Sleeping bag/Fleece liner question

[bettiebebop]

Hi everyone,
So I bought a new 0c sleeping bag but a few weeks later a change of plans and I will possibly be in a -10c weather so my question is, would buying a fleece liner, in particular this sea to summit fleece liner that claims it adds 11c to the warmth be sufficient? Another thing I'm wondering if it would just add too much bulk rather than shelling out for a new -10 sleeping bag.. here's the liner in question..

http://www.wellingtonsurplus.com.au/showProduct//SLEEPING+BAGS/SLEEPING+BAG+LINERS/SS3043/SEA+TO+SUMMIT+THERMOLITE+REACTOR+SLEEPING+BAG+LINER+-+COMPACT+PLUS+

Any opinions or advice is much welcome, thanks for reading.

[Moondog55]

I would ask first what bag you already have, and where you are going.

Do you have enough room in your bag to wear lots of clothes? Do you already own a bivvy sac or can you borrow one? Buying a liteweight down jacket may be the better option in the short term.
I sleep cold so always take 12 degrees off the temperature rating of any bag. Also who rated your bag? is it that new EU tog system rating because that can be confusing as comfort and survival ratings are so far apart.
Beg and borrow first before swapping bags unless you can get a full funds exchange on the first bag
Mind you these are only personal opinions but I do have 40 years of miserable nights to back up my advice.

[Franco]

Moondog
I think that is about time you had a good night, you deserve it...

I too would go with the extra clothing (puffy jacket/hat/gloves/socks would be my choice)
However as mentioned you do need a bit of extra room in your bag for that (mostly for the puffy jacket, could be a nice fluffy top...) and make sure that the other bits particularly the socks are a bit loose.
Helps if you are not cold when you get in, so warm your self up. Brisk walk, standing jumps, hot chocolate....
Franco

[Moondog55]

Franko it comes as a result of always working in very hot environments ( I'm a chef ) plus trying to keep the weight down, I now sleep warm but it took a new sleeping bag + bivvy and new Thermarest plus pad to do it, which leads me to the next suggestion to the OP take a decent mattress.
BTW my current sleeping bag is old but unbeaten, a J&H Ultra Yellow ( the Everest summit assault bag )

[Moondog55]

Also don't buy, I may be able to help, PM sent

[roysta]

If you're talking about the Thermolite Reactor Liner, 11 C is a load of crap.
Try about 5 C, that's more realistic.

[sailfish]

If you're talking about the Thermolite Reactor Liner, 11 C is a load of crap.
Try about 5 C, that's more realistic.

The Thermolite Reactor Liner is advertised to add up to 8 deg c, not 11. This means that in optimum conditions for the liner to show it's stuff, you may get as much as 8 deg max but the rest of the time, you will get less than that. 5 deg is less than 8 so that's true to Sea to Summits claim. I use one of these and find it's very good. I understand than some others find they don't work so well for them. As with all liners, they seem to make the biggest difference in bags without baffles where the hood is open or absent. The draw back for me is that this liner clings a little to my polyprops so rolling within the bag doesn't work but then I guess it is better to roll the whole bag with you anyway.

What I find works well is:
Any bag squashes under you so you need a good insulating pad. A space blanket under a not so good pad improves this considerably. I use a Prolite 4 so that isn’t necessary. I have a zero rated bag that I think is more like +5 in reality. Though very warm, I find wearing a lot of clothing uncomfortably bulky in the sleeping bag. I have one of those Thermolite army poncho liners (wobi). This is exceptionally warm and can be used as a quilt. I tie the foot end together so it goes completely around my feet to keep it in place. The top is left open over my head and the bag hood open under my head. I have found this very warm to -7 deg and suspect it will be fine to a few degrees lower than that.

I intend to put a 35 cm zip in the wobi so I can use it as a warm poncho or by tying the edges into the centre, it becomes a double layer tabard. So it will multi function as my warmest outer layer, a light weight sleeping bag or a winter quilt.

Regards,
Ken

[Liamy77]

hi some of you may not know that s2s have now increased their thermolite reactor range to include 2 new warmer versions.... I own the warmest one they make.... the stated temps are CRAP as most folk probably expected.... but they make a good liner instead of a sheet and if you halve the figures it is about right... that said i picked up a new sleevless down vest from mountain designs for $100 - missed the macpac sale... it works better but the liner is good in hot climates on its own - ie it doesnt do a lot so test it out in your back yard first - i use mine in a hammock in warmer weather and instead of my sleepin bag around the campfire (where allowed to have one) but as a bag extender they dont do much.... i have cut and sewn velcro into the closed end and made it into a convertible poncho as well...
as for bags... have a look at the stephenson triple bag (drool)

[Moondog55]

I just lost a whole post.
Frustrating

Sailfish has got a good idea, I have been watching some stuff on evil-bait, I do not need the whole lot of material in question but if you can handle a quick and easy sewing project you could share buy with me and do a quilt/poncho liner in half a day. It would, even with postage be much cheaper than the warmer of the S2S liners.

[sailfish]

I just lost a whole post.
Frustrating

Sailfish has got a good idea, I have been watching some stuff on evil-bait, I do not need the whole lot of material in question but if you can handle a quick and easy sewing project you could share buy with me and do a quilt/poncho liner in half a day. It would, even with postage be much cheaper than the warmer of the S2S liners.

Ta for that. The Wobi fits inside a rain poncho/hoochie/tarp that can be zipped up the side to form a bivvy. This is rather narrow so I regard it as an emergency overnight rig (not sub zero). I have been considering attaching the wobbi edges directly to my sleeping pad. That would add the width of the pad to make it comfortably roomy while keeping the sides sealed. I guess where I am heading with this is to create a flexible add on system for all conditions. Trying to keep it light by not having insulation where it isn't needed and multi function reduces the item list.

You could just buy the evil-bait lot, use what you need then ebay etc whatever is left or save it for possible future projects.


Regards,
Ken

[Moondog55]

Ken it is a money thing, at the moment I have NO spare cash, I am living on my wifes charity as the Goverment cancelled my disability pension and I haven't ffound a job yet.

My last evilbag purchase used up my discretionary fund.

But there was 10 meters of EPIC ripstop in the parcel and I only need a few meters for a bivvy bag so thought a share purchase may be a good idea, ponchos ar not my first pick for waterproofs but lately I find I have been wearing mine much more often. Having an insulated liner is great for sitting around at the footaball but not (As you say ) ideal for sleeping as is, as an overquilt tho ????