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First of all thank you so much for the suggestions!For that time and distance I'd use a lightweight tent. I use bivvy bags for an occasional night when I expect the weather to be good but it would be very depressing if the weather turned nasty for a few days at a time. Also more acceptable in an official campsite.
I have a couple of lightweight tents. When I want to be less visible when wild camping then I usually use a single-skin Jamet Shelter tent. Essentially a larger version of a hooped bivvy bag. More than enough space for me and my pack. Not the best build quality but fine after I gave it a decent coat with waterproofer. When I am going to be using official campsites then I prefer a Chinese made trekking pole tent - a 3F UL Lanshan 1. About 750g. Much better build quality and ventilation and more headroom. Both are fairly low cost tents.
I am not entirely convinced by the fact that it cannot be closed completely (for insects); otherwise it seems perfect to me, both in terms of weight and reliability.My bivvy bag is an Alpkit Hunka XL. There is a slightly smaller version but I find the extra space more comfortable. Simple and well made.
Ok...off topic...or slightly...why not look at crossing before SJPdP?? The Camino Argonese is absolutely lovely. You'd cross the Pyrenees at Somport. The infrastructure on the route is great and it's simply one of the nicest routes IMHO. It's actually the original pass over...used before SJPdP (not knocking this pass either aside it has its perks!) Just saying! Buen CaminoHi everyone!
I will walk the Camino for the first time next August.
I will leave from my city in Italy, near Bologna, and hope to make it to Santiago in about 3 months (maybe splitting the trip in two because of other commitments I will have between August and October).
I will follow part of the Francigena to Liguria, from there to Arles and then the Toulousan....
One issue with bivy bags is condensation, due to the smaller area and less ventilation when compared with a tent. During rainy times that could add some discomfort. At least with a tent you'll have some space to store your gear out of the elements and have less condensation, and ventilation is nice during hot nights. They now make very lightweight tents on the higher end 400.00 and up price tag are tents 16 ounce or a tiny bit over 16 ounce. Midrange tents are about 23 ounce, or a little bit over that. The price ranges from around 200.00 to 500.00. If you're experienced using bivy sacks and have a method for keeping the condensation down, they are less noticeable when pitched.Hi everyone!
I will walk the Camino for the first time next August.
I will leave from my city in Italy, near Bologna, and hope to make it to Santiago in about 3 months (maybe splitting the trip in two because of other commitments I will have between August and October).
I will follow part of the Francigena to Liguria, from there to Arles and then the Toulousan until I get to SJPdP.
For the part up to the Pyrenees (from there on, given the large number of hostels, I may consider sending something home) I think I will be forced to camp the majority of the nights since I will try to travel economically and of hostels, I understand, there are not many. Also, camping would allow me greater freedom. Of course, I will do this in a respectful manner, asking locals where I can set up camp.
My question is: better a lightent or a bivy bag? And, based on the answer, do you have any models to recommend? All this considering that I would be going during a relatively warm period and would like to save on both backpack weight and expense.
I thank you in advance!
Antonio
Thanks for the suggestion! To be honest, I'm thinking about that path too. Guess I will figure it out by walkingOk...off topic...or slightly...why not look at crossing before SJPdP?? The Camino Argonese is absolutely lovely. You'd cross the Pyrenees at Somport. The infrastructure on the route is great and it's simply one of the nicest routes IMHO. It's actually the original pass over...used before SJPdP (not knocking this pass either aside it has its perks!) Just saying! Buen Camino
PS. I'll be interested in peoples answers as Im beginning to plot and plan the Via Francigena and am wondering about the possible need for a tent or Bivy!!
A fleece sheet is not too heavy for that period? Could I not replace it with a pair of leggins and a thermal mesh to save some weight?In August you should not need a very warm sleeping bag. I would probably take my bivvy bag and a fleece sleeping bag liner rather than a full sleeping bag. With a compact self-inflating mat you should be able to fit all the gear you need into a 45 pack. Here in the UK I find Vango branded gear is widely available, reasonably cheap and adequate for my use.
Thanks for the suggestions!I'm about to do the VF from Turin. I'm taking a bivvy and tarp. I expect like Spain there is likely to be limited opportunity to camp properly along the VF, so the bivvy seems the best option.
Your backpack makes a suitable wind break, and headroom if you want to fix an insect net over your bivvy. Much can be achieved with hiking poles or a tree and paracord, and various configurations of the tarp.
Mostly I will look for hostels but if needed I will bivvy.
Thanks Annie!I agree with Bradypus. If it were summer, I'd take the bivy but for this time of year, a tent sounds better to me.
Thank you!One issue with bivy bags is condensation, due to the smaller area and less ventilation when compared with a tent. During rainy times that could add some discomfort. At least with a tent you'll have some space to store your gear out of the elements and have less condensation, and ventilation is nice during hot nights. They now make very lightweight tents on the higher end 400.00 and up price tag are tents 16 ounce or a tiny bit over 16 ounce. Midrange tents are about 23 ounce, or a little bit over that. The price ranges from around 200.00 to 500.00. If you're experienced using bivy sacks and have a method for keeping the condensation down, they are less noticeable when pitched.
Most definitely use a light tent, especially if your doing the route you propose to do!!! They are lightweight, they are more comfortable, they keep the bugs out, they keep the little rodents away, you will be at ease sleeping in a tent when it rains (make sure you have a good fly), and you are more likely to use it rather than a bivy sac (and that's important because cheap accommodation is hard to come by on part of the route you intent to use, but there are plenty of wonderful campgrounds, especially in France).Hi everyone!
I will walk the Camino for the first time next August.
I will leave from my city in Italy, near Bologna, and hope to make it to Santiago in about 3 months (maybe splitting the trip in two because of other commitments I will have between August and October).
I will follow part of the Francigena to Liguria, from there to Arles and then the Toulousan until I get to SJPdP.
For the part up to the Pyrenees (from there on, given the large number of hostels, I may consider sending something home) I think I will be forced to camp the majority of the nights since I will try to travel economically and of hostels, I understand, there are not many. Also, camping would allow me greater freedom. Of course, I will do this in a respectful manner, asking locals where I can set up camp.
My question is: better a lightent or a bivy bag? And, based on the answer, do you have any models to recommend? All this considering that I would be going during a relatively warm period and would like to save on both backpack weight and expense.
I thank you in advance!
Antonio
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