Sleeping bag for winter Camino (CF)

[Gumba]

As per title, 12 months out and we are looking at sleeping bags which we will need to buy.

Would love to hear about temps in albergues and how warm a sleeping bag do we need, would love your thoughts. When we walked in March this year (including during snow) we found that most places turned the heating of early evening and all night. We did not use sleeping bags that time, rather staying in hotels etc. We are expecting to have to use muni's this time around as most of the private accom seems to be closed (especially over the Christmas new year period). Obviously we would like to go light weight but not at the expense of staying warm.

option 1: comfort level ... 2 deg celsius / 35.6F weight ... 940g

option 2: comfort level ... 7 deg celsius / 44.6F weight ... 780g

 

[Nomad Pack]

OK, so dunno about sleeping in albergues because I camp everywhere.

If you are not going to camp then quite frankly I suggest to get a synthetic bag, they are cheaper and will keep you warm enough. You can always use a woolen sleeping bag liner which increases your warmth. I wouldn't get too concerned with all the sales specification's of different ounces etc. It is all sales nonsense and practically speaking you will notice little difference. The comfort ratings again mean very little in reality as there are many other aspects to staying warm. My sleeping bag is comfort rated -14 but whether I'm warm or not depends entirely on the quality of the sleeping mat. If you are on a bed, just get a cheaper bag and sleep with some thermals on. Heating or not you will be warm enough

 

[Colette Z]

As per title, 12 months out and we are looking at sleeping bags which we will need to buy.

Would love to hear about temps in albergues and how warm a sleeping bag do we need, would love your thoughts. When we walked in March this year (including during snow) we found that most places turned the heating of early evening and all night. We did not use sleeping bags that time, rather staying in hotels etc. We are expecting to have to use muni's this time around as most of the private accom seems to be closed (especially over the Christmas new year period). Obviously we would like to go light weight but not at the expense of staying warm.

option 1: comfort level ... 2 deg celsius / 35.6F weight ... 940g

option 2: comfort level ... 7 deg celsius / 44.6F weight ... 780g

I’ve done 2 end of February/early March Caminos (French and Norte) and stayed mostly in municipal albergues with no or very minimal heating. I used a synthetic +10C bag (780gm) LaFuma sleeping bag plus silk liner and at times did also need the blankets which are provided by albergues (but not all). It was warm enough otherwise too hot. I wouldn’t go for the heavier 2C sleeping bag. However, starting the Via de la Plata end of Feb 2019 and I’m now now ditching my sleeping bag for a black diamond down quilt (Amazon) sewn on the bottom and up side to serve as my sleeping bag coupled with my silk liner. It weights 450gm, packs really small and is very warm. Apparently you can buy them cheap in the USA at Costcos. Buen Camino.

 

[Darby67]

As per title, 12 months out and we are looking at sleeping bags which we will need to buy.

Would love to hear about temps in albergues and how warm a sleeping bag do we need, would love your thoughts. When we walked in March this year (including during snow) we found that most places turned the heating of early evening and all night. We did not use sleeping bags that time, rather staying in hotels etc. We are expecting to have to use muni's this time around as most of the private accom seems to be closed (especially over the Christmas new year period). Obviously we would like to go light weight but not at the expense of staying warm.

option 1: comfort level ... 2 deg celsius / 35.6F weight ... 940g

option 2: comfort level ... 7 deg celsius / 44.6F weight ... 780g

I used something in between, 5°C, but only 595g. Expensive, but really well built and small. I also carried a silk sleeping bag liner that I used most nights and only used it and the sleeping back a few times. Personally, I would go as light in weight as you can, use a silk liner as it's amazing for the weight and size and then bundle up to balance as necessary with thermals. I keep thinking that using 2 liners might work as well for the warm sleeper such as myself.

Most albergues in Jan/Feb were adequately heated. One in Camponaraya was an icebox but had huge blankets with giant ceilings...enormous bunkbeds. It was wonderful!

 

[VikNik]

synthetic, confort temp -1C, 1.35 kg, 65Euro
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=cs&tl=en&u=https://www.trimm.cz/cz/catalog/battle-c3119.htm&sandbox=1

 

[VikNik]

or, for a warm person, down confort temp 4C, 0,830 kg, 127Euro
https://translate.google.com/translate?hl=&sl=cs&tl=en&u=https://spacaky.heureka.sk/husky-dinis/

 

[Athena Atterdag]

I've just walked the Camino with a Forclaz Trek 500 sleeping bag (very compact and quite light, 3 litres and 630 grams) bought from a local Decathlon for some special price, 15 euro or so. Its comfort temperature is said to be 15 degrees Celcius; to be honest, during the Camino I felt cold practically every morning, regardless of where I was staying - in an albergue or in a hostal and regardless of whether I was sleeping in my sleeping bag or on the hostal's sheets and under their blanket. But I'm very much used to central heating and big warm blankets at home

Overall, it's a good sleeping bag, comfy, lightweight, and inexpensive. I'll definitely take it again on my next Camino!