Eyeglass Case -- necessary or not?

[1BreathAtATime]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375). At night, typically I simply leave them on my nightstand or in my bathroom. While on Camino, especially in an albergue even with a semi-private room, where does one put their glasses? Do I need to bring a case? I don't want to waste the space unless needed. Thanks!

 

[gerardcarey]

I have a little foam pouch "hook and looped" to the houlder strap on my pack. Always handy when walking and pack strap is at hand just under the bed at night.
Regards
Gerard

 

[trecile]

I can get by with reading glasses, which I can replace easily, but I still use a lightweight sleeve for them. In your situation, I would definitely use a case. And I would bring a back up pair too!

 

[C clearly]

Yes, bring a backup pair in a protective (hard) case. I don't bring another case only to use at night time. I always find a place to put them, even if it is on the floor under the edge of the bed, or in the pouch that contains my valuables. My glasses don't scratch easily, but you could have a soft cloth pouch of some sort.

 

[Robo]

I just put my glasses into the zipped top pocket of my pack which is next to my bunk. I don't carry a case.
When I'm awake the glasses 'live' on my head.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375). At night, typically I simply leave them on my nightstand or in my bathroom. While on Camino, especially in an albergue even with a semi-private room, where does one put their glasses? Do I need to bring a case? I don't want to waste the space unless needed. Thanks!

My thinking is that if you can't live without them you need to look after them. So yes I would bring a case and yes just like @trecile , I would recommend bringing a backup pair.
I carry a hard case for my worn glasses, I carry a backup pair and I also have my sunglasses. It's a nuisance, it adds weight, but it is what it is. Once when travelling (not on camino) I put my glasses on the bed and somebody promptly sat on them. I had to travel home wearing my sunglasses on a cloudy day - talk about a headache.

Yes you can get replacement glasses in Spain but NOT overnight. The loss of my glasses would severely impact if not completely end my Camino.

 

[BarbaraW]

I always found somewhere to put my main glasses overnight, quite often with an arm booked into something. My second pair are reactolites with darkening lenses so double as spare and sunglasses. Commercial hard cases are heavy (it all adds up!) so I made a light one from fabric and a sheet of flexible plastic.

 

[Caomhin O Fearghaill]

bring a hard case for specs...at night I put that under my pillow, if there is one. Also I had a sleeping bag with a little pocket that worked a treat too...but that sleeping bag has passed its smell by date and my new one has no pocket and no smell...I need quick access to my specs in the morning, otherwise I'm bumping into things,,,including other pilgrims...

 

[Paul-CH]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375)

Depending on your vision, I would recommend taking the case with you. In case anything happens with your glasses it would be even better to have a replacement.

 

[David]

A case for sure. In the UK we have online companies who make and sell prescription glasses seriously cheap - less than £20 (30€?) same in the US?
If I had to wear glasses all the time I would buy a cheap backup pair and also a cheap prescription sunglasses pair and keep all in hard cases ... I think yours is a situation where the minimal increase in weight is superseded by necessity.

There are very light aluminium cases that would balance it out.

 

[Treskelion]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375). At night, typically I simply leave them on my nightstand or in my bathroom. While on Camino, especially in an albergue even with a semi-private room, where does one put their glasses? Do I need to bring a case? I don't want to waste the space unless needed. Thanks!

My glasses are not really necessary BUT they do sharpen up my long distance (age 65 I definitely need reading glasses). I wear « progressive « glasses that my French medical insurance replace every 2 years … over many travels they are safely ensconced in a case or on my nose

 

[Sd217]

Could only agree with need to take spare pair , after 12 years of doing Camino trips always taking extra pair without needing them , couple of months ago whilst on a cross country cycle trip whilst sat in a cafe my glasses literally fell apart , for the first time in 12 years that discipline of always carrying a spare pair saved my trip .
i would discard something else before discarding the spare pair .

 

[1BreathAtATime]

Thank you, everyone! Hard case it is and possibly a back up pair.

 

[trecile]

@1BreathAtATime - I see that you are in the US. If you have a Dollar Tree store near you check them out for a really lightweight hard plastic case.

 

[Getwood]

I have acquired several lightweight aluminum alloy spectacle cases off of Amazon, and one that fits my sunglasses and "indoor" glasses is coming with me. I'm not bringing a second case, though I may reconsider as I get closer to departure date...

 

[ScouseKeith]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375). At night, typically I simply leave them on my nightstand or in my bathroom. While on Camino, especially in an albergue even with a semi-private room, where does one put their glasses? Do I need to bring a case? I don't want to waste the space unless needed. Thanks!

I have to wear my specs permanently and I found it no bother at all at night just resting them on my rucksack next to my bed, it’s just something else to bother . Keith

 

[RonBenfield]

bring a hard case for specs...at night I put that under my pillow, if there is one. Also I had a sleeping bag with a little pocket that worked a treat too...but that sleeping bag has passed its smell by date and my new one has no pocket and no smell...I need quick access to my specs in the morning, otherwise I'm bumping into things,,,including other pilgrims...

Passed it's smell-by date -- LOL!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I can get by with reading glasses, which I can replace easily, but I still use a lightweight sleeve for them. In your situation, I would definitely use a case. And I would bring a back up pair too!

Also bear in mind that if you should ever drive in Spain spare glasses are a legal requirement - it's on your driving licence too!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I find these useful - a simple suction cup with a split ring - but you do need a smooth surface; great in the shower. I think they originally came from car sunshade as I seem to have several.

 

[Getwood]

I find these useful - a simple suction cup with a split ring - but you do need a smooth surface; great in the shower. I think they originally came from car sunshade as I seem to have several.

View attachment 176485

Great, simple idea.

