The greatest challenge campers face on outdoor adventures is getting a comfortable, good night’s sleep.
While it’s tricky to get the same quality of sleep as in your bed at home, there are a few accessories that can make a world of difference to your nights under the canvas. The best of which, without a doubt, is the sleeping bag liner.
This lightweight addition to your camping kit is the definition of “game-changer”. Not only will it give your sleep setup a comfort boost, it will also contribute a few degrees of warmth to your sleeping bag and increase its lifespan by a good few years at a minimum.
In this article, we’ll explain what a liner is and delve into more detail on why you should consider buying one. We’ll also share a few of our favorite liners to help you choose the perfect model for your needs.
Whether you’re looking for a cozy fleece, cotton, or merino wool liner; a lightweight summer option, or the warmest option available, our guide has you covered!
Table of Contents
Editor’s Choice
Sea to Summit Premium Silk
The Sea to Summit Premium Silk liner is one of the most popular sleeping bag liners on the market, and it’s not hard to see why.
It weighs next to nothing, packs down to a tiny bundle, provides a few degrees of extra warmth, and uses ripstop fabric that’s a great deal tougher than its other silk-made competitors.
What sets it apart, however, is the use of stretchy polyester inserts along the seams. These provide the sleeper with a little more mobility and legroom than a silk or cotton sleeping bag liner, making it a great option for anyone (most of us!) who doesn’t like the constricted feel of standard silk.
The Premium Silk is also available in various shapes and sizes, is as breathable as they come, and feels awesome against the skin.
Bottom line: A tough, lightweight, packable, and well-designed option that goes the extra mile to ensure you get a comfortable night’s sleep.
At A Glance: Quick Recommendations
-
Editor’s Choice:
Sea to Summit Premium Silk
“A remarkably well-designed option that brings all the benefits of silk, adds a few degrees of warmth, and uses stretchy inserts to boost comfort.” -
Runner Up:
Sea to Summit Coolmax Adaptor
“A reasonably priced and exceptionally comfy option that performs well in all conditions.” -
Best Value:
ALPS Mountaineering Microfiber Mummy
“A low-cost but uber-cozy and comfortable option that’s ideal for buyers happy to do without fancy extra features.” -
Best Budget:
TETON Sports Liner
“A bargain-basement, oversized option that uses a simple design and packs plenty of warmth. A good pick for the occasional and unfussy camper.” -
Best for Buggy Environments:
Sea to Summit CoolMax Adaptor Insect Shield
“Using an added treatment that repels bugs, this is a great choice for campers keen to keep their flesh free of the fangs of biting insects.” -
Best for Cold-Weather Camping:
Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite
“Offering an impressive 15°F of added warmth, this one’s the perfect pick for those who like to carry on camping through the cold season.” -
Best for Tall Sleepers:
Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner
“An extra-long option that’s great for taller campers and trips in warm, humid conditions.” -
Best Fleece:
Big Agnes Fleece Liner
“A pricey but luxurious liner that’s ideal for car-campers wanting to spoil themselves.” -
Best Ultralight:
Western Mountaineering Tioga Silk
“Weighing just 3.6 oz and packing down to 2.5” x 4.5”, the Tioga is a great option for gram-counters or those heading on further-flung adventures.”
The 9 Best Sleeping Bag Liners Reviewed
Sea to Summit Premium Silk
Editor’s ChoiceWith the Premium Silk, Sea to Summit continues a long tradition of producing exceptional outdoor gear accessories that are truly dialed into the needs of the user.
This liner brings all the regular benefits of silk – a low pack weight, tiny packed size, and awesome next-to-skin comfort. Even better, its use of premium ripstop silk makes it significantly more rugged and hard-wearing than other silk models. It also boasts stretchy side panels that provide the sleeper with a little more mobility than other natural fabrics.
But how does it measure up to other silk liners for sleeping bags in our review?
Compared to the Cocoon Silk MummyLiner, it’s a little shorter and doesn’t provide as much warmth. But it’s also a fraction wider and more than long enough for sleepers under 6’2” tall. While heavier than the Western Mountaineering Tioga, the fabric’s accommodating stretch and superior ruggedness are well worth carrying an extra ounce in weight.
