Sleeping Bag Care and Feeding

[Picacho]

I use a Granite Gear compression stuff sack for my down bag when I am backpacking and it works great and saves a lot of space.  I can now pack everything I need for a few days into my daypack as long as I am going solo and can take my 1 man tent.

[dryer]

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.

Down bags handle washing quite well too.  I wash mine about every year in the machine.
In the interim, after each trip, you can hang the bag, unzipped, length wise with the interrior exposed, and wipe it down with a very mild soapy water solution (dr. bronners unscented or dawn detergent.....again MILD...couple drops in quart of water) and another wipe down with plain water, let air dry in the sun.   That will remove body oils.  Use a wash rag or sponge.

[Boot Canyon 1 Cougar]

Great choice in sleeping bags.  You chose one that will last a lifetime.

One way to preserve a bag from dirt, grime, etc. is to insert a liner, such as the ones made by Cocoon.  Campmor and other resellers carry them.

I've read that a silk liner adds up to 10 degress to a bag, and weighs only 6 ounces--but since you have a "0 degree" bag, I doubt if you'll often need more warmth.

I think silk is about the lightest of all liners, and also the warmest.

When I pack my 15 degree bag,  I often end up using it only as a quilt, given the normal range of Texas temperatures.

In the warmer months, sometimes all I take is the liner.   When in between, I've been using a 40 degree bag, sometimes with or without a liner.

[homerboy2u]

Those are very dependable weather accesories. You should see how Randell's camping equipment did on the snow.

  Those are te types of equipment you need for cold camping...the rest is like eating pie.

 Good advise, we are reading today.

[Robert]

One way to preserve a bag from dirt, grime, etc. is to insert a liner, such as the ones made by Cocoon. Campmor and other resellers carry them.

I was in REI before my last trip and there were some new liners that had more of a fleecy feel to them. I almost bought one but held out since I already have something similar.

I actually had my wife make me a liner-like cover (she can sew) for my thermarest. When I end up sleeping under my bag but not in it, this bag serves as a soft texture to lie on. The bag covers the thermarest. But it's also big enough to use as a liner if I ever needed it.