May - sleeping bag or Liner

[Caz spencer]

The great debate in my house do I really need a sleeping bag we are leaving SJPP on 4th May I think I will be ok with just a Liner ??? Can wear extra shirt if cold
Or will I need both ???
What would/will you take ???

 

[Waka]

Myself I'd take a light sleeping bag, not all the albergues have blankets. I think it's better to have it with you, but I'm a (just in case) type of person.

 

[JohnMcM]

I've walked mostly starting in May for each of my Caminos.

I like to use only a liner but have learned that carrying a very lightweight sleeping bag is a good idea.

I prefer to sleep without clothes.

It's not unusual, even in early May to have some fairly cold pre-dawn hours, especially along the Meseta stretch between Burgos and Leon. If you haven't found a blanket it can be a sleepless night if you don't wear clothes.

Buen (snuggly-nights) Camino

 

[peregrina2000]

I have a very strong opinion on this issue, but my opinion is that we are unable to give you good advice. The range of our comfort zones is just too huge to come up with a standard answer here.

I am the person who always wears a sweater in AC, who is called a "friolera" in Spanish (someone who is always cold). I walk with a sleeping bag no matter what time of year, but it is a lightweight one. I add fleece and pants if necessary.

But in the albergues I am always amazed at how some people sleep with little or no covering while I am huddled under the bag and fully dressed. So whether you need a sleeping bag depends on whether you are more like me and my ilk or more like the many people I see almost unclothed and lying on top of their bags!

 

[ricardo.ha77]

My girlfriend and I are also walking in May (SJPP 6th, two days after you) and are taking a lightweight sleeping bag.
If it is hot the zip will be open, if it is cold some extra clothes while sleeping
In case it helps, this is the model we have chosen: 'Snugpak Travelpak 1'.

 

[Caz spencer]

Ok great feedback / the sleeping bag will be added it’s lightweight so that’s good !!

 

[Mark McCarthy]

Most albergues have blankets, I would take the risk to save the weight. Worst case you have to sleep with clothes on if it is cold and if the albergue doesn't provide blanket.

 

[John Hawke]

My picture is O'Cebreiro in mid-May of 2016 where it was very cold and they were "Completo" at every Alburgue. Some Pilgrims slept on the stone floor of the Church and even a sleeping bag did not keep them warm. Take the bag!
Buen Camino

 

[RJM]

Unless you have a sleeping bag that weighs around 450 grams (or less) I would just carry a bag liner and supplement it with albergue blankets every chance I get.
Is it possible it's not enough to carry just a bag liner? Of course, but I have yet to read of any pilgrims dying of hypothermia inside of an albergue.
Remember too, if all else fails you can always buy a lightweight bag on the Camino at an outdoor shop, or even just buy another liner and double them up.

 

[RJM]

Most albergues have blankets, I would take the risk to save the weight. Worst case you have to sleep with clothes on if it is cold and if the albergue doesn't provide blanket.

That's very true. If one is a believer in the philosophy of everything you carry in your backpack having more than one use, multitasking so to speak, that rings well. Instead of your fleece pullover or nano jacket just sitting in your pack while you sleep in a full sized (heavier) bag, they too can be a layer of warmth at night and supplement a bag liner when used alone. Same goes if you carry a beanie type cap. Wearing that at night also prevents heat loss (approximately 30%), and of course it can be worn on chilly mornings or evenings. The socks you wear become gloves on chilly mornings, instead of carrying regular gloves. All depends on how little you are interested in carrying.

 

[Caz spencer]

That's very true. If one is a believer in the philosophy of everything you carry in your backpack having more than one use, multitasking so to speak, that rings well. Instead of your fleece pullover or nano jacket just sitting in your pack while you sleep in a full sized (heavier) bag, they too can be a layer of warmth at night and supplement a bag liner when used alone. Same goes if you carry a beanie type cap. Wearing that at night also prevents heat loss (approximately 30%), and of course it can be worn on chilly mornings or evenings. The socks you wear become gloves on chilly mornings, instead of carrying regular gloves. All depends on how little you are interested in carrying.

This is what i think too ‘ multi use items ‘

 

[Nichola Scurry]

I’m also leaving on the 6th of May and will take my less than 400g sleeping bag because like peregrina2000 I’m a “friolera”

 

[Deleted member 39006]

Other factors to consider are the degree of fatigue experienced, and nutrition. On one day you might be just comfortably tired and well fed and sleep comfortably in just a liner; on another day with the same ambient temperature, if you are really exhausted and haven't been able to refuel yourself with nourishing food, then you are likely to feel much colder.

My point of view is that quality sleep is essential to maintain performance on long distance walks. Within reason, it is a worthwhile investment carrying a sleeping system which allows comfortable sleep - it may be a few more hundreds of grams on the back, but a few sleepless nights will adversely effect your performance more than by carrying a lightweight sleeping bag. And few things beat the luxury of climbing into your clean, bug free sleeping bag at the end of each day - a worthwhile luxury!

