down bag storage between hikes

Posted by: kevonionia

down bag storage between hikes - 05/13/08 05:04 PM

I finally got a light-weight down bag (actually two) for myself and my hiking spouse, and I tried using the search feature to find out how to "store" the bag. Found either a million posts or none depending on where or if I used quotes. Gave up.

I'm on a boat in Miami, temps/humidity 90/90 in summer, but have an a/c'd storage unit. After reading about keeping a down bag in it's compression sack for several months being the "kiss of death" in another post, I've got them loose and hanging from oversized hangers in the storage unit. Is that good enough? Anything else I need to be doing? Or suggestions to prolong the life and effectiveness of the bag? This is something that I maybe should have posted on the newbie forum, since with down bags, I am.
Posted by: Heintooga

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/13/08 05:55 PM

Hanging bags is great. You can use the large "storage" sacks if they came with them, just not anything that compresses the down. An a/c'd storage unit is good enough.
Posted by: kevonionia

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/13/08 06:22 PM

Heintooga:

Geez, thanks. They came in some big clear plastic bags that I kept but forgot about that I can use with the hangers to store them in.
Posted by: Heintooga

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/13/08 06:30 PM

Plastic is bad for storage, they need to breathe. Some folks use a sheet or similar wrap to avoid dust but it's optional.
Posted by: kevonionia

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/13/08 06:37 PM

Heintooga:

Again, thanks. I'll use some old cotton sheets then cut and sewn to fit over? Or is that even necessary? I just moved into this brand new storage unit, climate-controlled, from a stinky old storage place they're tearing down to make a new airport rail station to downtown -- (yeah, right, but not in my lifetime).
Posted by: Paddy_Crow

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/14/08 05:28 AM

A pillow case makes a perfect bag, it's even the right size. You can even cut into the seam and add a drawstring.
Posted by: BarryP

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/14/08 07:56 AM

Congrats on getting a down bag!
Plastic bags are only used for shipping, not storing.
It’s great you have an a/c storage unit.
A cotton cover sheet sounds like a good idea. Cotton promotes breathing, and keeps the dust off.

My Kelty bags hang from the ceiling since they have hang loops.
My Western Mountaineering bags are in a large cotton bag which also hangs from the ceiling.
I like the hang loop idea but I don’t know if one way is better than the other way (large cotton storage sack).

-Barry
Posted by: OregonMouse

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/14/08 12:49 PM

If you hang, make sure the other clothes in the closet aren't shoved against the sleeping bags. I store mine in the big cotton storage bags that came with them, on a closet shelf, with nothing on top and no crowding. And make sure that whatever you cover them with is breathable. You can just safety-pin an old sheet around the hanging sleeping bag; no need to sew anything fancy. Some people store their sleeping bags under the bed, but be sure to wrap them gently in a sheet to avoid their getting dusty.
Posted by: johndavid

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/14/08 05:58 PM

I don't think a pillow case makes an ideal storage bag for a sleeping bag.

I've got two down bags that are more than thirty years old and a fairly new, very pricey summer down bag. The older ones have lost plenty of loft but are still quite usable. I have always stored them loosely folded, and only rarely washed them.

In South Florida, I'd quite concerned about heat and humidity and without climate-controlled storage, would probably put seal item in a very very large plastic bag preferably on a day of low humidity or after a brief period in a clothes dryer.

----
Posted by: Earthling

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/16/08 02:58 PM

Kevon, you have them in the best place for your situation. Just a loose cotton sheet over the hangers will do. When you visit them, give them a shake to keep any creepy crawlies from nesting up in them if you know what I mean <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/smirk.gif" alt="" /> had plenty in florida storage til the dang hurricanes came along <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/tongue.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: sabre11004

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/18/08 01:18 PM



You may find it better to store it laid out if possible. That way over time gravity won't pull all the down as far south as it can. That way all your down will lay flatly and you will not experience the bunching up of your insulation.Hope that helps...Happy Trekking...sabre11004...

The first step that you take will be one of those that get you there !!!!! <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" />
Posted by: Roocketman

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 05/18/08 07:35 PM

All my down bags came with large "storage bags' which are large breathable cloth bags in which the bag fits loosely.

For some of my synthetic fiber bags, I just use good sized laundry bags. They are big and breathable, some are just mesh, and the bag just lies in it like in a loose pile without compression.

The idea is that the bag should take up a lot of volume as its "natural free state" during storage, and then when unstuffed from the stuff bag at your campsite, it will fluff up again to hight volume as in the "natural free state".

Simply put, get a great big bag to store the down articles in. Let them breathe too.

It is really simple. Hanging them does a good job of letting the bag occupy a lot of volume as its "natural free state". so it will fluff up to maximum volume when you get to your campsite.

Jim
Posted by: bulrush

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 06/19/08 06:02 AM

I don't have a down sleeping bag, but mine is filled with man-made fiber. It still needs to be stored "hanging up". So I bought an oversized dress cover, used for transporting dresses, and it fits the bag, barely. Though the cover is plastic it's supposed to be breathable (has many tiny holes) and it zips up.
Posted by: Knaight

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 04/07/09 08:13 AM

I know this is an old topic, but I'm interested to know what people think. We have synthetic fill bags and have taken to storing them in a large plastic tub. This gives them plenty of room and keeps the mice out, but I'd never considered the "breathing" issue before. Should I store them another way?
Posted by: Rick_D

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 04/07/09 01:50 PM

I don't actually know, but I'll guess the only reason to worry about it is if it's humid where they're stored. If they were to mildew they'd definitely be ruined. Otherwise, critter protection seems more important than breathability.

Cheers,
Posted by: Spock

Re: down bag storage between hikes - 04/13/09 01:40 PM

The absolutely best way to store any sleeping bag is to lay it out flat in a cool, dry place with good air circulation. Quilts and bags that open flat can be put into a duvet and used like a comforter. But you are in Florida. I presume your home is air conditioned because you are mobile enough to post here. But if your closets get warm and humid, watch out. I keep my quilts (I don't use sleeping bags) that are not being used in a comforter laid flat on a bed in a spare bedroom. I turn them when I think about it.