This is a gear review about the Best Sleeping Bag Liners on the market in 2022.
If you’re an experienced backpacker, you may already have noticed that even the Best Down Sleeping Bags and Best Ultralight Backpacking Quilts lose a bit of their loft over time from being dirty. Keeping your sleeping bag clean can be done easily with a quality sleeping bag liner.
Do you find yourself getting cold at night and don’t want to pay extra money for a high-quality Winter Sleeping Bag? The solution could be to get an insulated sleeping bag liner.
To solve all these issues I have put together a list of all the best sleeping bag liners for backpacking, hiking, and camping to help you choose the best one for you.
Best Sleeping Bag Liner for Backpacking 2022
The Best Sleeping Bag Liner for Backpacking in 2022 are:
Best Sleeping Bag Liner – Overall
Sea to Summit Reactor Insulated Sleeping Bag Liner
Weight: 8.7 oz / 248 grams
Pros:
> Enough insulation for an extra 14ºF
> It’s breathable & wicks away sweat
> Lightweight & comes with a carry pack
> Drawcord to cinch the liner up tight
> It’s safe to use in the washing machine
Cons:
> Not much, I wish it was lighter and a little more compact than the 1-liter pack size.
The Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite Insulated Liner is one of the most popular bestselling sleeping bag liners on the market for good reason.
Its special feature is its Reactor Thermolite fabric. It’s made of 100% polyester, and it’s constructed with hollow core fibers to do its best at keeping you warm. The idea behind this is to trap extra warm air for insulation, and it’s designed to add a further 14 degrees Fahrenheit of warmth.
The Sea to Summit Reactor Insulated Liner weighs 8.7 oz / 248 grams, which provides plenty of warmth, but at the same time is also quite lightweight, for carrying to camp.
And is much easier to roll up and pack than a fleece lining. It comes with its own Sil-nylon stuff sack which packs down to the size of a 1-liter water bottle.
It has a mummy shape to it, so it can go under your head and over your pillow, so the pillow will last longer. And it has a drawcord, so you can cinch it in really tight if the weather is super cold.
And because it’s polyester, it’s safe to go in the washing machine when you get home.
It is soft and comfortable, and quite stretchy, which will help prevent wear. Although it will keep you warm, it will not make your sleeping bag into an instant winter sleeping bag. Having said that, it will increase the warmth of your sleeping bag and it is breathable, will wick away any sweat, and will keep your bag clean.
It’s available in two sizes, rectangular, which measures 83 x 35 inches, or compact plus, which measures 72 x 36 inches.
Overall, the Sea to Summit Reactor Insulated Liner is the best sleeping bag liner on the market in 2022 and the best option for most people wanting to keep their sleeping bag clean with a liner and increase the warmth of their bag during the shoulder seasons.
Warmest Sleeping Bag Liner for Backpacking
Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme Insulated Sleeping Bag Liner
Weight: 14 oz / 399 grams
Pros:
> Enough insulation for an extra 25ºF
> It’s breathable & wicks away sweat
> Lightweight & comes with a carry pack
> Drawcord to cinch the liner up tight
> It’s safe to use in the washing machine
Cons:
> A bit heavy, I wish it was a bit lighter
The Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme has a lot in common with the Reactor Original mentioned above. Think of this as being very similar but warmer, bulkier, and heavier.
It uses Thermolite fabric, with hollow core fibers to trap extra warm air for insulation. But the key difference here is in the extra weight. Whereas the original version features 80 g/m² of fabric, the Extreme features a thicker 110 g/m² of fabric. Making the Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme sleeping bag liner weighs a total of 14 oz / 399 grams.
And this serves to boost the warmth of your sleeping bag by up to 25 ºF. For some people, this could be all you need to head off on some Winter Backpacking Trips.
Considering the warmth it will provide, the Extreme liner is rather lightweight. Having said that, I would love it to be smaller in size and weigh a little less.
Similar to the original Reactor mentioned above, it’s breathable and wicks away sweat, it’s machine washable, and has that nice mummy shape, complete with drawcord.
It’s available in two sizes, Extreme regular, which measures 82 by 36 inches, and Extreme Long, which measures 92 by 35 inches.
Overall, the Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme is one of the best sleeping bag liners for winter backpacking. It could be all you need to add warmth to your current sleeping bag for winter or shoulder season camping trips or backpacking trips.
Best Silk Sleeping Bag Liner
Western Mountaineering Tioga Silk Sleeping Bag Liner
Weight: 3.6 oz / 102 grams (regular mummy)
Pros:
> Made from 100% silk
> Lightweight at less than 5oz
> It can be machine washed if done right
> The mummy version features a drawcord
Cons:
> Not intended for camping in cold climates
> More expensive than cotton or polyester sleeping bag liners
I think everyone loves the feel of silk sheets, so using a silk sleeping bag liner will add a bit of comfort to your night’s sleep and also keep your sleeping bag clean in the process. If you are looking for something to add warmth to your sleeping bag, then the Western Mountaineering Tioga is not the product for you, this is for protection and comfort.
The fabric is 100% pure silk, and not some silk/textile hybrid, hence the relatively high price tag.
The Western Mountaineering Tioga is lightweight at less than 5 ounces and packs up to an acceptable size.
It’s machine washable, but you must follow the care guidelines when washing and drying it.
It’s available in two different shapes, namely rectangular or mummy, and is available in different sizes.
Overall, the Western Mountaineering Tioga is the best silk liner that will increase the comfort and feel of the sleeping bag and can double up as a great sleeping bag liner for traveling.
