Pros and cons of using tent on Camino de Santiago way

I decided to write a short blog about idea of camping on Camino de Santiago (Way of Saint James). First thing that you must know is that I walked French way in September. Maybe in some other months I will change my mind about camping but for my trip i have following conclusions. Just before I start writing about conclusions I should tell i walked with tent for a week few times since I am member of scout organization and I sleep in tent almost a month per year for last 14 years so I believe I have enough experience in camping to write blog about it.

Set a tent when you think it's enough for that day.

1. Tent
   I must tell you that i head quite cheap tent for my journey and I am happy i didn't buy one more expensive. My tent was mostly made of plastic and it had a little space with roof before it. That roof come really handy many times since you don't want shoes inside after all day of walking. Another thing with about tent is weight. My tent had almost 5 kilograms and any additional weight on your backpack is like shooting yourself in the leg.
   Another important thing that happens is smell that your tent will get. Tent is wet every morning, but usually you don't have enough time to wait for it to dry. After few days it gets smell from moisture. Smell it's not that bad until one night raining get's you. After that night you should dry no mater how much time you give for it. If more rainy days come at once ... well then i don't know. Help yourself with roofs near the path and try to be there until it's sunny again. Usually storms pass in half a day in September.
2. Walking
   A nice thing about camping is time when you walk the path. If you have tent you don't care where will you sleep and when will you stop walking. You can start walking a later, taking a big break around noon when sun is burning and walk more after 4pm until you want to stop. In hostels that are expensive(10€+) you can reserve your place so you can walk with brake at noon and if you plan right you come on your destination at evening. Other popular option is start walking still at night and walk for 6 hours or more and come in state hostel - albergue (5/6€) between 1pm and 3pm. After 4pm usually most of them are full.
3. Price
   Camping is cheaper if you don't search for camps. For 2 or 3 euros you can take shower in albergue  and wash your clothes. If you search for camping place you will pay between 5€ and 15€, depends on what's included.
4. Sleeping in the tent
   You must know that when you are camping you need more then 8 hours of sleep. Now you thing I overreact or I am a little soft but consider walking day after day for 8 hours and then have bad sleep for few hours and then walk again. I believe that's thing you don't get used to it and you have to thing about sleeping for more then 8 hours. Your moral depends on your sleep and you should consider moral as important part of what's pushing you forward when you feel every muscle of your body.
   There is another thing about hostel that you need to know about hostels. You are usually sleeping in multi-bed dorm. If this happens it is very likely to have some snoring persons in the dorm. In that case you really need ear plugs.
5. Camps and other places to camp
   I stopped at almost any path i want to and set a tent. I took care that I didn't destroyed some crops or leave any garbage behind and that was it. I don't know if it is legal but nobody didn't say a thing to me. Once i slept at church garden and locals were very kind about it. Water can be problem sometimes, it's not that easy to get place to set tent near drinkable water so you must carry more water with you and that means additional weight.
   If you are looking for any camps you will have hard time. I have been in few good camps but usually they aren't easy to find and aren't many.
6. Social part of journey
   I think important part of journey is communicating with other pilgrims, cooking diners together and having fun. Taking care for each other and giving and getting massages. Now when i take a look back i think that's one of most important parts of journey. After I decided for no more camping I got friends really quick and we travel together most of the time. 

Watching sunset from your tent and falling a sleep.

Finally I think camping is really great but traveling with a tent for 30 days can be really pain. Path can be much more fun,  enjoyable and easy with sleeping at hostels. With sleeping in tent and showering in hostels you will save only 2€ that i thing are worth of having 5-7kg less, sleeping in the bed and having social life with other pilgrims.

If you think I forgot something important or you have question just comment i will answer as soon i can