MARYMOURAD
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- June-July 2016
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The most important part is the sleeping pad. It prevents your body from warming the planet. Get one that has R value of at least 1. Get closed cell foam ... I am not familiar with yoga mats and so cannot recommend. I like Ridge Rest.
If you wear clothes inside your sleeping bag you interfere with the ability of the bag to keep you warm. Naked would be best but is impractical. Best weight for warmth is from down filled bags. Wearing a jacket will cause the bag to compress interfering with the ability of the bag to hold heat.
Bag liners ... cotton or silk ... feel better than the material of the bag and help keep the bag clean. The weight doesn't justify if it is being used for warmth; you're better off with a heavier bag.
Bivy bag is too heavy for the use you will get out of it. Get a vapour liner instead and only if you plan to sleep outside.
A thin plastic sheet is useful as underlay to keep your stuff clean. Cut one about double the size of your sleeping pad for the stuff that hangs over the edge.
If you are still worried about warmth ... bring a wool toque or a wool scarf to wrap around your head. You lose more heat from your head than anywhere else.
In cold weather never choose a bunk placed against an exterior wall since old walls are often uninsulated and thus frigid.
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 poncho beneath the bag to block the cold air from rising.
Runner's winter tights, a long sleeve runner's shirt and loose socks as well as the warm hat mentioned above by WW are great to wear to bunk/bed wben it is really cold. Over the past years the coldest I have ever slept on the camino was late February 2006 in the then unheated Hornillos del Camino municipal albergue. Breath hung white in the frigid interior air and ice formed in the toilet bowl. Nevertheless dressed as above I was snug in my sleeping bag and liner.
From a quick glance at climate information, it seems to me that the June temperatures in northern Spain would be similar to the winter temperatures in Cairo. So base your decisions on that comparison. I'd expect a summer sleeping bag with a silk liner would be fine, always with the option to put on several layers of clothes. If you need to sleep on the floor, I suppose the mat would be a good idea. Regarding the double layer Columbia jacket, I have one myself for Canadian winters, but wouldn't take it on the Camino even in the winter! It is too heavy (the zippers in double layered jackets are heavy and bulky, for one thing) and would be unnecessary for all day walking when your body usually warms up. Better to take several thinner layers and wear them all if necessary (t-shirt, long sleeved light weight merino, another light weight shirt, a medium weight fleece, rain jacket, merino buff, hat and warm socks) rather than one or two thick ones. Whatever jacket you take, it can be used on top of your sleeping bag rather than inside.
My thoughts in italics
1) Summer Sleeping bag - 750gms (really not good if temperature drops below 20) - Take it, remember you will share the dorm with many people, which increases room temperature.
2) Bivvy sac - 200 gms - small sac that goes outside sleeping bag, works as rain and wind shield gives maybe 5 degress buffer on top of sleeping bag but works as sleeping bag all by itself if weather is anyway above 20c. can even be used straight on the ground for insulation - Leave it at home.
3) Cotton Sleeping bag liner - 300 gms - too heavy, leave at home.
4) Double layer Colombia jacket - 500 gms - fleece layer and rain jacket, was thinking to wear to bed instead of fleece blanket and anyway use rain layer instead of puncho - if it really is rainproof it 'could' replace a poncho (but it wouldn't cover your backpack anyway. If it is your only warm piece of clothing, take it, if not, leave it at home.
5) Silk sleeping bag liner - 200 gms - don't have it but can make one, heard it provides more warmth b - if your backpack weight is ok otherwise, take it.
6) Yoga mat - 500 gms- as sleeping pad on floor and sleep on - Far too heavy, leave at home. If you really have to sleep on the floor there are either mattresses and/or somebody that has a bed has also a light weight sleeping pad.
7) Thick plastic sheet - 200 gms - as sleeping pad - Leave at home!
Would the Albergues have blankets if it got too cold? - A lot do, but not all albergues. Also I think you are underestimating the heat in July ...
Please do post also the rest of your packing list, there might be other items you do not need to take.
Buen Camino, SY
Hello All, I finally got my visa yesterday and booked my ticket to Paris - arriving in St. Jean on June 12
The question is regarding what to pack for sleep system - I'm Egyptian and have no problem at all with heat, but any weather below 20 c is considered cold.
So for sleep I have the following options and need to make combination/selection for sleep conditions that would include sleeping on the floor most days (have back condition that makes it impossible to handle soft mattresses)
1) Summer Sleeping bag - 750gms (really not good if temperature drops below 20)
2) Bivvy sac - 200 gms - small sac that goes outside sleeping bag, works as rain and wind shield gives maybe 5 degress buffer on top of sleeping bag but works as sleeping bag all by itself if weather is anyway above 20c. can even be used straight on the ground for insulation
3) Cotton Sleeping bag liner - 300 gms -
4) Double layer Colombia jacket - 500 gms - fleece layer and rain jacket, was thinking to wear to bed instead of fleece blanket and anyway use rain layer instead of puncho
5) Silk sleeping bag liner - 200 gms - don't have it but can make one, heard it provides more warmth b
6) Yoga mat - 500 gms- as sleeping pad on floor and sleep on
7) Thick plastic sheet - 200 gms - as sleeping pad
What combination of items should I plan to carry? Would the Albergues have blankets if it got too cold?
