Materials for sleeping bag liners

I like brushed tricot if not using long underwear. Stretchy,
light, dries fast and is warmer for its weight than silk.
Usually made of nylon or polyester.

Full disclosure- I make some for some of the outdoor schools.

If weight isn't a issue (what would you be doing here) I
liked a polyester/wool blend one I made (11 ounces). It
was the most comfortable by far.

If you wear merino leggings at night, the brushed tricot wouldn't work as well? I'm not sure I understand why you should take off the long underwear if using the tricot liner.

You liners look nice by the way.

David,

I think he means if you don't have it at all. I rarely bring my smartwool lightweight bottoms until it starts to get cold. Base layer on top, running shorts with built in liner on bottom. Windshirt and golite reed pants go over as the next layer, hence no long underwear.

Be careful with silk liners too. IMO they don't give anywhere near the 15deg boost they claim. You're MUCH better off wearing your insulation pieces to bed.

Also tricot tens to stick to fleece etc. so it rolls with you
in bed. Kind of like wearing long johns and flannel sheets,
a higher coefficient of friction.

What's the purpose of the liner? Is it to keep your bag from getting nasty (sweat and dirt on your legs, etc)? To push the temps lower? Both? Fill me in…

Yes, and there are believers and non-believers.

> What's the purpose of the liner? Is it to keep your bag from getting nasty (sweat and dirt on your legs, etc)? To push the temps lower? Both? Fill me in…

On a good night it can do those things (well, mostly). They are also good at twisting around you and / or working lower and negating any benefit. They can be maddening to get back into if you get out of your bag during the night. (Mine usually turns into a ball of material and has magically made the opening disappear by the time I return from a midnight pee break.)

I still use one because I sleep cold and will often be wearing all of my clothing to bed, so the liner keeps the inside of my bag clean from my trail clothes.

However, the nighttime contortions are generally enough to cause people to abandon them. No idea what percentage give up on liners because of this, but they're very vocal – quite understandably.

I use a silk liner because I'm only looking to keep my bag clean and it is the lightest solution I've found for this (4.6 ounces). I find that through practice, getting back into the liner isn't that bad; but I first had to resign myself to having to deal with it every time I do.

I find the usual claims of 10 – 15 degrees (Fahrenheit) questionable for any light weight liner. 5 degrees F may be all you should (can?) expect. I think you're likely to be disappointed if you're trying to factor in additional insulation as part of the weight tradeoff.

In my book, this is a real "compromise" piece of gear.

Note: None of this has anything to do with vapor barrier liners – which are a completely different animal.

Steve