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) |
---|
Very wiseI am walking from SJPdP on 20th April and I don't like being cold in bed. I originally planned to bring along a sleeping bag liner but a friend has loaned me her 740 gram sleeping bag. It is flat underneath. The down is just on top. I am now taking that and can stick my legs out the side if I am warm.
Following too!Hi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
You don't have to choose between being cold or taking a heavy bag. You can do as @Seabird, @Jo Jo and I do, and take a silk liner, and a very lightweight down blanket. It's a combination that is very lightweight, and flexible.I have done many different caminos and never bring a sleeping bag but just a sheet because too heavy. But i must say each time there has been nights where i was cold all night because no blankets. It's a choice out of cold some nights or heavy bag...
There might be some confusion.Hope you are all doing well.
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
So this is quite strange, and for the first time I'm starting to hear that accommodation doesn't provide blankets.Hi Sophia,
Greetings!
Seems like the end of April is the time of year when the weather is turning in Northern Spain (I'm assuming you're doing the Frances?). 3 years ago the weather was fantastic and I was only cold twice, but then I'm a chunky guy and without wanting to be sexist anecdotal evidence suggests that ladies feel the cold a little more. I did not take a sleeping bag on either of my Caminos, just a liner.
The question to ask yourself is- Would I rather be a little cold for maybe 5 nights or lug around a sleeping bag I might only use one night in 6?
DO NOT assume there will be blankets!
Buen Camino,
Rob.
PS Thanks for your advice so far!So this is quite strange, and for the first time I'm starting to hear that accommodation doesn't provide blankets.
And what does a liner do exactly - keep me warm? protect me from bedbugs?
I've only started reading yesterday people writing loads on here about bringing liners, but what difference would it make if I slept with or without a liner?
The beds have bed sheets, right???
Hi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
The Spanish word hostel means hotel. Hotels in Spain supply towels and blankets pillows Etc. But if you mean albergues then you need a liner. I take a silk liner because yes there are blankets but you can't be sure how often they've been washed. Of note, I didn't bring anything but a silk liner and use their blankets and their pillows and no problems with bed bugs. So if not fussy, you don't need a liner and if you do find a place without any blankets you can wear your clothes to bed.Hi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
No! At least not in most albergues.The beds have bed sheets, right???
So this is quite strange, and for the first time I'm starting to hear that accommodation doesn't provide blankets.
And what does a liner do exactly - keep me warm? protect me from bedbugs?
I've only started reading yesterday people writing loads on here about bringing liners, but what difference would it make if I slept with or without a liner?
The beds have bed sheets, right???
Right, I do mean Albergue indeed! And as I Kept on reading the comments, after having answered to your answer, apparently some places don't even have bed sheets. So I just really need to make up my mind whether i need a liner or a sleeping bag. The truth is that I am a lover of being warm, and literally make all my friends/family/ people that live with me to sweat, and need to have the heating onEasygoing makes a very good point about the interpretation of the word hostel, but assuming you mean what in Spanish would be called an Albergue the possible reasons for taking a liner are as folows.
1. It's lighter and less bulky than a full sleeping bag.
2. It's cooler than a sleeping bag.
3. It will protect you from umwelcome eyes. Or in my case protect the eyes of my fellow pilgrims from grotesque horrors.
4. Save you from potentially uncomfortable plasticised matresses or paper disposable sheets.
4. Protect you from insect bites.
I've used both a silk liner and elasticised cotton based one. Personally I like the freedom of movement the cotton one gave.
I have ditched my liner. My friend loaned me a very lightweight bag which doesn't have padding underneath. I too can't bear being cold.Right, I do mean Albergue indeed! And as I Kept on reading the comments, after having answered to your answer, apparently some places don't even have bed sheets. So I just really need to make up my mind whether i need a liner or a sleeping bag. The truth is that I am a lover of being warm, and literally make all my friends/family/ people that live with me to sweat, and need to have the heating on
So, the only question for me remains, whether I will need a sleeping bag if I start the journey mid - to end of April, and it will only get warmer as we progress into the summer.
So I think either the lightest sleeping bag, or the thickest liner... I will keep looking.
Thanks so much to you and everyone else, who is reading this and has taken the time to give me detailed advice!!!!
For 5 or 10 Euros, an albergue cannot provide as much comfort as a hotel. It is intended to be simple shelter for pilgrims. So, sometimes you will have nothing covering a vinyl mattress. I would definitely take a light sleeping bag (not just a liner) in April.apparently some places don't even have bed sheets. So I just really need to make up my mind whether i need a liner or a sleeping bag. The truth is that I am a lover of being warm, and literally make all my friends/family/ people that live with me to sweat, and need to have the heating on
If you feel the cold then IMO a sleeping bag is a must, as you are starting in April. Also this spring has been cold so the nights might not have warmed up much - some years have been better than others.Right, I do mean Albergue indeed! And as I Kept on reading the comments, after having answered to your answer, apparently some places don't even have bed sheets. So I just really need to make up my mind whether i need a liner or a sleeping bag. The truth is that I am a lover of being warm, and literally make all my friends/family/ people that live with me to sweat, and need to have the heating on
So, the only question for me remains, whether I will need a sleeping bag if I start the journey mid - to end of April, and it will only get warmer as we progress into the summer.
