpacking gear, that I don’t need another money pit! I think this will be my only Camino, but I suppose that’s what many people think, and then next thing they know, they’re off again and again. Vamos a ver.

You never know! I am certainly addicted. I had to cancel a 2020 Camino, went in 2021 and 2022 and this summer I am hiking half of the Via Francigena! And I totally get it - getting new gear is expensive, so you found a great solution with the gear you have. But keep my suggestion in mind if you do find the Camino keeps calling! Of course - you will also know what you are willing to carry weight wise after your first few days on trail.

 

[Chizuru]

That sounds like a great idea and will give you some nice mattress padding in Gites/Albergue s where they provide a blanket.
It would be good to know before you travel which ones don’t provide a blanket. We have just walked half the Podiensis, packed a sleeping bag, and only needed it one Gite. We used about half our nights in Gites and needed to carry sleeping bag, silk liner, travel towel and soap, shampoo and conditioner for them. We were astonished that they cost virtually the same as a chambre de hotel which provided all but conditioner!

 

[Chizuru]

That sounds like a great idea and will give you some nice mattress padding in Gites/Albergue s where they provide a blanket.
It would be good to know before you travel which ones don’t provide a blanket. We have just walked half the Podiensis, packed a sleeping bag, and only needed it one Gite. We used about half our nights in Gites and needed to carry sleeping bag, silk liner, travel towel and soap, shampoo and conditioner for them. We were astonished that they cost virtually the same as a chambre de hotel which provided all but conditioner!

Of course I meant just about the same cost when you are sharing a room. If you are walking solo, then a Gite/Albergue is much cheaper.

 

[Flory]

Would love to see a photo. A great solution

I don't know if a foto is doable voor me. But i just bought a cheap ( 15 euro ) long 2 meter rectangelar sleeping bag. I like to sleep in my little private cave i am 1.69 m With a double zipper system. That was important for me. I can unzip the bottom and the top at the same time. For a lady of my age temperature control is a must ;-). I left the bottom 40 cm or so filled on both sides because i absolutly can not sleep with cold feet. The top 50 cm or so i toke all the filling out on both sides en made a pillow holder by folding the top 20 cm over also on both sides.

I used this setup for my first part of the camino norte in september 2021. Worked great for me. I will take it again this fall when i continue.

It was a cheap sleeping bag so i dont mind trowing it away when it would not funtion or if there were bedbugs.

I think the weight is around 800 gram

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I always use a lightweight sleeping bag when I've stayed in albergues over the years in spring. I thrash around a bit in bed at night and think I'd end up with the cushy weight underneath me on the bottom, and the thin side on top.

 

[snowbird]

I'm doing it in late june and July, so I'm planning to bring a small down blanket and a liner.

I found this one (800 fill goose down) is pretty light weight (220g) and not expensive (i bought it on sale only $35 and now $50):

Multi-functional Down Outdoor Blanket Shawl

Naturehike Outdoor Multi-functional Down Blanket Shawl. The blanket Can be spliced. Water repellent and Small and portable storage.

www.naturehike.com

It's smaller than regular blanket, but i walk in summer and it should be warm enough.

The liner I bought is also very light one. I'm planning to cut the foot open too, so i can stick feet out when it's warm. I'm debating if i should but the side open as well.