RE: sleeping bags--rolled up or hung up

[PI]

 
Here is a question,
 Should sleeping bags be rolled up or hung up while being stored? Does keeping them rolled up, in any way affect their insulation properties because of the continuous compression? My DH and his friend were having a discussion about this. What is your opinion?

[AustinBoston]

 PI
I imagine it depends on the type of fill material.
 
 One of the problems with hanging is that the material can drift to one end.  If it is heavily quilted, it will still bunch up based on gravity, just not at the end.
 
 Austin

[mike4947]

 PI
Couldn t say for sure on the ones with artifical filling, but any with goose down are pretty emphatic about NOT rolling the bags or anything stuffed with down for storage. They also frown on those storage bags you suck the air out of to reduce space. They say it kills the loft of the article and it s the loft (air spaces between the fibers) that creates the insulation.

[TheWallRocks]

 PI
I keep my hi-end down bag in a compression stuff sack, and for the past 7 years it doesn t seem to have hurt it at all.  When I take it out of the sack and shake it a few times it puffs right up like new.  Now that we have a PU we just lay it on a bunk end or stuff it under the dinette seat.
 
 

[topcat7736]

 PI
Click [link=http://www.nunatakusa.com/Down_Care_Washing_Storing.htm]HERE[/link] for storage & cleaning ideas.

[missteri]

 PI
My DH bought an expensive bag this winter and the saleman told him it was preferred to keep them hanging up when not in use, but I really don t have a good place to hang a bag like that, so it stays in its sack most of the time.

[kitphantom]

 PI
We keep our bags stored in a very large box (we turned one of the bedrooms into a storage room, since the house is a tad short on storage space otherwise), so that they are not compressed while being stored, when in stuff sacks they are very compressed. The box is large enough they can be just dropped in and there is hole on one end, so there is some air circulation.  Storage in plastic boxes is not suggested for most fabric items, esp. in areas where there may be moisture, since things can mildew.  Some fillings will be more suceptible to compression while stored.  Our semirectangular bags are good quality (I think hollofil, but don t quote me), and have been used for 7 or 8 seasons. We have started to notice spots where the filling is either compressed or has moved some.  They ll be good for a few more years, but we figure anything we can do to keep them in good condition will help.  We now have mummy bags for backpacking and colder weather, and the box is large enough to hold them too.  I don t know where we d hang the bags, since none of our closets have rods high enough to hang them full length, and I m sure being folded over a hanger for storage would also not be good for the filling.  I have also seen storage bags sold with some sleeping bags (I think they came with our mummies), basically a light fabric drawstring bag large enough to store the bag in uncompressed.  Would keep most of the dust out and again allow air circulation.

[Campaholics]

 PI
After we wash and dry them at the end of the season, they are stored in large garbage bags.  We go on the theory that if they don t stay compressed year around they will retain more loft.  The Wallrocks have persented evidence to the contrary.  Looks like the holofil (spelling?) is fairly forgiving.
 
 The Campaholics,

[wahoonc]

 PI
My $.02 worth[8D] I have always stored mine in a loose stuff sack especially my down bags, still do it with the synthetic bags too. North Face used to sell a light cotton stuff bag just for that purpose.
 
 Aaron[]

[PI]

 PI
Thanks everyone for your input. It is all very helpful.

[oldmoose]

 PI
My down bag is stored in a large bag. The rectangular bags we use in the trailer are aired out before repacking in their bags which are stored in the trailer. Since we are usually camping every week our two, the bags don t get compressed.