Which sleeping option?

[sjf]

I'm trying to decide what to take for sleeping in the dormitories. I'll be walking mid-October and trying to travel as light as possible and really want to avoid bedbugs.

Option 1: a very light sleeping bag I already own. I could treat it with the bedbug spray, but it's just a basic sleeping bag.

Option 2: the sea-to-summit anti-insect sleeping bag liner, only with my sleeping bag tucked inside so everything is somewhat protected, although this might be a little warm for October in th albergues.

Option 3: same sea-to-summit anti-insect bag liner, with a lighter blanket inside it. I feel like this might be the lightest and most comfortable option.

What would you recommend? I'm planning to have my pack treated before I leave and I'll use bags etc inside to protect from water and insects. Is this too much?

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Because I'll still be on Camino Frances in mid-October, I am taking my sleeping quilt that I use for summer backpacking at high altitude (comfort rated to 40f). It weighs just under 14 ounces/396 grms. If I need more warmth, I'll simply put on another layer of clothes.

I won't be spraying anything for bedbugs, but I'll do a cursory look at, and around, the bed and bedding for signs, just as I would do at any hotel I stay at when travelling. If I find 'signs' of bedbugs, I'll simply and quietly inform the alburgue staff or volunteers. It seems that most alburgues are quite concientious of bedbugs and their removal.

I will, before bedtime, pack up my pack and place it into a large, utility-grade plastic sack, and close up the top, thus avoiding any problems with bedbugs entering my pack. In the morning when I get up, I'll quietly grab the plastic bag, take it into the common area, and remove my pack and sort things out for the day ahead. I want to avoid, as much as possible, disturbing those still sleeping.

 

[jo webber]

If I look around and find bed bugs - I am leaving.
What I plan to take is a silk liner with a cut down fleece liner placed inside. Just one layer of fleece, cut the zippers off & cut to size. I can sleep on top of it all, just under the sheet or under the fleece and sheet. Also can put on the warm leggings and my two shirts to sleep in, all under my sleeping (lounging, go to town, do laundry in) caftan. I sleep hot.

My husband sleeps cold. He has a silk liner and an ultralight down sleeping bag, which can be unzipped and used as a blanket. He will have lightweight fleece pj bottoms and a t-shirt for regular sleep wear and can layer up from there.

Oh, do take a beanie type hat to wear to bed if it is cold. You can also wear it on cold mornings.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

I have been considering the right sleeping equipment strategy for the time I plan to be back on the CF and it will likely be something similar to Davebugg's plan.

How about a 5 ft X 7 ft plastic tarp, like a good groundsheet, goes over the bed you are sleeping in, a good wool blanket, (maybe a cotton/poly blend, easier to wash), set up to work as a sleeping bag with a few well placed buttons rather than a full zipper, and for pack protection, use a regular garbage bag.

If bedbugs do become a problem, ever, take the blanket to a laundromat and put it in a dryer for a couple of cycles and that will kill anything in there.

Sea to Summit would not like these options, I know, but do remember, the Camino's Albergues are not all rife with bedbugs.

 

[hel&scott]

How about a 5 ft X 7 ft plastic tarp, like a good groundsheet, goes over the bed you are sleeping in, a good wool blanket, (maybe a cotton/poly blend, easier to wash), set up to work as a sleeping bag with a few well placed buttons rather than a full zipper, and for pack protection, use a regular garbage bag.

I recommend you ditch the plastic tarp, for your sake as much as the other sleepers, they crinkle like mad and will drive you crazy if you try and sleep on one. I have taken to carrying a bivey bag with me on long hauls, they are light, and if you need to sleep out protect you against the rain. My old macpac lightweight sleeping bag is over a decade old now but I take it whenever I travel as it is so light and small it is great when stuck waiting at airports and ferries etc. If you are worried about the cold then take merino thermals with you, another must pack for me, great for layering up and excellent sleep wear, icebreaker claims theirs are "no stink" and we have tested that at times.

Do yourself a favour and ditch the garbage bag, noisey and easily ripped. Tramping in NZ tends to be a wet experience so we invested in lightweight pack liners, great on Camino too. If you are worried about the cost you can usually find this stuff for sale used on web sites, or do what our kids specialise in, nick em off your parents!