Adding just a few degrees of warmth, this isn’t the best option out there if your main reason for buying is for adding heat to your sleep setup. However, if you’re looking for a comfy, well-designed, and easily packable option that’s tough enough to last a lifetime, it’s a great choice.
Specs
- Material: Premium AA-grade ripstop silk & polyester
- Shape: Available in mummy, traveler, standard, long, and double
- Temperature rating: Adds 3/4°F
- Weight: 4.8 oz
- Size (open): Traveler – 84” x 33”; standard – 73” x 37”; long – 82” x 33”; double – 73” x 71”
- Packed size: 4.5” x 3”
PROs
- Durable, ripstop fabric
- Available in multiple shapes and sizes
- Tiny packed size
- Lightweight
- Stretch panels provide added mobility
CONs
- Not as warm as other liners in our review
Bottom-Line: A lightweight and well-designed option that lacks a little in the way of warmth but packs plenty in the way of performance, comfort, and durability.
Sea to Summit Coolmax Adaptor
Runner UpThe Coolmax Adaptor is ideal for buyers who are happy to carry a little extra weight in return for don’t-want-to-get-out-of-bed comfort with ample added warmth and all at a very reasonable price point.
Sea to Summit’s Coolmax fabric is the Adaptor’s main selling point. Not only is it super-soft, stretchy, and high-wicking, it also functions as a good base layer by adapting to varying temperatures and humidity.
If you can afford to spend a little more, and anticipate camping in buggy environments, we’d recommend opting for the Coolmax Adaptor Insect Shield (reviewed below), which is essentially the same product with an insect-repellent treatment. Compared to the other non-silk liners in our review, however, the Coolmax Adaptor is a standout winner owing to its lower weight, smaller packed size, ergonomic 3D foot box, and impressive warmth-to-weight ratio.
Specs
- Material: Polyester
- Shape: Mummy or traveler
- Temp rating: Adds 10°F
- Weight: Mummy – 8.7 oz; traveler – 11.6 oz
- Size (open): Mummy – 84” x 36”; traveler – 85” x 36”
- Packed size: 3” x 5”
PROs
- Warm!
- Adapts to varying temperatures
- Soft and stretchy fabric
- 3D foot box
- Compact
- Ultra-Sil™ stuff sack
CONs
- Anything we mention would be purely nitpicking…
Bottom-Line: A true all-rounder. It’s relatively lightweight, breathable, superbly comfortable, and adds enough extra warmth to keep you cozy when your sleeping bag alone won’t cut it.
ALPS Mountaineering Microfiber Mummy
Best ValueIf value for money’s your thing, the affordable but well-made ALPS Mountaineering Microfiber Mummy is well worth considering.
While ALPS don’t provide a temperature rating, we estimate the Microfiber Mummy adds in the region of 5-10°F. The microfiber fabric is also amazingly cozy and feels just about as good against the skin as any other model in our review.
The main downside to this liner is its fairly ungenerous dimensions. Measuring just 80 inches long by 32 wide, it’s a whole 4 inches narrower across the chest than our other budget pick, the Teton Sports Liner, and also 7 inches shorter – OK if you’re a petite camper, less so if you’re not.
Specs
- Material: Polyester
- Shape: Mummy
- Temp rating: N/A
- Weight: 11 oz
- Size (open): 80” x 32”
- Packed size: 6.5” x 5”
PROs
- Soft, snag-free material
- Excellent value for money
- Simple but practical design
CONs
- Not the roomiest
- Relatively heavy liner
Bottom-Line: A very basic, frill-free liner that lacks a few bells and whistles seen in other options but offers outstanding value for money nonetheless.
Sea to Summit Adaptor Coolmax Insect Shield
Best for Buggy EnvironmentsIf you habitually camp in areas where biting bugs are an issue, the Coolmax Adaptor Insect Shield is a worthwhile investment.
This liner boasts all the attributes of the standard Coolmax Adaptor listed above. It’s relatively lightweight, nicely packable, breathable, moisture-wicking, and uses stretchy material that lets you toss and turn without getting into a tangle.
