The Ultimate Guide to sleeping bag liners

Wash your sleeping bag less by using a sleeping bag liner whilst giving it a boost for winter.

For winter campers a sleeping bag liner can help boost the warmth of your sleeping bag without having to invest in a specific winter sleeping bag. For alpine climbers and hikers travelling from hut to hut, a sleeping bag liner is an essential piece of kit to have in your rucksack. Here’s our guide on how to choose the best sleeping bag liner.

Table of contents

1. What is a sleeping bag liner?
2. Do you need a sleeping bag liner?
3. Are sleeping bag liners comfortable?
4. How do I keep my sleeping bag clean?
5. Do sleeping bag liners help in the cold?
6. Can you use a sleeping bag liner when it's warm?
7. What is the best type of sleeping bag liner?

What is a sleeping bag liner?

A sleeping bag liner is a thin sheet that typically lines your sleeping bag. You can also use it on its own. They’re normally made of cotton or silk.

Do you need a sleeping bag liner?

We think so! They’re versatile and they’ve got three main benefits: comfort, cleanliness and warmth. You can use them on hut-to-hut trips or in hostels where sheets aren’t the most hygienic. Or you can use them in combination with your own sleeping bag to keep warmer on wintry nights.

Are sleeping bag liners comfortable?

Choosing a natural fibre sleeping bag liner, such as silk or organic cotton can feel softer and comfier next to your skin. No more feeling like you’re boiling in a bag! Sleeping bag liners made from materials like cotton are more breathable for a more comfortable night’s sleep.

How do you keep my sleeping bag clean?

One way to keep your sleeping bag clean is to use a liner. It’ll prolong the time in between washes by taking on the brunt of the dirty work. It traps the sweat and oils from your body before they reach the sleeping bag.

The oils from your body can dirty your down, causing it to perform less effectively. That’s where liners come in. Washing a sleeping bag liner is easier than washing your sleeping bag.

Do sleeping bag liners help in the cold?

Absolutely! You can use a sleeping bag liner to extend the use of your sleeping bag, bringing it out a bit earlier and putting it away a bit later every year. It’s like adding a blanket to your bed on chilly nights. But how warm it keeps you depends on you.

Can you use a sleeping bag liner when it's warm?

Yes, you can ditch the sleeping bag on hot nights. You still feel wrapped up, but without overheating. Another tip from the AlpTeam is to wet your sleeping bag liner to cool you down and use it alone on the hottest of nights.

What is the best type of sleeping bag liner?

We have 2 options.

Cotton

Our Mason cotton sleeping bag liner is breathable, easy to wash and dry, and a bit more wallet-friendly than silk. They’re robust too.

Rectangular shaped it fits easily into sleeping bags and gives you plenty of space to stretch out if you’re using the liner by itself. This makes it handy for hostels and Alpine huts too, where sheets aren’t always the most hygienic!

Silk

Our Mantua silk sleeping bag liner is less odour-catching than cotton, meaning they feel cleaner and less smelly on multi-day trips. Silk is super strong for its weight, meaning it’s light and packable. They’re great for protection against insect bites in midge-prone areas.

Mantua has a tapered, mummy shape which is lighter and more thermally efficient. This might work better in combination with your lighter, more technical sleeping bag.