Use of a sleeping bag liner to add warmth

[kadja]

Hi everyone. I hope this is the right section because of its relation to the thru hike of the AT I'm planning. I planning on leaving a little earlier in the season than normal. So I was wondering what everyones thoughts were on using a cold weather sleeping bag liner to add warmth to the 20* TQ/UQ setup I planning on buying. I'm hoping that as it warms up i can switch to different combinations of these along with venting for my sleep system. I'm thinking of using the Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Mummy Bag Liner. This is also my first venture into cold weather/thru hike hammoking.

[WetRivrRat]

I have the extreme reactor liner and it doesn't exactly add 20*, that is a median value that they've decided was representative of the extra comfort you may experience when using it. It differs between each user. I use mine every time I hang - summer/winter, etc. It is a very versatile item, albeit a bit heavy for what its worth.
Getting into/out of it can be a challenge sometimes, but nothing that would ever change my mind about using it.
I'd say go for it, just try to test it out first before you go, so you know what it will do for you

[SwinginIt]

I have one of those I converted into a top sheet. I use it by itself in the summer and plan on using it for the purpose you're mentioning this winter. I would definitely test it out at home before I took it to the woods. You can knock about 4 oz off of it by converting it to a top sheet. Not sure how well it will cooperate with you and a TQ like that though, as far as staying in place goes. But when I used it whole I didn't have any trouble getting in and out of it.

[grannypat]

I've used one with my TQ and it does add warmth, but I don't think it added 20*. I have been thinking about splitting it down the bottom to make it easier to get into, but so far have I been doing OK getting in and out.

[Yellow Jacket]

Good luck on the trip.

[clb]

You said you have a 20* setup. I've owned the extreme reactor and I wasn't that impressed with it, especially for the weight. Have you considered pairing the UQ/TQ with a down jacket, a warm hat, down or fleece and even down pants and booties...some or all of which you might be carrying anyway..to supplement your insulation. Just a thought.
Have a great trip!

[rhjanes]

I have a silk liner and it is very useful. Adds some warmth. Is easy to just lay over you, or climb into (not that easy, as has been noted. I'd take it.

[sargevining]

I use a Swiss Army surplus fleece mummy bag liner and it does add some warmth. I can tie the drawstring to a prusik on the ridgeline:

http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e6/sargevining/Hammok%20camping/Springfield%201/018_zpsf60b1f25.jpg

And use it like a sleeping bag to add warmth to both my underquilt and top quilt.

[kadja]

Thanks for all the advice every body. I hadn't thought of the top sheet idea. I may do that to cut wait and to protect my TQ some from grime and wear, it would also give me something for just a little warmth as the temps go up. I think im going to keep shopping around though before my final decision.

[fallkniven]

I keep a mummy shaped silk liner in the pocket of my BMBH at all times so it's right there if I need it. It folds down so small I never even notice it in the pocket. They're real nice, yet quite cheap, so I bought 3. A ebay store has them, don't be deterred from their location, they're nice to deal with and shipping was pretty quick considering.

Spirits of Vietnam (http://www.ebay.com/sch/spirits_of_vietnam/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=50&_trksid=p3686)

4iph4S_DA58

[alrany187]

I use and love the quilt liner/summer blanket (http://www.jacksrbetter.com/shop/quilt-liner-summer-blanket/) from Jacks Are Better. I have used it alone and with a wool blanket in temps below 40*. It is always in my pack and a vital part of my set up

[ringtail-THFKAfood]

I never got a 20 degree boost from a sleeping bag liner unless it was vapor barrier.

I do get a 20 degree boost from a sock. I do not like socks because I am claustrophobic, but they do work.

[OutandBack]

Hi everyone. I hope this is the right section because of its relation to the thru hike of the AT I'm planning. I planning on leaving a little earlier in the season than normal. So I was wondering what everyones thoughts were on using a cold weather sleeping bag liner to add warmth to the 20* TQ/UQ setup I planning on buying. I'm hoping that as it warms up i can switch to different combinations of these along with venting for my sleep system. I'm thinking of using the Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme Mummy Bag Liner. This is also my first venture into cold weather/thru hike hammoking.

Good luck on your hike. No fan of liners here. Remember you can mail yourself stuff along the way and mail things home as well. Swapping out gear this way will save you a lot of weight. That said, the weather can never be counted on so have a little margin of safety in your pack like mentioned below. Down jacket/ long johns, hat and gloves, etc to sleep in.


You said you have a 20* setup. I've owned the extreme reactor and I wasn't that impressed with it, especially for the weight. Have you considered pairing the UQ/TQ with a down jacket, a warm hat, down or fleece and even down pants and booties...some or all of which you might be carrying anyway..to supplement your insulation. Just a thought.
Have a great trip!

