Miya Pearson
Sleeping bags are essential for camping, but they can be a hassle to store. Incorrectly storing a sleeping bag can lead to a loss of insulating properties, making it less effective at trapping body heat and keeping you warm. To avoid this, it is important to store your sleeping bag in a dry, cool place, allowing it to maintain its loft. It should be stored loosely in a breathable bag, such as a cotton or mesh sack, or hung up on a hook. Compressing a sleeping bag for long periods can cause damage to the insulation fibres, so it is best to reserve this for camping trips or hiking adventures. Additionally, washing your bag periodically is recommended to remove dirt, sweat, and oils that can compromise performance.
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What You'll Learn
Keep it dry and loose
Keeping your sleeping bag dry and loose is crucial to maintaining its quality and ensuring a comfortable night's sleep. Firstly, it is important to never store your sleeping bag while it is compressed. Compressing a sleeping bag into a stuff sack should only be done for camping trips or when you are on the move, as it removes protective air from between the fibres, causing them to crush and break. This will ultimately affect the bag's ability to keep you warm.
Secondly, make sure your sleeping bag is completely dry before storing it. You should dry your bag after every trip to get rid of any moisture, such as sweat, rain, or snow. To dry, unzip your bag and hang it for 24 hours. You can also use a clothes dryer with tennis balls to help break down clumps, but always check the manufacturer's recommendations on time and temperature first. If your bag has developed an odour, you can spray it with Febreze or a similar product to kill off any pollen or mould spores and leave a fresh smell.
Thirdly, when placing your bag into storage, it is best to hang it up on a hook in a dry closet or stuff it loosely into a large mesh or cotton bag. If hanging, ensure the bag is not left in a musty basement or attic, as moisture and temperature extremes are hard on the bag. If using a storage bag, the ideal option is the jumbo cotton storage bag that most bags are sold with, as it keeps things contained without compressing the fill while also allowing air circulation. If your bag did not come with a large storage bag, you can use a king-size pillowcase or purchase a cotton or mesh sack.
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Store in a breathable bag
When storing a sleeping bag, it is important to keep it uncompressed. This is because the loft of the sleeping bag is what traps body heat and keeps you warm. Compressing the bag will reduce its loft, thereby affecting its ability to keep you warm. Therefore, it is best to store your sleeping bag in a breathable bag that is large enough to contain it without compressing it.
Most modern sleeping bags come with a large, loose, breathable storage bag that is ideal for storing your sleeping bag when it is not being used. If your bag did not come with a large storage bag, you can purchase a cotton or mesh sack that is around 90L in size. A king-size pillowcase can also be used, although it may be a bit small.
When placing the bag into the storage bag, slowly feed the sleeping bag into the mesh bag and shake it out to allow it maximum loft. It is important to ensure that your sleeping bag is completely dry before storing it in the breathable bag. You should also avoid storing your sleeping bag in a damp basement or unheated spaces like garages and attics, as moisture and temperature extremes can damage the bag.
Storing your sleeping bag in a breathable bag will help to maintain its loft and keep it warm and cozy for many years. By following these sleeping bag storage tips, you will be able to prolong the life of your sleeping bag and ensure that you get a comfortable night's sleep.
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Hang it up
Hanging your sleeping bag is a great way to store it, but there are a few things to keep in mind. Firstly, make sure the bag is completely dry before hanging it up. Moisture and temperature extremes are hard on your bag, so it's important to avoid damp basements and unheated spaces like garages and attics. Instead, choose a cool, dry, temperature-controlled indoor area to hang your bag. If no indoor space is available, you can hang the bag outdoors, but be sure to protect it from the elements.
Secondly, when hanging your bag, use a hook to avoid creasing or folding the bag, as this can damage the delicate outer materials and insulation fibres, reducing its warmth and comfort over time. If your bag has a loop, use this to hang it up. Hanging your bag will help it maintain its loft, which is crucial to keeping you warm. When a sleeping bag is compressed, its insulating fibres are crushed and broken, reducing its ability to trap body heat effectively.
Thirdly, consider using a fan or dehumidifier to speed up the drying process if needed. You can also use a large commercial dryer, although this is not usually necessary unless you are washing your bag. If you do use a dryer, always use a low heat setting and check on your bag frequently to avoid damage.
Finally, remember to hang your bag loosely to allow airflow and prevent creasing. By following these simple steps, you'll be able to keep your sleeping bag in top condition for many years of comfortable camping!
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Avoid compression
The insulation loft is key to keeping you warm. Both down and synthetic fills need to fluff up (loft) to create small air spaces within the insulation. These then trap body heat to help you stay warm while you sleep. When you compress your sleeping bag, you compress the insulator, making it less effective.
Therefore, it is important to avoid compressing your sleeping bag when storing it. Stuff sacks are handy for transporting your bag to the campsite, but they should not be used for long-term storage. The compression removes protective air from between the fibres in your sleeping bag, which can cause crushing and breakage of the insulation fibres and reduce the amount of loft available in your sleeping bag. This will ultimately affect its ability to keep you warm at night and can cause the outer fabric to deteriorate and tear.
When you return from a camping trip, take your sleeping bag out of its stuff sack and let it expand. Spend a minute or two fluffing it up and helping your bag regain its loft. Make sure your sleeping bag is 100% dry before storing it.
When storing your sleeping bag, it is best to hang it up on a hook in a dry closet or a dry, temperature-controlled indoor area. Alternatively, you can store it in a large breathable (cotton or mesh) bag in a dry place that will allow it to maintain its loft. The best storage sack is the jumbo cotton storage bag that most bags are sold with today. That bag keeps things contained without compressing the fill, while also allowing air circulation. If your bag didn't come with a large storage bag, you can use a king-size pillowcase or buy a cotton or mesh sack (90L is a good size) to store it in.
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Keep it cool
Keeping your sleeping bag stored in a cool place is essential to maintaining its quality and ensuring a comfortable night's sleep. Incorrectly storing your sleeping bag can lead to it becoming soiled or damaged, and the fragile insulation fibres inside can be compromised.
Moisture and temperature extremes are hard on your bag, so avoid damp basements and unheated spaces like garages and attics. If you have no choice but to store your sleeping bag in an attic, make sure it is in a large plastic container, such as a Rubbermaid tub, and that the bag is completely dry before storing.
If you have the space, it is best to hang your sleeping bag in a dry, temperature-controlled indoor area. If you can set up a fan or dehumidifier, this will speed up the drying process. If hanging the bag is not possible, you can store it in a jumbo cotton storage bag or a cotton or mesh sack, which will allow air circulation.
The key is to make sure the bag is stored loosely, so it has room to breathe and unfurl. This will help it to keep its loft, which is key to keeping you warm.
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Frequently asked questions
You should store your sleeping bag in a cool, dry place. It should be stored loosely in a breathable, cotton or mesh bag, or hung up on a hanger or hook.
Stuff sacks are designed for portability, not long-term storage. Keeping your sleeping bag compressed will damage the insulation fibres and reduce its effectiveness.
You should wash your sleeping bag periodically, as body oils, sweat and dirt can compromise its performance. You can wash it by hand or machine, using a front-loading washer and down-specific soap. After washing, ensure the bag is completely dry before storing it.
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