Is a sleeping bag or a liner enough for the Camino in April?

[Jordonez]

I'll be off on my first Camino this coming April. I'd like to know for those of you who have done the Camino this time of the year is it really necessary to lug around a sleeping bag and the liner as well or will the liner suffice? Also which products did you take with you if you chose to use one?

 

[ranthr]

I'll be off on my first Camino this coming April. I'd like to know for those of you who have done the Camino this time of the year is it really necessary to lug around a sleeping bag and the liner as well or will the liner suffice? Also which products did you take with you if you chose to use one?

I would take a light sleepingbag or a fleececarpet, and a liner as well. If you have booked hotels or hostels you do not need them, but in albergues yes!

 

[J Willhaus]

Yes, you will need a sleeping bag if you are staying in albergues. I have a 15 year old Montbell spiral hugger 5 which is no longer available for purchase. Weighs 1 lb. Later in the summer you might get by with a silk liner bag (July, August).

edited: looks like an updated version is now available for purchase and slightly heavier than my original.

 

[henrythedog]

I'll be off on my first Camino this coming April. I'd like to know for those of you who have done the Camino this time of the year is it really necessary to lug around a sleeping bag and the liner as well or will the liner suffice? Also which products did you take with you if you chose to use one?

Pre-covid a liner would have been sufficient as blankets were commonplace in albergues. That’s far less the case now.

On balance I’d say - take a sleeping bag, as April can be either just cool or fairly cold. Of course your personal experience of overnight temperature is a factor.

 

[Lucho]

I left SJPdP the second week of April and ended in Santiago the second week of May, back in 2018.

I had a very light sleeping bag (rate 40 degree) that weighed about 600g (1.25 lb). I didn't need it every night but on the nights that I did I was happy to have it. My normal (20 degree) camping sleeping bag would have been overkill, while I'm sure a liner-only approach would have been too little for me. But we all sleep differently in terms of warmth, so YMMV.

 

[davejsy]

90% likely you will need a sleeping bag if you plan to sleep in Albergues in April, although with climate change who knows really.

I took this. Ridiculously light, compact when stored and easy to stuff back in bag in mornings (no rolling, folding or wrestling required), and it was also perfect to use as a lightweight duvet if desired. I think it was only about £90 when I bought it.

 

[MickMac]

I'll be off on my first Camino this coming April. I'd like to know for those of you who have done the Camino this time of the year is it really necessary to lug around a sleeping bag and the liner as well or will the liner suffice? Also which products did you take with you if you chose to use one?

Record high temps in parts of Spain today 26c its a tough choice.

 

[Anniesantiago]

I take my lightweight down sleeping bag - no liner - I've frozen in June in Santo Domingo!
Some of those older albergue buildings can be quite cold!

 

[KDub]

I took a light sleeping bag in April of 2018 and definitely needed it. Took one again in October of 2019… needed it then too. Both on the Frances.

 

[C clearly]

The range of likely responses is shown in this poll thread. For more reading, click on the tag "sleeping bag" at the top of this thread under the title.

 

[Sarge63]

Let me start by saying I prefer to be a little cooler at night and I’m not sure the difference in temps month to month but I took a Summit Sleeper bag liner in October of 2023 and only used it a few times. also, I was sleeping in shirt and light sleeping pants so maybe that’s why I didn’t even need the liner. Actually the only night I used the liner was in the ruins of San Anton which has no electricity. I did find many of the albergues have blankets but I only needed those on rare occasion. Buen Camino

 

[Camineiro]

Definitley sleeping bag + liner.

 

[SandyBELL]

I'll be off on my first Camino this coming April. I'd like to know for those of you who have done the Camino this time of the year is it really necessary to lug around a sleeping bag and the liner as well or will the liner suffice? Also which products did you take with you if you chose to use one?

Hi, I’ve walked from SJPP to Burgos last April. I only took a cotton sleeping bag liner. I stayed in a lot of hostels, a few provided blankets and if it was cold and no blankets were to be had I slept in my puffer jacket which did the trick. I only did this twice. Once at Orrison and once further down the trail. I’m walking Burgos onwards this April and will only be taking my sleeping liner again. For me, it works well. Buen Camino !

 

[Jordonez]

Record high temps in parts of Spain today 26c its a tough choice.

