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I have always carried a sleeping bag on my caminos. Lightweight in summer and more substantial in winter. It has never been safe to assume that blankets will be available for all those who want one in albergues. All the more now as concerns about bedbugs seem to be on the increase. While I understand the drive to reduce the size and weight of one's pack for a Camino walking without a sleeping bag in all but the warmest of seasons is a gamble I would not want to make. I value my sleep too much for that.
Think we could introduce the right sort of spiders and snakes? Ones that eat bedbugs?Spiders, snakes, half-eaten bocadiilos, the odd sock or two, bars of soap, hair combs, credentials and other odd items yes, but never a bed-bug.
We also ran into several places that only provided a paper fitted sheet with no blanket. Luckily it was so hot in those rooms there was zero need for even the liners.
We started August 15th and landed in Santiago late on September 10th, getting our certificates on the 11th. Los Arcos was by far the warmest night with 30+ peregrinos packing the beds.Hi @ExiledSW - what time of year did you walk, please? Thanks, Mel
Walked the Frances this year in May/June, carried an inliner. Needed blankets twice, because I was staying in an old stone-build place. Was cold morning & night, even though during day temperatur was o.k. Blankets were therefore much appreciated.Hi @ExiledSW - what time of year did you walk, please?
Yes, @sugargypsy - there have been quite a few nights on various caminos where I have worn all the clothes I possessed!!Walked the Frances this year in May/June., carried an inliner. Needed blankets twice, because I was staying in an old stone-build place. Was cold morning & night, even though during day temperatur was o.k. Blankets were therefore much appreciated.
If not have been available, I'd have simply just put on my jacket at night and pulled my pants over my leggings.
Having just returned from El Norte, I understand that there are two basic problems with the blankets in the albergues:Just back from the del Salvador and Primitivo. I've normally acquired a blanket at the Municipal Alberques. These blankets are no longer readily available at all of the M.Albergues. Be aware if you normally take just a light weight sleeping bag liner with you. I understand this if the lack of blankets is now due to reducing costs and labour for the providers. I will always take a sleeping bag with me from now on. After a rainy and cold experience this year, its obviously better to be fully prepared from now on. The del Salvador was sunny and fine, but the nights and mornings are cold and fresh.
Buen Camino. Keith
I will from now on. I've never had a problem before, nor been so cold and wet on Camino in September. It was the Primitivo - the delSalvador was hot and clear (we even had a very, too close encounter with an adder basking in the sun on our path). In all my Caminos I'd used my poncho once for a brief spell of heavy weather on the Francés. I kept it to hand this time. Having said that, the driving wind and rain on Hospitales was awesome and I thoroughly enjoyed the experience, as did my three Camino Buddies - age 72, 50 and 32! We all said 'wow' when we got to low ground. All part of the adventure. Many people (especially Spanish), took it in their stride and were even extolling the majesty of the storms, cheering with arms stretched out as though trying to fly. A blanket for bed would have been nice at the end of it, but that was my misjudgement. We all learn something. The Primitivo was a new experience for me, so I learned a lot.I always take a sleeping bag.
Yes. Heat is inconsistently available in municipal albergues.I am one of the many folks who read the posts but never write. I return to the CF in 2 weeks and will be walking in early November from Logrono to Castrojeriz. I see that many albergues will be closed although municipal albergues will be opened. So do folks recommend I take a sleeping bag because of the time of year (early November)?
I use a jungle sleeping bag which has a warm rating of about +4 but if it gets a bit chiller I use a liner and it becomes nice and toastie. I've walked a few Camino's now and I always do them in the winter. I don't take anything warmer with me. If I was forced to sleep outside I also take a SOL bivvy bag for added warmth.Just back from the del Salvador and Primitivo. I've normally acquired a blanket at the Municipal Alberques. These blankets are no longer readily available at all of the M.Albergues. Be aware if you normally take just a light weight sleeping bag liner with you. I understand this if the lack of blankets is now due to reducing costs and labour for the providers. I will always take a sleeping bag with me from now on. After a rainy and cold experience this year, its obviously better to be fully prepared from now on. The del Salvador was sunny and fine, but the nights and mornings are cold and fresh.
Buen Camino. Keith
DittoI always take a sleeping bag.
November is cold in the northern hemisphere and I would recommend taking a sleeping bag. I always travel with one, lightweight is fine and merino leggings / top so if it's really cold you can layer up. More then once I've come across cold and wet ill prepared trampers and pilgrims and had to wrap them up and get them warm while help is saught, once you loose core body heat things can go down hill fast, it's not worth stripping your pack weight down to such a degree that you can't cope with what the weather throws at you.Mike, was this in November?
Hi MikeJS. On the San Salvador and Primitivo- Did you stay in Municipal Albergues where you had blankets? When did you go. We were there sept-early october this year. Just curious.My 22 days on the Olvidado, San Salvador and Primitivo were all dry except for 3 hours of drizzle on one day and a couple of days of heavy mist. Never really cold at night but cold enough in the evening to need my fleece at dinner! Never needed my sleeping bag, just used the liner. However, the albergues I stayed in had blankets. However, even when I walk the Sureste 2 years ago startin in late Apr I took mt bag - for the little extra weight its worth the security.
