Sleeping gear for VdlP

[Megwalks]

Hello Pilgrims!

Getting ready to walk the Via de la Plata starting early November — doing the whole thing from Sevilla and then turning onto the Sanabres to get to Santiago sometime in the second week of December. Looking for tips on sleeping gear. I keep reading about how albergues north of Salamanca tend to be variably unheated and don’t always have blankets…is a lightweight sleeping bag enough or should I bring a sleeping liner to go with it? Part of me thinks that is overkill (and obviously extra weight to carry) but I also hate being cold at night! Thoughts/tips? Thanks in advance!

 

[unadara]

It's many years since I walked this route. April/May I remember sleeping in all my clothes one night incl my rain jacket it was so cold. Some of the buildings are stone. I have an ultralight down hugger and will carry it now just in case. I'll never be walking in summer. If you have plenty of layers/merino you might be ok, and a Puffa jacket?

 

[LTfit]

A silk liner and sleeping bag is not overkill. It will be hit or miss as far as heating is concerned especially since energy costs have skyrocketed since I walked the route in the winter (February 2014). There were less than a handful pilgrims and often there were only 2 of us in an albergue.

Some albergues had electric rolling radiators which worked adequately but there is no guarantee.

 

[dick bird]

It will be December by the time you reach Galicia, a cold, wet mountainous region. A lightweight sleeping bag is the least you will need, even with blankets. And take gloves.

 

[Megwalks]

It's many years since I walked this route. April/May I remember sleeping in all my clothes one night incl my rain jacket it was so cold. Some of the buildings are stone. I have an ultralight down hugger and will carry it now just in case. I'll never be walking in summer. If you have plenty of layers/merino you might be ok, and a Puffa jacket?

That makes sense! Yeah I am definitely bringing merino layers and my Puffy!

 

[Megwalks]

A silk liner and sleeping bag is not overkill. It will be hit or miss as far as heating is concerned especially since energy costs have skyrocketed since I walked the route in the winter (February 2014). There were less than a handful pilgrims and often there were only 2 of us in an albergue.

Some albergues had electric rolling radiators which worked adequately but there is no guarantee.

That’s a good point. And adding a silk liner isn’t too much extra weight at the end of the day. Thanks!

 

[domigee]

What they said above! Sleeping bag, liner, gloves… I also took merino leggings when walking in winter.
You also need something for your head - beanie or buff.

 

[peregrino_tom]

I keep reading about how albergues north of Salamanca tend to be variably unheated and don’t always have blankets…is a lightweight sleeping bag enough or should I bring a sleeping liner to go with it?

Long time (Holy Year 2010) since I was on this way in Oct/Nov. Then there were plenty albergues before Sanabria without heating as well as the ones after. You are well into the hinterland of the Iberian peninsula here. We had temperatures drop below zero several times after Banos (where you go up onto the high plateau), and you'll be a month later. I don't think that just adding a silk liner is enough. Either a proper liner or a 3-season sleep bag (ideally with a 2-way full-length zip, so not too hot on other nights). That plus the potential to add your clothes and two pairs of socks should cover you in any worst-case-scenario situations!
I have a Sea to Summit Thermolite liner which has been OK, but a bit baggy - I tend to get tangled up in a twisted liner inside a sleep bag - tiresome if you need to get up in the middle of the night and it has led to some pretty strange dreams too.... However I see their current line look a lot more svelte (but a lot more expensive!)

 

[Traveller44]

For some of the higher elevations a wool hat would be good insurance. I left Padornelo, i believe it was Sept 13th and it was 5C and very windy. Would have rather had gloves than socks on my hands!

 

[MesaWalker]

¨Lightweight sleeping bags¨ come in a wide variety of warmth ratings. When walking the VdlP/Sanabrés ending in early November last year, we had very minimal sleeping bags rated to 50 degrees F. One night we had an unstaffed, unheated alberque to ourselves on the Sanabrés and used two thick wool blankets each, one on top and one underneath our sleeping bags. Without those we would have been in trouble.

You should expect that it will get very cold on some nights. We found wool blankets available most places, but not quite everywhere. The public albergues in Galicia are heated, so that helps. I would take a warmer sleeping bag than the ones we took if you´re not arriving in SdC until mid-December. Whether you also take a liner is derivative of how warm a sleeping bag you take.

 

[Megwalks]

Long time (Holy Year 2010) since I was on this way in Oct/Nov. Then there were plenty albergues before Sanabria without heating as well as the ones after. You are well into the hinterland of the Iberian peninsula here. We had temperatures drop below zero several times after Banos (where you go up onto the high plateau), and you'll be a month later. I don't think that just adding a silk liner is enough. Either a proper liner or a 3-season sleep bag (ideally with a 2-way full-length zip, so not too hot on other nights). That plus the potential to add your clothes and two pairs of socks should cover you in any worst-case-scenario situations!
I have a Sea to Summit Thermolite liner which has been OK, but a bit baggy - I tend to get tangled up in a twisted liner inside a sleep bag - tiresome if you need to get up in the middle of the night and it has led to some pretty strange dreams too.... However I see their current line look a lot more svelte (but a lot more expensive!)

Yeah I have a Sea to Summit warmer liner I was debating bringing (despite the extra weight - but may be worth it!) Am with you on being annoyed by it tangling up in the sleeping bag But gotta be warm enough to sleep!

 

[Tortilla]

Don't forget that private rooms along the VdlP are cheaper than in the north. Many places cost 30 euros or less. In some of them, the heating is turned off at night, in others, you can set the temperature with a remote and it's warm all night long.