Winter Walking – Sleeping Bag and Liner

[jsalt]

Hi, I leave soon for the Camino de Madrid, and will take my very lightweight down sleeping bag, plus a very lightweight thermal liner. Assuming there is no heating on in the albergues, and very possibly it is snowing outside, which is warmer: to have the liner inside the sleeping bag, or as the outer layer? I have always assumed that the liner is, well, a liner, but I have noticed a few posts over the years that indicate that the liner is better on the outside. Would appreciate advice from experienced winter walkers.
Jill

 

[mspath]

Jill,

I've always put the liner inside the bag.

In cold weather never choose a bunk placed against an exterior wall since old walls are often uninsulated and thus frigid. Since all night heating is not the norm make a cosy 'sandwich' for sleeping by folding a blanket in half the long way, place your sleeping bag on top of the bottom half and pull the top half over all. If there are no blankets put your dry poncho beneath the bag to block the cold air from rising.

Runner's winter tights, a long sleeve runner's shirt and loose socks as well as a warm hat are great to wear to bunk/bed when it is really cold.

Lucky you to be off again.
Stay safe, Carpe diem and Buen camino!

Margaret

 

[Rick of Rick and Peg]

The closer you keep the insulation fabric to your body the warmer you should be. At home you keep your blanket on top of you and not wrapping your house right?

 

[Hiawatha]

A liner on the outside will compress the down and reduce its insulating properties . One danger of Winter use of sleeping bags is getting too hot in them . Be careful you are not so warm that you wake up in a sweat , a wet or damp down bag is next to useless . Try to use an absorbent liner on the inside .
I think this recent trend for outside liner use is more to do with protecting the bag from dirt and debris when wild camping .

 

[Deleted member 67185]

Inside the bag.

 

[Givesome]

Hi Jill The liner should go inside the sleeping bag.

The weather is Spain is going to be cold for most of March. See the 90 day weather forecast for Madrid here: https://www.accuweather.com/en/es/madrid/308526/march-weather/308526

 

[Bogong]

A liner on the outside will compress the down and reduce its insulating properties . One danger of Winter use of sleeping bags is getting too hot in them . Be careful you are not so warm that you wake up in a sweat , a wet or damp down bag is next to useless . Try to use an absorbent liner on the inside .
I think this recent trend for outside liner use is more to do with protecting the bag from dirt and debris when wild camping .

This is very good advice. From one who has camped extensively in the snow while xc skiing, a hint is to put a blanket under your sleeping bag, as , given the bag will compress underneath you, this is where a lot of the cold will come from. Putting your liner inside the bag will help, but never ever put anything on top of the bag, no matter what. Sleeping bags depend on loft trapping air for their warmth and any sort of blanket/coat on the top of the bag is self-defeating.

I walked winter with a lighweight bag, numbers of the albergues were unheated, sometimes windows were open and even without a liner i was always warm and comfortable while some others shivered. Generally they had put blankets over their bags - couldn’t tell-em!

De Colores

Bogong

 

[Tonylash]

Hi Jill , just out of interest , what season bag are you taking . I have a 1 season down & a slightly warmer bulkier down one , thanks Tony

 

[Deleted member 67185]

.........From one who has camped extensively in the snow while xc skiing, a hint is to put a blanket under your sleeping bag, as , given the bag will compress underneath you, this is where a lot of the cold will come from. ........Bogong

This is the very reason why so many backpackers have forsaken the traditional sleeping "bag", and have adopted the use of sleeping "quilts". Because the insulation comes from whatever you provide under you while sleeping (pad, mat, mattress, a big, furry labradoodle), one can save a lot of weight by getting rid of the part of the sleeping bag which provides no warmth whatsoever.

Backpacking sleeping quilts have fasteners which can create the 'wrap around' of a 'bag' with the mat or pad at the bottom, or the quilt can be left open like a blanket. It depends on the temperature. Personally, when I am laying on top of my insulating pad (or in this case a mattress), I like to simply tuck the edges of the quilt right next to me when it's chilly --- no fussing with any kind of zipper or other fasteners.

 

[jsalt]

Thanks so much for your replies. Lots of useful info there, much appreciated!

I have absolutely no idea what season my down sleeping bag is. Where I live we don’t really have seasons (just hot and cold, or wet and dry), and we don’t have much choice: it’s this one or that one. The label says it is pure down and that it weighs 750g. It is lightly elasticated so it hugs my body, and it is tapered at the bottom. It is very snug and I really like it: I have tried it out on a few weekend backpacks. The make is “First Ascent” (South African).

I’ll go with putting the liner on the inside – as you all say. Thank you so much!
Jill

 

[Hiawatha]

The First Ascent site is very helpful jsalt .
https://www.firstascent.co.za/search?fq[fill_power]=650+fill+power&limit=32&q=sleeping+bags
Their maximum down fill available is 650 gms , so if your bag weighs an overall 750 gms it must be one of the warmer models in the range . I suspect that the only need you would have for a liner would be for hygiene or comfort rather than extra warmth .