After adding up the cost of all my needed gear like cannister, ice ax, WM bag, do I really need a $60. silk liner or can I use sleeping clothes that will be backup warm layers too. I understand how dirty hikers get while hiking 30 miles in the desert and I can see how people dont want their $leeping bags getting oily and dirty. What works for you and is the liner worth it? Or is their stretches of the PCT that you interchange this technique?
Ohioan
I’ve never used a liner & never felt like i needed one. The sleeping clothes work fine for me and as you mentioned, double up as warm layers. In '05, I started the PCT on April 8th & there were quite a few below freezing nights even in the (high) desert, so my sleeping clothes (patagonia capilene underwear, thin nylon socks) were very usefull.
In order to stay somewhat clean, i almost always take a towel bath before i hop in my sleeping bag. I heat up a bit of water in my cookpot with a bit of Dr. Bronners peppermint soap and use a small wash cloth from head to toe. This not only feels great, but it keeps the sleeping bag & clothes (which double up as “town clothes”) clean, also helps prevent chafing and foot related problems.
Happy Trails!
freebird
I used a silk liner, and I highly recommend it; Added a few degrees of warmth to my sleeping bag and kept my bag cleaner when I was too tired to bathe. Point: From over 2000 miles of experience you will not bathe as often as you would like. Understand that the liner will protect your bag from absorbing the everlasting funk you will develop between baths.
Bama 2006