Yikes!!!

 

[Luther]

April 19-May 19, 2016, I took only a liner. I got by, but the first couple weeks were pretty chilly. I slept in my clothes most nights. I used albergue blankets a few times, and they helped a lot, but was always worried about bed bugs, thinking they probably didn't get washed every day. I would take a light down bag under the same circumstances.

 

[Jordonez]

I took a light sleeping bag in April of 2018 and definitely needed it. Took one again in October of 2019… needed it then too. Both on the Frances.

How heavy was your sleeping bag? I'm seeing some that are nearly 3-4 pounds and that seems heavy to me

 

[Jordonez]

Definitley sleeping bag + liner.

what recommendation do you have for the sleeping bag?

 

[Jordonez]

I took a light sleeping bag in April of 2018 and definitely needed it. Took one again in October of 2019… needed it then too. Both on the Frances.

which bag do you recommend?

 

[Camineiro]

what recommendation do you have for the sleeping bag?

Any light sleeping bag you can get. I got mine in a store for motorcycle stuff. It should be comfortable for temperatures down to 8/10°C.
In case it is too warm you can open the sleeping bag. If it is too cold and you have a liner only you might be trembling at night.

 

[el-pe]

If you want something light, consider a down quilt. Tradeoff is the less weight = more $$.

 

[domigee]

I'll be off on my first Camino this coming April. I'd like to know for those of you who have done the Camino this time of the year is it really necessary to lug around a sleeping bag and the liner as well or will the liner suffice? Also which products did you take with you if you chose to use one?

Yes, you do need a sleeping bag in April if you stay in albergues. A liner as well if you feel the cold, otherwise, no. It can be very cold in some places at that time of year!
As for what sleeping bag to choose, for my first camino I had a cheap one weighing 600g, did the trick, now since Jerusalem I have a down one, much lighter but much more expensive. Not needed on the francés.

 

[OGPapaSmurf]

which bag do you recommend?

I am also starting the Camino in April. I am taking the Sea to Summit Spark 50 Ultralight Down Sleeping Bag, that is comfortable to 50f / 10c and weighs 7.9oz / 225g. Its an 850+ fill down bag with a hydrophobic coating.

The bag packs down to nothing. I will add sleeping layers if the bag is not warm enough during any given night. I slept a night in my 47f garage with it and was personally warm enough without added layers. Seems to be made out of butterfly wings. So its ultralight and performs, but I will need to baby the bag a little. Example... if you were half drunk and got into the bag and yarded on the zipper, bad things could happen.

 

[Ken & Liz]

Very personal choice, some like it hot some like it cold.

My choice is a silk rectangular liner as the BB cant get thru.
Layer up with clothes if you need more warmth even your wet weather gear. You can't walk in a sleeping bag

 

[trecile]

My choice is a silk rectangular liner as the BB cant get thru.

Silk has no magical properties. Bedbugs are too big to get through most fabrics, but they can get in the same big hole at the top of a sleeping bag that you get in.

 

[Quietways]

You can find it in the Forum store!

Altus ANDES 400 H30 sleeping bag

Down bag (90/10 duvet) of 700 fills with 180 g (6.34 ounces) of filling. Mummy-shaped structure, ideal when you are looking for lightness with great heating performance. CHARACTERISTICS: Emergency signs inside the bag. Interior pocket. Collected size: 11 x 22 cm (4.4 x 8.7 inches) Compression...

www.santiagodecompostela.me

True, but personally i'd rather support local Spanish hiking stores. Spain has some excellent smaller hiking/climbing shops (several in Madrid, others along the Frances) that carry this item.

 

[trecile]

True, but personally i'd rather support local Spanish hiking stores. Spain has some excellent smaller hiking/climbing shops (several in Madrid, others along the Frances) that carry this item.

The Forum store is a local Spanish business!

 

[ivar]

True, but personally i'd rather support local Spanish hiking stores. Spain has some excellent smaller hiking/climbing shops (several in Madrid, others along the Frances) that carry this item.

