Silk Liner

I wear silk long johns rather than use a liner. To me a liner only has one use, so I would rather have the clothes that I can wear fot other uses if need be.

Thanks man. I knew I wasn't crazy. Maybe some other people are though, heh.

I too would use silk baselayers instead of a liner as I found the weight to be identical and I could layer over them if needed. However, I never used the baselayers for hiking as they would acquire the funk and dirt that I was trying to keep away from my bag.

Much depends on how long you are out and in what conditions- trips of over 4 days in the summer heat make me a walking pigpen, and so the use of a liner or the sleeping baselayers not only kept the bag cleaner, it was also refreshing to change into something not covered in trail grime.

Edit: I find the liner is better then the baselayers in the summer heat as it allows for more airflow- I can unzip my bag and still have a thin layer covering me (more akin to using sheets on your bed at home). To me, this is a more comfortable way to sleep in the heat.

Regardless of whether I use a seperate liner or sleep layers, I do always carry a pair of lightwieght liner socks to keep my grubby feet away from the bag…

Nope, you're not missing anything.

Interesting aside: I've heard from several flooring sales people and read a couple things that say the fastest way to get your carpet dirty is to go barefoot. The natural oils on your skin attract and transmit dirt exceptionally well. Dirty socks, on the other hand, aren't so promiscuous with their dirt. In other words, dirty trail clothes are still a fair bit cleaner than skin.

I have a friend who's landlord told them to wear shoes or socks inside because of the dirty foot oils thing.

Liners can make sense for those who don't carry dedicated sleeping clothes.

I was one such — but later switched to wearing silk long johns instead because I just didn't like using a liner (that feeling of getting all twisted).

I, too, prefer the silk longjohns for all the aforesaid reasons, and also because when I have to get up in the middle of the night I'm already dressed. I've never used a silk liner, but if you can get all tangled up in it I don't think I'd want one.