Seeking advice for sleeping bag

[weiho]

Dear friends. I will start my very first Camino on 19th Sept from Sant Jean and arrive at Santiago de Compostela in the late of Oct. I have got almost all stuff ready except the sleeping bag. I hope to get some advice from people who have walked the Camino to help me to chose a proper sleeping bag. For the period between late September to late October, Do I need a three-season one or two-season one, or even a one-season sleeping bag. I want to keep it to minimum weight at same time keep myself warm in the night. Thank you all!

 

[C clearly]

As you might guess, there is no clear answer to your question. It really depends on whether you prefer to risk carrying a heavier sleeping bag and not needing it, or not carrying it and needing it.

If you enter "sleeping bag october" in the Search field at the top right, you will find lots of opinions to help make your decision.

 

[Princess Kaguya]

Hello Weiho,

I did my camino frances from mid-Sept to mid-Oct last year. I did lots of research myself, and in the end I settled for this. It was just perfect for me and at a fantastic price:

http://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/highlander-trekker-superlite-travel-sleeping-bag.html

I will be taking this on my next camino too.

Buen camino!

 

[Jo Jo]

I've walked the CF Sept. 15-Oct 15 (2016) with no sleeping bag and just a liner (and a down jacket to wear in the evening and could sleep in if I hit a cold night). Did not regret that decision. That said, I've also walked the CP with a silk liner (4oz, Cocoon Expedition Silk) for when it was warmer (and it was) plus a very light backpacking quilt for when it was cooler (and it was) the last two weeks of October 2017. Did not regret that decision either. Your time frame, I'd probably not carry the quilt. But HYOH.

If you decide to take something, my sincere recommendation is a backpacking quilt (the lightest possible--this is not camping after all--walls and sleeping pilgrims stacking in bunk beds keep even unheated alburgues much warmer than the outside air). I use Enlightened Equipment 50 degree (12oz for me, 8oz for my wife--they are made to size and she is much smaller than me), but also look at Hammock Gear (slightly cheaper, slightly heavier). Almost all backpackers these days carry quilts not sleeping bags Spring-to-Fall. The weight savings (no bottom to the bag (you lay on the bottom down and compress it to uselessness anyway, no hood) is well worth it. Order now because they have long lead times (these are small cottage manufacturers).

Buen Camino,
Jo Jo

 

[MethaV]

I walked the Camino Frances in September and October with a sleeping bag for summer, and it was quite enough. Even when it was a bit chilly outside, I was perfectly warm and comfortable in my very light weight thin sleeping bag. Mostly a silk liner would have been enough.
The less you carry, the happier walk ;-D

 

[naplesdon]

I walked the CF in September and October and was fine with a silk liner. There are plenty of blanket in the albergues.

 

[weiho]

Thank everybody who gave me very valuable advice.

 

[kjpyle]

My wife and I went from SJPP to Santiago between 7 Sept and 23 October 2017. We took the lightest 3-season bags we could find at REI with a peneferin treated liner for bed bugs. Never zipped the bag uptight at all. Enjoy your Camino.

 

[Sixwheeler]

Good advice here already but also consider if you sleep "hot" (like I do) or "cold" as this will influence what weight of sleeping bag you will want. Also remember that you will be the one carrying it. Ultreïa

 

[LesR]

I hope to get some advice from people who have walked the Camino to help me to chose a proper sleeping bag. For the period betwe

Walked CF SJPP to Santiago Sept/Oct 2018. Took a light sleeping bag and used it in Roncesvalles alburgue where no blankets were provided. Sent it home from Burgos - extra weight was a burden. Could have used it once or twice in other albergues where no blankets were provided but I did have long thermals to wear as PJs. Overall, didn't really need it and not taking it on CF 2018.

 

[Deleted member 86885]

I've walked the CF Sept. 15-Oct 15 (2016) with no sleeping bag and just a liner (and a down jacket to wear in the evening and could sleep in if I hit a cold night). Did not regret that decision. That said, I've also walked the CP with a silk liner (4oz, Cocoon Expedition Silk) for when it was warmer (and it was) plus a very light backpacking quilt for when it was cooler (and it was) the last two weeks of October 2017. Did not regret that decision either. Your time frame, I'd probably not carry the quilt. But HYOH.

