Storing Mummy Bags
Is it true that mummy bags should not be stored in a stuff sack, but rather hung in closet between trips? Seems like a waste of space.
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Question:
Is it true that mummy bags should not be stored in a stuff sack, but rather hung in closet between trips? Seems like a waste of space.
Submitted by – Robert from Budd Lake, NJ
Answer:
It may be a waste of space–and completely undoable if you’re short on closet acreage–but it’s the lesser of two evils. Keeping your bag stored in its tiny sack for long periods of time is a waste of money. Insulation, whether it’s down or synthetic (but especially synthetic) will lose loft and the ability to puff up if it’s kept mashed up in a stuff sack interminably. While it’s fine to compress it on the trail, at home you gotta give it some love. If you can’t hang it in your closet, try storing it under your bed with the dust bunnies. Put it in a large, breathable sack–most good bags come with cotton storage sacks–and put it to bed somewhere safe. If you don’t have a cotton sack, use a king sized pillow case. A good sleeping bag will keep you warm for many years if you give the insulation plenty of elbow room between trips.