Nothing to add to SYates's good and detailed advice except to emphasize that there are plenty of stores in Spain where you can get things you might only need once, or not at all--but are carrying 'just in case'. Save the space and the weight and leave them at home.Again my thoughts in italics
Good point--and a good reference point!From a quick glance at climate information, it seems to me that the June temperatures in northern Spain would be similar to the winter temperatures in Cairo.
Yoga mats are really heavy. If you must bring a camping mat that's more lightweight. In albergues, there's often not so much space on the floor, and you'd risk being trod upon in the dark. Floors are often tile, so the comments here about padding and warmth are worth heeding.If you need to sleep on the floor, I suppose the mat would be a good idea.
Do you sleep on the floor frequently at home? Sleeping on an un-carpeted floor can often be uncomfortable because of pressure points that occur. I would strongly recommend bringing some sort of sleeping pad. One of the cheapest and lightest, but also bulkiest would be a closed cell foam pad like the Ridge Rest Z Lite. There are also inflatable pads available that cost a bit more. Check where ever you bought your backpack and they should carry some. If your yoga mat is comfortable for you to sleep on, then bring it and don't worry about the weight. If you don't sleep well at night, then you will be miserable no matter how light your pack is.
Not much to add, besides my opinion. And some general comments.
Nothing to add to SYates's good and detailed advice except to emphasize that there are plenty of stores in Spain where you can get things you might only need once, or not at all--but are carrying 'just in case'. Save the space and the weight and leave them at home.
Good point--and a good reference point!
Yoga mats are really heavy. If you must bring a camping mat that's more lightweight. In albergues, there's often not so much space on the floor, and you'd risk being trod upon in the dark. Floors are often tile, so the comments here about padding and warmth are worth heeding.
Again my thoughts in italics
- Collapsible water bottle - as you go in Juli make that two 1l bottles and fill as needed
- Sleep: this is the question area
?????? - Next days hiking cloths or just next days undies and t-shirt - multipurpose soap, shampoo, conditioner , moisturizer cream, lip balm, deodorant, - shampoo is good enough to wash body hair and clothes, take cream and leave extra lip balm, leave deo, you will small anyway
- Sunscreen - A good one will replace moisturizer and lip balm, think multi-use
- small washcloth - leave at home, use hands
- Towel - how heavy?
- Scrubba washbag (also works as dry sack - leave at home
- Flushable Wipes, toilet paper - leave wipes at home, take tissue (pack out to next bin!)
- 3 socks, 3 pairs underwear, one evening camp dress, 2 pairs of thick socks and 2 pairs of thin/liner socks would be my preference, 2 sets of under wear, no camp dress
- Head lamp leave at home, there is plenty of daylight around in Juli, in emergency case use mobile
- Sewing kit (hotel size) - if you must
- Thin thread/rope - For what?
- Carabiner clips- 3 sizes to attach to backpack -max 1 to use in shower
- Super glue (10ml) - leave at home, if you really need it (unlikely if you have new equipment) you can always buy it.
- bungy roap (wrapped around sleeping bag) - for what???
- Paper clips (to hang clothes on line or attach them to backpack) - You already take safety pins for this
- Meds: compeed, muscle relaxant, muscle cream, pain killer, after bite cream, eye drops, Make sure you know how to use Compeed! If used wrongly they can do a lot of damage, muscle relaxants/cream, painkiller, after bite cream etc can be all bought in local pharmacies if really needed. Eye drops also, unless you know that you will need them from day 1.
- Bug repellent - Few mosquitos around and repelling bed bugs - good luck ...
- ear phones - listen to the sounds of nature, the sounds around you, be aware of where you are, also for safety reasons (traffic accidents!)
- Spoon, fork, knife - I just take a knife
- Ziplog for every set of items and 2 garbage bags for additional rain proofing - rubbish bag as back back liner and for those items you can't afford to get wet rubbish bag/zip lock bag, but don't overdo it, these grams do add up
- Plastic cup for drinks ????? - No!
- Power bank ??????? - No, but a multi-plug to share one outlet with other pilgrims might be appreciated by them
- Scarf??? - No, you already have a buff But perhaps a sarong style piece of fabric to replace towel, skirt etc.
Was wondering if there's place to purchase a thin sweater or fleece jacket if I got too cold at some point in the evening? Every city and many of the towns will have a shop to buy one of these.
Buen Camino, SY
I hope you come back on the forum after your camino, and tell us if the horrendous cold of June-July in Spain was as bad as you feared.maybe the cold is just what I have to survive
Yes, I sleep on the floor - just put yoga mat on tile floor and get into sleeping bag if it's too cold but hardly ever.
I'm afraid sleeping pads haven't been invented in Egypt yetI bought everyhing last year from India on a trekking trip and that's all I have now.
I think I'm using this advice and taking my mat eventually, unless I get time to grab something from Paris before getting on the bus to SJPP
In fact, I just about never rains in Egypt! We lived there twice and I can remember that perhaps it rained 3 times!Thanks Everyone for all the valuable comments and thoughts.
A miracle just happened yesterday and I found a poncho - yes, I found a poncho in Egypt in summer (it NEVER RAINS IN EGYPT even in winter; I have no idea why Ikea decided to carry it nevertheless)
I hope you come back on the forum after your camino, and tell us if the horrendous cold of June-July in Spain was as bad as you feared.
Do you mean to say there us actually an IKEA in Egypt??? WOW!!
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