Overheard a guy at REI say he ditches his sleeping bag liner for a mylar blanket in summer

I was in the camping aisle last Saturday and this older hiker was telling his buddy he's been using a $4 mylar emergency blanket instead of a sleeping bag liner when it's warm out. Said it reflects your body heat back but doesn't trap moisture like cotton or fleece liners do. I've been using a cheap fleece liner for years and waking up sweaty on summer nights, you know? He said he just lays it over his sleeping bag like a sheet and it cuts down the weight by almost a pound. I grabbed a two-pack for $7.50 to try this weekend on a trip up to the White Mountains. Has anyone else tried this or am I gonna wake up cold at 2 AM?

2 comments

2 Comments

perry.lee6d ago

How long is your torso when you sleep? My buddy tried this on a trip to the Smokies and said he woke up shivering around 3 AM because the blanket slid off his feet. He just ended up balling it up and using it to sit on around the fire the next night.

troy_wilson86d ago

Well that's just typical REI talk isn't it. Guy probably spends more time bragging about his gear than actually sleeping in the woods. A mylar blanket is basically a potato chip bag with delusions of grandeur. Sure it reflects heat until you roll over once and it crinkles loud enough to wake up the whole campsite. Plus that crinkling sound is going to drive you crazy every time you breathe too deep. I'd rather wake up a little sweaty than sound like I'm sleeping in a bag of cheese puffs all night.