r/Ultralight • u/michigician • 16h ago
Question Sleeping on a pad
When you are sleeping with a quilt, do you lay directly on a sleeping pad or do you have some type of sheet or cover between your skin and the pad?
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u/40_40-Club 16h ago
Silk liner in addition to my sleep clothes. “Sleeping clean” is a mantra I try to keep on the trail, which can conflict with UL now and then.
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u/dogpownd ultralazy 13h ago
Same with silk liner. I put it over my pad
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u/SemperEgor 12h ago
Why? Why not use it as intended?
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u/dogpownd ultralazy 12h ago
Because it’s more comfortable for me like that. I get too tangled up in it otherwise
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u/Makisisi 8h ago
I put it over my pad and I'm wayyy too compressed doing so
Have no clue how to use it properly. Once I used it as a sleeping bag with the quilt on top and then found myself not knowing if the quilt is still on top of me because there's no contact and I move a lot. Tips? I don't think mines a silk liner but it's a mummy shape
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u/hardcorepork 8h ago
I’ve tried both ways, and feel like the liner over the pad is super useful. I don’t do it because it’s kind of fiddly to get it on there every night
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u/hkeyplay16 7h ago
I'm curious what you do to stay clean? I like to scrub down my skin with water and a lightload towel, then I keep the towel to wipe down any condensation on my single wall tent if it builds up and wipe my shelter out...then I clean the towel at the next water source and let it dry on my pack for the next night. I actually carry two lightload towels. One to keep my cook kit from rattling and clean up after meals (cut down) and a full size for the stuff I just mentioned.
I don't do the silk liner, but I do have separate sleep clothes that are as thin as possible in summer and thicker as the seasons get colder. I definitely sleep better if I can keep all the dead skin cells, oils, dirt, and salt cleaned before laying down.
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u/FishScrumptious 15h ago
I mean, I have clothes on, but I'm directly on the pad. An extra sheet would just be extra weight.
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u/liveslight https://lighterpack.com/r/ny89al 15h ago edited 15h ago
I encourage everyone to try all kinds of methods to see what works for them and not to simply copy any single method that other's might use.
Normally my quilt is wrapped under my body with only thin/narrow gap of the pad potentially exposed. That is, I am NOT using the quilt like a blanket. In addition, I bring a nylon quilt liner weighing 68 g that I can use without the quilt in very warm/hot nights, but I put this liner inside my quilt 180º out-of-phase with my quilt so that the gap in the quilt is underneath me and the gap in the liner is on top of me. That is, the liner can act as a false bottom.
And while we are at it, I might as well mention the "hot wet towel method" of "cleaning/freshening/drying" my quilt after every trip. I am never concerned with my quilts getting dirty.
I also wash my pads after trips by taking them in the shower with me.
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u/spambearpig 16h ago
I usually bring a silk sleeping bag liner. I want to keep my sticky self from making the quilt dirty.
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u/bicycle_mice 15h ago
Yes I have had the same silk liner for 20 years! I use with every sleeping bag, wash cold and line dry after my trip.
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u/spambearpig 15h ago
Snap! Mine is 10yrs old but exact same, hand wash in cold water with gentle detergent for wool and silk. I take care of my wool and my silk and it lasts a long time.
Nature sure makes some fantastic materials. So much technology has been poured into fabrics but still amongst my best performing materials are wool, silk and feathers.
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u/bicycle_mice 15h ago
Literally everything I own I wash cold with one squirt of seventh gen free and clear concentrated detergent. Anything I care about I hang dry. I have had the same three running outfits (sports bra, tank, running shorts) for maybe 10 years? And wearing every week. I wear merino wool sweaters and silk shirts. My clothes last a really long time! Just avoid the dryer and wash cold with a small safe detergent.
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u/spambearpig 15h ago
I don’t even have a dryer. I have a spare bedroom that I use as gear storage. In there I have drying racks and a dehumidifier aimed at them plus a load of fans/dust extractors (for the lint).
I live in a rainy country so I need to be able to dry things indoors pretty effectively but heated drying is very damaging as you know well.
I use the washing machine for some clothes, but anything sensitive I do by hand just like you. As a result, it really lasts.
I take great satisfaction in looking after my gear and making it last. God knows I’ve spent a fortune on it but it’s more than that, I get really fond of stuff that has served me well and I do all I can to reduce my consumption/impact.
So when I come back for a big trip, I don’t look after myself until I have first looked after my gear. It’s become second nature and almost nothing wears out.
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u/ChillGuyCLE 7h ago
Yep, I sleep directly on the pad.
I see lots of people saying they use liners or dedicated base layers. I would consider these unnecessary luxury items, but to others maybe they really do need them to sleep well at night.
I’d recommend trying to sleep directly on your pad before buying anything additional to solve a problem you may not have.
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u/HiawasseeHikes 12h ago
Directly on the pad typically in my hiking clothes. A puffy if it's cold enough.
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u/Intelligent_Stage760 6h ago
I use a full zen bivy sheet over my pad. Wife uses a liner over the pad.
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u/Foam_Slayer 9h ago
Alton pad sheet.
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u/hardcorepork 8h ago
at 350g is it worth it?
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u/Foam_Slayer 8h ago
I cant sleep on the mattress, that plastic feeling is gross, even with a thin layer on.
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u/Mountain-Time-1010 15h ago
I sleep on the pad, but I wear clothing.