Follow these quick tips on how to keep your sleeping bag performing at its highest throughout many adventures.
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If you ask many adventurous folk which bit of their gear is their most prized possession, you’ll find that the answer for so many is their sleeping bag. Symbolically it means a lot, that warm comfortable place at the end of a hard day outdoors. It is a place to recharge and be cosy, in some cases for the first time in quite a while. If properly taken care of, within your tent, it can be your saving grace from the elements, be it the cold, the wet or simply fatigue. For so many it is their happy place. THIS, is why it is so important to take proper care of it and for so many, the idea of taking care of a down sleeping bag is a little daunting. But we say BAH! It doesn’t have to be! Here are some simple tips to keep your down sleeping bag in top notch condition for countless adventures to come.
Tip 1: Use the storage bag when not in use!
When you’re out on the trails, of course, one of the best things about a down sleeping bag is how small it is able to pack down into its stuff sack. This isn’t to say however that those clever little feathers like to be so squished all the time, you’ve got to let them be their true fluffy selves. When storing at home, always use the provided storage bag (any down sleeping bag which doesn’t come with a storage bag should be treated dubiously). Using the storage bag allows the down to properly stretch out and not become squished and warped over time. Not using the bag for long periods of time will lead them to not be able to hold as much warm air, thus affecting the overall thermal integrity of your bag. It will also mean that any moisture, even the tiniest amount has a chance of evaporating. As a simple rule on the trail as well, if your tent is up and your their for the night, why not get the bag out of its stuff sack straight away? This way you’ll have a bed ready for you and the down at its maximum high loft!
Tip 2: If it’s wet, dry it properly
It is a known truth, alas, if you allow your down sleeping bag to get wet, it will not keep you warm. Whether on the trail or at home, it is vital to properly dry out your down sleeping bag in a way that prevents the down clusters inside sticking to each other as they dry. This requires a little percussive maintenance. If out on the trail and the weather is generous, the sun is your best friend! Hang it in a tree or drape it over your tent and allow it to get to work. Every so often to prevent the down clumping together, pick the bag up and give it a shake, plump it like you would a large pillow and make sure that the down inside is allowed to move around and isn’t clumping together. If in bad weather, the process will unfortunately be longer. If you can hang it in your tent, open up the vents allowing air, but not rain to flow through nicely, do that and be patient, plumping it occasionally for the same reasons.
If you’re home and your sleeping bag is wet, either hang it up as if still on the trail and plump or for optimal dryness, put it in a tumble dryer on a low heat setting with some tennis balls or those spiky dryer ball things which will roll around and bash that down for you. While using a tumble dryer, check your bag regularly, remember: LOW and SLOW!
Tip 3: Use a sleeping bag liner
Picture it, you’ve been camping for days, your outdoor pursuits have been hard, dirty and sweaty. Unless you’re in a fancy campsite with shower facilities or are happy jumping into rivers before bed (good on you), you are going to be one dirty camper! If you’re not using a liner, your sleeping bag is going to have your dirty body shoved into it each night and soon enough, it is going to be pretty filthy. The use of a liner provides many benefits. It adds a little more warmth on those extra cold nights, it adds a softer, cosier feel to your already cosy bag, it wicks away the moisture from you that would otherwise get absorbed by the down and it is the vital barrier between your bag and your stink. They are far more easily washable than your down bag (which isn’t to bad really, more on that in a sec).
Tip 4: Wash it!
We have spoken to far to many people who take their beloved sleeping bags regularly, keeping them for many years and have never washed them! In truth and to be fair, you do not need to wash a down bag after every trip, but depending on how often your use it, you should aim for at least once annually each year. If you’re using it frequently, you should wash it more, choose your own wash pattern but make sure it is washed occasionally.
DO NOT USE STANDARD DETERGENT! Your sleeping bag deserves better than that, after all you’ve been through. A special down was solution (like these) is what it needs, something softer and kinder to the down inside. Follow instructions on the bottle and remember that just because it keeps your warm does not mean that it needs to be too warm itself, be kind to it and the planet and wash it at 30.
Once this is done, either hang it out to dry in a dry, warm space, using the plumping method or stick it in the tumble dryer as above.
Shop down wash here
Many thanks for reading and happy, cosy camping!
