sleeping bag liner - silk cotton or fleece

So you have got a nice sleeping bag, why are sleeping bag liners required? well, a sleeping bag liner performs numerous useful functions.

Firstly, sleeping bag liners help keep your sleeping bag clean by acting as an easily removed barrier between you and your sleeping bag to absorb any dirt, body sweat and grease. This in turn helps reduce the need to wash your sleeping bag which increases the degradation in insulation performance. Additionally, washing a sleeping bag liner is a lot easier to wash and dry than a sleeping bag.

Secondly, sleeping bag liners are an effective method for adding an extra 1-2 degrees onto the warmth rating of a sleeping bag by being an additional layer of material and air.

Thirdly, sleeping bag liners can be used instead of a sleeping bag in warmer climates making them perfect for backpacking in hot countries and you prefer the comfort of your own sheets. It can be also a cost saving as some hostels do not provide sheets and you have to hire them on a per night basis.

Sleeping bag liners also come in a variety of materials but are usually made from cotton or silk. Cotton sleeping bag liners tends to be much cheaper then silk sleeping bag liners, however silk has the ability to be packed down to a tiny size and is a lot lighter than cotton. Silk sleeping bag liners are great if you have to carry everything in your backpack. A modern addition to some sleeping bag liners is an inbuilt chemical protection where the sleeping bag liner is impregnated an insect repellent and antibacterial agent. There are several shapes for the sleeping bag liners, however the most popular are either the regular rectangle liners or a mummy sleeping bag liner to fit in mummy sleeping bags.

Silk is a natural protein fiber, this fiber is then able to be woven into cloth. Silk used to be the fabric of Kings and emperors due to its soft, strong and light qualities. Fortunately, modern day production methods have brought down the cost of silk to be in a more affordable budget.

The benefit of using silk in a silk sleeping bag liner is due to the properties of silk. As silk has good absorbency allows it to wick away moisture from your skin in warm weather, also its low conductivity keeps warm air close to the skin during cold weather. For backpackers and campers, silk sleeping bag liners can give some level of protection against mosquitoes as they do not like biting through silk.

A silk liner sleeping bag helps keep you warm and comfy at night, as well as help maintain the life of your sleeping bag

A more cost effective sleeping bag liner are made from cotton. However, this comes at a compromise in its weight, ability to wick moisture from the body compared to sleeping bag liners made of silk.

Both silk and cotton sleeping bag liners are available in rectangle or mummy styles. The mummy sleeping bag liner design tapers in around the feet, this helps reduce the air gap around your feet, keeping them warmer. Nevertheless, some people don't like the constriction of a mummy sleeping bag liner and opt for the rectangle cotton sleeping bag liner.

A fleece sleeping bag liner are made from synthetic materials and can come in different thickness like a quilt. However, this comes at a price of compactness, which every backpacker and traveler knows that space is often at a premium in your luggage. Nevertheless, a fleece sleeping bag liner could be used as an alternative to a full sized sleeping bag is the climate is not too cold. Therefore, a fleece sleeping bag liner can be seen as a possible alternative to using a sleeping bag if you are sleeping in a mild climate.

If you prefer to try and grab a bargain, just below are a sample of sleeping bag liners available on ebay today.