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

I do have a US Army Sleep System bivy and nested bags but even though the bivy is goretex, something that would also be acceptable in Albergues would be Tyvek. It is lighter and definitely quiet. A bivy made of this would be light and inexpensive and definitely waterproof, and bugproof and throwaway.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I recommend you ditch the plastic tarp, for your sake as much as the other sleepers, they crinkle like mad and will drive you crazy if you try and sleep on one. I have taken to carrying a bivey bag with me on long hauls, they are light, and if you need to sleep out protect you against the rain. My old macpac lightweight sleeping bag is over a decade old now but I take it whenever I travel as it is so light and small it is great when stuck waiting at airports and ferries etc. If you are worried about the cold then take merino thermals with you, another must pack for me, great for layering up and excellent sleep wear, icebreaker claims theirs are "no stink" and we have tested that at times.

Do yourself a favour and ditch the garbage bag, noisey and easily ripped. Tramping in NZ tends to be a wet experience so we invested in lightweight pack liners, great on Camino too. If you are worried about the cost you can usually find this stuff for sale used on web sites, or do what our kids specialise in, nick em off your parents!

Yes, definately ditch the tarp idea!

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I do have a US Army Sleep System bivy and nested bags but even though the bivy is goretex, something that would also be acceptable in Albergues would be Tyvek. It is lighter and definitely quiet. A bivy made of this would be light and inexpensive and definitely waterproof, and bugproof and throwaway.

My son bought a whole roll of construction tyvek and used a piece of it under his tent on the Appalachian Trail. That said, it is a very noisy product and stiff. I personally would hate sleeping on it (worse even than a tarp), unless possibly you washed it over and over in a washing machine to try to soften it up. I do bring a 3'×3' piece on my Caminos to use as a sit pad when picnicing. It folds up to nothing and weighs nothing.

I have a rather cheap China sleeping bag I use. Doesn't bunch up like a liner, isn't slippery, feels cozy when zipped, yet lightweight and thin enough for indoor sleeping. Amazon sells it for around $30 US. The brand is Naturehike. The only negative is that it is not very generous in size, so most men might find it a little constrictive unless used open as a blanket.

I use Permathrin on the bag and my backpack. I also take a $5 bottom sheet and pillowcase from a Dollar Store. It's an inferior fabric, but weighs and folds to almost nothing and I toss it at the end.

 

[MichelleElynHogan]

For a ground sheet or tent footprint, yes, Tyvek can be noisy, until in place. It shares all the positive points of a tarp but it is lighter. But for bedding uses, yes, it definitely needs to be washed several times. But once done, it is like a cotton sheet, just a bit warmer.

 

[tomnorth]

I'm trying to decide what to take for sleeping in the dormitories. I'll be walking mid-October and trying to travel as light as possible and really want to avoid bedbugs.

Option 1: a very light sleeping bag I already own. I could treat it with the bedbug spray, but it's just a basic sleeping bag.

Option 2: the sea-to-summit anti-insect sleeping bag liner, only with my sleeping bag tucked inside so everything is somewhat protected, although this might be a little warm for October in th albergues.

Option 3: same sea-to-summit anti-insect bag liner, with a lighter blanket inside it. I feel like this might be the lightest and most comfortable option.

What would you recommend? I'm planning to have my pack treated before I leave and I'll use bags etc inside to protect from water and insects. Is this too much?

I'd just take the light sleeping bag you already own, without treating it for bedbugs. I checked each bed I slept on for bedbugs. I never saw evidence of any. I know they exist, and I met one person who'd gotten hit with them, but I'm not sure they're more prevalent on the Camino than they are at any hotel in any location around the world. You're going to need some warmth in October. I don't think liners and a blanket will cut it. Besides, there is a comfort in climbing into your own sleeping bag at night.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I'd just take the light sleeping bag you already own, without treating it for bedbugs. I checked each bed I slept on for bedbugs. I never saw evidence of any. I know they exist, and I met one person who'd gotten hit with them, but I'm not sure they're more prevalent on the Camino than they are at any hotel in any location around the world. You're going to need some warmth in October. I don't think liners and a blanket will cut it. Besides, there is a comfort in climbing into your own sleeping bag at night.