An added bonus to all of the above, is a durable insect-repellent treatment that keeps mosquitoes, chiggers, midges, ticks, flies, ants, and fleas at bay. Not bad considering the added outlay equates to the cost of a six-pack of beer…!
Specs
- Material: Polyester w/Insect Shield bug protection
- Shape: Mummy or traveler
- Temp rating: N/A
- Weight: Mummy – 8.7 oz; traveler – 11.68 oz
- Size (open): Mummy – 82” x 36”; traveler – 85” x 36”
- Packed size: 6” x 4.5”
PROs
- Provides odorless insect protection
- Pillow insert
- Moisture-wicking fabric
- Stretchy material
- Drawstring cord hood
CONs
- Quite heavy
- Fairly pricey
Bottom-Line: While a little heavier than most gram-counters would like it is supremely comfortable and a great sleeping bag liner for trips in buggy territory.
Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite
Best for Cold-Weather CampingAt both temperature extremes, whether camping in cold weather or for warm summer adventures when you want to leave the sleeping bag at home, it doesn’t get much better than the Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite.
This one weighs in at just 8.7 ounces, and yet offers a whopping 14°F of added warmth thanks to its use of hollow-core fibers that trap your body’s heat inside.
Like the Coolmax Adaptor (above), the Reactor Thermolite is extremely comfortable, boasting plenty of stretch in the fabric and a plush, robe-like feel. It’s also far lighter than the other warmest liners in our review and has a few non-standard “bonus” features like a footbox and a locking drawcord hood to keep out drafts.
Looking for even better insulation? Check out Sea to Summit’s Reactor Extreme, a mummy bag liner that can add 25°F to your sleep system.
Specs
- Material: Thermolite polyester
- Shape: Mummy
- Temp rating: Adds 14°F / 8°C
- Weight: 8.7 oz
- Size (open): 82” x 35”
- Packed size: 5.75” x 4”
PROs
- Hollow-core fiber insulation
- Drawstring hood
- Plush, cozy fabric
- Ergonomic footbox
- More packable than most fleece liners
- Excellent warmth-to-weight ratio
CONs
- Quite expensive
Bottom-Line: This liner may be a little pricey, but its outstanding warmth-to-weight ratio makes it a great pick for spring, fall, and winter camps.
Cocoon Silk Mummy
Best for Tall SleepersOver the years, Austrian brand Cocoon has earned a rep for producing travel accessories of exceptionally high quality, and this liner is no exception.
As with most silk sleeping bag liners, it’s light, breathable, packable, and feels great against the skin. While it lacks a few of the convenience-enhancing add-ons found in some other liners (drawcords, pillow pockets, stretch fabric, etc.), it’s still a great choice for buyers who value simplicity, quality materials, and the added roominess of a rectangular design.
Compared to the other silk options in our review, the Cocoon adds a little more warmth (around 10°F) and is only 1.1 oz heavier than the lightest, the Western Mountaineering Tioga. It’s also the longest liner in our review, so is a great pick for tall sleepers.
This one narrowly missed out on earning our top spot. While it provides a little more warmth than the Sea to Summit Premium Silk, the Premium Silk’s addition of stretch panels makes it feel just a little roomier and more comfortable than the Cocoon Silk Mummy.
Specs
- Material: Silk
- Shape: Mummy
- Temp rating: Adds 10°F / 5.3°C
- Weight: 4.7 oz.
- Size (open): 95” x 35”
- Packed size: 5.7” x 2.6”
PROs
- Great warmth-to-weight ratio
- Tiny packed size
- Drawstring hood
- Soft against the skin
- Spacious
CONs
- Pricey
- Easier to rip than synthetic fabric
Bottom-Line: It’s lightweight, warm, functional, and just about as comfortable as they come – what more could you ask for?!
TETON Sports Liner
Best BudgetThis affordable option comes in two sizes, two material types, two shapes, and offers the best bang for your buck by some margin.
The fabric used in both the cotton and polyester options isn’t quite as plush as others in our review, but the TETON makes up for this shortcoming with its generous dimensions, warmth, and user-friendly design. It adds 10°F of warmth, boasts a pillow slip, has side slits for easy entry/exit, and measures 91” by 58” (Mammoth) or 87” x 36” (XL).
