Hot take: That expensive sleeping bag liner isn't worth $80 when a cheap bedsheet works just as well

I've been camping for about 15 years now, mostly in the Pacific Northwest. Last summer I splurged on a Sea to Summit liner thinking it'd be some game changer for my 20 year old bag. First night out near Mount Rainier I realized it's basically just a fancy pillowcase you crawl into. My buddy brought a flat sheet from home he got for $12 at Target and we were both equally warm and comfortable. I mean maybe there's some tech I'm missing but after 3 trips I'm pretty sure I just wasted money. Has anyone else found a cheap alternative that does the same thing?

2 comments

2 Comments

roberts.diana12d ago

Did your buddy wake up tangled in that flat sheet at 3am? My friend tried the sheet trick last fall and spent half the night fighting with it inside his mummy bag. Turned into a sweaty, twisted mess by morning. He went back to just using the bag alone.

eric3599d ago

Sweaty, twisted mess" pretty much sums up what I used to think would happen. Honestly, I was the guy who always argued that a flat sheet inside a mummy bag was pointless, just extra trouble for nothing. But reading your friend's experience, I have to admit I had it backwards. I figured the sheet would help with cleanliness and maybe a little extra warmth, but I never stopped to think about how a restless sleeper would end up fighting with it all night. That's a good point, and it makes me think I'd be better off sticking to just the bag and maybe a liner if I want something washable.