Sleeping Bags are an important part of your camping equipment and they should be looked after properly or they will not perform to the best of their ability when used on your next camping trip.
When a sleeping bag is used a small amount of moisture is generated by the person that has used it and will be trapped in the insulation material.
To remove the moisture the bag should be aired in the sun inside out. This will keep the bag fresh and healthy, otherwise mildew could form on the filling and the bag will smell when next used.
After the sleeping bag has been aired it can be stored till it is required for next use.
Most people shove the bag back in its original carry bag. This is not the best way to store a sleeping bag as the fill or insulation material maybe in a crushed position for a long of time.
When the bag is used next time the fill will retain the crushed position and as a result will not fluff up to its full potential which means up to some heat loss.
Sleeping Bags should be stored either hanging up, folding it loosely on a shelf or stored in a breathable bag made of cotton large enough for the sleeping bag to be in a loose or uncrushed condition. When you are going away then you can put the bag into the original carry bag.
Before using your sleeping bag and in each morning shake it well to fluff up the fibres and maximize the thick insulating layer and have a great sleep.
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I had always thought the best way to store a sleeping bag is to get it into the smallest form possible so it doesnt take up too much space but this has changed my mind thank you
Thanks, I used to leave them in their original bags, we have both learnt there is a better way to store sleeping bags
I use a very large plastic tub with a lid and I put my bags in there, but in a loose manner and do not stuff the container full. But, I just bought several more bags for the kids as we are ready for full family camping. My container is full and I am trying to decide how to store more bags. 7 tottal.
I would like to hang them but then how do I keep the dust off? I read somewhere else the preferred way to hang them is folded over the hanger but it seems like that would leave a crease of crushed filling?