Improved sleeping bag liner for winter / summer sleeping bag

I went through a similar thought process recently, about incorporating a silk liner quilt combo. I wound up making a summer quilt out of 2.5 Climashield apex, and the Argon 67 from Dutchware gear. I had the silk in the shopping cart for the liner at Dharma Trading, when I realized that the use of a silk weight Capilene top and bottom I already had, made more sense than incorporating a silk liner with the quilt. I felt it would be easier to regulate temperature on very warm nights by simply pushing back my quilt while still wearing my base layer. From a multi use perspective, it also made more sense, because I could use the Capilene as a base layer under wind pants and rain jacket when summer temps cooled off in stormy weather. Same weight penalty, more uses. I plan on using the summer quilt as an additional layer in cold temps, under a warmer quilt. The Argon 67 is very lightweight, has a nice soft hand, is breathable, and has some DWR water resistance. It sews fairly easy as well. It is somewhat pricey at $10 per yard, but my quilt wound up weighing only 10 oz.

On the pajama issue: I think it only makes sense weight wise if you use the sleep clothing for daytime use. Those ounces represent a lot of lofted insulation.

Do try wearing silk weight long johns under your rain pants rather than wearing your regular hiking pants. This is great when you are going to be wearing rain gear all day. The base layer keeps the cold shell away from your skin and does its moisture transfer duty to keep a warm dry layer of air next to your skin.

Continue the concept for colder weather by wearing a thicker base layer. If the weather is colder and wetter, you will want warmer pajamas too.

I like the idea of a big synthetic blanket for warm summer use, adding a head hole so it can be worn for camp insulation. For warm summer hiking, you really only need lofted insulation for a short time in camp for cool mornings and you could eliminate hauling a puffy with the serape/blanket.

The Thermarest Tech Blanket uses a drawstring and snaps to create a foot box, which works fine IF the snaps will stay connected. A loop and toggle system my work better. If you don't want a head hole, a loop and toggle at the right point would allow wearing as a shawl/cape.

Native Americans used blankets and robes effectively for universal garment and sleep items. I think it is a multi-use technique that deserves more attention in the UL world.

For summer hiking, a quilt/blanket/robe could nock 10+ ounces off a gear list and still leave a good margin of safety and comfort. It's really the same kind of savings found when using a cape shelter. It gives a limitless more leeway in making a warmer quilt too.

I should have mentioned a bit more info in the OP. This liner/bag is going to be one of several options in my sleep system, not something I would use all the time. I'm a section hiker, and one of the benefits of being a section hiker is being able to fine-tune your kit for the trip in question. That being said, I think that this liner/bag will get a lot of use if it comes out okay.

I agree that a low weight pair of base layers could be another good practical solution, but not only have I not been able to find a set of silk base layers here in Sweden, I found limitations with separate base layers during certain times of year. For example, on my last few section hikes, it has been warmer than normal this spring here, so in the morning after the chill of dawn wore off, I didn't need my base layers under my clothing worn at all. I pretty much only wore them to sleep and for 30 minutes after getting out of bed to eat breakfast.

So if you are only looking for something dry and clean to wear to sleep, and to also protect your sleeping bag from body oils and such, plus of course the obvious extra warmth–then a solid liner might be the way to go.

Something else that I should have mentioned is the savings as far as money goes to improve/upgrade a winter/cold weather sleep system. For instance, I have my eye on getting a new 20 degree Zpacks sleeping bag, but they sure cost a pretty penny. For the past three winters now I have been able to comfortably push my 3 season bags in frigid winter conditions by using either a small blanket or 1 season summer bag as a liner. But not only does my current synth summer bag a bit on the heavy side for what it does, it is also worn out and not as warm as it used to be.

Including the silk liner (which I got for cheap on ebay), the total cost of my liner/bag will be around 70 bucks and at most around 9oz. I had my eye on a MLD Spirit 48 quilt (which also uses Apex), but that costs 205 bucks plus shipping and is around 13oz (size large).

Then there is the whole utility of throwing in the liner/bag along with a base layer in the early spring and late fall when temps are slightly colder than a 3 season kit, but not quite so cold as to break out the winter gear.

Anyhow, thought I should elaborate more on the method to the madness of this project. Looking forward to getting it done, posting pics, and most of all trying it out.

Ta-da!

http://cesarandthewoods.blogspot.se/2014/08/myog-diy-summer-sleeping-bag-and-winter.html

Cesar, be careful with those cuben dry backs. I've seen them leak water.

Good lookin' out J, thanks. I have read mixed reviews, yeah.

But my most common combo of gear gives me at least 3 layers of protection from water: Golite poncho/tarp, seam sealed Zpacks Zero, and then the Cuben dry bag. If my sleeping bag gets soaked and I have that combo in place, odds are I feel into a lake or river.

How's Cali? Hope that it rains there soon.

It drizzled yesterday and it's been cloudy, which is unheard of for our summer. So crazy weather all around.
The drought is really bad. I've been hesitant to any overnight trips to local places because even springs that are supposed to be flowing all year are probably dried up. So it's just day hikes for me unless I drive to the Sierras or down to Big Sur.

In yosemite this winter, Andrew F had clothes in his cuben dry bag get pretty damp. Luckily his sleeping bag was in a sil nylon bag and was dry. He told me that when he got back home, he filled the cuben bag with water and it leaked in multiple places.
But your set up sounds good enough.

Sucks about the drought. I am spoiled when it comes to water here in Sweden. Seriously, pick a random spot of Sweden on Google maps and zoom in. There will be lakes, and probably all over the place. I am actually strongly considering dropping down to just one liter of water carried year round.

You could always keep on driving up north, too. I hear good things about BC, Canada ;)

For stuff sacks that get a lot of use, I go for silnylon. My food dry bags are Sea to Summit, and after a few years of use never had any leaks even when hanging in a tree overnight in the rain. Of course my meals and snacks are in plastic bags too, usually. So far really digging my Golite poncho, keeps me pretty dry.

Dude, speaking of ponchos, I bet you'd like my new winter poncho. Got it as a gift from a relative from Mexico. It's 100% handmade Mexican wool poncho that can double as a blanket. Itchy as hell, but warm as hell too. Looking forward to snow and frost.

Thread drifts are cool.