Compressing a down bag?

[brunse]

How long is it safe to compress a quality down sleeping bag. Is 3 days too long to achieve reasonable loft in 30-60 min?

Thanks.

 

[Biggs300]

I've had my bag compressed and stored for 3 or 4 days on several occasions with no noticeable loss of loft. Just fluff it up when you remove it from the stuff sack, let it sit for a few minutes before using it and you should be fine.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Nope, should be fine.

 

[muleymemories]

My stays stuffed all year when not in use. Its 9 years old and still working great!

 

[brunse]

Thanks for the input!

 

[Daniel_M]

I believe down is better at re-lofting than synthetic. But I wouldn't store down continuously in a compressed state.

 

[ScottR_EHJ]

Mine has been compressed for much longer and its just fine.

 

[mtnkid85]

As others have said it will probably be fine. That said, don't make a habit of leaving it stuffed. I try pretty hard not to leave any of my bags stuffed. If I pack everthing the week before a trip Ill leave the bag out tell the night before.

 

[littlebuf]

My stays stuffed all year when not in use. Its 9 years old and still working great!

I certainly wouldn't do this. but you don't have anything to worry about in a couple days stuffed in your pack

 

[HellsCanyon]

As others have said it will probably be fine. That said, don't make a habit of leaving it stuffed. I try pretty hard not to leave any of my bags stuffed. If I pack everthing the week before a trip Ill leave the bag out tell the night before.

Same here. I lost some loft capability with my marmot down bag when I left it compressed for 3 months on accident a few years back.

Mike

 

[unm1136]

I have several synthetic bags that I bought before I knew better. After 6 years stored stuffed, there is a definite loss of loft and warmth. My new down stuff is stored lofted. I don't think I would worry much until we are talking months. The last REI backpacking course I took I was pleasantly surprised to hear the instructor recommend storing all sleep systems lofted rather than compressed, because he makes money by selling bags. He said you won't notice much difference until it has been compressed for 3-6 months.

pat

 

[Nick Muche]

I paid too much for my bags to keep them compressed all the time. They are all stored in the storage sacks they come with to retain loft...

 

[MAT]

My WM down bag comes with a compression sack, but it's not as small as it can be. My question is how compressed can you get and not lose loft? I have a comprsssion bag from a MH bag that will cinch this new WM bag down really tight. But I'd hate to ruin an expensive bag.

 

[Ironman8]

I don't use down, but I've always heard that you can compress it all you want but it may take just a few minutes to loft back up. So say you have it compressed while on the move, when you set up camp, just lay the bag out early so that it can loft back up before you get in it.

 

[unm1136]

The tighter you compress, the less water can infiltrate. I have a down underquilt for my hammock that I paid a pretty penny for and I compress the snot out of it when I pack it, going to a K five string stuff sack next year. It is usually lofted back up in 20 minutes or so. I store it in the linen closet on the shelf when not in use.

pat

 

[boom]

My WM down bag comes with a compression sack, but it's not as small as it can be. My question is how compressed can you get and not lose loft? I have a comprsssion bag from a MH bag that will cinch this new WM bag down really tight. But I'd hate to ruin an expensive bag.

while traveling? man, crunch it down as small as you can. i also have a WM bag, and i agree, the compression sack is conservative. i am gonna use my wife compression bag from her much smaller sleeping bag (marmot)...i want that thing tiny when i am hiking in.

 

[HellsCanyon]

When hiking I actually have gotten away from putting my sleeping bag in a compression sack. I just roll my bivy up with pad/quilt inside of it and stuff it in the sleeping bag compartment of the BT1. It compresses as much as is needed to fit and I can even put my LBO in there as well if needed. I've yet to fill my BT1 up all the way with gear... Have actually started using my Kifaru Med 5 string stuff sack for my extra clothes bag. Use another no-name sylnylon draw string bag for food and throw both those inside the Gen2 hanging meat bag and I'm off to the hills.

Mike

Mike

 

[SHTF]

Mat I have the WM bag also. No real reason to make it any smaller. Its small enough and I use a Late Season Pack for my gear. So I am minimalized as can be without adding gear bags to my Late season from Kifaru. I love WM bag. Its warm and its crazy lightweight. Love it.