Best Merino Sleeping Bag Liner
Cocoon Merino Wool Mummy Liner
Weight: 17.5 oz / 496 grams
Pros:
> It’s made from 100% merino wool
> Thermo-regulating for all seasons
> It has moisture-wicking properties
> It’s quite lightweight to carry
> t’s also body odor resistant
> It’s machine washable
Cons:
> It could be more lightweight
The Cocoon Merino Wool Liner is made out of Merino Wool, maybe the name gave it away! I’m a fan of Merino Wool for its comfort and natural resistance to bad body odor smells and its ability to thermal regulate.
Although it is wool, it’s not at all itchy like other wools. This merino wool sleeping bag liner will regulate your body heat. This means that it will keep you warm when it’s cold and keep you cool when it’s warm, making it a great liner for all seasons.
But that’s not all. It’s also moisture-wicking, which means your sweat will get wicked away, and it’s also odor resistant, so it won’t ever smell like body odor when you climb back in.
It’s also anti-static, hard-wearing, natural, and sustainable. And it’s non-allergenic, breathable, and machine washable.
The mummy version of this sleeping bag liner measures 86 by 32 inches and weighs 17.5 ounces which are a little on the heavy side for a sleeping bag liner.
In addition, to use as a sleeping bag liner, you can also use it in place of a sleeping bag when you’re sleeping somewhere that’s already reasonably warm such as a cabin or a friend’s house.
Overall, the Cocoon Merino Wool Liner is the best merino sleeping bag liner on the market. But considering its weight it could be a better option to just purchase one of the Best Merino Wool Base Layers and use them inside your sleeping bag as a liner, in fact, that is what I do on most occasions.
Best Sleeping Bag Liner for Travel
Sea to Summit Premium Silk Sleeping Bag Liner
Weight: 4.8 oz / 140 grams
Pros:
> It comes from a top brand
> It is made of premium silk
> It’s naturally very lightweight
> It is durable and long-lasting
> Stretch panels allow movement
Cons:
> It’s such a popular liner that some retailers occasionally run out of stock.
Sea to Summit is arguably the best brand when it comes to sleeping bag liners.
The Sea to Summit premium silk liner is made from 100% pure premium AA grade ripstop silk and features polyester/lycra stretch panels on each side for added comfort and durability.
It’s available in a range of shapes and sizes so be sure to check which one is best for you. I prefer the mummy-shaped silk sleeping bag liner which also happens to be one of the lightest at only 4.8 oz / 140 grams. They are also quite compact and come with their own stuff sack.
Overall, the Sea to Summit premium silk liner is another awesome silk sleeping bag liner for backpacking or travel. Like all silk sleeping bag liners, it will only offer a very small amount of warmth but will be comfortable and do a good job of protecting your sleeping bag from dirt, sweat, and body oils.
Buying Guide
Here’s your buying guide which will walk you through the key points to consider when shopping for a sleeping bag liner.
Materials
There are a couple of main materials that sleeping bag liners are made out of such as silk, cotton, fleece, microfiber, wool, and synthetic.
Silk
Silk sleeping bag liners are very soft, feel amazing, and lightweight. They are well suited to both backpacking and traveling. Also, they perform well in cold and warm weather.
Cotton
Cotton Sleeping bag liners are cheap and comfortable to use. Due to their heavy weight, they are not well suited to backpacking when weight is an issue. But are well suited to travel and camping. They are also the easiest of all to clean, just throw them in the washing machine with the rest of your clothing,
Fleece
Fleece Sleeping Bag Liners offer good warmth to weight ratio and a comfortable feel. For most people, they will be all you need to add a little bit of warmth and keep your sleeping bag clean. They do not fold up as small as silk or some other materials.
Merino Wool
Merino Wool Sleeping Liners offer good temperature regulation, being good for both warm and cold weather. They also offer natural body odor control. But they can be quite heavy and don’t pack to a small size for their warmth.
Microfiber
Synthetic
Synthetic liners such as polyester and blends offer a good compromise between warmth to weight, packability, and quick drying.
Season and Warmth Rating
Your first decision should be what season/s you want to use the liner.
If you intend to use the liner in colder climates, you should look for a liner that will provide sufficient insulation. The best options are the Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme and the Sea to Summit Insulated Sleeping Bag Liner.
If you’re hiking or holidaying in warmer climates, however, the purpose of the liner should be to keep you sufficiently cool, in which case a silk liner might be preferable.
Brand
You may have noticed that we included one brand 3 times in our shortlist of 5. This is because Sea To Summit is head and shoulders above most of the rest.
They offer excellent quality at a reasonable price and are a prominent bestseller with almost all the leading online retailers in the world.
Value for Money
Sleeping bag liners can really vary in price – you can get some for as little as $15 or less, and other times you could end up paying upwards of $200.
This is why we recommend our readers to check prices as you go along – especially if you have a budget to stick to.
Conclusion
Overall, sleeping bag liners make a good choice to protect your sleeping bag and add warmth if and when needed.
The Best Sleeping Bag Liners for Hiking in 2022 are:
Frequently Asked Questions
You know this is kinda a tricky one to answer because it depends on what you’re looking for in your sleeping bag liner. But if we had to pick one, I guess it would be the number one pick in this gear review, the Sea to Summit Reactor Insulated Sleeping Bag Liner.
I would argue that sleeping bag liners are absolutely worth it when camping in colder climates when you need something to increase the warmth of your sleeping bag.
If you don’t have some kind of heater in your tent, a sleeping bag liner could provide some much-needed warmth.
To be honest with you, both silk and cotton sleeping bag liners have their advantages and disadvantages.
Cotton can be strong, durable, and very cheap, but it’s not very lightweight. Silk is more lightweight, and it’s good to use in most seasons, but it is more expensive.