I've personally seen bedbugs crawling four times after the llights were turned on in the mornings on both the Frances and Norte Caminos. I'm not crazy about using Permathrin, but it helps me sleep better at night, all cozied up in my bag, knowing I did all I could to try and keep those nasty little critters away from me!

 

[jo webber]

I have one question about what one would need to take for bedding. How cold is it inside in Oct? Could you just choose a place to stay that has some heating?

I've camped when the temps were in the low 40s at night, that is cold. 50F or 60F isn't bad if you cover up or have warm clothes on.

 

[C clearly]

I have one question about what one would need to take for bedding. How cold is it inside in Oct? Could you just choose a place to stay that has some heating?

There is no simple answer to the question of how cold it is inside in October. If there were, we wouldn't have all of these discussions and different decisions! The Camino Frances covers a lot of elevations and climate conditions over its 800 km, and we can't forecast the weather far in advance. Different albergues have different conditions.

Yes, you can choose to say in a place that has heating (although you might not have control over the temperature), if you are willing to do that planning and adjust your itinerary accordingly. I prefer to go prepared with a sleeping bag rated to 7C.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

Yes, you can choose to say in a place that has heating (although you might not have control over the temperature), if you are willing to do that planning and adjust your itinerary accordingly. I prefer to go prepared with a sleeping bag rated to 7C.

Stayed in late May in an albergue that did not turn on the heating ... til bed time. By then we were so cold we couldn't warm up even under the blankets. It would have made more sens to turn on the heat in the pm and turn it off at night, when we are under blankets and all crammed in a small room, working as small furnaces. Not a restful night.

 

[jo webber]

By then we were so cold we couldn't warm up even under the blankets.

I had to think about that. What would I do? My rain poncho opens flat. I could put that inside the silk sheet, on top of the fleece. It would be a bit noisy (it's sil material Sea to Summit), but I think I could get warm. Would rain pants / jackets work the same way?

When we have camped in winter temps of 40 to mid 20s over night, we have sleeping furs. I would need a pack mule. lol

 

[JillGat]

I get claustrophobic just *thinking* about stuffing a sleeping bag inside a sleeping bag liner; even the rectangular Sea to Summit one. I brought one of those StS anti-insect liners but - I don't mean to sound like the "princess and the pea" here - I didn't like sleeping inside it and couldn't stand the feel of that microfiber material. At most I slept on top of it with my down quilt over me. I'm not convinced their "anti-insect" treatment is guaranteed to ward off bedbugs, anyway. The most popular bug spray, Permathrin, is not proven against them either, actually. But it's pretty benign stuff. I am sensitive to some chemicals, but I sprayed my stuff with Permathrin and couldn't smell it and didn't have any reactions to it, so figured it was better than nothing. This Sept./Oct. I intend to bring some kind of lightweight bottom sheet, maybe a pillow case to put my fleece jacket in for a pillow, and my down quilt. The recommendation to check around the mattress for signs of bugs ahead of time is good. In my experience, it's not a huge problem on the Camino.

 

[jo webber]

stuffing a sleeping bag inside a sleeping bag liner;

The liner is supposed to go inside the bag. The liner I have is gigantic, covers a twin bed easily. It also has a fold over at the top to put a pillow in. I don't think it would work well inside a regular sleeping bag as it would be too big.

 

[jerbear]

Back to topic..... Option 1 then you have all bases covered. Get hot sleep on top cool cover up and cold slip inside. You can always cool off but difficult to get warm if you do not have the supplies. I also agree i take light weight patagonia capiline vittoms as well as long sleeve top. Just what i do. Good sleeping my friend. BC

 

[Kiwi girl]

Because I'll still be on Camino Frances in mid-October, I am taking my sleeping quilt that I use for summer backpacking at high altitude (comfort rated to 40f). It weighs just under 14 ounces/396 grms. If I need more warmth, I'll simply put on another layer of clothes.

