Caribou Gear

Sleeping bag liner

Allegedly, bag ratings are what you could survive in. I sleep hot, so they're pretty close for me. I just add a layer if I'm cutting it close.

I always have a puffy layer which I've never worn sleeping, but if it became good and cold on a backpacking trip, I could always put it on!
 
I’m a big fan of using them, purely on the fact that I hate getting my sleeping bag dirty through out the season.

Regarding the OP’s question, I find that it only adds a small amount (10°) of extra warmth.

If it’s too warm to sleep with the bag zipped up, but too cold to be exposed, it’s a nice in between.

In keeping the sleeping bag clean - it extends the life of your sleeping bag, which is the biggest plus for me.

I have 2 sea to summit silk liners for sale. Brand new still in original packaging. I’m selling them cheap.

If anyone is interested, PM me.

https://www.hunttalk.com/threads/fs-sea-to-summit-silk-sleeping-bag-liners-brand-new.325868/
 
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Marginal extra warmth in my experience. But they do keep your skin oils off the bag, and if you have down, that’s a good thing. So maybe that’s where the warmth comes from…?
 
I use them for comfort myself. Don't like sleeping in the man made materials if I'm just in my underwear. I use cotton liner in that case so it feels like sheets.

If it's getting cooler and I need to extend the rating of my bag I use the fleece liner. That's bigger to pack so it's usually more for car camping than pack in.

There's also wool liners out there. Every one has their place but I'm a big fan of using them. I'll agree that they also keep your bag clean which is a huge plus
 
Marginal extra warmth in my experience. But they do keep your skin oils off the bag, and if you have down, that’s a good thing. So maybe that’s where the warmth comes from…?
Do people just sleep in their underwear? I always have clothes, (usually all my layers as I sleep cold) on but I guess some oil could be getting through clothes overtime?
 
I like the theory of them, but the actual usage I don't care for. I am a hot sleeper and I liked they pull moisture off my body and kept my bag significantly cleaner. The boost in temp comfort was more of a moisture related boost than anything I think. I just hate getting in/out of them and I have found it's almost easier to adjust sleep clothing or take a old single sheet to use in bag. I have found my 100/150 weight wool base layers to be about right bedtime attire.
 
Does anyone use one that actually gives you extra warmth? Seems the consensus is that the manufacturer's ratings are unrealistic.

I've used my reactor extreme bag liner at base camp a couple occasions and it helped far greater than expected.
On multiple archery hunts, I've used it as an impromptu spike camp sleeping bag along with my SOL HD emergency blanket. Works great!
Unless a full intent to spike for a couple+ days, my archery hunts have been with my day shoulder strapped hip pack (Kelty Elkhorn). Weight plays a factor and the reactor extreme with the e-blanket has kept me in the hunt. i.e. Decision to return to base or if on the elk, likely not.
 
Do people just sleep in their underwear? I always have clothes, (usually all my layers as I sleep cold) on but I guess some oil could be getting through clothes overtime?
Yeah for base layers skin oils can wick through. I sleep pretty hot so I always have my socks off. That alone was enough for a liner for me.

Ironically, I don’t sleep with a liner at home. Just a straight comforter or a quilt.
 
I was skeptical too, but @Forkyfinder was pretty adamant that the money I’d spend on a nice 0* bag I could save by getting a nice 20-30* bag AND a liner and it’ll be darn close.

He wasn’t wrong. I got the 20* anthracite and the reactor liner and it’s flippin warm. I haven’t gotten to use it down to super cold temps but it was about 40 in the mountains when I woke up and dewey… too cold for JUST the liner and way too warm with both zipped. I like that it’ll extend the life of the bag too. I just keep the liner in my bag all the time. Stuffed in the sack or hanging in my closet…

Don’t store your sleeping bags stuffed…
 
Yeah for base layers skin oils can wick through. I sleep pretty hot so I always have my socks off. That alone was enough for a liner for me.

Ironically, I don’t sleep with a liner at home. Just a straight comforter or a quilt.
Another question with these liners are there snaps or zippers or is it just a big tube? Seems like might be difficult getting out to pee in middle of night?
 
Another question with these liners are there snaps or zippers or is it just a big tube? Seems like might be difficult getting out to pee in middle of night?
It’s got buttons that create “sleeves” for your shoulders and it buttons around the feet so you can leave the tube open and walk around in a nightgown or button it closed.
 
Be cool if it had a little overlap like boxers do, so you could go number one.

Even if it had the buttflaps idk that I’d use them and then jump back in my sleeping bag. After a few beers and a mountain house it might not be worth the risk…
 
I've used my reactor extreme bag liner at base camp a couple occasions and it helped far greater than expected.
On multiple archery hunts, I've used it as an impromptu spike camp sleeping bag along with my SOL HD emergency blanket. Works great!
Unless a full intent to spike for a couple+ days, my archery hunts have been with my day shoulder strapped hip pack (Kelty Elkhorn). Weight plays a factor and the reactor extreme with the e-blanket has kept me in the hunt. i.e. Decision to return to base or if on the elk, likely not.
I was thinking about throwing this stuff in my pack for in case on my moose hunt
 
It adds warmth, some-not drop your bag from 20 to 0 but keep you in warm in that sudden inversion or surprise 'this was a cooler settling hole I picked'.

Moves moisture around. Keeps it cleaner. I've got the reactor or extreme reactor? Not the top end wool one. Idk. I like it.
 
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