• For 2024 Pilgrims: €50,- donation = 1 year with no ads on the forum + 90% off any 2024 Guide. More here.
    (Discount code sent to you by Private Message after your donation)
This is a mobile optimized page that loads fast, if you want to load the real page, click this text.

Sleeping bag issues

M

MissyG

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
June 10-June 30
How important is having down feathers in your bag during the summer (June)? There are far cheaper sleeping bags that don't have down.
That being said- does anyone know where I can find a cheap ultra lite sleeping bag? ( that is cheaper than 300 dollars) Preferably the Western Mountaineering "mitylite". I have looked on Amazon, Craiglist, locally, etc all too expensive.
 
Discover the Northern Camino!
Join our full-service guided tour of the Basque Country and let us pamper you!

Down saves weight and has a tremendous warmth to weight ratio, but during summer months in a warm to hot climate, synthetic fills in a bag won't weigh a lot because the amount of insulation needed is highly reduced. Look for a cheap synthetic filled sleeping bag in the 55 degree Fahrenheit range.
 
Thank you that is helpful. I am trying to stay away from synthetics, but you can't have everything. Is a cotton bag not going to work? Like literally a blanket with a zipper?
 
Get a Spanish mobil number + data while on the Camino
Get a spanish phone number with Airalo. eSim, so no physical SIM card. Easy to use app to add more funds if needed.
Thank you! Now all I need to do is read the reviews to see which one is lighter/better for the month of June. The tucking in thing is clever I think I will do that.
 
I got a Deuter Dreamlite 500 in Astorga for something like 60 Euro. It kept me decently warm on my late March camino a couple of years ago, and it's what I'm bringing with me next week on my early summer Camino. No, it's not down, but it packs down to the size of a water bottle and barely weighs anything. Also, it was cheap.
 
Altus Poncho (ATMOSPHERIC H30)
Very light, comfortable and compressible poncho. Specially designed for protection against water for any activity.

Our Atmospheric H30 poncho offers lightness and waterproofness. Easily compressible and made with our Waterproof fabric, its heat-sealed interior seams guarantee its waterproofness. Includes carrying bag.

€60,-
Hi,

Down saves weight and also backpack volume.

This company sells light sleeping bags : http://sleepingbags-cumulus.eu/uk/categories/sleeping-bags/down-sleeping-bags
I bought a "LiteLine 200" and had it delivered to France. Good value for money. I don't know if they sell outside of Europe.

Refer also to various threads in this forum about the need to carry a sleeping bag in summer.
 
You don't need a down sleeping bag. I bought a light (600g) synthetic one from here for my first caminos http://www.gapyeartravelstore.com/1-season-sleeping-bags/
Don't know if they sell outside the UK though.
Don't get me wrong, I love my down sleeping bag but it was very expensive. I bought it to minimise weight (and for comfort in the tent) as I was carrying camping equipment over long distances. Definitely not needed in Spain (imho).
 
Last edited:
I bought my goose down from Allie express rrather cheap ultra lightweight and small. Its great cant weight to ise it. Im going in june too btw
 
Lightfoot Guide to via Francigena
Guides that will let you complete the journey your way.
Over the years, a silk liner and a blanket from the albergues was all we needed. ( June / late September early October)
 
Camino Ready, Backpacks, Boots etc
3rd Edition. More content, training & pack guides avoid common mistakes, bed bugs etc
MissyG said:
So many choices!

Was or is this snugpak good enough for the month of June? I am starting in Logrono, by the way.
Click to expand...

Well, I really don't know! Normally in June is pleasantly hot without being scorchio and no sleeping bag is needed, a rectangular liner is enough .. but with our current unpredictable weather? who knows!! Comfort is 7C 45F and low is 2C 36F - June is usually gorgeous and warm - but who can say??
 
As always, if you see from other threads about the same thing, it greatly depends on how well you tolerate temperature when sleeping. Everyone is different so people can only give their experience, which may or may not match yours.

I only bring a silk liner in April, May and September and never needed to carry more. The very few times I was cold in albergues, either they had blankets or I wore long pants and a t-shirt in the liner. My wife gets cold much easier but was just able to do the same as I did in April / May on the Norte / Primitivo which is certainly colder (1-5 degrees) than the Frances in summer. Her liner is different though: Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Liner.
 
Does your wife pre-treat her liner or is it naturally bug repellent?
 
Camino Inspired & Tested Gear!
New Original Camino Gear Designed Especially with The Modern Peregrino In Mind!
I took a Snugpak too, and it was perfect for me. I walked in September.
 
