sleeping bag storage

S

SCme

Joined
Feb 2, 2007
Messages
54
It's been my understanding that one should store any sleeping bags hung up in say a closet instead of stuffed in their storage bag. I picked up a couple of very cheap bags (read 2 for $25.00) from woot and am ready to store them for later use.
 
The vacuum bags work very well for sleeping bag storage with synthetic fillers, not so well for down.
 
I don't think they actually need to be hung, the idea is just not to store them under compression, as that will degrade the loft of the bag over time. I store mine losely in oversized, breathable laundry bags.
 
Absintheur said:
The vacuum bags work very well for sleeping bag storage with synthetic fillers, not so well for down.
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Any fill material will be compromised if stored compressed. I have personally had it happen to a sleeping bag that the maker claimed was OK to store compressed.

mdauben said:
I don't think they actually need to be hung, the idea is just not to store them under compression, as that will degrade the loft of the bag over time. I store mine losely in oversized, breathable laundry bags.
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I agree. I store mine hanging but a large sized bag is fine.
 
I store mine in a cotton laundry bag so it can breathe and it is large enough to not compress the fill. Make sure to let your bag thoroughly dry as well before storage.
 
orrey45 said:
I store mine in a cotton laundry bag so it can breathe and it is large enough to not compress the fill. Make sure to let your bag thoroughly dry as well before storage.
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Exactly. My bag and my wife's bag (both down) came with large cotton bags that breathe and that do not keep the bag under compression.
 
I just leave mine unrolled under my bed. Out of the way and not compressing any fill.

No room in my closet and don't even think of asking my wife for some of her space!
 
I would love to see long term tests of this. I have a couple of old Army mummy goose down bags - extreme cold. I've kept them compressed since 1987 and 1992, respectively. I'm sure they aren't as warm as they used to be, but I've slept in -14F in them. I used to move a lot, and am lazy about keeping them aired out.

Of course, it's been 20 years, I wouldn't remember how warm they used to be.... :D
 
Guyon said:
Exactly. My bag and my wife's bag (both down) came with large cotton bags that breathe and that do not keep the bag under compression.
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Most bags come with such a sack.

Now when taking it on a trip, those down bags can be compressed really nicely. That's where you want a compression sack. Just don't store it like that.

After the trip I normally shake mine out and let it hang for a day or so to air out, then I put it in the cotton bag.
 
+1 for cotton storage/laundry bags. That's how I've stored my 0° TNF Snowshoe since I got it in 1990. She's still plenty lofty and as warm as it ever was.

A king-sized cotton pillowcase will also work.
 
I store mine in the compression sack I bought for it, uncompressed. I've never had an issue with a loss of heat retention or anything. I suppose its a good idea in theory, and people will argue it to no end, but my reality is the bag is still fine.
 
Bernoulli said:
Wiggy's bags will regain their loft. They are packed in ejection seat kits sometimes.
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Wiggy's claim their bags regain their loft. My personal experience says otherwise. I made the mistake of leaving a Wiggy's compressed for about 6 months several years ago and it never came close to lofting back to what it was before....even a couple of rounds in the dryer didn't help. I will say that the fill material may not be the same as what they use now but that experience taught me to never store a bag compressed.
 
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