+- +-

Advertisement

Accommodation Options
With everything there is to see and do in and around Big Bend National Park, the area has become one of the most cherished family-friendly vacation destinations in Texas. Lodging options are abundant, ranging from rustic to luxurious. Whether your family would prefer a campground, an authentic Texas ranch, a resort hotel or a vacation rental, you're sure to find it here. There are also plenty of timeshare resales and vacation homes for sale, for those interested in becoming an avid Bender!

Copyright Notice
All photographs and content posted by members are to be considered copyrighted by their respective owners and may not be used for any purposes, commercial or otherwise, without permission.
« previous next »
Pages: [1] 2   Go Down

Author Topic: Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding  (Read 3662 times)  Share 

Offline ReDiscovering

  • Coyote
  • *
  • Posts: 94
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« on: January 22, 2007, 07:37:30 PM »
I have a new Western Mountaineering Kodiak dry loft bag.  

1. Is it OK to store it between uses in the very large bag that comes with it?   I can't put it under the bed, because it's too low and might snag.  That's a $500.00 snag.  The big yellow "strage bag" that came with it is about 30" tall with a 70" girth.   It's by no means stuffed in there, but it's not laying out like I would prefer if I had the space.

2.  Also, is it OK to use a small compression sack to backpack with?  It would need to fit in the bottom of my Gregory Palisades backpack, which has a rather typical storage space for sleeping bags.
Logged

Offline chisos muse

  • Golden Eagle
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 4189
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #1 on: January 22, 2007, 08:17:15 PM »
Did you purchase it at a store, or online? If you purchased it at a store, I would have picked some brains of the salespeople. If you purchased it online, go to the manufacturer's website and email them, or give them a call.
Logged
There's got to be something better than
In the middle....

Offline mountaindocdanny

  • Diamondback
  • *
  • Posts: 260
    • http://griffisfamilyoutdoors.blogspot.com
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #2 on: January 22, 2007, 08:56:34 PM »
Generally accepted care of down bags is that, yes a cloth storage bag is appropriate and also yes, as long as a bag is dry it should not be damaged by a compression sack as long as this is not used for storage. That being said, I'm sure the good folks at Western Mountaineering would not mind giving you their recomendations for storage and care. They do sell the "Cadillacs" of sleeping bags (both in terms of cost and quality).
Logged

Offline RichardM

  • Admin
  • Global Moderator
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 5517
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #3 on: January 22, 2007, 09:04:11 PM »
Head over to your local REI and see what they recommend.  Personally, I'd try to find space in my closet to hang it up.  Either that or see if it'll fit in one of those plastic storage boxes that are designed to slide under your bed.
Logged

Offline okiehiker

  • Black Bear
  • *
  • Posts: 707
  • cryptantha crassipses
Yes on both counts.
« Reply #4 on: January 22, 2007, 09:27:57 PM »
The large bag is the intended storage bag.  You can stuff a good down bag in a compression sack as long as it is used for backpacking, etc. not storage.
Logged
Funny... I have a story about that...

Offline RichardM

  • Admin
  • Global Moderator
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 5517
Re: Yes on both counts.
« Reply #5 on: January 22, 2007, 09:32:32 PM »
Quote from: "okiehiker"
The large bag is the intended storage bag.  You can stuff a good down bag in a compression sack as long as it is used for backpacking, etc. not storage.

Thanks for the reminder.  I think my wife's down bag is still in its compression sack.  It's been in it since before we got married in 2001.  :shock: She bought it for a trip to Longs Peak and hasn't used it since.  Maybe my daughter will use it some day....
Logged

Offline ReDiscovering

  • Coyote
  • *
  • Posts: 94
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #6 on: January 22, 2007, 10:15:06 PM »
Thanks for the help, and I just have to say about first impressions on this bag:   WOW!!

Maybe I'll include an gear review with my trip report.
Logged

Offline Undertaker

  • Ham Radio: KD5YA 1999 Ford F-350 4X4 Diesel 150 Galllons Home: Richmond, Texas
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 1324
  • Cooking BBQ for Trail Rides and Contest
    • http://www.GodboldAppraisals.Com
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #7 on: January 23, 2007, 01:34:23 PM »
Everybody has already answered your question, short term camping compression is no problem, long term in closet hanging or in larger storage bag is good, my hunting/camping storage is cedar or get good hanging moth silverfish prevention, with the cost of good camping, hunting gear don't feed the critters dollars.  8)
Logged
Visiting BB since 1966, nothing like being lost and finding heaven.

