sleeping bag liner on it’s own for summer? recommendations?

I sleep in a hammock, so I think I have a bit more wind protection than someone in just a tarp on the ground, but I am also a warm sleeper and have been experimenting with a Sea to Summit Coolmax Adaptor liner. It comes in at 9.2 oz. and has been really nice. I didn't believe that it would actually make you feel cooler until I tried it. I have no idea what it is, but it definitely feels like it helps regulate my temp when I'm in it. It is very wide to begin with and also stretches quite a bit so you don't feel confined in it.

http://www.ems.com/product/index.jsp?productId=3662376

I like this idea as my 35F bag is too warm for the summer here even quilted out. I was thinking about sleeping clothes also but if the liner can be washed that negates that additional sleeping clothes. I was even thinking of taking an old cotton sheet that is very breathable and sewing a liner out of that. I am sure it would add a few degrees.

Coolmax liner is nice, but expensive for what it is. You can buy some microfiber sheets for $15-$20 at WalMart, KMart, Target. Not really wind-blocker stuff though.

Jacks R Better microfleece quilt liner for $30 is another idea. It's 18 oz and would probably be nice lounging around at home too, not just outdoors. Fabric shops sell this stuff too–you don't even need to sew it–just cut off a few yards.

Thermarest makes a light synthetic quilt that's pretty nice. REI carries it.

If you want SUL, just want to block wind, and don't need a snuggly blankie—just use your rain gear. I need some kind of a woobie though.

I've been toying with a silk liner (~5oz) inside an AMK Thermo-Lite II Bivvy (~7oz). Comes to a little less than 3/4 pound total. Haven't slept in a coolish night with it yet, and I don't know how well the silk liner will last long term, but it's pretty light and the bivvy definitely cuts the wind. The AMK bivvy has held up pretty well; I've had that for several years.

Before I got the silk liner, I used a fleece liner which worked great, but the fleece liner wasn't particularly light weight, and the fleece was bulky.

HJ

The sheet did not work for me, even in lows of 68-70. I ended up going this route:

http://www.rei.com/product/798906

It is not quite as light as the sheet, but at 19oz it was lighter than my WM Alder MF. It also zips out into a quilt with a footbox. It is also only 45 bucks..

Ok, here's what's been brought up and other things I've found…

Therm-a-Rest Fitted Sheet – Large
http://www.rei.com/product/766412
8oz 77×25" polyester

Jacks'r'Better Quilt Liner/Summer Blanket
http://www.jacksrbetter.com/QuiltLiner.htm
18oz 72×50" microfleece

Lafuma X600 +45 Sleeping Bag – Long
http://www.rei.com/product/798906
20oz

ALPS Mountaineering Microfiber Rectangular Sleeping Bag Liner
http://www.rei.com/product/735742
11oz 80×32" 64% polyester/35% cotton
Mummy version
http://www.rei.com/product/767120
9.6oz 80×32"

I'm not a huge fan of sleeping with microfleece, so I've ruled those out. I've also heard silk liners are not good with wind (as is imaginable).

I'm thinking these Alps liners look spot-on. light weight, good size, and the polyester/cotton material looks much more palatable to what I enjoy sleeping in. Plus they're really cheap.

I'm gunna buy one and see how it goes.

forgot to list Marc's suggestion… a good possible second to the Alps, considering the cost.

True, a silk liner isn't much good in the wind, but I was suggesting putting it inside a Thermo-lite bivvy. The combined weight is about 3/4 pound, and the bivvy is pretty darned wind proof.

HJ

This is something that has plagued me for quite awhile I can tell you as I wanted some insulation that was not high lofting but still could keep me down to about 50F or so.

It looks like they are making that AMK SOL Thermolite Bivy better because the previous ones were not that durable. I would love to try one of the new ones out. You can also use a AMK heatsheets since they are cheaper and waterproof but I would not use them too low. Probably combine it with a sheet of fabric. I like to use these because I am a side sleeper and it really does help out to be able to move within it. Just rig you rainjacket up to cover your head.

It's definitely not windproof though. But EMS has them on sale 20% off until tomorrow. It's where I picked mine up last week.

That said, prior to getting it, I also used the cheap REI Lafuma 600 and really like it. If it gets below about 72*, that's my go to until about 50* I REALLY like it and since its synthetic, if you happen to sweat on it, it won't kill the insulation entirely. And it's definitely more windproof than my liner is.

This is what I use in my hammock and on the ground for summer. I found it to work much better than a liner.

Even if it's light and the weather is warm, I just like a layer on me.

My summer layer is the Jacks'R'Better. 18 oz., foot bed, able to anchor it that way I have something to pull it up over me without it getting squirrely. Love it. It's soft, durable, well made.

I've used the Deuter Dreamlite bag for temps around 60 degrees. I haven't had it lower, but just another alternative. It weighs 34 oz. It claims 40-60 but I don't think it could go that low.