I operate and ship from Santiago

Casa Ivar · 4.9★(48) · Book store

Rúa Nova, 7, 15705 Santiago de Compostela, A Coruña, Spain

maps.app.goo.gl

 

[Quietways]

Right, but not all local businesses are equal ; )

 

[Stivandrer]

re sleep bag:

Via de la Plata in April - needed it
Camino Francés in May - needed it
Via Sanabrés in September - needed it
Camino Catalan in November - definitely needed it
Camino Mozarabe in coming March - will be needing it, they are instructing me down there...
Only once - in a Xunta albergue that had floor heating, in Astorga - we went to bed cold, woke up sweating as the heating was turned on in the night...

Maybe in June/July it will not be necessary.....

I use Sea to Summit TR1 down bag/quilt, 500 grams , packs down well to 5,8 litres

Sea to Summit Traveller TrI - Down sleeping bag | Free EU Delivery | Bergfreunde.eu

Sea to Summit - Traveller TrI - Down sleeping bag ➽ Dispatch within 24h - Buy online now! ✓ 100 Day Return Policy ✓ Expert advice ✓ Free delivery to EU countries

www.bergfreunde.eu

+

Amazon.com

pack

 

[Karl Oz]

April 19-May 19, 2016, I took only a liner. I got by, but the first couple weeks were pretty chilly. I slept in my clothes most nights. I used albergue blankets a few times, and they helped a lot, but was always worried about bed bugs, thinking they probably didn't get washed every day. I would take a light down bag under the same circumstances.

Reflects my thoughts very closely. Waking up cold is a miserable experience. I recommend the lightest possible sleeping bag.

 

[trecile]

Right, but not all local businesses are equal ; )

Right. This forum is so useful to me that I like to support it and @ivar

 

[Quietways]

Right. This forum is so useful to me that I like to support it and @ivar

That's wonderful trecile - and I would like to support a local business that better reflects the camino I know. Clearly, we have a different take on this ; )

 

[David Tallan]

Right, but not all local businesses are equal ; )

True. I think Casa Ivar is a smaller local business than many sporting goods stores in Spain, and has a track record of supporting the Camino and the community of pilgrims in ways that other local businesses may not. YMMV, of course.

The local business where I bought my hiking poles in 2016, for example, was certainly no Decathlon, but it did have stores in both Zubiri and Viana (and possibly other locations as well).

 

[trecile]

True. I think Casa Ivar is a smaller local business than many sporting goods stores in Spain, and has a track record of supporting the Camino and the community of pilgrims in ways that other local businesses may not.

Basically a "one man show," though Ivar does have one employee now.

 

[Mallowman]

I'll be off on my first Camino this coming April. I'd like to know for those of you who have done the Camino this time of the year is it really necessary to lug around a sleeping bag and the liner as well or will the liner suffice? Also which products did you take with you if you chose to use one?

I started the CF 13 Apr with a very light sleeping bag and silk liner. Used it 4 times then got rid of it. For me the silk liner was enough. There seemed to be plenty of blankets available along the way.

 

[Lurch]

I bought a lightweight, xtra long, cheap bag off of EBay 6 years ago and used it on 2 Demi-Camino of 150 miles each, both in October. Worked fine. Rather than roll the bag up tightly, I spread it out in a large Ziploc bag. Adds cushioning. Bag is reasonably lightweight but in all honesty, I am not one to cut off tags from stuff to lighten the load.

As an aside, bought the XL bag when I was 6-7, over the Camino and other hikes, I lost an inch in height, but went up a shoe size!

 

[slowtraveler]

I'll be off on my first Camino this coming April. I'd like to know for those of you who have done the Camino this time of the year is it really necessary to lug around a sleeping bag and the liner as well or will the liner suffice? Also which products did you take with you if you chose to use one?

I took a light sleeping bag and a liner on the CF starting in April 2022. It worked out well and there were many cooler nights where I felt snug and comfortable in my sleeping bag. May God bless you on your journey!
Buen Camino,
Daniel

 

[Anniesantiago]

which bag do you recommend?

Just a lightweight bag. Mine is down and barely weighs anything. I cut the zipper and hood off.
You can also buy an inexpensive down travel blanket that will work just fine.
And try it out at home in front of an open door all night to see if it works before you take it on the Camino. . .

 

[WalkingLester]

The Sea to Summit Traveler bag comes in a 50 degree version, so lighter and cheaper than the 30 degree model, but always worked well for me in March. A few times I slept with my down jacket too.