Sleeping bag in September?

[AussieJan]

Planning to walk Chemin le Puy through September and wondering if I'll need a sleeping bag , or will a sleeping sheet be enough? Also, do you predict bed bugs will be an issue?

 

[SYates]

I did that route last September and was happy that I had my light-weight summer sleeping bag with me, but if depends where you plan to sleep. If you sleep only in hotels, then not, if you sleep in gites then yes. I strongly recommend getting the MiamDoDo guide for the most extensive list if accommodation as it makes reservations so much easier. Bed bugs? My only confirmed encounter with them was in Cahors, a lot of places on the Le Puy route fight them with dedication ;-) There is no 100% proof method available to avoid them, so I was rather fatalistic about them when walking but extremely cautious of not taking any of them home at the end of my walk! Bon Chemin! SY

 

[AussieJan]

I did that route last September and was happy that I had my light-weight summer sleeping bag with me, but if depends where you plan to sleep. If you sleep only in hotels, then not, if you sleep in gites then yes. I strongly recommend getting the MiamDoDo guide for the most extensive list if accommodation as it makes reservations so much easier. Bed bugs? My only confirmed encounter with them was in Cahors, a lot of places on the Le Puy route fight them with dedication ;-) There is no 100% proof method available to avoid them, so I was rather fatalistic about them when walking but extremely cautious of not taking any of them home at the end of my walk! Bon Chemin! SY

Thanks SYates - sounds like I'll need the sleeping bag.

 

[jsalt]

Yes, a light sleeping bag for the gites, and yes, bed bugs may be a possibility.

On my very first morning, in a cheap hotel in Le Puy (I am not going to name it), I got out of bed, walked to the bathroom, came back and saw a bug walking across the sheet I had just slept on. I grabbed a tissue and squashed it. Then examined it. Yes, a bed bug, and I then saw the tell-tale black spots on the bedside cabinet. Great, I thought, I haven’t even started walking yet! Fortunately, I had dumped my pack on the other side of the room. I got the hell out of there and bought some bed bug spray before setting off up the hill. The good news is that I never saw bed bugs again, all the way to Santiago. Jill

 

[Arn]

I am not foolish enough to tempt fate, by saying, "I have never been bitten by a bed bug while on Camino!"
Drat, I said I wasn't going to say that.

 

[ranthr]

Most French pharmacies sell CLAKO in small spray bottles and most gites recommend it against bed bugs and might sell it too. Cost 10 euro. Spray your backpack with it to avoid carrying them. Any Spanish supermercado will sell nearly the same permethrin for half the price in big cans. Look for Anti Hormigas stuf.

 

[crackmrmac]

Yep, take the bag. Instills confidence that you will be warm during the night whatever the weather during the day!

Bon Chemin.

 

[Anniesantiago]

Most French pharmacies sell CLAKO in small spray bottles and most gites recommend it against bed bugs and might sell it too. Cost 10 euro. Spray your backpack with it to avoid carrying them. Any Spanish supermercado will sell nearly the same permethrin for half the price in big cans. Look for Anti Hormigas stuf.

This is good to know.
Thanks.

 

[SYates]

... Look for Anti Hormigas stuf.

Hormigas is ants in Spanish, not sure anti-ant stuff would also work on chinches (bed bugs). SY

 

[ranthr]

Hormigas is ants in Spanish, not sure anti-ant stuff would also work on chinches (bed bugs). SY

If most of the content is permethrin, it will work. On some of them chinches is mentioned as well. One spray called BIOS or something like that even has a picture of it. Contained exactly the same as the one I bought in a farmacia.

 

[irishgurrrl]

Planning to walk Chemin le Puy through September and wondering if I'll need a sleeping bag , or will a sleeping sheet be enough? Also, do you predict bed bugs will be an issue?

A big yes to the sleeping bag. I didn't on my
April May hike and was cold regularly even with blankets. Personally I found heating limited in gites and chambre d'hôtes I stayed in. A light summer one will do though as you can supplement with blankets if needs be. I'm half tempted to do a two week stretch on it again this year from Le Puy en Velay. So gorgeous a route... Bon chemin!

 

[irishgurrrl]

And speaking of sheets quite a few of the places I stayed obviously didn't change their bed sheets regularly. Urg.... And they weren't super cheap places either but chambre d'hôtes etc. Some sort of layer, be it sleep sheet or bag is definitely recommended.

 

[aussieval]

Hi there, i thought a sleeping sheet or liner would be enough on the Le puy route in September... but it seems i should take a sleeping bag... i'm a small, middle age, fit but not 'super strong' female and i was trying to reduce the weight of my pack as much as possible... has anyone NOT taken a sleeping bag and done ok with only a sleeping sheet? Any feedback would be highly appreciated

 

[Kitsambler]

September is generally quite warm; a sack or liner is fine.

 

[rhmocha]

Hi there, i thought a sleeping sheet or liner would be enough on the Le puy route in September... but it seems i should take a sleeping bag... i'm a small, middle age, fit but not 'super strong' female and i was trying to reduce the weight of my pack as much as possible... has anyone NOT taken a sleeping bag and done ok with only a sleeping sheet? Any feedback would be highly appreciated

We were fine with just silk liners last Sep/Oct, as the gites provided blankets or quilts, and it was hot weather at that time.
Bon chemin!
Linda

 

[sharon w]

Only took a sleeping bag liner in April/May. However, if you are walking through to Santiago you may need a sleeping bag.

 

[aussieval]

Only took a sleeping bag liner in April/May. However, if you are walking through to Santiago you may need a sleeping bag.

 

[aussieval]

thanks Linda and Sharon for the reassurance - I'll only take a silk liner, I think i'll be ok

 

[aussieval]

Thanks kitsambler too just saw your reply

 

[movinmaggie]

Hi there, i thought a sleeping sheet or liner would be enough on the Le puy route in September... but it seems i should take a sleeping bag... i'm a small, middle age, fit but not 'super strong' female and i was trying to reduce the weight of my pack as much as possible... has anyone NOT taken a sleeping bag and done ok with only a sleeping sheet? Any feedback would be highly appreciated

I am taking a cross between a sleeping bag and a liner. Here in Victoria, BC, Mountain Equipment Coop sells the 'Intrepid Traveller'. It is like a quilted liner and takes very little space when in its stuff sack.

 

[mspath]

Here are a few practical tips re choosing a bunk and staying warm gleaned from more than 450 cumulative nights spent in pilgrim albergues over the past 10 years.

In cold weather never choose a bunk placed against an exterior wall since old walls are often uninsulated and thus frigid. All night heating is not the norm hence make a cozy 'sandwich' for sleeping by folding a blanket in half the long way, place your sleeping bag on top of the bottom half and pull the top half over all. If there are no blankets put your dry poncho beneath the bag to block the cold air from rising.

MM