how are you guys storing you sleeping bags?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - how are you guys storing you sleeping bags?

Posted: 11/16/2008 5:09:57 AM EDT

Well I was always told (which I thought to be true) was to store you bags unrolled/packed that way not to mess up the insulation from being packed tight for long periods of time.

The reason why I bring this topic up, is I'd like to have a BOB ready to go with sleeping attached, I dont want to hose up a good sleeping bag either. Right now I would have to grab my bag, pack it, and attacht it to my pack.

Posted: 11/16/2008 6:11:52 AM EDT

[#1]

I have lots of sleeping bags for my wife and I.

I have two winter ones - big heavy 8 pound bags which see use about four months of the year. These jolly big bags get stored half-way rolled up. They're synthetic and I roll them up in a very relaxed roll and tie them with a rope. I have an extra orphan bag that's about 4 pounds which we use as an extra for the dog.

My two summer bags are cotton ones and those guys can be kept tight without a problem in my opinion. Those things see use at least monthly for eight months of the year.

I have two mummy bags for my BOBs - small bags 2-3 pound synthetic bags - that never get used. They're kept in a larger stuff bag than they came with. The stock stuff bag would compress them down to about 1/4th the size - little tiny handfuls of bag - and if I had to pack out the stock bags would be used.

Posted: 11/16/2008 6:16:06 AM EDT

[#2]

Ya thats a thought too! I only have beg heavy mummy bags and one flannel bag. Problem is my mummy bags just have the stuff sacks they came with. Maybe I outta look into some compression sacks where like you mentioned they can be packed lightly then when I have to grab my ruck, I just have to compress the bags down.

Thanks

Posted: 11/16/2008 7:42:56 AM EDT

[#3]

Think about how the bag was stored when you purchased it. The bag i bought has never been stored as tightly as when I picked it up at the store (mainly because I can't get it rolled up that nicely again). It's not unrealistic to believe that the bag was at least a year or so old from the time it rolled off the assembly line until I bought it. In my opinion, most modern insulation will loft properly when uncomprossed.

Posted: 11/16/2008 8:37:32 AM EDT

[#4]

I use to use a laundry bag which protects the bag and does not compress it.

worked for years

Posted: 11/16/2008 8:45:03 AM EDT

[#5]

I have a cats Meow north face bag that my dad gave me in 1981 ––found the reciept cleaning out his stuff lst yr. I didn't know any better at the time so I just stored it stuff in the stuff sack it came in until about a year ago when I started looking around at new bags.

well 25 yrs later its flat and has no loft good for tv watching when its cold. I couldn't really say when it started losing loft but definetly wasn't 4 or 5 hell maybe even 10 yrs later.

I bought a higher end down bag this time around so if the one lasts me 25yrs probably be one of the last bags I own.

eta –– I store my nice new down bag in the laundry bag storage bag it came with now that I know the score.

Posted: 11/16/2008 8:49:56 AM EDT

[#6]

I have big roomy cotton sleeping bag storage bags. I think my storage sacks came with the bags but you can also buy them at Campmor and other camping supply places. I keep two or three sleeping bags each in a big plastic lidded tub that I bought at Wally World. I've got three of these tubs on a shelf where I store all my camping gear. I toss the appropriate stuff sack inside the storage bags with the sleeping bag. That way they're there when I get ready to use them.

Posted: 11/16/2008 10:05:45 AM EDT

[#7]

I have military bags that are alwas rolled until we use them and they have not broken down. Also have two Eureka bags that are packed and the fill has been fine.

Posted: 11/16/2008 10:13:13 AM EDT

[#8]

i store mine uncompressed in a large trunk. down will lose its warmth if left compressed.

Posted: 11/16/2008 11:23:58 AM EDT

[#9]

I hang mine in the storage room, FWIW.

Posted: 11/16/2008 12:55:16 PM EDT

[#10]

Keep them in a large cotton bag, like a laundry bag. Stuff them in there loosely. Many materials, especially down, will develop a memory. If it's always scrunched, it will want to stay that way. It's best to store your down jackets the same way.

Posted: 11/16/2008 4:36:58 PM EDT

[#11]

I keep all of the sleeping bags loosely stuffed into seabags. I have two of the heavy winter ones in one bag, four summer bags in another and 2 of the .mil 3 part sleep systems in another. I stenciled the side of the bag to help remind me which is which. I also have about a half dozen fleece bags in a parachute bag.

Posted: 11/16/2008 5:11:58 PM EDT

[#12]

I like the laundry bag ideas!

