sleepwear

[Steven Hanlon]

i went out on an overnight trip this past weekend with my 15 degree Marmot down bag. the overnight low was in the teens and i woke up in the middle of the night, as i do many a night, clammy. in warm weather, i usually rise off the day's sweat, but in 30 degree weather, that's just not going to happen.

i can't fall back to sleep with my legs all clammy and i usually take my shirt and shove it between my legs to remedy this issue.

i have thought about wearing a lightweight pair of pajama bottoms to sleep in to help with the clammy skin on skin, but i'm afraid this will just cause me to get hot and then be clammy and hot.

any suggestions? maybe i need a 30 degree bag instead?

-Steve

[Thom Kendall]

I dont want to get graphic on a family friendly forum but are you saying you sleep in just your briefs? Most of the time I sleep in a pair of pants and have had non of the problems you mentioned. When sleeping in pants you can use a lighter (degree) bag.

[Steven Hanlon]

i can not sleep in my pants i've worn all day that have mud and trail gunk on them. i typically wear a lightweight t shirt and my briefs. i find that in the course of the night, my sleeping bag becomes very humid and as a result, i feel clammy and very uncomfortable.

i have been giving thought to wearing a lightweight pair of base layer full length bottoms. i'm not sure how to handle the humid condition that typically occurs in the night. my groin area is sweaty in the morning from the humid conditions in the bag. wearing a full layer might add to the problem.

i do not cinch up the bag around my face – i usually have it loose so i can move around in the night. when there is a breeze, the problem is reduced.

at home, my wife tells me that some nights she feels like she's sleeping next to a furnace. i can get by with a 55 degree bag into the low 40's – but if there is high relative humidity when it's in the low 40's, i freeze.

i'm starting to think that using the lightweight bottoms with a 30 degree bag might be the direction i need to go.

-steve

[Brett .]

Steven, using a higher rated bag will save on pack weight, but also you might want to carry another set of light weight base layers to sleep in in the summer time. Many posters, myself included, don't like the feeling of bare skin on the clammy nylon of a sleeping bag. LW wool such as that from Montbell is not opressively hot, and breathes better than Capilene 1 IMO. I even wear thin socks to prevent my feet from contacting clammy nylon. Also, if you are sleeping on top of your bag because it is too hot, a base layer sometimes gives just enough warmth to avoid having to crawl in and out.
And in winter time of course, wearing a base layer in your bag adds a few degrees of warmth.
I can use a Montbell Super Stretch Down Hugger#7 rated at 50F down to 40F with a LW base layer.

[Steve Robinson]

While not ultralight, I find that a 5 oz. set of silks is well worth the weight in terms of getting a better night sleep. They aren't too warm, slide vs. stick when shifting in a bag, and also keep the bag from smelling while being easy to wash. Absolutely ssential when backpacing with my wife!

[EndoftheTrail]

I second silk long-underwear. Very comfy, lightweight and compact. Keeps your bag cleaner too.

I also wear a pair of light weight liner socks.

[Brett .]

Steve, Ben, good idea. I ordered a set here for about $30.

http://www.sierratradingpost.com/product.aspx?baseno=12040&CN=Terramar-Long-Underwear
Silk-Crew-Neck-Top—Long-Sleeve-For-Men

Roger, listed as 3.4 oz in Tall; I got regular, so maybe 3 oz each, bottom and top? I'll report the weight when they arrive.

[Roger Caffin]

> Steve, Ben, good idea. I ordered a set here for about $30.

Weights???

[Richard Nelridge]

Hi Roger,

I had purchased Terramar Silk Underwear from Sierra Trading Post some time back. As I recall my L crew top weighs about 3.4 oz and the M bottoms also weigh about 3.4 oz. I have them in a small stuff sack (could find a lighter one) and the top, bottoms and the stuff sack weigh 7.8 oz (keep them together, the silk is slippery). The silk underwear will add to the warmth of the sleeping bag system as well.