So I think either the lightest sleeping bag, or the thickest liner... I will keep looking.
Thanks so much to you and everyone else, who is reading this and has taken the time to give me detailed advice!!!!
I must say the frequent reference to bugs and bites is beginning to worry me!I brought a silk liner and an Enlightened Equipment down quilt. I am a cold sleeper, and need to be warm. I put the quilt inside the liner like @trecile because it is so light that it could easily fall off during the night and end up on the floor. This was a low tech, non stitch, or attachment solution. I think @trecile might have been referring to HER down throw blanket and not the albergue's. I never used the nice looking bedspreads etc., I just put my stuff on top ... I think I know were my stuff has been. One more thing about the liners ... mine has a built-in pillow case pocket underneath the head to put the albergue's pillow in.
LifeSystems - Single Bed Bug Sheet 100 grams
Cocoon - Silk TravelSheet 158.8 grams
Enlightened Equipment - Revelation 40° 376.2 grams
Osprey - Ultralight Dry Sack - 20 49.9 grams
As linkster said I'm tucking my own lightweight down blanket inside my silk liner - not the albergue's blanket.Tucking the blanket inside the liner is an excellent way to max the possibility of being bitten by or passing on your bedbugs. As a one-time hospitalero, blankets etc are only meant to supplement the pilgrim's resources, and I liked to see pilgrims to use a sleeping bag and/liner to protect the bedding from whatever they are carrying! As a pilgrim, I always carry both a liner and a lightweight sleeping bag, and use the liner for layering when it's cold or on its own when it's warm.
Peter
Hi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia[/QUOTE
I would. It’s still cool in Spain and not all hostels have blankets.
So this is quite strange, and for the first time I'm starting to hear that accommodation doesn't provide blankets.
And what does a liner do exactly - keep me warm? protect me from bedbugs?
I've only started reading yesterday people writing loads on here about bringing liners, but what difference would it make if I slept with or without a liner?
The beds have bed sheets, right???
Hello Again Sofia,Hi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
I’ve got a silk liner and an airline blanket (free giveaway) which combined weigh 365g. Including stuff bag. Cheap option and if I decide I dont need blanket I can give it away or leave at an alberqueHi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
Hi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
That paints a rather disturbing picture.I think I slept in socks one night, but that was all.
Hi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
Most albergues that I have stayed in didn't provide sheets at all, except those I'll fitting disposable ones.Also don’t count on a clean sheet on the mattress every night. Some albergues do not change sheet and/or pillow slip every day or at least that was my experience.
Sorry didn’t make it clear that I meant the albergues that had a fitted sheet as a mattress cover. Personally I preferred the albergues that had vinyl covers on the mattresses and not fitted sheets but many still had some sort of matterial cover over the mattress. I usually stay in municipals or parochials. Perhaps that’s why we had a different experience?Most albergues that I have stayed in didn't provide sheets at all, except those I'll fitting disposable ones.
This is for anyone and everyone. I was a hospitalera for a season. Many pilgrims have an expectation that someone else will take care of them. In some instances this may be true. However, pilgrims need to take responsibility for themselves. Bring a sleeping bag. You may never use it. But if you need it during a cold snap, freak rain storm or you get caught out in the open at dark, you will be glad for it. The time of year makes no difference. Unless it’s winter. In which case if you are asking this question, you probably shouldn’t be out there.Hi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
There's no doubt you need a sleeping bag just now - very chilly.This is for anyone and everyone. I was a hospitalera for a season. Many pilgrims have an expectation that someone else will take care of them. In some instances this may be true. However, pilgrims need to take responsibility for themselves. Bring a sleeping bag. You may never use it. But if you need it during a cold snap, freak rain storm or you get caught out in the open at dark, you will be glad for it. The time of year makes no difference. Unless it’s winter. In which case if you are asking this question, you probably shouldn’t be out there.
Plan ahead and prepare!
Buen Camino.
Sophia, I started the Camino Frances on 1st May last year and reached Santiago 31st May. I brought a silk liner which was perfect. I met people who ditched their sleeping bags. There were some nights that were a little chilly so I just layered on some of my clothes! Was so glad I hadn’t brought the sleeping bag taking up precious space! Buen camino. JacinthaHi beautiful people!
Hope you are all doing well.
I look forward to commencing my camino very soon; and here's a question: do I need a sleeping bag or no?
I plan to sleep in hostels; and i believe it is not peak time if I were to go at the end of April, or so; and as a solo female, I wouldn't really think to sleep in the nature all alone... So do I need a sleeping bag or no? I would imagine the hostels have blankets.
Also, in my camino guide book, the sleeping bag was listed under 'optional' category, so makes me think even more so that it's not a must. But live advice from people who know this would be much appreciated!
Regards
Sophia
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?
We use cookies and similar technologies for the following purposes:
Do you accept cookies and these technologies?