How do the Sea to Summit sleeping bag liners increase warmth?

[mister jarvey]

Can someone explain how the Sea to Summit sleeping bag liners are able to increase the warmth of a sleeping bag? Based on specs, it looks like the different versions are just polyester. Can someone provide more info?

http://www.rei.com/product/797114/sea-to-summit-thermolite-reactor-extreme-mummy-bag-liner

[Seth Brewer]

My personal opinion from using them is that they keep your sleeping bag clean….that is about it…plus for the added weight – you'd be better off getting a base layer and actually staying warmer and keeping the bag clean.

[Roger Caffin]

Well, I don't think they do very much actually, as far as increasing the R-value of the quilt goes.
But, they do keep the quilt clean, which in the long run is quite important, AND they do block drafts when they are wrapped around you. On the warmth side of things, blocking drafts can be quite important.

Cheers

[Dale Wambaugh]

Just like another base layer really. As Roger said, they keep things clean, but I've always looked askance at the warmth claims on such things. Add that same weight to real fill and you would have a much warmer quilt/bag. They aren't cheap either.

[mister jarvey]

Reviews on REI are quite glowing. Reviewers have stated that the liners actually do increase the temperature range of the sleeping bag by the advertised rate. The link I provided was for a 20 degree liner.

[Dale Wambaugh]

Do the physics. A 20F increase under what conditions? It's all too subjective. I want to see the test results. The thing weighs 14oz, but all you are getting is a thin fleecy layer, about like wearing a Cap3 base layer. 14oz overfill would make a FAT bag or quilt. There are summer down bags that weight an ounce or two more than that. I don't buy it. Spending $65 could be a convincing placebo :)

[Harris Goldstein]

As it happens, I was looking at these last weekend at a local outdoor store that is very focused on backpacking. What I was told is that you can expect the liners to deliver about 5 deg less than advertised. So if it says adds 15 deg, you can expect 10.

I should have asked, but did not, whether this was based on personal experience or feedback. I assume not from any objective testing. If based on feedback, you always have the effect of people rationalizing their purchase.

I can see it having some effect in that it is another layer and it might be a bit tighter around the body than the sleeping bag. After all, even a t-shirt provides some warmth.

But I decided that lightweight polypropylene long underwear should work just as well, be cheaper, and be more versatile.

[Max Dilthey]

I'm not afraid to say it. I got suckered.

I bought the $65 Thermolite Reactor Extreme from Sea to Summit. Through extensive testing, I found that the material did little to nothing to increase warmth, a far cry from the advertised 25º.

First off I read "Can be used as a summer sleeping bag!" as fact, and brought it with me on a 30-day, 1500-mile bike tour across the northeast that included summits of Mt. Caddillac, Mt. Greylock, and Mt. Hurricane. We slept on Hurricane and it got to 40º; luckily, after 3 days of touring I established that the thermolite liner did next to nothing on it's own, and I grabbed a $30 fleece bag (Alps Mountaineering RAZOR). Had i just had the liner on it's own, I may still be shivering to this day.

I can detect no difference sleeping with and without the liner using the fleece bag.

I can detect no difference sleeping with and without the liner using a 20º synthetic baffled bag.

I can also attest that it blocks no wind whatsoever- the nature of the hollow-core fibers don't block a damn thing. With a 20º bag, this product is advertised to make my sleeping bag into a -5º system, and I'm still a bit chilly at 30º. I would argue that at -5º with no clothing, a 20º bag, and the liner, I would probably die.

If it is providing warmth, it's less than 10º as far as I can tell. I am disappointed, but hey- live and learn. It doesn't end up in my pack anymore- my Merino Wool baselayer does much more.

[Travis Leanna]

Yep, I had purchased one a few years back expecting miracles. I promptly returned it since it did practically nothing in terms of increasing warmth.

You'd be better off gettign a light silk liner if you want to keep your bag clean.

[jason quick]

I've tried every type of StS liner, in the hope of capturing that magical 'warmth' they speak of.

Bummed every time. I just wear more of my existing layering system – problem solved.

[James holden]

yr better off spending the money on a better bag … or getting a synth overquilt/bag that will at least help with condensation ;)

[michael levi]

I'm envious of this for sure, im certain they have made A LOT of money.

x2 on baselayers, either get lightweight or a midweight baselayer. They are multiuse because you can wear them in camp to keep warm.

[Anthony Weston]

It's been my experience that a very thin foam 5 oz shoulder to hip pad on the inside of the bag or quilt in addition to a neoair or some pad, greatly increases the warmth; I'm a cold sleeper and this works for me. Also fleece socks.

[EndoftheTrail]

Do they still say 15F temp boost? My own experience:

o silk liner – temp boost of 2-3F
o Sea to Summit poly liner – temp boost of 3-5F

[Phillip Asby]

One of our assistant scoutmasters is a pretty experienced backpacker, and works at REI part time for fun (he's retired) and he told us new dads not to bother with them – either wear more clothing or if you really want a liner (particularly for car camping) he advocated going to wal mart, buying a fleece blanket and sewing together your own liner (how is that for some MYOG promotion?). The only issue being weight somewhat and bulk in particular… Not that his word is gospel or anything but he could have told us to buy them and most would not have balked…

My son said he got chilled on our campout this past weekend. He was in a 20 degree synthetic bag – wearing long underwear, socks and a fleece hat, and temps were in the low 40s… I was comfortable to a little warm in long underwear, no socks and a 25 degree bag… so I admit I was considering one for the upcoming backpacking trip in February (our next campout). I think two things will happen – I'll review again how to use a mummy bag (you have to get all the way inside it and zip it up! not treat it like a blanket on your bed and have half your torso sticking out like he did a trip ago – when I told him to get down in it he was like wow this is a lot warmer! ahh to be 10…) and we'll up the clothes – probably fleece socks and a better set of base layers, maybe a fleece vest. All dependent on the weather of course.