Compared to our guide’s other low-cost liner, the Alps Mountaineering Microfiber, the TETON offers a little more warmth, and a lot more room (an extra 4” of width and 7” of length), but is a fraction heavier and not quite as comfortable against the skin.
All in all, a great option for occasional campers or buyers keen to grab a bargain.
Specs
- Material: Available in cotton and polyester
- Shape: Rectangular and double
- Temp rating: Adds 10°F
- Weight: Mammoth (double) – 24 oz; XL – 12 oz
- Size (open): Mammoth – 91” x 58”; XL – 87” x 36”
- Packed size: Mammoth – 9” x 8”; XL – 5.5” x 4.5”
PROs
- Spacious
- Lifetime warranty
- Warm
- Pillow hood
- Opens 24” on each side
CONs
- Heavy
- Less comfortable fabric
Bottom-Line: With its incredibly roomy dimensions and modest price tag, this liner is ideal for camping couples and buyers on a budget alike.
Big Agnes Fleece Liner
Best FleeceFor car-camping trips or buyers happy to carry extra weight in return for a little extra quality and longevity, this one might just be your “bag.”
The Big Agnes Fleece Liner is made with super-cozy recycled fleece, has reinforced seams for added durability, and comes with a reassuring lifetime warranty.
This is the most expensive model in our review. It’s also among the heaviest and loses a few points for its slightly stingy dimensions. However, in return for that extra weight and extra cost you get a product that offers a serious upgrade in luxury and coziness to any sleep setup and plenty of added warmth for chilly nights.
The more durable materials used for the Big Agnes make it more likely to survive frequent usage than most cheaper models and also make it a great option if you plan on using your liner sans sleeping bag in the summer months.
Specs
- Material: Fleece (polyester)
- Shape: Mummy
- Temp rating: Adds 5-10°F
- Weight: 20 oz
- Size (open): 82” x 30”
- Packed size: 10” x 6.5”
PROs
- Warm
- Feels great against the skin
- Recycled materials
- Durable seam construction
- Lifetime warranty
CONs
- Slightly narrow
- Heavy
- Bulky
Bottom-Line: If warmth and comfort are more of a concern than weight savings, this plush, luxurious fleece liner deserves a place on your shortlist!
Western Mountaineering Tioga Silk
Best UltralightFor multi-day backpacking trips and weight-weenies, there are few liners out there that come close to matching the featherlight Western Mountaineering Tioga.
This liner tips the scales at just 3.6 oz (regular mummy) and packs down to 2.5” x 4.5”. It also adds a respectable 5°F of warmth, uses extra-soft and highly breathable fabric, and comes in three shapes and sizes. Other nice features include a drawstring collar to keep out drafts and a stuff sack that’s attached to the liner to prevent loss.
But how does the Tioga measure up to the other silk models in our review? While a little lighter than the Sea to Summit Premium Silk and Cocoon Silk Mummy Liner, it’s 6” narrower than both. It’s also shorter than the Premium Silk and Cocoon – even in the long version!
Specs
- Material: Silk
- Shape: Mummy (regular and long); rectangular
- Temp rating: Adds 5 degrees of warmth
- Weight: 3.6 oz
- Size (open): Mummy regular – 74” x 30”; mummy long – 80” x 32”; standard (rectangular) – 78” x 32”
- Packed size: 2.5” x 4.5”
PROs
- Incredibly light
- Tiny packed size
- Available in 3 shapes/sizes
- Soft and breathable fabric
- Double stitching
- Attached stuff sack
CONs
- Hefty price tag
- Not as warm as other options
Bottom-Line: With its tiny weight and packed size, this option is the perfect pick for gram-counting minimalists. A backpacking sleeping bag liner par excellence.
Sleeping Bag Liners: Why You Need One
Add Warmth
There are various reasons why buying a sleeping bag liner is a great idea. The most important, however, is their ability to bring a healthy heat boost to your backcountry sleep setup.
But how much warmth do you need?
