I'm looking to buy a silk liner for this Winter. I would like to know if there is anything specific I should look for. Any certain type of weave? Certain type of silk?

I tried a silk liner once and was very disillusioned. It added no discernible warmth to the sleeping bag. By morning I was so tangled up in the thing that it took several minutes to get out of my sleeping bag! Better to wear some of your outer clothing inside if you want to add to the warmth.

For winter, in below freezing temperatures, a vapor barrier liner will be much better. When it gets that cold, the moisture from your body, instead of being pushed through the outer shell of your bag into the tent, tends to condense on the inside of the cold (in those temps) outer shell, thus wetting the down. I found that the vapor barrier not only kept my bag drier but also added quite a bit of warmth.

that plus a closed cell pad on top (or underneath) your regular pad to keep the cold from the ground away from your body.

I tried a liner once...got all tangled up as well. And that's using my bag as a quilt.

I'm interested in the liner you spoke of. I use a synthetic bag rated at 40 degrees. I woke up soaked in clammy moisture. The temp was around the bags rateing.

Thanks for the help. I'll look into the vapor liner you spoke of.

For me, sleep clothing (long underwear of silk, synthetic or wool), socks and stocking cap are more comfortable and warmer than a tangled liner.

A vapor liner is simply something which keeps moisture from escaping. A plastic garbage bag is the simplest kind.

Vapor barriers work to keep you warm because our bodies are constantly letting off moisture, even when we are cold. We call this "insensitive sweating". You lose a lot of heat along with all that moisture coming out of your pores. The only way to stop it is to raise the humidity next to your skin to a very high level. When the body senses this it stops the insensitive sweating. You will be much warmer because you stop losing your body heat. The problem is that many people find it uncomfortable to sleep in a pool of sweat inside a plastic bag.

Heber

I agree with the underwear, socks and hat.. Tried liners and gave up on them.

Me too. Hated the liner

You definitely don't want to use that vapor barrier in relatively warm weather; it will be a sauna inside! But once the thermometer gets below freezing, it can be a life-saver, keeping your sleeping bag insulation dry. Although I'm a heavy sweater, I didn't sweat at all in my vapor barrier on below-freezing nights on my recent Wind Rivers trip.

I've used a silk liner for years. I have given some thought to pj's, but didn't want to get the oil from my hair onto the down bag. Maybe a nightcap? Or two?:) A stocking cap in the summer would be too hot, but in the winter I bring along a wool cap. I notice mostly in the summer here in the Sierra, that on a warm night, I have to lay on top of or slightly in my bag to keep from over heating for a bit after hitting the sack. They are a pain in the butt to sleep in, I roll over quite a bit, so it takes a technique to do it and keep the liner in place because mine has a longer bottom that acts as a hood or slipcover for the sleeping bag bottom. I've used Jag Bags in Australia. Quick and great service. Shipping is cheap.

I should add, one night I got pretty mad at the liner getting tangeled in my legs, so I pretty much shredded it in a few seconds. That was my first one a couple years ago.

I did sleep better when I got up in the middle of the night and put on poly pro long johns and socks. But was still moisture in the bag. I sleept better in a heavy cotton lined cheap bag when I was a kid sleeping in the snow. I really dont like the inside of the bag being nylon. Next trip, I plan to carry a fleece bag and use it inside the north face bag. I thought of attaching velcro to both and using them as a quilt, since I use a hammock. But it will be heavy and add about a lb. to my bag.
Time to shop for a new bag but I still don't like nylon interior. Any other suggestions?

I also use a JagBags liner. Silk next to the skin feels so very nice. While it probably doesn't add much in terms of temperature rating, it helps keep the bag clean and cuts down on the amount of clothing needed.

I'm in the skip the liner crowd.

What I DO like, is a pair of silk shorts or pants and a silk or super light shirt. These can be camp clothes, town clothes, sleep clpthes, and a layer if it gets cold. Silk clothing is very light and can pack down petty small.

Regards,

CamperMom

Silk, Ooo La La.....

I use the Cocoon 100% silk mummy liner. First trip was quite tangly, but I got the hang of it. Actually I just kept convincing myself that it didn't bother me until, well it didn't anymore. That rarely works, but hey it did this time. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" /> I sleep in a hammock and twist and turn all over the place. I really like how it feels on my skin and how it keeps my down bag cleaner.

You'll be better off buying an insulated sleeping bad like the Exped downmat 7 or the Big Agnes Air Core. The problem with winter camping is that when you lie on your sleeping bag you compress it's loft and remove it's insulating properties. But if you sleep on a sleeping pad that contains down or primaloft, like those above, you recover that lost insulation. An insulated mat can add 20 degrees to your bags rating.

Vapor barrier bags are another option, but take a long time to get used to.

cheers,

earlylite
http://sectionhiker.com

Doesn't silk absorb moisture, like cotton?

CoolMax liner for warm environs

Thermolite Liner, for added warmth.

Like or dislike of liners seem to be very individual. Most will agree however that you will not gain much warmth with a lightweight liner. Heavier weight fleece liners might give you more warmth but you would be better served getting a sleeping bag that has a better rating for the weight gain of the liner. I personally like the feel of the liner, feel like it helps keep warmth in, reduces drafts on my skin if I am using my bag as a quilt and helps keep my $$ bag clean. I also use and highly recommend the jagbags advanced mummy. mine weighs about 3.5 oz. great item for $20 imo

I really like my silk liner from Jagbags(?). I use a zipperless sleeping bag from Nunatak. In warm weather I just use the liner with the bag laid over my feet or upper body if cooler. In colder weather it helps keep bag clean and is very comfy as well. For pass several trips I have been using a Stephenson down filled air mattress and I have never had better nights sleeping.

As part of a layered sleep system my silk liner goes on every trip. Bye the way, I just bought a silk liner for my wife for her birthday but shhhh...she doesn't know yet.