I won't be spraying anything for bedbugs, but I'll do a cursory look at, and around, the bed and bedding for signs, just as I would do at any hotel I stay at when travelling. If I find 'signs' of bedbugs, I'll simply and quietly inform the alburgue staff or volunteers. It seems that most alburgues are quite concientious of bedbugs and their removal.

I will, before bedtime, pack up my pack and place it into a large, utility-grade plastic sack, and close up the top, thus avoiding any problems with bedbugs entering my pack. In the morning when I get up, I'll quietly grab the plastic bag, take it into the common area, and remove my pack and sort things out for the day ahead. I want to avoid, as much as possible, disturbing those still sleeping.

Hi there. Could you please tell me the make of your quilt and where you bought it. Cheers

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Hi there. Could you please tell me the make of your quilt and where you bought it. Cheers

It is an Enlightened Equipment (EE) Revelation. EE is a cottage manufacturer of backpacking sleeping quilts. You order online.

 

[linkster]

My son bought a whole roll of construction tyvek and used a piece of it under his tent on the Appalachian Trail. That said, it is a very noisy product and stiff. I personally would hate sleeping on it (worse even than a tarp), unless possibly you washed it over and over in a washing machine to try to soften it up. I do bring a 3'×3' piece on my Caminos to use as a sit pad when picnicing. It folds up to nothing and weighs nothing.

There are different grades of tyvek, but my is pretty supple. I washed it a couple of times with fabric softener, and let it dry outside (no dryer). It is a cheap ground cloth and no longer noisy. It would work as a bed sheet, but is a little slippery.

 

[linkster]

My rain poncho opens flat. I could put that inside the silk sheet, on top of the fleece. It would be a bit noisy (it's sil material Sea to Summit), but I think I could get warm. Would rain pants / jackets work the same way?

When we have camped in winter temps of 40 to mid 20s over night, we have sleeping furs. I would need a pack mule. lol

The rain poncho would work, but it would act as a vapor barrier. Your body lets out a lot of heat while you sleep. The warm air rises and condenses on the cooler rain poncho creating condensation on the under side. Your fleece, bag, clothes can get wet from the condensation. Vapor barriers work great to trap heat, but require active management. You may use it like a taco shell, cover until warm and then uncover.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

There are different grades of tyvek, but my is pretty supple. I washed it a couple of times with fabric softener, and let it dry outside (no dryer). It is a cheap ground cloth and no longer noisy. It would work as a bed sheet, but is a little slippery.

Why would anyone need to use tyvek as a sheet in the albergues when you can go to a Dollar store and buy a REAL fitted sheet and pillowcase that is only $5 US. Super lightweight and folds up very small... I don't get it.?

 

[jo webber]

You may use it like a taco shell

Thanks, this would work to regulate the heat/cold factor.

 

[Buz Radican]

I walked the CF last Year, 4 Oct - 16 Nov. I used a lightweight sleeping bag (40F) and the StS treated liner. Worked very well for me. Two years ago I section hiked the Appalachian Trail and tried using Tyvek as a ground cloth. Did not work for me.

 

[Camino Chrissy]

I walked the CF last Year, 4 Oct - 16 Nov. I used a lightweight sleeping bag (40F) and the StS treated liner. Worked very well for me. Two years ago I section hiked the Appalachian Trail and tried using Tyvek as a ground cloth. Did not work for me.

Yeah, nothing is optimal as a ground cover, (especially on the often rainy AT, but the tyvek doesn't take up room in the pack and weighs less than a tarp. Are there better options out there that you know of for that purpose?... I guess I've digressed a little here, as the Camino routes have us sleeping indoors, thankfully.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

There are different grades of tyvek, but my is pretty supple. I washed it a couple of times with fabric softener, and let it dry outside (no dryer). It is a cheap ground cloth and no longer noisy. It would work as a bed sheet, but is a little slippery.

For slippery ground sheets, whether of silnylon (light), or Tyvek (lighter), or Polycro (lightest), I apply Silnet seam sealer (made for sealing the seams of tents and waterproof backpacking garments) and let it dry. For myself, I like to brush on lines across the sheet, others like to apply dots. One may also use regular GE Silicon II caulk, thinned down with mineral spirits -- mix 3 parts mineral spirits to 1 part silicon --- then use a brush to either place dots or lines on the ground sheet.