Offline TexasGirl

  • Black Bear
  • *
  • Posts: 460
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #8 on: January 24, 2007, 08:41:27 PM »
Hey, Richard, I would not resort to a plastic box unless I drilled a bunch of holes in it.  The down and fabric need to breathe, and, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you live in a rather humid climate.
Logged
As a matter of fact, I _do_ have an opinion on that....

Offline RichardM

  • Admin
  • Global Moderator
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 5517
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #9 on: January 24, 2007, 09:19:16 PM »
Quote from: "TexasGirl"
Hey, Richard, I would not resort to a plastic box unless I drilled a bunch of holes in it.  The down and fabric need to breathe, and, correct me if I'm wrong but I believe you live in a rather humid climate.

You are absolutely correct.  I had the same thoughts about breathability.  However, seeing as my wife's sleeping bag is buried at the bottom and back of the closet under the stairs and would require taking over half of the contents of the closet out before I could even see it.... Well, I'm thinking her bag's not going anywhere soon. :)
Logged

Offline TexasGirl

  • Black Bear
  • *
  • Posts: 460
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #10 on: January 24, 2007, 10:04:55 PM »
Whatever rating your wife's bag had in 2001, it may be a good 50-degree bag now.  ;)
Logged
As a matter of fact, I _do_ have an opinion on that....

Offline RichardM

  • Admin
  • Global Moderator
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 5517
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #11 on: January 24, 2007, 10:16:29 PM »
Quote from: "TexasGirl"
Whatever rating your wife's bag had in 2001, it may be a good 50-degree bag now.  ;)

It's probably been in that compression sack since 1999 or earlier.   :shock:
She threw away her perfectly good old Thermarest for no good reason other than it was taking up space in the garage.  :roll:  I'm thinking she may not want to go camping any time soon.  :(
Logged

Offline dryer

  • Roadrunner
  • *
  • Posts: 56
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #12 on: January 24, 2007, 10:52:36 PM »
Yes and Yes.   It's fine to store that bag in a big, loose, breathable storage bag.  I've got three down bags now in my closet all stored that way.  One bought in 1985 and like new.   And, compress away.   Leaving it compressed more than a couple weeks isn't good but down handles compression fine.
By far the best long term storage is by hanging full length but that does take up a lot of room.  I sometimes lay my bags out on the bed at home and use them as a comforter in winter.  Lets the down expand and relax.  Might as well put 'em to use.
Logged
KD5IVP, Texas

Offline ReDiscovering

  • Coyote
  • *
  • Posts: 94
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #13 on: January 24, 2007, 11:33:59 PM »
So many great responses!  

On another forum, someone suggested that sleeping in my dirty, oily hiking clothes isnt good for the bag in the long run.   I really like the idea of not sleeping "dirty" in the bag.  I went to REI today and bought an extra pair of really lightweight long underwear and long sleeve undershirt.   Im going to use them as sleeping PJ's only unless unddressing to get into them is prohibited by extreme cold weather.
Logged

Offline Al

  • Dog Face Moth
  • Mountain Lion
  • *
  • Posts: 3545
Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding
« Reply #14 on: January 24, 2007, 11:38:15 PM »
You have a great bag and probably won't need to wear much clothes to be comfy even when cold and windy.  It is a good idea to have a change of underclothes to sit in once the sun goes down, it gets cold and to sleep in.  I recommend changing as the sun goes down.  That's when it gets cold this time of year in the desert. I have a good heavy weight pair of wool socks dedicated to sitting and sleeping.  When you go to bed, take off the outer clothes and get in your bag.  If you don't have a pillow, stuff your outer clothes in the compression sack for your bag and use it for a pillow.

Al
Logged
Pages: [1] 2   Go Up
« previous next »
 

Advertisement
Looking to plan an adventurous trip at the Big Bend National Park but have a distracting timeshare on the brain? Free yourself from the stress of trying to sell timeshares or cancel timeshares. The professionals at Transfer America will have you enjoying the entire Big Bend Region in Texas before you know it.

Advertisement