Question about Vapor-barrier linings

[thesupersurvivalpost]

Hey friends, i camp out alot, and use very good sleeping gear, but i do not have any Vapor-barrier linings for my sleeping bag.

Can any one tell me if the Vapor-barries do more good in your sleeping bags, right now i use a coleman bag liner, it soft, and helps keed me warmer, in the cold weather.

Im asking all of you, i know some one on this forum has use it time after time, and can tell me around the cost, and if thay think it's a good buy or not

Your friend at the post Donald S. And thank you for the info.

 

[ilbruche]

A VBL is really only something you would need in VERY cold weather. When you need to keep in as much heat as possible this is the way to go. It can be very uncomfortable for most people due to the fact that your sweat cannot escape. It creates a very steamy environment.

My favorite model is the Westerm Mountaineering Hot Sack.

If your winter camping or mountaineering with a down bag the VBL keeps your bag dry. One trick with the VBL is to not get so hot that you sweat too much. Once the microclimate inside the VBL gets warm and moist enough you will eventually stop sweating and you'll just have to get used to it.

For general backpacking and camping a warmer liner may be what you want. I have a down liner that Moonstone used to sell. It is a down piece that I can put into my bags and it adds 20 degrees of warmth. I have used it with my 45 degree bag in temperatures as low as 35 degrees and with my 20 degree bag as low as 0 degrees. I'm not sure what you could find that is comparable, but it is sort of like a small down blanket. Anytime you can add another layer to trap heat go for it. The other thing to remember is not to have a really tight sleeping system, you don't want to compress your insulation too much. I personally don't like to sleep in more than fleece pants and a light fleece jacket or shirt in the winter.

 

[kgd]

As Ilbruche indicated above. The vapor barrier is worn inside the sleeping bag and prevents evaporation of moisture from your body. Under freezing conditions without a vapor barrier, the moisture sublimates into ice crystals inside of the sleeping bag. Over multiple nights, the sleeping bag will gain considerable weight. Down bags also begin to loose their insulative value as they accumulate ice. The vapor barrier presents this from happening by holding the steam with the body.

I concur with the above advice that if you are going for short trips where the bag will be aired out indoors afterward your trip or you aren't camping under sub-zero conditions, then either a better rated bag, sleeping bag liner or good thermal underwear e.g. fleece would be more worth while. I don't like the feel of vapor liners that much myself.

 

[thesupersurvivalpost]

Great info thank you.

 

[Ravaillac]

fact that your sweat cannot escape. It creates a very steamy environment.

Yeah, try to sleep inside a plastic bag for some nights, that will give you an idea of what it feels like for cheap. That's really something you want to avoid if you can.