Below is a Youtube video that I dug up showing the process. The same technique and material can be used on whatever type of groundsheet one uses.

 

[JillGat]

It is an Enlightened Equipment (EE) Revelation. EE is a cottage manufacturer of backpacking sleeping quilts. You order online.

That's what I have, too. As others have noted, you can sometimes get a very good down quilt for a VERY cheap price at Costco. Do a search here to find out more. They don't always have them, but I picked one up when they did and it would totally be usable on the Camino.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

That's what I have, too. As others have noted, you can sometimes get a very good down quilt for a VERY cheap price at Costco. Do a search here to find out more. They don't always have them, but I picked one up when they did and it would totally be usable on the Camino.[/QUOTE]
They were put back on the shelf this week in Canadian Costcos. See the thread about them I started yesterday.

 

[J Willhaus]

Sjf,
You may want to listen to the podcast by the bed bug researcher (One of Dave W.'s podcasts episode 24) located under the podcast area of the forum before you move forward with your selection. As I understand it, bedbugs are not deterred much by repellents and will just move to bite you where the skin is exposed. As others have suggested, look for the bedbug "signs" before you put out your sleeping gear.
Janet

 

[JillGat]

That's what I have, too. As others have noted, you can sometimes get a very good down quilt for a VERY cheap price at Costco. Do a search here to find out more. They don't always have them, but I picked one up when they did and it would totally be usable on the Camino.

They were put back on the shelf this week in Canadian Costcos. See the thread about them I started yesterday.[/QUOTE]

https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/costco-duvets-are-back-and-improved.49838/

 

[linkster]

I am not advocating tyvek as a bed sheet, just wanted to share the fabric softener trick. I have used the seam sealer dot dot pattern on a air mattress to keep from sliding off. These lightweight materials all seem to be a little slick,

I think some peregrinos have added snaps etc. to those costco down throws for use with a silk liner to keep them in place. You can search, but I think @trecile had some ideas.

 

[Anemone del Camino]

I think some peregrinos have added snaps etc. to those costco down throws for use with a silk liner to keep them in place. You can search, but I think @trecile had some ideas.

When I started playing with my quilt, I added snap buttons plus a cord at the bottom, to be able to use it as a sleeping bag if it ever got quite cold. In the end I never used it as a sleeping bag, but the bugger kept sliding off the bed during the night.

So on the following Camino I had corresponding snap bittons added to my silk liner. That way the quilt is always on the bed during the night and easy to reach if I want to use it on cooler nights.

I also bring a large piece of tule sprayed with permethryn to cover the mattress.

 

[Deleted member 67185]

That's what I have, too. As others have noted, you can sometimes get a very good down quilt for a VERY cheap price at Costco. Do a search here to find out more. They don't always have them, but I picked one up when they did and it would totally be usable on the Camino.

That's a good solution for Camino, but would simply not last for backpacking, which is why I have my EE Revelation. Since I have it already, it gets to come along on my pilgrimage

 

[JillGat]

That's a good solution for Camino, but would simply not last for backpacking, which is why I have my EE Revelation. Since I have it already, it gets to come along on my pilgrimage

Right, and since this forum is about the camino, hence a reminder about the Costco option for those looking for a quilt.

 

[intrepidtraveler]

If you are planning to stay in alberques, don't underestimate the heat generating capacity of a room full of warm bodies.

 

[Bumpa]

When I started playing with my quilt, I added snap buttons plus a cord at the bottom, to be able to use it as a sleeping bag if it ever got quite cold. In the end I never used it as a sleeping bag, but the bugger kept sliding off the bed during the night.

So on the following Camino I had corresponding snap bittons added to my silk liner. That way the quilt is always on the bed during the night and easy to reach if I want to use it on cooler nights.

I also bring a large piece of tule sprayed with permethryn to cover the mattress.

where do you get your permethryn in Canada?

 

[Anemone del Camino]

where do you get your permethryn in Canada?

Local exterminator.

 

[Bumpa]

Local exterminator.

Ah! Thank you