 

[tomnorth]

I took a lightweight sleeping bag when I walked in the Fall of 2015. I’d do it again. Yes, many of the albergues have blankets, but not all of them looked completely clean. There was a comfort in climbing into my own sleeping bag each night.

 

[Katherine Radeka]

I've been thinking about a microfiber bag liner / down blanket combination. I'm starting to go through that time of life where I'm freezing one night and sweating through my sheets the next. I like the idea of sewing some strategic snaps on them to keep them together, and so that I can make a double layer of the blanket if it's really cold.

 

[Jeep500]

The great debate in my house do I really need a sleeping bag we are leaving SJPP on 4th May I think I will be ok with just a Liner ??? Can wear extra shirt if cold
Or will I need both ???
What would/will you take ???

Hi,
You could buy a light sleeping bag ,one side is a liner the other side is just a little bit thicker . What ever is the temperature you pick the side that you want to sleep on. Buy the one who has a packet inside to put your wallet ,passport money etc..

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

The great debate in my house do I really need a sleeping bag we are leaving SJPP on 4th May I think I will be ok with just a Liner ??? Can wear extra shirt if cold
Or will I need both ???
What would/will you take ???

Hi Jeep and Welcome to the Forum,

I leave from home May 4 in Canada and start at SJPP two days after, maybe three. I am taking a sleeping bag and will sleep in my day clothes as well if all that and blankets are not enough. It is better to have layers and options than not, especially with the present chill all over Eurasia.

 

[Jeep500]

Hi Jeep and Welcome to the Forum,

I leave from home May 4 in Canada and start at SJPP two days after, maybe three. I am taking a sleeping bag and will sleep in my day clothes as well if all that and blankets are not enough. It is better to have layers and options than not, especially with the present chill all over Eurasia.

Hello,
By experience you will need a light sleeping. Hi canada de store Montain equipment co-op (MEC) sell the intrepid and traveller sleeping bag .Convenient for that time of the year $65.00. In Montreal the store La Tienda sell similar one but much more expensive. This store is just for Pilgrims gears.
Another web site I suggest is Gear Lab
Liner is good against bed buggs ,spray lavender around the top of the liner or sleeping bag to prevent tehm to go in. Bed bugs hate lavender.
Good luck

 

[california smith]

The great debate in my house do I really need a sleeping bag we are leaving SJPP on 4th May I think I will be ok with just a Liner ??? Can wear extra shirt if cold
Or will I need both ???
What would/will you take ???

Im leaving SJPP on May 6th and I was wondering the same! Seems like ill be trailing!

 

[Jeep500]

If you are planning to sleep in albergue ( refuge) they don't supply sheets or blankets. Small hotel, Bed & BreAkfast,Inn they will supply sheets and blankets. You could easly find on Amazon a sleeping bag less than one pound not big at all.

 

[Tia Valeria]

Having walked in May I would never go without a sleeping bag, unless staying only in B&Bs (as we did in 2015) where bedding is available. I have used my bag plus 2 blankets (2012) - both albergues were private and there were extra blankets in the room - and was wearing my thermal underwear. I don't take a liner to save weight.
After 2010 when we both had to buy extra fleeces I vowed I would never be cold again.

 

[Jeep500]

Hello,
By experience you will need a light sleeping. Hi canada de store Montain equipment co-op (MEC) sell the intrepid and traveller sleeping bag .Convenient for that time of the year $65.00. In Montreal the store La Tienda sell similar one but much more expensive. This store is just for Pilgrims gears.
Another web site I suggest is Gear Lab
Liner is good against bed buggs ,spray lavender around the top of the liner or sleeping bag to prevent tehm to go in. Bed bugs hate lavender.
Good luck

The web site is Outdoor Gear Lab very good for equipment.

 

[EdN]

Liner. I dumped my sleeping bag after foolishly carrying it for 5 days, unopened.

 

[Julie C Thacker]

i packed a silk liner and a polar fleece and rain poncho. The later two i sewed for my shorter frame. Big reduction in weight as both ponchos were my jacket and sweater either individually or together. One night after being cold once or twice i figured out how to sandwich the three together to make a warm sleeping bag no bottom layer. I had planned to use the polar fleece and had sewn it with fasteners for this purpose - it wasn't quite enough. Adding the third outer layer of my rain poncho meant i was nice and warm. I sleep in a merino wool short sleeve t-shirt and undewear. I was walking from Leon to Santiago last Sept/October during the cold snap.
With this combination my pack with water was about 8 pounds - once i added my medication it was well up over 12 -- not much i could do about that. Which was why i had planned to go as light weight and double duty on everything i could.

 

[trecile]

For my August/September and July/August Caminos I took a 5 ounce silk liner, and a 7 ounce down blanket from Montbell. When I needed a little extra warmth (like at O Cebreiro) I tucked the blanket into my silk liner. On the hot nights sleeping on plastic covered mattresses which can get sticky, I put it between the silk liner and the mattress.

 

[Lee Jackson]

I am going to go with silk liner with a down blanket inside. Saves about 400 g in weight. Starting Portugues on April 15.