If you decide to take something, my sincere recommendation is a backpacking quilt (the lightest possible--this is not camping after all--walls and sleeping pilgrims stacking in bunk beds keep even unheated alburgues much warmer than the outside air). I use Enlightened Equipment 50 degree (12oz for me, 8oz for my wife--they are made to size and she is much smaller than me), but also look at Hammock Gear (slightly cheaper, slightly heavier). Almost all backpackers these days carry quilts not sleeping bags Spring-to-Fall. The weight savings (no bottom to the bag (you lay on the bottom down and compress it to uselessness anyway, no hood) is well worth it. Order now because they have long lead times (these are small cottage manufacturers).

Buen Camino,
Jo Jo

hi jo jo! glad to see you also use an EE quilt. i won’t be going until this fall or next early spring but wonder if you took the silk liner plus the quilt or just the quilt. did you bother with some sort of pad to lie on with the quilt or were the beds in the alburgues fine to lie on with the quilt used like a blanket? i am relatively new here and am in the process of getting gear, doing research etc. any help along this line is appreciated thank you! bev

 

[Jo Jo]

hi jo jo! glad to see you also use an EE quilt. i won’t be going until this fall or next early spring but wonder if you took the silk liner plus the quilt or just the quilt. did you bother with some sort of pad to lie on with the quilt or were the beds in the alburgues fine to lie on with the quilt used like a blanket? i am relatively new here and am in the process of getting gear, doing research etc. any help along this line is appreciated thank you! bev

Skydog,
Yes, I also take a sleeping bag liner (Cocoon Expedition Ripstop Silk). 4oz. You need a liner bag. I used it every night. First, because some places and some nights any quilt is going to stay in your pack because it is too warm. Second, because the mattresses these days are usually covered in bed-bug proof plastic or rubber. Not a nice feel on your skin (you'd stick to them, and peeling out in the morning might be quite a way to wake up). Treat both the liner and the quilt with permethrin to be prepared for the inevitable alburgue that does not have the new mattresses (and therefore might have tiny friends who will then try to hitch a ride in your pack to the next alburgue).

Buen Camino,
Jo Jo

 

[Lindsay53]

Can one source a quilt in SJPDP or Pamplona? I have an excellent Golite quilt I am very happy with however I am reluctant to take it on the camino. Instead I bought a very cheap and light sleeping bag from Aldi which I won't miss so much if it goes missing. However if I could buy a cheap and light quilt there I would do so.

 

[Jo Jo]

Can one source a quilt in SJPDP or Pamplona? I have an excellent Golite quilt I am very happy with however I am reluctant to take it on the camino. Instead I bought a very cheap and light sleeping bag from Aldi which I won't miss so much if it goes missing. However if I could buy a cheap and light quilt there I would do so.

Lindsay,

Not that I know of personally. I've stolen the following from a post on Reddit of possible manufacturerers in Europe. Whether any of them would be in stock anywhere I do not know. I know in the U.S. there is often a 6-week order-to-shipment lead time (and shipping from the U.S., with customs, etc., is usually prohibitive).

Quilts:

• Cumullus http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/
• AsTucas http://astucas.com/
• GramXpert https://www.gramxpert.eu/
• PHD Designs https://www.phdesigns.co.uk/

Jo Jo

 

[NorthernLight]

Costco has a lightweight quilt and they were in stock last week. That may not be helpful info, if you are no where near a Costco.

They've change it a bit. They used to have down fill, now it's primaloft. Many of us have added snaps or bits of ribbon to fasten it to the liner, so it does not slither off in the night.

 

[Lindsay53]

Thanks Jo Jo and Northern Light. Too late for me to order anything as I leave in 3 days, but I was hoping to find a suitable quilt in SJ before I start. No real problems though.

 

[Lucy Longpath]

I take a lightweight Lifeventure anti bed bug sleeping bag weighing 750grams and a silk liner for walking in April and May. There are no blankets in Roncesvalles and some of the Xunta albergues. I have been happy with this decision but would also consider the quilt idea along with a silk liner if a quilt is lighter weight. I would not have been warm enough in April with only a silk liner but people are different in this respect.

 

[Lucy Longpath]

I also have a very lightweight 208 grams thermatec reflective blanket which gives excellent warmth. I took it on my first camino in 2015. It is rather slippery but apart from that very good. I took it in addition to the sleeping bag though. I think if I was going during a warmer time of year I would consider taking it along with a silk liner instead of a sleeping bag.