Re: [Paddlewise] Sleeping bag liners-VB

>>
The other side of this spectrum is to use a vapor barrier.  I personally   am
not a fan of the idea but I confess I have not tried it.  The idea is to   keep
the moisture around your skin causing your body to stop producing   moisture.
Personally I don't think it would be a comfortable way to sleep.   Anyone   with
practical experience care to comment?

Brian Blankinship
>>

**************************************************************************  *

I like to use a vapor barrier liner when the temperature is well below
freezing. To keep my skin from sticking to the coated nylon, I wear
polypro underwear inside the VBL, but nothing else. The sensation when
I slip inside the VBL is one of instant humidity, somewhat like that in
a bathroom after a shower, but it never gets any worse than that as long
as long as I don't overheat. In other words, I feel somewhat humid inside   
a VBL, but not sweaty, as long as I don't get too warm. I don't find it
uncomfortable, but others might. The humid sensation vanishes as soon as
I slip out of the VBL in the morning, and my polypro feels dry to the
touch. However, I won't wear a lot of clothes inside a VBL, out of   concern
that they might retain too much moisture.

I once slept next to someone who wasn't using a VBL. In the morning, the
outside of my bag was damp where it had touched hers, but otherwise my
bag was dry. The moisture had come from her through her two bags.

By using my VBL and Therm-a-rest pad, and velcroing my down parka and
vest to the top of my winter bag, I have slept comfortably under the
stars down to 20 below F. in a bag that was rated for 10 above F.

Besides keeping my insulation dry, a VBL helps keep me from becoming
dehydrated overnight. If you are otherwise well- prepared, moisture and
dehydration are your biggest enemies when winter camping, not the cold.

Here's another tip for winter campers: Sew or pin a square flap of fleece   
(such as Polartec) to the top of your winter bag that you can drape over
your face if it starts to snow on you in the middle of the night. It
keeps your face warm, and you can breathe through it. The first time I
did this, I woke in the morning feeling cozy, threw back the flap -- and
dumped half an inch of snow in my face that had accumulated overnight.

Chuck Holst

***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List
Submissions:     paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net
Subscriptions:   paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net
Website:         http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/
***************************************************************************