We all coped well and were prepared for what the weather threw at us or weather/health emergencies, just didn't expect some M.Alberques not to have blankets available. They've been more available in the past, from my experience. I've only ever come across injured pilgrims - shin splints, ankles, knees, rather than 'ill prepared' - unless you call over-packed ruksacks as that too. If anything, I've only really come across over-prepared pilgrims struggling with large packs, pilgrims who eventually discard contents or send stuff on to Santiago.November is cold in the northern hemisphere and I would recommend taking a sleeping bag. I always travel with one, lightweight is fine and merino leggings / top so if it's really cold you can layer up. More then once I've come across cold and wet ill prepared trampers and pilgrims and had to wrap them up and get them warm while help is saught, once you loose core body heat things can go down hill fast, it's not worth stripping your pack weight down to such a degree that you can't cope with what the weather throws at you.
I was only on the San Salvador for 2 night and only know that the municipal In Poladura has blankets. Trampers??Hi MikeJS. On the San Salvador and Primitivo- Did you stay in Municipal Albergues where you had blankets? When did you go. We were there sept-early october this year. Just curious.
Regards. Keith
PS What are 'Trampers'? Never heard this term before.
Mike, was this in November?
Yes - I remember Poladura was one of the Municipals that had blankets. And the weather at that time was warm and sunny.I was only on the San Salvador for 2 night and only know that the municipal In Poladura has blankets. Trampers??
Hi Hel&Scott - what's a 'Tramper'. I've never heard this before. Just curious. Is it a New Zealand hiking-pilgrim term? (I've relatives in Timaru on the south island).November is cold in the northern hemisphere and I would recommend taking a sleeping bag. I always travel with one, lightweight is fine and merino leggings / top so if it's really cold you can layer up. More then once I've come across cold and wet ill prepared trampers and pilgrims and had to wrap them up and get them warm while help is saught, once you loose core body heat things can go down hill fast, it's not worth stripping your pack weight down to such a degree that you can't cope with what the weather throws at you.
I would agree - not something I've heard before. We're not asked at the Pilgrim Office if we were on Camino for 'Spiritual or Religous reasons, or a Tramper', are we? It could also be taken by some who are not used to the term as derogatory.A tramper is someone tramping about the countryside ... a walker.
Not a term used here, but I've seen it in books.
Tramper is a common term in NZ, used a bit like Hikers is in the US. From an early age I tramped around moutains, over hills and ranges, through bush, along rivers and across plains. We stayed in tramping huts and wore tramping boots. Kiwi tramps are more like rough paths and huts are just that, tin huts with a fireplace and wooden bunks, no blankets, no showers and no Cafes along the way for coffee. Markers may be poles, or tin lids nailed to trees to help you find your way. The bush is more like a dense forest, it rains a lot and you have to carry everything you need. After that the Camino was a luxury walk in the park!Hi Hel&Scott - what's a 'Tramper'. I've never heard this before. Just curious. Is it a New Zealand hiking-pilgrim term? (I've relatives in Timaru on the south island).
Regards, Keith
Thanks - sounds pretty exciting, real adventurous stuff. Thanks for the explanation.Tramper is a common term in NZ, used a bit like Hikers is in the US. From an early age I tramped around moutains, over hills and ranges, through bush, along rivers and across plains. We stayed in tramping huts and wore tramping boots. Kiwi tramps are more like rough paths and huts are just that, tin huts with a fireplace and wooden bunks, no blankets, no showers and no Cafes along the way for coffee. Markers may be poles, or tin lids nailed to trees to help you find your way. The bush is more like a dense forest, it rains a lot and you have to carry everything you need. After that the Camino was a luxury walk in the park!
as a hospitalera and veteran camino walker cannot stress enough the importance of bringing your own sleeping bag, municipal albergues do not have blankets, many pilgrims demand and expect the hospitaleros to solve their "problem" which can be prevented with a bit of planing,, You are going in November? definitive bring a sleeping bag with a liner , better safe than sorry.I am one of the many folks who read the posts but never write. I return to the CF in 2 weeks and will be walking in early November from Logrono to Castrojeriz. I see that many albergues will be closed although municipal albergues will be opened. So do folks recommend I take a sleeping bag because of the time of year (early November)?
That might have been me. The one and only piece of equipment that I bought for my first Camino that I've had no need to trade out.Someone at the forum suggested the Aegis Max mummy as a lightweight (408 gram) sleeping bag. I bought it via Amazon.de and took it for my end of September Camino Frances section walk from SJPDP. Very light, warm, comfortable ànd affordable.
AEGISMAX Gänsefedern 800 Füllkraft Daunenschlafsack Mumien Gänsedaunen Schlafsack für Rucksacktouren mit Kompressionssack extrem klein & leicht 95% Gänsefedern 20D Nylon M/L, grün: Amazon.de: Sport & Freizeit
AEGISMAX Gänsefedern 800 Füllkraft Daunenschlafsack Mumien Gänsedaunen Schlafsack für Rucksacktouren mit Kompressionssack extrem klein & leicht 95% Gänsefedern 20D Nylon M/L, grün: Amazon.de: Sport & Freizeitwww.amazon.de
Thx Gerip, I much liked the “green down monster”, it gave me such comfort and safety. Much appreciated!That might have been me. The one and only piece of equipment that I bought for my first Camino that I've had no need to trade out.
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