 

[Joynz]

I wear glasses all day every day. I brought a lightweight hard plastic case for them. And a screen shot of my prescription. Better safe than sorry!

 

[Joynz]

Also bear in mind that if you should ever drive in Spain spare glasses are a legal requirement - it's on your driving licence too!

I have read that a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses is no longer legally required!

 

[Jeff Crawley]

I have read that a spare pair of glasses or contact lenses is no longer legally required!

Interesting, I wonder when that changed? Foolish to drive without of course, I physically couldn't drive without glasses without risking a crash.

 

[Joynz]

Interesting, I wonder when that changed? Foolish to drive without of course, I physically couldn't drive without glasses without risking a crash.

My licence requires me to wear glasses when driving. But it would be strange to be required to carry a spare pair with me when heading up to the shops in a car.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

My licence requires me to wear glasses when driving. But it would be strange to be required to carry a spare pair with me when heading up to the shops in a car.

How would you manage if you tripped and broke your glasses while shopping? Take a taxi home to collect your spare glasses then go back and retrieve your car? I just carry a spare pair in the door pocket all the time - better safe than stranded!

 

[Joynz]

How would you manage if you tripped and broke your glasses while shopping? Take a taxi home to collect your spare glasses then go back and retrieve your car? I just carry a spare pair in the door pocket all the time - better safe than stranded!

My glasses are highly unlikely to break- they have plastic lenses. But yes, I would get an Uber home or call a friend. I live in Australia so leaving a car or bike etc unattended is fine.

 

[Peterexpatkiwi]

My glasses are highly unlikely to break- they have plastic lenses. But yes, I would get an Uber home or call a friend. I live in Australia so leaving a car or bike etc unattended is fine.

It’s not the lenses that typically break, it’s the frames. Most lenses are made of plastic nowadays.

 

[chinacat]

I use a very lightweight metal case for carrying my glasses in my bag, when I wear my contacts.

Something like this might be useful when walking, as it can be carried in different ways:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/YCD-Tactical-Shockproof-Protective-Sunglasses/dp/B09NC6GK6H/ref=sr_1_11_sspa?crid=1SI899GVYPQP3&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.lcXJvi5KeDeQwFthtdY3v7r2Lkr5wO3oeXDW4BYDWjlOGzypRbIcCfFwlRGFHcJVoeX88TALE8EqJr6nafNzfyF6fvNx6pN5yWHtmRslbhRmNW1SHJc8SAfwuEZk4ivI4Ma1Bs39GOVtEmBakZItI6U2HArbBLRw5fMmj4CrsJrQKav1tU1bprfPQC0yg6pzxUB4XEJ9yWjN96PF0JmH-bdOivWPyZtFyJjTTMeNjQ8uwbbutfAvSnRdXrDDX7UJ4S5K75OvtrNO0smkG0eshfdZQQB4uXfOW9k3vDWcLJ8.kr7DpBw5r2jY9RoYcL3NLFqqNVIqZRwoW-YiqkiA1eA&dib_tag=se&keywords=aluminium+glasses+case&qid=1724145466&sprefix=Aluminium+g%2Caps%2C101&sr=8-11-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9tdGY&psc=1&smid=ALMYQN9ZK0QEY

 

[Melucia]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375). At night, typically I simply leave them on my nightstand or in my bathroom. While on Camino, especially in an albergue even with a semi-private room, where does one put their glasses? Do I need to bring a case? I don't want to waste the space unless needed. Thanks!

I also need to wear glasses and brought a silk glasses case holder and kept it in the front pocket of my waist bag. It held my glasses when I was wearing my sunglasses. I also wore an older pair of glasses and sunglasses on the Camino. Hope that helps! Buen Camino!

 

[VeganCamino]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375). At night, typically I simply leave them on my nightstand or in my bathroom. While on Camino, especially in an albergue even with a semi-private room, where does one put their glasses? Do I need to bring a case? I don't want to waste the space unless needed. Thanks!

Same here. Blind as a bat I'm bringing a soft sided case with a hair tie around it to keep it nice and shut. I usually travel with a hard case, but not when I have to carry it for 40 days

 

[Kirkie]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375). At night, typically I simply leave them on my nightstand or in my bathroom. While on Camino, especially in an albergue even with a semi-private room, where does one put their glasses? Do I need to bring a case? I don't want to waste the space unless needed. Thanks!

Do not leave home without the glasses case. NB I have not read replies. I wear glasses.

An irrelevant addition. I have an old pair of specs. They are my trusty sleeping glasses. For when I fall asleep while doing bad things like reading the forum messages, against all the guru advice...
I don' t waste my current ones in case I scrunch them up.

 

[Jodean]

One good note is that a lot of albergues, especially the ones with curtains on the beds, now have a small shelf next to or above the bed with a light and a plug for your phone, or a sort of basket on the wall. Handy to put your glasses here.
Always take a back-up pair with me!

 

[lsg]

Writing this while sitting at a cafe in Villatuerta. I'm on the Camino Frances now. You didn't specify if your glasses have transition lenses. If they don't, you'll need to bring both sunglasses and a normal pair of glasses and you'll definitely need at least 1 case to prevent glasses from getting squished in your bag.

 

[Stephan the Painter]

I basically cannot see without my glasses (450/375). At night, typically I simply leave them on my nightstand or in my bathroom. While on Camino, especially in an albergue even with a semi-private room, where does one put their glasses? Do I need to bring a case? I don't want to waste the space unless needed. Thanks!

I also have the same issue, I need glasses 100% of the time. And I recommend you bring a hard case. And an extra pair if you have them.

A few years ago, I got this nice hard folding case, which stores flat. I put the case and glasses in my shoe at night.