[Jerry Adams]

wear a synthetic or down vest instead of fleece

[Travis Leanna]

Phillip,

Many sleeping bags are very liberal with their ratings. What bag was he using? Look for bags with an EN rating; its one of the few "standards" out there.

Also, what sleeping pad was he using? Do NOT underestimate the power of an appropriately insulating sleeping pad!

As far as using a mummy bag….you can use it unzipped as a quilt with success. Just make sure you have an appropriate pad, bag, and clothing. Drafts can rob you of warmth as well, like if you're under a tarp.

If its cold, don't forget to insulate your head!

[Hiking Malto]

I have and will continue to use a S2S Liner along with my Golite UL20 quilt and bivy in the winter. I have had this combination down below zero at 12k in the Sierra winter so while I may not know the exact contribution of the liner I do know that the system does the job. Many have stated that there is a better bang for the weight. That is true if you are willing to have specialized gear for summer, fall and winter. But I believe this is one tool, of many that can be used to extend my normal three season kit into the lower temperature ranges.

[Jeff J]

I picked up the 25F liner a couple years ago in an effort to stretch the life of an old bag. It did NOT at 25F; it did add warmth, which any extra layer will do. If I'm generous, it added 10F.

It's one of the few items I've returned to REI. It just didn't come close to it's claims. If you want to keep a bag clean, get a silk liner for the lighter weight. If you want to be warmer, pick up a cheap puffy. That's what I decided.

-Jeff

[Phillip Asby]

Travis – he was in an Alps Mountaineering Clearwater 20 (he is a scout and this was a scout direct purchase). Not the lightest but it compresses pretty well and I admit to not wanting to spend too much early in his scouting career in case he didn't take to it, not to mention withstanding a certain amount of scout abuse (I do talk to him about proper gear maintenance)… I don't think it will work to 20 degrees but figured we would be good to 42. He was on a Thermarest ZLite regular – so I think the pad was doing it's work.

Part of it I believe is technique, part of it is making sure he had the right clothes on, and part of it is him getting used to the idea that cold air around him doesn't mean he is necessarily cold. That last bit doesn't make sense perhaps but you feel the cold air on your face, but your body is warm – I know early on I could still think I was chillier than I am. A hoody might also work as he is a restless sleeper and drafts can be an issue.

[Jerry Adams]

I don't think it's necesarily important to get EN rated bag

For example, if you're comfortable down to 45 F in a 2.5 oz Apex bag, and you want a 30 F bag, you can just get 5 oz.

EN rating allows you to compare two bags "apples to apples" but it doesn't take into account your sensitivity.

EN rating is expensive for small manufacturer and maybe you don't want to exclude a small manufacturer

I don't think EN rating applies to quilts does it?

[Travis Leanna]

Jerry,
I agree that EN ratings don't take into account your individual sensitivity, but it does give a generally acceptable starting point when looking at a sleep system. It at least has some merit, whereas we all know some gear has totally B.S. specs and ratings.

Yes, EN ratings are expensive for cottage manufactures, but I trust the word of the VAST majority of cottage guys that post here. If they say a bag will be good to 20*F, I know it should be darn close. Why? Because they know if they fudge their claims, they lose all credibility here.

[James holden]

i find it most interesting that most cottage manuf dont give a "womens" rating for their quilts or bags …

all en-rated manuf are required to give the female "comfort" level .. which is often 10F off from the mens "comfort"

as we know that no amount of BPL positive thinking will change the physiology of the average woman … either the quilts are 10F underrated or so … or the women buying quilts havent tested them to their limits … or they are hard(wo)men ;)

[Travis Leanna]

Eric,
My wife and I have the exact same Enlightened Equipment quilt, rated to 20*F, with overfill. We've yet to test out the lower limits of the quilt, but we'll see if my wife finds the rating accurate.

We slept out two nights in them last weekend, but the weather warmed up. Lows were only about 30. Today it was nearly 60*F–in Wisconsin–in December.

[Mary D]

Not all women are cold sleepers. Not all men are warm sleepers. For those of us who are cold sleepers, the "comfort" level will be about 9*F higher, as mentioned.

I looked up (on a UK website) the EN13537 ratings on my Western Mountaineering Ultralite, advertised as a 20*F sleeping bag. I don't know why WM doesn't have these on their website, since they do sell their bags in Europe. "Lower limit" (men/warm sleepers) was about 16*F; "comfort" (women/cold sleepers) was about 25*F. Interestingly, for me the "comfort" level is where I have to start adding extra warm clothing; the "lower limit" is where I start getting cold even with all my warm clothing on.

At least those who say the WM ratings are very conservative are correct!

Re liners: I tried a Cocoon brand silk liner some years back. I repeatedly woke up so entangled in it up in it that it took me several minutes to get out of the sleeping bag. After a few nights of that nonsense, I ditched the liner. As far as I could tell, the liner added no appreciable warmth. I use my base layer and a fleece hat to sleep in,and those stay relatively clean. The base layer and hat also keep me warm (under my hiking clothes) on cold mornings and evenings, so they have more uses than the @#$!%^&! liner!

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