[kayak karl]

ive done long distance on AT'09 jan/feb 500mi.
you can see down to -10. how early are you leaving?
i would carry a 24"-36"-1/4" closed cell torso pad. use a frame-less pack and roll the pad for the frame. (dual-use) clothes will handle the top.
i would never carry a liner, consider silk long underwear. (dual-use)
consider also a wearable top quilt (dual-use) to wear in camp.

Have fun,
KK

[dac01]

I just received 3 of the silk "bed sheets" from "Spirits of Vietnam" and they are a great deal for the money. Oh yes.... it's buy 2 get 1 free.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/spirits_of_vietnam/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=50&_trksid=p3686

[DSM_Stephen]

I use a second bad that's a summer bag that's small enough to pack in addition and weighs little enough not to blow my load. 20 ounces of Sleeping bag extra adds closer to 30 degrees.

For an overnight its usually a cheaper and safe option. On the ground two 3-season bags will take you comfortable below 0

[zanaridg]

I used a silk liner in October-November on my AT thru in 2011. It added some warmth, but not sure how much. I ended up liking it more because it kept grime off my quilt and hammock and it felt good sleeping in it. After a while I traded my underquilt for a z-rest pad and slept in shelters with my liner and top quilt. It was warmer that way. I will get a lot of hate with this next comment, but if I were to thru-hike the AT again, I would not bring a hammock, especially for the colder portions. It is way easier to just hop into a shelter when it is creeping below 40 degrees and raining and sleeping there instead, especially when you are hiking all day, tired, and the last thing you want to do is set up in the rain when your friends are already warming up and drying off in their sleeping bags.

[steveflinn]

I've got the S2S Reactor, too. For me the temp gain was not at all worth the weight. I've also used silk, etc, and none of those worked better than a proper quilt.

I am a proponent of the AMK SOL Escape Bivy which you could use inside or outside of another system. It is totally breathable. Usually "breathable" is marketing propaganda or wishful thinking. But I'm not selling anything and the claim is verifiable.

It's something like a soft Tyvek crossed with an emergency blanket; but you can see through it from the inside. I've got about 3 weeks worth of nights in mine so far and it's replaced my summer sleeping bag altogether. Takes me down to 40-45F all on its own, with silkweight capilene longjohns on. It's 8 ounces and $50.

Best product I've found in the last decade. Well, the Escape Bivy and the zPacks Zero are probably tied.

[funnybone]

Thanks Fallkniven..........Those look great for the price. I think I'll have to get acouple, er three........four

[Keroca17]

I also have a bag liner by sea to summit and its suppose to add 10* but i doubt it. I found that sleeping on my airpad and putting a small fleece blanket inside my bag provides alot more heat and i had the perfect spot for it in my bag so it didnt add to much bulk. However im considering the benefits of using ontop of my bag as a TQ. i feel like it almost prevents my bag from warming up by trapping the heat between me and the fleece. Does anyone else just use a fleece ontop of their bag compared to buying a TQ?

[Swehanger]

Spirits of vietnam is great to deal with, fast shipping and cheap price, bought 3 liners last year and use them a lot.
I always have one in my pack.

[lilprincess]

I take a cheap fleece blanket at Walmart and fold it in half a sew it across the bottom and 1/3 way up the side. Adds 20* for the boys but only 10* for me because I'm always cold. No idea what the weight is, but it's pretty light.

[hawghangar]

so are you guys with the silk liners seeing any temperature boost in cold weather? I have one, but really intended to use it as a TQ during hot summer nights - haven't tried it as a down TQ liner.

[fallkniven]

so are you guys with the silk liners seeing any temperature boost in cold weather? I have one, but really intended to use it as a TQ during hot summer nights - haven't tried it as a down TQ liner.

I too mostly got it for warmer nights, but wanted to give it a go in the cold. It does in fact help in the cold, used it in the negatives with a 0* tq and 20*uq. It helped because I was fully in a bag, instead of just wrapped with a quilt. I just picked up a vapor barrier liner to do the same thing, only better. I still will be using my silk liner for spring/summer/fall months, and will be sticking with the vapor barrier one for the winter.

[goanywhere]

I have the extreme reactor liner and it doesn't exactly add 20*, that is a median value that they've decided was representative of the extra comfort you may experience when using it. It differs between each user. I use mine every time I hang - summer/winter, etc. It is a very versatile item, albeit a bit heavy for what its worth.
Getting into/out of it can be a challenge sometimes, but nothing that would ever change my mind about using it.
I'd say go for it, just try to test it out first before you go, so you know what it will do for you

I have just received one of these and tested it tonight inside a SOL Escape Bivvy. For me it was amazingly warm. I'm a cold sleeper and I reckon it added about 10 deg C at least (but that's hard to gauge with any certainty). So far very happy with this item. I'm heading off for a kayak camping trip this weekend and travelling very light. I'll report on the results when I get back :)

[Minecraft]

If you use a sleeping bag it helps if you put a pad or a windshield reflector under it.
Another thing you can do to stay warm is to get or make a down overquilt. :cool: