Sleeping Bag Liners

[Ruth Williams]

Working with a group of scouts in the midwest, where it gets very humid during the summer months. Most us have 40 degree bags and I would like to give them some advice about adding a liner to their bags for fall and wicking away mositure during the spring and summer months. Which will help more fleece or silk? Any other trade offs I should know about? Thanks

[Travis Leanna]

Silk will usually be lighter than fleece. Generally, I wouldn't count too much on the supposed temperature boost with liners. You may get a few degrees, but that's about it. Their bags are what will keep them warm, so make sure the 40 degree bag is accurately rated for the temps you'll be in.

For warmer months especially, the only real purpose of a liner is to keep the bag clean. You don't really need wicking material for a liner, since any moisture has to pass through the bag anyways. If you're sweating enough in a sleeping bag to need wicking material, then you're probably way overheated.

The short of it all: Rely on liners simply to keep bags clean, and not much else. You can add a few degrees with a liner, but don't count on a liner to give you the warmth you need.

[Ben Egan]

One of the first ultralight pieces of gear that I purchased was a silk liner. And it certainly adds warmth.

jagbags.co.nz I do believe. Nope, just checked. I am sure.

Kind of pricey, but they give a lot of warmth, especially for the price. Advertised up to 9 degrees fahrenheit in difference. Oh, and I got purple/blue dye, and it makes a great toga for a party.

Mine's 4.5 oz, and unlike a fleece liner, stuffs right into my sleeping bag stuff sack along with my bag.

Soooo, one strong vote for silk here.

[James Naphas]

I'm with Travis on this. IMO liners add a few degrees at most, and if anything will work against wicking moisture in hotter weather. I also move around a lot when sleeping, and I tend to get tangled up in them.

I like taking silkweight tops and bottoms as sleeping (and not hiking) clothes. They also double up as an additional layer for around camp if it gets cool, and definitely help with wicking.

[Bob Gross]

I sewed my own silk sleeping bag liner, and it ended up something less than 2 ounces. The purpose was mostly as a bed sheet, not for warmth or anything. The trick in avoiding tangles is to safety-pin it to the inside bottom, and maybe one or two at the top.

–B.G.–

[Eric Blumensaadt]

Silk will hold water just like cotton. Once wet it's very difficult to dry and only easier to dry than cotton due to its thinness.

[Travis Leanna]

I'm not sure of the exact science behind the absorbent qualities of silk vs cotton, but usually silk liners are made of such light weight, that they dry extremely quickly. For me, the ability for silk liners to dry has always been a quick and positive experience.

[Brad Groves]

Silk does NOT hold water like cotton. Cotton retains 100% moisture. Silk retains, IIRC, something in the vicinity of 35%, just like wool.

I do not recommend liners to people. They are generally thinner than the baselayers every backpacker will have with them, anyway. They add weight and bulk. For those who toss and turn, there can be more of a tendency to get twisted up in the liner. Instead, I recommend wearing your baselayers to bed. The clothing keeps your nasty body oils off the sleeping bag, and if it's a warm night you can leave the bag open and have a bit of insulation from those layers.

[Ruth Williams]

Thanks everyone for the insights. I think I will be recommending that everyone invest in some good baselayers!

[Roger Caffin]

Silk is fine for this.
A liner keeps oils off your SB, and it blocks drafts around your shoulders. Don't discount the latter.

Cheers

[George Roefler]

Some firms claim their silk liners "add up to 9 degrees of warmth" to your bag. The reality is it is closer to 3 degrees. Silk liners are also very expensive.

[Mary D]

I'd agree about the 2-3 degrees, at most, for a silk liner. I also found that by morning I'd be so tangled up in the thing that it would take me a couple of minutes to get out of the sleeping bag. Needless to say, the silk liner was soon discarded!

I try to keep my base layer clean, and that's what I wear to bed to protect the sleeping bag.

[Bob Gross]

"Silk liners are also very expensive."

I used $8.00 worth of silk.

I avoid getting it tangled inside the sleeping bag by using safety pins.

–B.G.–

[Roger Caffin]

> Silk liners are also very expensive.
Bought ones maybe. Many of us make our own, using Habotai from Thai Silks:
http://www.thaisilks.com/product_info.php?cPath=1_2&products_id=15
Many colours, 45" wide, $7.65/yd

Cheers

[Pamela Peng]

Has anyone tried both these types and can make a comparison?
The price difference is around 3 times and I'm wondering if there is any significant quality difference or the price difference is mainly a case of branding?

I had a very expensive Sea to Summit premium silk mummy sleeping bag liner but I lost it while travelling. :(
My heart ached and after this incident, as well as losing many other things, I am looking at the cheaper options.

I've found cheap ones on ebay, usually they are of Vietnamese or Thai silk and are made in those countries. The only thing is that they mostly do not come in mummy. Since my sleeping bag is mummy, I think a mummy liner would fit it better. Do you think this is important? Do you use a standard rectangular liner in a mummy sleeping bag? How does it feel? What do you do with all that extra material at the end?

Anyone like to recommend me any cheap lightweight (less than 140g) 100% silk mummy sleeping bag liners?
Thanks.

[EndoftheTrail]

How cheap is cheap? What's your price range?

[Pamela Peng]

Ben, I'm talking about those on ebay going for about £10 or less. They are silk liners from Vietnam or Thailand, produced locally. This is the cheapest one i've found, for example.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=290479979479&ssPageName=STRK:MEWAX:IT

[David Olsen]

I use brushed polyester tricot. In effect a very light one
sided fleece. Absorbs about 1% moisture. Used a lot by
schools for rental bags to help keep the bags clean. They
weight 8 to 9 ounces and add a little more warmth than
a silk liner. You can often find the tricot at fabric stores
and is often used to line pockets of coats or for track
suits.

Another option for very light, and quick drying is a simple
sack made of uncoated 1.1 ounce ripstop. I used one for
a 5 month bike tour to meet the youth hostel requirements.
Keeps out drafts, keeps your spendy bag clean from rough
dirty feet, and if inverted over your sleeping bag,
makes a passable misquito
barrier. Tie out a point over your face.

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