I have been on the Camino since May 13. No sleeping bag. Just a liner. Not a problem at all. So many people in a room it gets warm in the night.


 
Camino Jewellery
A selection of Camino Jewellery
My "system" of small ultralight blanket with silk liner worked perfectly for me in August /September. I would not have wanted a full sleeping bag because many nights were quite warm, and all I needed was the silk. I wouldn't have wanted to be inside a sleeping bag, but I do like to have some sort of cover on me, especially in a dorm situation. On those hot nights I used my down blanket as insulation between the silk liner and the plastic covered mattresses.
 
Have a look at the Ecoopro light weight bags available on Amazon for less than $30 and under 2 pounds.

I bought one. Came yesterday. Haven't tried it yet but it looks like it will work for summer on the CF.
 
MissyG said:
Does your wife pre-treat her liner or is it naturally bug repellent?
Click to expand...
We did treat it with permethrin for the first two Caminos but with 5 months of walking, we still haven't seen a bedbug so we stopped doing that.
 
Camino Jewellery
A selection of Camino Jewellery
Scott Fraser said:
Have a look at the Ecoopro light weight bags available on Amazon for less than $30 and under 2 pounds.

I bought one. Came yesterday. Haven't tried it yet but it looks like it will work for summer on the CF.
Click to expand...
That's still at least a pound more than my liner/blanket combo, which comes in at about 12 ounces.
 
Walking Tours of the Camino!
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
@trecile and others: The often mentioned Black Diamond down duvet/blankets are large, cheap and warm and one of them will make two small blankets weighing about 220g - well worth taking and about the width of a silk liner. I will be taking it this summer!
 
The costco duvets were my discovery two years ago now I have taken mine one for two Caminos now. They are great, but...

1. as they arw meant to be used as a throw they not very long, so they will work well as a blanket for the shorter ones amongst us. I am 165 cm/5'4".

2. they are slippery amd tend to get away from you at night. Not too bad if you are on a bottom bunk, but if you have a top one you either have to climb down and then back up to fetch it, or go without. Which is why I had some snap bottons added to mine that corespond with snap buttons on my liner. Just one row, so that I can push the throw away during the night if I am getring too warm.
 
Promote your Camino Project on the forum
€2,-/day will present your project to thousands of visitors each day. All interested in the Camino de Santiago.
@Anemone del Camino - my half a one is about 90 x 155 cms, which is pretty perfect for a light summer camino for me. I also have a few that we use as sofa blankets in the cold months. Yes, they are very slippery so I will put snaps on it and the silk bag so they can be used together or separately. Thank you and others who told the forum about these things though, they are unbeatable for the price!
 
David said:
She did, true - but don't you think that she might also be interested in a wider range of sleeping cover options???

I certainly am.

@trecile - could you give me a link to your lightweight blanket? thanks.
Click to expand...
Liner at REI: $65-70 plus
Down Quilt: : $74
Weighs in at 12 oz.

vs

Ecoopro bag at Amazon: $27
Weighs: 1.65 #

Her choice
 
I found out about the Costco down blankets after I had already purchased my Montbell blanket. I have however cut down a Costco blanket for my friend, who will be joining me this year. I made two button holes on her silk liner and sewed buttons onto the blanket. It makes it possible to button it over top, or inside the liner. I used some half inch satin ribbon and a zigzag stitch to finish off the edge where I cut it.
 
Walking Tours of the Camino!
Join our full-service guided tour and let us convert you into a Pampered Pilgrim!
I used the North Face Lynx sleeping bag for my Camino. It has poly fill. The cost was around $150USD. It worked out perfectly. You don't need down for the Camino and you don't need to spend an arm and a leg to get a suitable sleeping bag.
 
Your'e a genius. Wish I had these creative skills- maybe creativity will be magically re-awakened on the camino.
 
Camino Way markers in Bronze
The one from Galicia (the round) and the one from Castilla & Leon. Individually numbered and made by the same people that make the ones you see on your walk.
You must log in or register to reply here.

Latest Camino Photo

Most read last week in this forum

Similar threads

  • Tags sleeping bag
    • Sleeping bag or Sleeping bag liner
    Replies
    22
    Views
    2K
    Mikey - camino
  • Tags sleeping bag
    • Sleeping Bag?
    Replies
    29
    Views
    2K
    Joynz
    J
    J
  • Tags sleeping bag
    • Sleeping bag and lock
    Replies
    8
    Views
    831
    JD64
    J
    Menu
    Log in
    Register