silk base layers. How warm?

I've been using REI silk bottoms for summer trips in the Colorado Rockies. I've thought about switching to Patagonia wool 2 or some other lightweight wool layer, but you can't beat the affordability and light weight of silk.

Hi Donna

I don't think of silk as being especially warm, but a silk base layer under my quilt does block a lot of gentle air movement, and removes perceptions of cold air. And of course keeps my skin from transferring body oils to the quilt.

Cheers

Hi Roger,

I think that's more in keeping what I need to know. I use a Monbell UL #3 spiral bag (30 degree) that I use more as a quilt than anything. I want to sleep in something light, while protecting my bag. And if it's hot, the silk might be nice against me instead of wearing running shorts.

David…I agree about the wool. I wear merino whenever I can, but the weight of silk and a good price is what I am looking for.

Silk is great for sleeping in. The amount of warmth you get from it will depend largely on the thickness and density of the garments. The stuff that most folks sleep in is very thin and open, so not itself very warm. I have seen double knit silk long johns (think two independant layers sandwiched together), and this is a lot warmer than the single layer stuff, but twice as heavy. And of course silk loses a lot of its insulating properties when wet, but hopefully this doesn't happen in your sleeping bag!

Your idea of using silk for sleeping is fine. It will absorb water more readily than synthetic so it's not good for aerobic activities but great for sleeping and laying about camp.

Plus you'll keep your sleeping bag cleaner as your body oils will stay on the easily washable silk.

Eric

Hi Donna

OK, good to hear.
Try Thaisilks.com for your own silk.

Cheers

I've not used silk as a bottom layer for sleeping, though I am thinking about it.
For the last two years I've used silk base layers pretty extensively here in the UK. I reckon silk to be a better performer than merino — and certainly more comfortable.

I looked at the Winter Silks website and they have light, medium and heavy-weight silks. I had no idea silk long underwear had so many different weights to them. I wonder how warm the heavier silks can be?