Another possibility is to use a silk mummy bag liner. This will add to the warmth of the sleeping bag and keep it cleaner. Additionally, you can sleep on top of the sleeping bag if too warm or in warm conditions carry and sleep in the silk liner alone. My Cocoon Silk Mummy Bag liner including the stuff sack that came with the liner weighs 4.4 oz. The manufacturer and/or users report that the liner can add 9.6-10? degrees F of added warmth to the sleeping bag system.

Rich

[EndoftheTrail]

Each to his or her own, of course…

But one reason for feeling clamy is "skin on skin" contact. In OP's case, wearing only a pair of briefs may have made his legs feel sweaty.

I used to use a silk liner. It helped to keep the bag clean, but did nothing about clamminess. I also didn't like the feel of getting all tangled up, as I sometimes did with a liner. I then changed to wearing long underwear.

Finally, in my experience, a silk liner will add about 2-3F to your bag, while a fleece liner will add about 5F. YMMV.

[Steven Hanlon]

i'm going to order the Terramar and see how that works on my February trip. it will probably be 70 or -2 – i live in Maryland.

-Steve

[Eric Noble]

I sleep in REI silk underwear every night. I highly recommend it. The REI Silk Long Sleeve crew in large weighs 115 grams or 4.06 oz. The REI Silk Bottom in large weighs 125 grams or 4.41 oz. The weights are according to my scale. When backpacking I usually wear my merino wool base layer to bed. If it were warmer I would take the silk bottoms at least.

[wayne aune]

I have a lighter sleeping bag and I take a liner with me. That way the bag stays cleaner and I have more options. In colder weather I use both together and sometimes in really hot weather use just the liner. Patagonia has come out with a really lightweight thermal wear; both bottom and top. I find it is easier to jump out of "bed" and am not cold in the morning. Also if I need to go outside the tent for short periods I can just go with the bed wear and not put on anymore layers.

[Johnathan White]

I absolutely love my Cocoon Silk Liner. It is big enough that it drapes in between my legs and keeps that clammy feeling at bay. It also lets me carry a slightly lighter bag and keeps the bag clean! Also, at 4.3 oz with stuff sack, it virtually disappears in my pack.

[Randy Brissey]

For two reasons I wear long underwear both top and bottom.

I do not like to get into a bed feeling dirty. The sensation of skin on nylon (especially sweaty) does not feel comfortable to me. If I have to get up at night to heed the call of nature I don't want the shock of cold air on my body as I extract myself from the cocoon.

I have over the years used the same combination of capilene lightweight long underwear and a clean pair of liner socks. I will then take my marmot driclime shirt and turn it inside out and stuff it to make a pillow (to keep my face off of the nylon).

Randy

[Scott Peterson]

I am currently debating Silk versus LW merino wool for sleep. Silk might be lighter, but wool more warmth for weight if it got cold….like the northern rockies can even in Summer. Is the weight dramatically different between silk and LW wool?

[John Haley]

I switched from the Salt Mummy Cocoon to the lightweight WinterSilk base layer. The SST is an extremely lightweight version with ultra wicking ability, and it does seem to do just that. I can now get the benefits of the silk layer without the entry/exit problems of the Cocoon and also no more tangled up feeling. Added benefit of having a layer on for nighttime privy visits. Very lightweight and compact.

[EndoftheTrail]

I too use WinterSilk baselayer and will never go back to liners. I can't remember who recommend this to me — but bless him just the same. :)

[John S.]

Montane litespeed over the torso, montane featherlite pants over the legs. No taking off clothes to put more back on or vice the versa in the morning. Works the same at keeping bag clean and has double duty as wind clothes. If the litespeed were wet I may still wear it since it dries fast.

[Inaki Diaz de Etura]

> Is the weight dramatically different between silk and LW wool?

between LW silk and LW wool, I'd say wool is around twice the weight. If this is an item you're carrying in your pack (i.e. not worn) the weight penalty becomes significant. I'd go with silk and layer up (windshirt, insulating top..) if it gets colder than the basic bag+shirt combo can cope with.

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