Greetings,

When touring in the Spring my wife and I each sleep on 66" long ThermaRest pads. We use a lightweight rectangular fleece bag-liner and a rectangular down 45° sleeping bag. These are both unzipped such that we use both as blankets - that we use opened-up to cover both of us.

We use the TheraRests under us - for padding/insulation and the 2-rectangular 'blankets' above - for warmth (as needed).

The ThermaRests aren't that comfortable on muggy nights next to the skin. Can anyone recommend a silk-type cover for the ThermaRests? REI sells fitted Nylon ThremaRest covers @ 6oz. each. Has anyone used these? I'm thinking that a silk flat sheet cut and hemmed to cover the two ThermaRests would work fine. The silk sheets that I could find online are relatively expensive. What does anyone else use for this?

In the spring it just seems easier to open the rectangular fleece liner and down bag and to share them than it does to carry two sleeping bags. My wife tends to need more covering for warmth than I do.

Thnx.

Steve & Linda

I always bring a new cotton sheet when I tour. Backpackers have to worry about bulk not us.

Here is a link to some silk products, it seems this company will do custom work.
https://www.jagbags.co.nz/

Who's 'us'?

Thanks for the suggestions ...

We're going to see how much polyester and/or cotton sheets weigh. The silk cost of $250+ is bit steep for us. Our worry with cotton is that it is heavy and stays damp when wet (we know that it shouldn't get wet, but if everything that shouldn't happen didn't happen - it would be a totally different world than it is..)

This is the bike touring forum nei? Can you carry as much bulk on your back as your bike?

I backpack?

This is the touring forum, so I guess he means bike tourers don't have to worry about weight (when they're bike touring).

Another option is to buy a silk sleeping bag liner and simply slip your sleeping pad inside the liner. Get the mummy or rectangular shape depending upon shape of your sleeping pad. Silk sleeping bag liners cost between $20 and $70 depending upon blend and store. For less expensive, a cotton sleeping bag liner would work well too, although silk will be lighter in weight.

If you can sew,you can buy brushed nylon/poly flannel material cheap to make your own.It feels nice on the skin,light,dries fast and easy the care for.

Thanks. One of the two of us can sew - so we will look into your suggestion.

check out a cocoon travel sheet sleep sack ? my wife uses a flannel one as it is slightly warmer. I like the silk one.
i think they are also available in regular cotton. take mine where ever I travel.

If you do make your own,don't use a cotton thread,it won't last too long.You can get a spool of Gutermann thread(100% poly) or there are other brands.It's not expensive,you can buy a 500 yard spool(that will fit all home machines) for about 3-4 dollars.Use a 11 or 12 needle and don't forget to fill the bobbin.

Martianone: do you have a source for that cocoon sleep sack?

I would shy away from cotton, one rain storm and that bad boy is damp (and eventually smelly all trip.) I would suggest something synthetic, it'll dry quick and easy and won't pick up b.o. as quick.

I found a silk sheet on Ebay for under $15, with 50 choices of colours. It can easily slide a Therm-a-rest in. Quality is good so far after 100+ days of heavy usage.

https://www.jagbags.co.nz/products.htm

Double silk bag liner $72.50 including shipping

Those silk liners are very heavy.

try this one.(not flat but slide in your pad)
https://www.rei.com/product/695429
It's what I use. Often I only take this in the thick of summer.

Now if you are looking to drop some weight check out backpackinglight forums.
https://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...ums/index.html

They have guys on the site that make ultralight weight down quilts and places that sell them.

https://www.backpackinglight.com/cgi-...98&startat=120

Won't silk dry about as fast as anything? Just wondering. Blues Frog

Thai Silks out of California sells Habotai silk for around $3 to $10 per yard.

If you have sewing skills, making your own sleeping bag liner would be a simple project.

Hope this helps!