It really depends where you're backpacking and what kind of shelter set-up you're using. Also, I'm guessing you're a warm sleeper. I can sleep comfortably in my silk mummy liner to about 65F, any chillier than that I pull out my 20-degree bag. I'm mostly in the Greens and the Whites, sometimes the 'daks, so even in the summer its consistently sub-60 at night.

I've run across a couple of tempting merino wool bag liners, which are probably a bit heavier and more wind-resistant than silk. REI used to carry one, but can't find it on their website anymore. Great temperature regulation, I bet. The only one that comes up when I google it is selling on Amazon and made by Slumberjack… hrm.

I used use just a liner from Campmor as my Summer Bag. They have silk, merino, and MicroFleece. Worth looking into.

Finally had a chance to try out my enLIGHTened cuben summer quilt last weekend in PA. 1" down loft, zippered footbox, a tad over 7 oz.

I was in a hammock with no UQ first night, and a JRB Weather Shield 2 used as a UQ the second night. Not sure, but I believe the temps were in the 60s overnight, mid to high 80s during the day.

Went to sleep the first night with nothing over me. Woke up with a cold back due to no UQ, had the quilt in the hammock with me, footbox unzipped. Snugged that over and around me. Kept me warm enough to sleep the rest of the night.

Second night had the JRB WS as the UQ and the cuben quilt in the hammock with me. Woke up at some point and pulled the quilt loosely over me as the night cooled. I stayed warm and comfortable all night — no condensation on the quilt, no overheating, didn't even need venting. Just a nice, comfortable, peaceful slumber.

Both nights I wore nothing but jockey shorts. I'm already loving this quilt! Since it was so loosely draped over me, it would definitely take me into the 50s. Lots of functionality for a tad over 7 oz. I look forward to using it again.

FWIW.

I've looked at liners at REI and they seem way too expensive for what they are. I bought some silk shirts and pants from a resale shop and I slept fine in JUST those until the temps got down to about 55. This saves weight compared to a liner too.

You can easily make your own silk liner, but making silk pajamas gets a little more complicated. Thaisilks.com has many different varities to choose from.

Yeah, those REI liners can get a bit pricey, but I recently picked up a Grand Trunks silk liner that weighs in at 4 oz. $50 was cheaper than some of the Cocoon liners, but there are still many cheaper options.

I am a side sleeper and I tired out the AMK bivy but I do not think it will stand up to my tossing and turning. That is the problem I have with most of the mummy liners. I think wearing my rain gear, gloves, hat and wearing both shirts along with a AMK Heatsheets to cut the wind and retain some heat should keep me good to about 50F where I can kick in the WM Caribou quilted out.

Does anyone know of any lightweight suggestions that are more blanket than bivy?

Also anyone know of any cheap lightweight silk sleep options for big and tall? I have been wanting to get some for cooler temps so that I don't stink out my bag too fast and have something clean to change into at night. Thanks.

You know, one of our members bought my silk liner (that I bought for use in 0 F and below winter bags to keep clean mainly and hated it the first trip) to do just this. Along with use in a bag to bolster temps. Hopefully he will see this and post.

I don't see where one would be good alone even in summer. You just never know what is in store. Case in point. The kids and I went to Maplewood SP last month. They took their 15 F bags and were way too hot. (I tried to tell them but they got them for Christmas and this was their first trip with them.) So this month when we went to Itasca SP I talked them into taking fleece blankets. I took my Nunatak Arc Specialist, my lightest quilt. (For now, Javan…?) I did grab another fleece throw at the last minute and stick it in my pack. Of course the temp dropped to 47 F. The kids were cold and as they toss and turn like I do they could not share the extra fleece. I ended up giving the second throw to Emma (who wrapped up like a chrysalis) and Raymond, who took my quilt the months before when he was too hot for his bag, asked for it again. So I shared all night.

After that trip I decided to buy the kids quilts for summer. (Have them this week, use them in the Sierra next month.)I really think it is better to play it safe on the temp rating and vent if needed.

I am taking a new minimalist quilt to Yosemite for 6 nights next week. Talk about it after!

It's OTW Ray ;)

I find it highly unlikely that anyone could sleep comfortably only silk ~50F. At those temps w/ only silk on, a metabolic rate of around 10 would probably be required to stay thermo-neutral — that is of course 10 times your resting output and probably what you produce while hiking. Extreme shivering might get you to 4MET (probably a stretch).
I could probably sleep chilled at 70F with just silk at 65F I would probably be shivering badly and below that I would be doing situps/pushups/other exercise. I am not a "cold sleeper" but am from TN so you notherners may just be tougher than me.
Adding in the short term factor: I could probably sit around in silk at 65-60F for 1-2hrs before shivering so maybe some of the experience quoted comes from similiar timelines??
I just wanted to caution those looking to try this. See if you can set the thermostat at home to 55F and sleep all night only in silk before running out to try it in the wilderness — or of course bring a backup.
James