December 13, 2000


What's a good year-round sleeping bag liner?

I have an REI Shasta regular women's bag (15 degrees) and I'd like to buy a liner to keep it clean. I want the liner to be suitable year round. I have heard cotton isn't good and I've seen some silk or Coolmax liners. The silk ones seem a bit expensive. I don't want the liner to interfere with my movement or the feel of the bag. I'd also like it to last through many washings. Thanks for your help!

— Anonymous

Bag liners are a great idea unless you're really trying to save weight —- and sometimes even then. They do more than just add some warmth to the bag. As the writer notes, they also help keep the bag clean. That means less washings, which means a longer lasting bag.

Cotton isn't necessarily bad. Cotton liners are relatively inexpensive ($20 for the Design Salt cotton Travel Sheet/Bag Liner; $35 for the nicer Egyptian cotton one). A cotton liner adds a little warmth, is very comfortable, and washes easily. Cotton will, however, tend to trap a little body moisture, so isn't the best choice where you're really looking to keep warm.

Silk is the preferred choice. It's warm, comfortable as a light bag in warm weather, dries quickly, and is very light. Alas, it is a bit pricey -— typically a silk bag liner runs around $60. Which brings us to CoolMax. This terrific DuPont fabric does just about everything a liner should: It adds some warmth, dries like a dream, is durable, and is quite comfortable. Cost is on par with high-end cotton liners: About $40. On the down side, it's somewhat heavier and bulkier than silk.

All things being equal, I'd lean toward silk. It's a bit more expensive, but in the long run I think you'll be happiest with that choice.

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