10 Best Sleeping Bag Liners in 2024 reviewed
Sleeping bag liners are a simple but essential and versatile item and should be at the top of your packing list when you’re going on any kind of an adventure. In hot countries where the nights are warm, they can be used as a sleeping bag in their own right. They are handy for taking with you on a long bus or train journey, or you can use them when you go camping. If you’re in a cooler climate, they can be slipped inside your sleeping bag, both giving you an extra layer to keep you warm, and stopping you from coming into direct contact with your sleeping bag. A sleeping bag is much harder to wash than a sleeping bag liner, and if you’re traveling and camping you might not always be particularly clean when you get into bed.
The best thing about most sleeping bag liners is that they roll up extremely small and are extremely lightweight, a feature which is essential when you’re carrying your world around with you and space is at a premium. There are sleeping bag liners out there that have various added extras, are made of different materials, and are geared towards people with different budgets or who are planning on using them for different purposes. We’ve tried and tested ten of the top-selling sleeping bag liners out there to help you decide which is the best option depending on what you’re going to be using it for.
Our top 10 sleeping bag liner picks
1. The Friendly Swede - Travel and Camping Sleeping Bag Liner
If you’re looking for a durable sleeping bag liner that can be used in hot and cold climates, or even just if you’re sleeping on someone’s sofa, this is a great option.
- Spacious, even for tall people
- Breathable
- Lifetime warranty
- Velcro fastenings aren’t very strong
- Pillow holder too small
2. Osage River - Zippered Sleeping Bag Liner
This sleeping bag liner unzips completely into a cosy blanket, meaning you can get more use out of this product than you would a polyester liner as you can use it to keep you cosy on chilly evenings even when you’re in the comfort of your own home.
- Soft fleece material
- Doubles as a blanket
- Extremely warm
- Strong chemical smell (initially)
3. Sea to Summit Reactor Extreme Thermolite Liner
This is an option for those on a slightly higher budget, but most of us loved it and some thought it wasn’t worth the money. This sleeping bag liner is 210x90cm so there’s plenty of room to stretch out and even taller people should fit into it well.
- Packs down small
- Very lightweight
- Stretchy material
- No zip or Velcro openings
4. Coleman Stratus
Just like the Osage River fleece liner, this Coleman fleece sleeping bag has a strong chemical smell when it first arrives, but this product is easy to wash and the smell disappears after the first wash. This product is marketed as a sleeping bag in its own right, but just like the other liners it can either be used as a sleeping bag in warm weather or used as a liner in colder weather.
- Soft fleece material
- Easy to wash
- Can’t select a colour
- Special zip
5. ALPS Mountaineering - Mummy Sleeping Bag Liner
Like the Sea to Summit model, this is a mummy sleeping bag liner, something which you’ll need to take into consideration if you already have a sleeping bag that you want to use your liner with. ALPS are a well-known and trusted brand, and one advantage of this product is that you can choose between poly cotton or microfiber, depending on your preference.
- Good for taller people
- Packs down small
- Lifetime guarantee
- Doesn’t add a lot of warmth
- ‘ALPS’ printed all over liner
6. Dimples Excel
Dimples draws attention to the generous size of this sleeping bag liner, which measures 220x105cm, larger than the standard, so this could be a great option for tall people or those who don’t like the feeling of being hemmed in. We’ve found that some larger sleeping bag liners got all bunched up around our legs as we slept, but this liner didn’t have that problem.
- 90-day money back guarantee
- Generous size
- Easy entrance and exit
- Slippery material
7. b.m.c - Bundle Monster
This is another fleece option, also very reasonably priced, and the advantage it has over the Coleman model, mentioned above, is that it comes in a variety of colours and you can select which one you’d prefer, rather than being randomly sent one, which is the case with Coleman.
- Choice of colours
- Soft and cosy material
- Can be used around the house
- Bulky
8. Cocoon Silk MummyLiner
Silk is a good option for an ultra-thin liner as it is soft and can keep you either warm or cool. We tested it out both as a liner within another sleeping bag on a cold night and on its own, and we found it did both add warmth and keep us cool when necessary.
- Ripstop silk prevents tears
- Draw string closure for warmth
- Keeps you both warm and cool
- Build quality is not great
9. Teton Sports
This rectangular liner comes in both cotton and polyester, with the polyester option being slightly more expensive. It is also available in two different sizes, with a ‘mammoth’ option for taller people, or people that like extra space to move around in, for a few extra dollars.
- Choice of sizes and materials
- Thin and packs down small
- Side opening not long enough
- Not machine washable
10. Marycrafts - Mulberry Silk Travel Sleep Sack
If you’re looking for something a bit brighter, this sleeping bag liner comes in 15 different colours. We think it’s a good idea to wash this liner once you receive it and before you take it off on trips, as the colours do run a little the first time you wash it.
- Extremely lightweight
- Packs down small
- No velcro
- Colours bleed when first washed
- No fastenings
In Short:
All of these sleeping bag liners are good options, and they will all keep your sleeping bag clean, although some do require hand washing, but you need to think carefully about your other needs before making a decision. If your priority is a liner that can double as a blanket and be used around the house as well as packed down to a relatively small size and taken on an adventure, a fleece blanket is a good option. If your priority is having something as light as possible that’s main role is to keep the inside of your sleeping bag clean, then fleece isn’t the right material for you, but you should be looking at silk or polyester. If you’re especially tall or short, don’t forget to look for a liner that’s an appropriate size, so you’re covered completely but not lost in acres of material.
Make sure you do your research and if you make the right decision, your sleeping bag liner could last you for years of travels and adventure. It can both keep you warm and extend the life of your sleeping bag.