How to care for a sleeping bag?

[MichiganMan25]

I just returned from a week long hunting trip. I purchased a Stone Glacier Chilkoot beforehand. The bag is awesome, I'm quite happy with it. I found it on sale at Scheel's. It is currently one of my most expensive pieces of gear. I have always used cheaper Coleman bags. I realized with this new bag that I really don't know the best way to care for it to make it last as long as possible. What do you like to do with your bag when you return from a trip? I know to keep it in it's loose bag, not the stuff sack anyway lol How often do you wash them? Does anyone keep it in a large tote to help protect it from humidity and bugs?

 

[*zap*]

Correctly launder as necessary. I think a large tote with a few mothballs is a very good storage solution. Certainly do not store compressed at all.

 

[ianpadron]

I wash my down gear as necessary with Nikwax Tek Wash, do not use a top loader. Dry on low/tumble with tennis balls until loft returns. This takes a full day for a sleeping bag so don't freak out when its still soaked after round 1 haha (been there)

Typically, a week long trip doesnt warrant a wash unless your bag was absolutely abused.

 

[feanor]

I usually unzip and turn it inside out and open the windows, drape it on the sofa to expose it to the sun for a day to air it out. This works pretty well to get any general funk out. Now if you had a long hunt and didn’t shower etc, maybe its worth it to wash it before storing for the season.

 

[zimagold]

Use a bag liner, significantly cuts down on need to wash the bag directly. This seems to be the single biggest thing I have done to improve longevity besides storing on a dedicated shelf to prevent any compression.

 

[LongWayAround]

Don't lay in it with bare sweaty skin. Air it out when you get home.

If it's getting funky wash in a machine with no agitator (front loading) with Nikwax Downwash. Dry on a light setting with about six tennis balls.

Try not to wash it much.

I keep mine in a rectangular tote about the same volume as the stuff sack. It's easier to store when it's stackable.