Sleeping bag for Camino Portugese?

[Jude Douglas]

Hi...still undecided about this as I haven't booked accommodation. Was planning to just walk and book either the day before or on arrival. Is it likely that I will only find accommodation with no blankets? (I have a liner) Also walking poles - yes or no? Best place to get themy in Porto? Thanks!

 

[Pam Scott]

Hi...still undecided about this as I haven't booked accommodation. Was planning to just walk and book either the day before or on arrival. Is it likely that I will only find accommodation with no blankets? (I have a liner) Also walking poles - yes or no? Best place to get themy in Porto? Thanks!

I can't help you with the sleeping bag question. Poles are a very personnal choice. I wouldn't go anywhere without mine, they take alot of weight and strain off your knees and they help to keep you upright on rocky and muddy paths, especially when carrying a rucksack.

 

[andycohn]

We went last May. All places we stayed at had blankets. Mostly we made reservations a day in advance, and sometimes just showed up Never a problem. Walking sticks is a personal choice. But the Portugeuse is very flat from Porto to the Spanish border, and then only slightly rolling in the Spanish segment, with more pavement walking than on the Frances. We didn't use them, and also observed that most of the pilgrims who had them them carried them a lot more often than they used them.

 

[surya8]

There are plenty of accommodation options on the route between Porto and Santiago so I think it won't be a problem to find a place that provides blankets. All private albergues have them, municipal ones usually don't. On the other hand depending on the time of your travel you might find your liner just fine, I walked at the end of Apr-begining of May and saw some people using just liners on the way already. It gets hotter in May so may not be a problem. Regarding walking poles: the Portuguese Camino is flat and terrain is easy to walk. I used poles because I brought them with me but could have easily managed without them.