Straight up, I am overweight. I have looked at the sleepsheets in the RS store and on other sites that sell them. They look as though they would be too snug and I am afraid of not being able to get out of one in an emergency.
Are there alternatives to sleepsheets that will still be light enough for a carryon but be a bit more roomy?
I've made my own for years now. Simply purchase a queen sized flat sheet, which is 90 inches wide, double up the material along the seams, and sew it well. That'll give you a sleep sack that's 45 inches wide, 9 more than normal sleep sacks. I always use cheaper cotton blends or, for chillier climates, flannel, which can be bulky. You can sew silk, but it is difficult...a seamstress should be able to do that for you.
If you can sew make your own, or find someone who'll do it for you. You fold a sheet in two and sew up one short edge, and almost/all the way up the long edge. You can then custom make one to fit. If necessary you could cut a bigger sheet to fit, if a single (brand dependent) is too small.
That sounds like a good idea. I'll try to find a sheet that is not too heavy and that will pack up small for my carryon. Thank you for the tip.
I've sewn in a lightweight zipper along the side to make getting in and out easier!
Sue, I often pack one of Rick's Sleepsheets along on trips, but so far have never had to use it as most Hostels provide these with the bed. They include a built-in pillowcase as well.
As I recall, these aren't sewn all the way to the top, so shouldn't be much trouble to get out of. Most (if not all) Hostels I've stayed in have been well equipped with smoke detectors, etc., so I'm sure there would be lots of warning of an "emergency".
Happy travels!
We made our own for a trip that was mostly hostels and ended up only using them one night (even then the hostel offered free bedding). If size is an issue, you may be better off making your own. We used older sheets folded in half, double stiched to about 14" from the open top. We rolled them up and used rubber bands to keep them compressed in our bags. If I bought one, I would get silk for the packed size and weight. I'm not sure I'll pack one in the future.
TravelSmith.com sells both a Double silk Dream Sack and an XL Single silk Dream Sack. Both are machine washable and the dimensions and weight of them are listed on their website.
I purchased a standard silk sleep sack at REI (cheaper than TravelSmith) and had no troubles with it being too snug - there was plenty of extra material (and I am not a skinny girl!). If you don't have an REI near you, you should be able to find the dimensions of the sack online before you purchase it.
If you want the luxury (and compact size) of silk for your home made sleep sheet, Dharma Trading sells bolts of white silk for people who like to dye stuff:
http://dharmatrading.com/html/eng/1665272-AA.shtml
I've never used them for fabric but I did buy some silk fans from them for hot weather vacation use (Egypt).
Sue,
First, you have to figure out how wide they are. They might not be too small. I got 2 silk ones from ebay, they are nice, double layer with room for a pillow. For your emergency concern, I would sew a long zipper on the side.It might be costly, though.
In my opinion the ones made of silk vs. cotton ones, tend to be "slippery", so it will be easier for you to get out.