Posted: 11/16/2008 5:27:16 PM EDT

[#13]

I've started storing mine in compression bags, uncompressed, and inside of USGI duffel bags.

Posted: 11/17/2008 7:26:29 AM EDT

[#14]

My two newest ones came with a big loose cotton bag and the much smaller carry bag.

Posted: 11/17/2008 11:38:03 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Well I was always told (which I thought to be true) was to store you bags unrolled/packed that way not to mess up the insulation from being packed tight for long periods of time.

The reason why I bring this topic up, is I'd like to have a BOB ready to go with sleeping attached, I dont want to hose up a good sleeping bag either. Right now I would have to grab my bag, pack it, and attacht it to my pack.

Purchase the giant mesh bags from campmor ( if you need them ) allways store
loose uncompressed in a cool dry area (next to your ammo ) After several years
you may find your bag needs viagra, wash it and take it to a laundry mat with
front loading dryers, run it thru on the lowest temp possible.
READ THE DIRECTIONS THAT CAME WITH IT, SOME LIQUID SOAP IS NOT RECOMENDED.

Posted: 11/17/2008 8:38:35 PM EDT

[#16]

Wiggy says this about his bags:

CARE: Laundering; the un-quilted constructed sleeping bag when continuous filament fiberfill is the insulation as in the case with this bag has no known limit. Bags manufactured in this manner have been laundered in the hundreds of times and dried in any dryer. They have demonstrated that the water temperature, form of detergent (liquid or powder), or type of machine is irrelevant. As noted, the laundering of the bags assures the long term maintenance of the loft of the insulation, vital to any sleeping bags long term performance.

Storage; bags manufactured in this manner are currently used and have been since 1991 in the survival kits of military air craft as well as Naval survival rafts. They are vacuum packed under 25 tons of pressure and may not be used for years. When taken out of their double blister packaging loft returns relatively quickly assuring that their insulating capacity is not compromised. Therefore, storage in a stuff sack and left on a shelf in an inventory status for long periods of time will not adversely affect the performance of each bag.

Quote found here

GL

Posted: 11/17/2008 11:12:22 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
I hang mine in the storage room, FWIW.

yep.

I hang my good bag in the closet. best option if you have the space.

I have an old beater bag that I store compressed, but it's basically a 40 degree bag now.. used to be a 15.

Posted: 11/17/2008 11:15:12 PM EDT

[#18]

On the backseat of my truck for when those nights happen that you aren't going anywhere

Posted: 11/18/2008 3:50:15 AM EDT

[#19]

I have 2 down bags I got in the late 70s and hang them in the closet not compressed. Good as the day I bought them!

Posted: 11/18/2008 4:00:45 AM EDT

[#20]

If you hang them, won't all the fill fall down to the bottom of the baffles?

I keep each of my good bags in individual 18 gallon Rubermaid Roughneck totes, not rolled but loosely pressed in.

-WhyTanFox,
who, truth be told, keeps everything in Roughneck totes of one size or the other ;-)

Posted: 11/18/2008 6:52:00 AM EDT

[#21]

Currently my Wiggy's SFSS is separated and inside out loose on a shelf (I know it won't compress but it stores like this)
My Ecotat bag is inside a goretex Bivy stuffed in my Ruck. It has lived before compressed into its stuff and squeezed down to the size of a softball but I don't store it like that anymore. I need to take it out of the Ruck and shake it out and hang it up outside to air out a bit too.

Posted: 11/18/2008 10:29:07 AM EDT

[#22]

Down bags are left in big rubbermaid tubs or just hanging in the closet. Wiggy's are all stored in their compression sack without being compressed.

After being in cool school and seeing the wiggy's being used, many of them were the ejection seat bags (vacuumed sealed) and the rest abused. They all still worked fine, just shake them out to fluff up the material and they work fine. They also get laundered everytime and are very well used.

I dont know if other bags will survive that but the wiggys do fine in just about any condition- as long as you shake them out a little.

Posted: 11/18/2008 11:59:13 AM EDT

[#23]

Quoted:
Think about how the bag was stored when you purchased it. The bag i bought has never been stored as tightly as when I picked it up at the store (mainly because I can't get it rolled up that nicely again). It's not unrealistic to believe that the bag was at least a year or so old from the time it rolled off the assembly line until I bought it. In my opinion, most modern insulation will loft properly when uncomprossed.

mine came in a plastic bag over a very large hanger like a garment bag for a suit.