As with sleeping bags themselves, different models of sleeping liners offer varying degrees of warmth. Lightweight silk liners might provide around a 3 to 10°F heat upgrade, while beefy cotton or fleece models can add up to 15°F, which is just about enough to to make your sleeping bag’s temperature rating a whole “season” warmer (i.e. a 2-season bag becomes a 3-season bag, and so on…).
In the summer months, when it’s too warm to use a sleeping bag but not warm enough to sleep al fresco, you can also use your liner as a standalone sleep system.
If warmth is your primary concern, we recommend choosing a sleeping bag liner like the Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite, which adds 14°F, or the TETON Sports Liner or Sea to Summit Coolmax, both of which add a healthy 10°F.
Hygiene
Anyone who has ever owned a sleeping bag will be well aware of how easily they lose their fresh, from-the-box appearance…and smell! The reason for this is that while we sleep, the oil and dirt from our body gradually transfer to the inner lining of the bag, leaving it grubby and oozing funky odors.
Using a sleeping bag liner will prevent the above by placing a barrier between your body and prized and pricey sleeping bag. And since most liners are far easier to wash than a sleeping bag (most sleeping bag liners are machine washable), will keep your sleep system fresh ‘n’ clean with a lot less effort and a lot less of your time.
Sleeping bag liners are also handy if you’re staying in mountain huts or hostels when they provide extra protection against bed bugs and potentially less-than-spotless sheets.
Comfort
The synthetic inner fabrics in sleeping bags often leave a lot to be desired as far as next-to-skin comfort is concerned. However, using a good liner can get you as close as possible to replicating the comfort of your bedsheets back home.
Sleeping Bag Protection
Good sleeping bags don’t come cheap! Beyond keeping yours clear of sharp objects and sparks from your campfire, the best thing you can do for your bag’s long-term health is to invest in the best sleeping bag liner you can afford.
Remember those body oils and dirt mentioned above? Well, not only are these likely to make your bag smelly and unsightly, but they can also impair its performance. Over time, these contaminants can soak into the fabric and insulation, thereby reducing the “loft” that’s responsible for the bag’s warmth.
And because using a liner means you won’t have to wash the bag so frequently, both the exterior face fabric and the insulation will stay in good condition for longer.
What to Look for in a Sleeping Liner
Materials
The smoothness of silk, the coziness of cotton or fleece, or the toughness of synthetics?
Silk
Silk liners are incredibly compact and lightweight, with some models weighing as little as 3-4 ounces and scrunching down to the tiniest of bundles.
Silk is also an all-around, high-performing fabric. It insulates well in cold weather, provides ample breathability in warmer climates, and feels great against the skin.
The only real downside to silk liners is the price tag – you can expect to pay at least twice as much for a silk model as you would for a cotton one.
Our favorite silk sleeping bag liner? The Sea to Summit Premium Silk, Cocoon Silk Mummy, and Western Mountaineering Tioga.
Cotton
Cotton sleeping bag liners are an attractive option for several reasons. They’re cheaper than silk, less prone to ripping, easy to clean, and feel awesome against the skin. While cotton liners add extra bulk and weight that might make them a no-go for weight-weenies, they’re a solid option if you’re car camping or simply don’t mind carrying a few extra ounces to save some $.
Our favorite cotton model is the TETON Sports, which is made of plush, uber-cozy, double-brushed cotton, and is also affordably priced.
Fleece and microfleece
As a general rule, fleece sleeping bag liners add oodles of warmth and feel as good against the skin as your average bathrobe, besting even the top cotton liners in the softness stakes. They’re also quick-drying, moisture-wicking, easy to wash and have a little bit of built-in stretch that makes them feel less constrictive. The trade-off for all of the above, however, is a significant increase in bulk and weight.
Our favorite fleece liner? The Big Agnes Fleece. This weighs a fairly hefty 20 ounces and has a hefty packed size of 10 x 6.5 inches, but earns a place on our list thanks to its awesome comfort levels and durable materials used.
Synthetics
Sleeping bag liners made of synthetic materials are lightweight, packable, quick-drying, and – like silk – offer enough breathability and wick moisture well enough to keep you sweat-free in warm weather.
