Sleeping Bag Liner – Yay or Nay?

The Sleeping Bag Liner is one of those things every backpacker out there tells you to buy for your trip but never really mentions why… I mean, you’re not going camping… you’re not taking a sleeping bag… why the hell would you need a sleeping bag liner?

Luckily you have me to tell you why exactly you need one:

• Firstly, some hostels don’t provide sheets believe it or not. This has only happened to me once or twice, it isn’t massively common. But when it did happen, I sure was happy I had my sleeping bag liner handy.
• For the majority of hostels that do provide sheets and blankets, they can be pretty scratchy sometimes. And the luxuriousness of that silk liner will feel like a dream when this happens.
• If you’re travelling with a friend, or make friends out there and decide to buddy up, it’s pretty standard that you may have to share a double bed (sometimes thery don’t have twin rooms in guesthouses). And your own personal liner will avoid any awkward cover-hogging arguments the next day.
• Last but not least, it keeps the bugs away! Unlike cotton sleeping bag liners, the silk ones are impenetrable to the creepy crawlies. Good to know right?

These were my main uses of the silk sleeping bag liner on the road, and to be honest it was mainly Southeast Asia where it was necessary. In Australia and the USA, hostel sheets were totally fine.

Saying that, I know the germaphobes out there will want peace of mind and will use the liner everywhere!! Although I’m sure once you’re out there, you really won’t care about the sheets situation.

So is this enough reason to bring a liner? I mean it’s definitely optional. If you had to do a couple nights without sheets, your sarong would definitely do. However, they take up such little space, I like to take mine away with me for such occasions.

You can get a silk sleeping bag liner in most outdoorsy shops like Millets and Blacks, but I got mine from Amazon (like most of my travel gadgets!) You can get yours here…

Or do what I did and add it to your Christmas/Birthday list before your trip. Romeo done.

Do you take a sleeping bag liner with you on your travels? Let me know in the comments below!