Let us walk you through the process of packing your sleeping bag step by step. We purposefully selected two very different types of bags to demonstrate that this approach works when you have a camping sleeping bag or something a bit more advanced for expeditions and multi-day hiking.
The main thing to note in all other sleeping bags is to stop folding or tossing, which can produce ‘sheets’ of fill that prevent further lofting and, over time, can break it down. Stuffing results in an unusual folding pattern that is peculiar to each time you prepare your sleeping bag. This removes the chance of tension inside your bag and ensures that it can loft up higher the next time you use it.
Although both synthetic bags and down bags enlist the same action, the process for each ever so slightly differs. Let’s start with…
For this example, we’ve chosen the Essential 5°C Sleeping Bag from Black Wolf. A brand-new bag will be very tightly rolled so you want to teach that inner fill how to breathe in deeply and hold that air!
Compact your sleeping bag to the bottom of your compression sack right from the start.
Support the sack with your knee or between your feet.
Use your fists to hold the sleeping bag down.
The toggle will help keep the opening pulled in.
Make sure your compression straps are not twisted before you fit the cap into place.
If you want or need to reduce the size of your pack, then you can use your body weight by placing one of your knees on top of the sack and tightening off the compression straps. Avoid tightening too much though, as the strain may weaken the stitching of your sack and stress the buckles.
If space is limited, you can compress your packed sleeping bag using the compression straps.
When stuffing a down bag, you must take a little bit more care because of the extra fabric and baffles inside.
Here we’re jumping way up to the other end of the scale and using one of the high-end bags from our range, the Spark SP4 Sleeping Bag from Sea to Summit. Regardless of which bag you have or how much it cost, you want to take care of it as best you can. But if you’re investing some serious dosh into a specialised expedition bag, then you want to do everything possible to maintain its quality and longevity.
Most high-end down sleeping bags will come with both a compression sack and a loose-fitting bag for storage.
Down sleeping bags often have a waterproof coating on their outer fabric which inhibits their breathability when packing and during storage, so turning it inside out means your sleeping bag will be able to breathe.
Once the down sleeping bag is inside out, you can begin stuffing.
From here, the process is very much the same as what you do for a synthetic bag. However, down bags do tend to stuff and squish more easily, you’ve just got to show that air who’s boss!
Fill the base of your compression sack as much as possible.
Double action stuffing! One hand opens and pulls the sack upward, while the other punches the bag down to the bottom.
Down sleeping bags are easier to pack than synthetic varieties.
Keep squishing the bag down into your sack while pulling the drawstring.
The cap protects the toggle and gathered opening of your compression sack.
Avoid pulling your compression straps too tightly.
Storage bags allow your sleeping bag to breathe and keep the fill lofted.
Most down bags come with 2 different sacks – one for when you’re hiking or camping and you need to keep your gear compact and minimal. The other is a loose-fitting, zippered storage bag to house your sleeping bag between trips.
Down bags are best stored inside out and uncompressed. Using a loose-fitting breathable bag allows the down to remain lofted and keeps things dry and fresh. Most quality down bags will come with a cotton or mesh storage sack that will accommodate the bag in a loosely packed fashion. If your bag does not have one of these then you can use a large pillowcase or similar, then store it in the top of a cupboard or somewhere it won’t get squashed.
If you have space, the most ideal way to store your bag is to hang it from the foot end using a clipped coathanger. This method keeps the insulation as lofted and aired out as possible. However, it’s not the most realistic option for most people, so a loose-fitting breathable bag is a good second choice.
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