On the downside, synthetics tend to feel less pleasant to the touch and are more prone to developing funky odors because, unlike silk and cotton, they are not naturally antimicrobial.
Our review features six liners made with synthetic fabrics. Our pick of the bunch is the Sea to Summit CoolMax Adaptor Insect Shield, which not only scores highly in the comfort and warmth stakes but also boasts a handy “pillow pocket” and uses Insect Shield technology to help keep the biters at bay while you’re catching your Z’s.
Temperature Rating
A liner’s temperature rating tells you how many degrees of warmth (usually in °F) it can add to your sleeping bag. If, for instance, the comfort rating (most sleeping bags state this) on your sleeping bag is 40°F, then a model with a 10°F rating will give you an overall comfort rating of 30°F.
Temperature ratings range from around 2-5°F for ultralight silk models like the Tioga Silk to around 15-25°F for the beefiest insulated liners or polyester models like the Sea to Summit Reactor Thermolite. Choosing the right option for you, as you might expect, requires deciding how much extra weight and bulk you’re willing to carry in return for additional warmth.
Warmer liners have the added benefit of serving as a standalone sleep system when you’re camping in warmer temperatures.
Shape & Fit
Sleeping bag liners come in different shapes and sizes to accommodate every camper’s needs. Below, we’ve outlined the benefits and drawbacks of each of the main styles.
Mummy Style
Mummy-shaped liners use a tapered design at the foot and shoulder area. The main benefit to the tapered mummy shape is that it conforms to the shape of your body, therefore trapping in more heat using less fabric, thus making it more thermally efficient.
Mummy liners are also a better bet if you have a mummy-style sleeping bag because all the extra fabric in rectangular models can bunch up at the bottom and ensnare your feet.
The only downside to mummy sleeping bag liners, for some users, is that the tapered design can feel a little restrictive, particularly if you happen to move around a lot in your sleep.
All of the sleeping bag liners featured in our review are available in mummy-style, with the exception of the TETON Sports Liner.
Rectangular
As a general rule, rectangular liners don’t insulate as well as mummy-style models since they have more “dead space” for your body to warm up. On the plus side, this roomier design gives you a little more leg (and shoulder) room and so is often favored by more restless sleepers.
For comparison, the rectangular version of the Sea to Summit Premium Silk’s girth at the foot and shoulder is a generous 37”, while the Sea to Summit Coolmax measures a meager 24” in the foot box and 36” at the shoulders.
Double-width
As the name suggests, a double sleeping bag liner is geared toward the camping couple or those with a claustrophobic disposition.
Our review features two sleeping bag liners available in double-width sizing, Sea to Summit Premium Silk and TETON Mammoth (rectangular shape), which measure 73” x 71” and 91” x 58” respectively, making them more than roomy enough for two.
Long
To accommodate taller sleepers, these sleeping bag liners have the same shape as regular models but have an extra few inches of length added on.
The Sea to Summit Premium Silk and TETON Sports (both rectangular) and the Western Mountaineering Tioga (mummy) are all available in longer sizes.
Traveler
These are typically rectangular-shaped liners that include a built-in pillow slip, as found in the Sea to Summit CoolMax Adaptor Insect Shield.
Weight & Packed Size
The sleeping bag liners in our guide range from 3.6 ounces (Western Mountaineering Tioga) to 24 ounces (TETON Sports Mammoth) in weight, and have packed sizes as small as 2.5” x 4.5” and as large as 10.5” x 6.5” (Big Agnes Fleece).
While weight and packed size aren’t a big issue if you’re car-camping, if you’re headed into the backcountry on a multi-day trip it’s worth considering how much extra weight you’re willing to carry before buying. If choosing an ultralight sleeping bag liner, bear in mind that in most cases doing so will mean compromising on warmth and/or comfort.
Additional Features
A few additional features can go a long way to enhancing a liner’s convenience and practicality. Some of the bonus features you might want to look out for include pillow inserts, insect-repellent treatments, a cinch-hood closure to keep out drafts, and hooks located at the head and foot that allow you to attach the liner to your sleeping bag for easy entry/exit.
