How to Store a Sleeping Bag
When storing your sleeping bag after a long season outdoors or following your yearly cleaning, there are a few key factors to consider before putting it away. Proper storage is essential for maintaining the longevity of your sleeping bag. How you store it directly impacts whether it remains flat or retains its original fluffiness, just as it was when you first purchased it. To ensure your bag stays in top condition, our Camping Experts recommend a few helpful tips.
Compression
While compression is great for camping, it's not ideal for long-term storage. Keeping your sleeping bag compressed for extended periods can damage the loft and resilience of the insulation. As soon as you return from your trip, remove your sleeping bag from its stuff sack and let the fibers fully expand.
Typically, sleeping bags will come with a storage bag and a stuff sack. The storage bag is designed for long term use and will not decrease the loft. The stuff sack should only be used when you are camping or backpacking.
Drying Out Your Bag
Before storing away your bag, we recommend drying it out after a use of camping to prevent mold and mildew growth. Drying your bag will also let the fibers fully decompress.
Tips:
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Unzip your bag fully.
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Let it hang dry for a full 24 hour day.
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Place it outside in a covered area to not retrieve direct sunlight as UV rays can weaken the fabric of your bag.
If you do not have outdoor space, you can toss your sleeping bag in a dryer with a few tennis balls to fluff it up. Remember to keep the heat on low and have your bag fully unzipped to protect it from tangling.
Clean Your Sleeping Bag Regularly
Whether you have a synthetic or down sleeping bag, our Camping Experts explain how to clean your sleeping bag in a step-by-step guide!
Storing Your Bag
The best place to store your bag is in a temperature controlled room, preferably the corner of your closet. Storing your sleeping bag in an attic or shed will likely damage the loft and material. Stuff your sleeping bag into the storage bag–no need to be organized! Just start from the bottom and loosely stuff the bag until it is full.
Tip:
- If your sleeping bag did not come with a storage bag, you can use a cotton or mesh sack (usually the 90L size for long-term storage).
Proper storage of your sleeping bag is crucial for extending its lifespan, ensuring that you won't need to replace it frequently. If you have more questions about how to store your sleeping bag, stop into your local SCHEELS and speak with a Camping Expert!