If you’re planning on a camping trip or doing any sort of budget travel, a sleeping bag liner should be an essential item on your packing list. Although simple and inexpensive, these items are useful for a wide variety of situations and they do not take up much space in your pack so there is no excuse not to have one!
A liner sleeping bag can be as simple as a flat sheet that is folded down the middle and sewn down the adjoining sides in order to create a pouch. This can then be used as the name suggests – to line your sleeping bag, or as a thin sleeping sack in its own right that is great for hot countries or to protect yourself against suspicious sleeping environments. You can easily make your own sleep sheet from any flat sheet but it is more convenient to buy one and they are generally not very expensive.
Commercial sleeping bag liners may be rectangular shaped as the basic sleep sheet described above or sometimes they are mummy shaped, in order to fit sleeping bags of the same design. They may also have an extra pocket at the head to fit a pillow (or a bundle of clothes acting as a pillow) and usually come with a stuff sack or carry case to help keep the space down when you’re packing.
Sleep sheets can be made from many different fabrics but the most popular are cotton and silk. A Cotton sleeping bag liner is fine for general use if you’re not bothered about weight and size but remember that cotton can take a long time to dry and is not particularly light. Backpackers will probably want to invest in a silk sleeping bag liner which packs down small, is incredibly light and dries quickly. Silk also feels great next to the skin and has amazing insulating properties, keeping you cool in hot climates and keeping the warmth in when it is cold.
Whether you choose cotton or a silk liner sleeping bag, the extra layer will give you a few degrees extra warmth if you are using it with a normal sleeping bag. This is great for camping, particularly in cold weather and can even be sufficient to use along with a summer weight sleeping bag in the spring or autumn. As well as providing extra insulation, the liner will protect your sleeping bag, reducing the need to clean it – when your sleeping bag liner is getting a little dirty or sweaty, just wash it without the need to wash your whole sleeping bag.
Sleeping bag liners can be made or bought from outdoor and camping stores and from many different stores online. The prices range from just a few dollars to over $50 for the fancier commercial silk versions, although there are lots of inexpensive silk and silk synthetic combination sleeping bags available for very low prices too. If you’re planning on spending a bit more cash then you’ll want to look at what you’re getting for your money. Useful extra features include a waterproof storage sack, toggles around the head opening to trap warmth and fabrics that are impregnated with anti mosquito and ‘stay fresh’ treatments that keep the sleeping bag from smelling.
If you’re planning on staying in hostels and low-budget hotels then you may think this is one item you can leave off your packing list but in fact a sleeping bag liner can come in very handy even for travelers staying in accommodation where bedding is provided. A good sleeping bag liner will protect you from bed bugs and dirty sheets and also comes in handy to snuggle up in on buses and trains and any other places with over efficient air conditioning.
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