Best Camping/Hiking Sleeping Bag Liners – Reviews and Guide 2020

Benefits of using sleeping bag liners

Okay, first things first: Why should you even consider using a sleeping bag liner? Well, it turns out that liners have a whole host of underrated benefits. This includes extra warmth to protection from creepie crawlies. Here’s why you should use them:

Why you need sleeping bag liners?

They have a lot of benefits, but we can identify four main reasons to use one on every adventure:

• Warmth. First and foremost, if you find that you generally get quite cold at night while trying to sleep in the great outdoors, an insulated sleeping bag liner just might be what you need to stay warm. Depending on its materials and how much insulation it has, a quality liner can make your sleeping bag up to 20 degrees Fahrenheit warmer. Thus, using a liner is a great way to extend the usefulness of your sleeping bag. This prevents you from needing to buy another bag and saves you money.
• Hygiene. Whether you’re a camper or a traveler, we all know that exploring the world around us can be a smelly business. Backpackers, in particular, are known for going days, weeks, or even months at a time without a shower. So, a sleeping bag liner is a great way to protect your sensitive sleeping bag from the dirt and grime that builds up over an extended period of use. Since sleeping bag liners are much easier to wash than a sleeping bag, using a liner can help extend the life of your bag. Thus, by using a backpacking sleeping bag liner, you can help your sleeping bag stay a bit more hygienic, even after years of use. World travelers also get hygiene benefits from liners. Using one when in a hostel or hotel can protect you from any potentially unsanitary conditions.
• Coolness. While many liners are designed to help keep you warm at night, others are designed to be used on their own to keep you cool at night. Silk sleeping bag liners and most cotton sleeping bag liners, are really good at wicking away moisture from your body. This helps to cool you down on hot, muggy summer nights.
• Protection. Finally, sleeping bag liners are excellent at protecting you from unsanitary conditions in hotels and hostels. By using a liner, you can protect yourself from bedbugs and other creepy crawlies. In fact, there are some hostels that require you to use a liner, just to protect yourself.

Types of Bag Liners

While liners might seem like simple pieces of gear, there are many types currently available. Here are the advantages and disadvantages of each type:

• Cotton. These days, cotton is one of the most widely used fabrics in the world. Although cotton is mostly used in t-shirts and towels, cotton sleeping bag liners are fairly popular. They can be quite affordable and are nice to use in warm environments. However, they tend to be quite bulky and heavy, which makes them annoying to pack for a backpacking trip.
• Silk. Silk is often considered to be the gold standard in the world of liners. This ultra-soft and smooth fabric is very lightweight and packs down well. It’s great for staying warm in the cold, but can also help you wick away sweat in hot environments. The downside? It’s expensive.
• Fleece and microfleece. Many of us use fleece jackets and base layers when we’re outdoors and a fleece sleeping bag liner is made of the same materials. These fleece liners are super cozy and warm, but can be quite bulky and difficult to pack.
• Insulated. Some modern liners are made with high-quality insulating materials, like Thermolite. Insulating materials, like Thermolite, can add up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit of warmth. These are ideal for use in very cold environments, though they do add weight to your pack.
• Synthetics. Synthetic fabrics are becoming more and more popular because they are lighter and more compact than cotton. Synthetics are used to make moisture-wicking and highly breathable liners, which is perfect for trips to hot and humid locales. Polyester sleeping bag liners are some of the most popular synthetic models out there.
• Cocoon (Wool). Merino wool is a bit of a miracle fabric. It combines the moisture-wicking capabilities of cotton with the warmth of synthetics and regular wool. This means it’s a great material to use in sleeping bag liners for campers who need one liner that can do it all.

What to look for when buying a sleeping bag liner

If you’re new to the world of sleeping bag liners, the thought of finding just one to take on your adventures can be a bit daunting. So, here are some of the main things to look out for when shopping for your next liner:

Material

We’ve already discussed the different sleeping bag liner materials at length, so we won’t talk too much about them here. Basically, the material you choose for your liner has a huge impact on its performance. So, choose wisely and recognize that you’ll probably need more than one sleeping bag liner if you spend time in a variety of different environments!

Shape & Size

Like people, liners come in all sorts of shapes and sizes. In general, you can buy a liner in either a “small,” “regular,” or “long” size, which should correspond with your height. Additionally, you can also find “double sleeping bag liners” for people who use sleeping bags designed for two people.

Weight

No one wants to carry excess weight in their pack, so it’s important to look for a lightweight liner. The most ultralight sleeping bag liners are going to be made out of silk, but these will cost you a pretty penny. Don’t care about weight, but want a warm liner? Fleece is probably your best bet.

Convenience

There’s no reason to carry around a piece of gear if it’s inconvenient to use. Instead, your gear should work with your current systems and work in a variety of situations. The most convenient liners will pack down to a small size, which makes them perfect for travel and backpacking.

Warmth

If you spend a lot of time in cold environments, a warm sleeping bag liner will make it easier to use a summer sleeping bag during the fall and spring months. Should you want a very warm liner, we recommend either insulated or fleece materials.

Our recommendation

Here are some of our recommendations for the best sleeping bag liners on the market:

Best sleeping bag liner for warmth

Don’t like being cold at night? Well, with the Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite Liner, you don’t have to be. Made with the lightest Thermolite fabric on the market, this liner is designed to increase the warmth of your sleeping bag by up to 15 degrees Fahrenheit. Warmer, yet more packable than fleece, the Reactor Thermolite Liner features a mummy shape with a box foot to minimize bulk in your pack.

At just 8.8 ounces, the Reactor Thermolite Liner is lighter and more economical than investing in a warmer sleeping bag. Plus, it stuffs into a small 3” x 5” sil nylon stuff sack to make packing up easier at the campsite.

Best extra warm sleeping bag liners

If winter camping is your thing, then you shouldn’t go out without a Sea to Summit Thermolite Reactor Extreme. Built with more of the same great fabric in the regular Reactor, the Extreme version is designed to add up to 25 degrees Fahrenheit more warmth to your sleeping bag.

The Reactor Extreme uses 110g/m2 of Thermolite fabric to keep you warm on cold nights. It also features an efficient mummy shape with a box foot for maximum comfort. Alternatively, you can use the Reactor Extreme on its own on particularly warm nights.

Best sleeping bag liner for cold weather

Cozy, yet functional, the Sea to Summit Toaster Microfleece Mummy Liner can turn your three season sleeping bag into a year-round outdoor abode. Made with premium 100% polyester microfleece, this liner is packed full of natural stretch for lots of comfort at night.

Thanks to its fleece component, the Toaster Liner can wick away sweat and moisture while drying out quickly. This makes it ideal for use in nearly any environment. It can even be used on its own in warmer conditions. Plus, it’s affordable, so you don’t have to break the bank to stay warm at night.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, a liner is an excellent way to extend the lifetime of your sleeping bag. They can help you stay warm or cool (depending on the material), and stay clean and healthy when exploring in the great outdoors. Although there are many different options to choose from, at this point you have all the knowledge you need to find the model that’s right for your needs.

Q&A