A quality sleeping bag may be one of the biggest backpacking investments you ever make. If you know how to care for your sleeping bag, it’ll last for many years, possibly even decades. That said, nothing will ruin a sleeping bag faster than neglect. In this article we’ll show you a few tips and tricks that will make it easier to prolong the life of your sleeping bag.
General Tips & Tricks
STORE YOUR SLEEPING BAG PROPERLY
One of the best things you can do to extend the life and health of your sleeping bag is to store it in a dry place where it can spread out. Never store a sleeping bag compressed. Ever.
The best way to store a sleeping bag is to hang it up on a hook in a dry closet (not a musty basement or attic). You can also store it in a large breathable (cotton or mesh) bag in a dry place that will allow it to maintain its loft. Never put a sleeping bag in a plastic trash bag or non-breathable storage container.
SPRAY FOR FRESHNESS
If you want to give your bag the ultimate TLC, hang it up as soon as you return from a trip and spray it lightly – inside and out – with Febreze (or an enzyme spray or anti-allergy spray). This will kill off any pollen or mold spores and give it a fresh smell for your next use.
ONLY COMPRESS SLEEPING BAGS WHEN NECESSARY
It makes sense to carry your bag in a stuff sack while in transport, but once you get where you’re going, pull it out immediately, give it a fluff, and let it regain it’s loft. Leaving your bag compressed for long periods of time can damage the down feathers or synthetic fill, causing your bag to loose loft and warmth.
KEEP YOUR SLEEPING BAG DRY
On the trail, we often carry our sleeping bags in waterproof stuff sacks (or waterproof compression stuff sack) when it’s raining. Dry bags are a worthy investment for trips where you’re likely to encounter rain. Keeping your sleeping bag dry should always be a top priority for comfort and safety -and to extend its life.
CLEAN YOURSELF UP
Sweat, dirt, and oil are long-term enemies of insulation, reducing your bag’s effective warmth rating. Some hikers embrace trail dirt and don’t mind sleeping in it, but we always try to clean up thoroughly after a long day on the trail. We also like to change into clean camp clothes when possible. This helps us sleep much better and keeps our sleeping bags free of dirt, sweat, oil, and bad smells.
To wash up, we usually take a water bottle shower, use a handkerchief as a washcloth, and dry off with a small Pack Towel. Also, remember to clean up at least 200 feet from water sources and only use biodegradable soap if really necessary. (We take soap-free showers, and they’re great.)
CONSIDER USING A SLEEPING BAG LINER
A sleeping bag liner will help protect the interior of your bag from dirt and grime, and they can also add a little warmth. Choose a microfleece liner for more warmth and a silk-blend liner for a softer and lighter feel against the skin.
We generally don’t use liners because they can feel a bit constrictive and add some pack weight, but they definitely keep your bag fresher. A lot of backpackers love them.
PROTECT YOUR SLEEPING BAG WHILE COWBOY CAMPING
Sleeping in your bag without a tent? Always use a ground sheet and sleeping pad to protect your bag from direct contact with the ground. This will help keep the outside of your bag clean and free of abrasions.
Cleaning Your Sleeping Bag
Many backpackers never clean their sleeping bags, allowing grit and grime to soak in for many years. Not only will this make for a super stinky sleep sack, but it will also eventually ruin your bag’s fabrics and decrease its loft and insulation. If it’s time to deep clean your bag, check out our full sleeping bag washing guide. Below are some basic tips to get you started.
SPOT TREAT
Sometimes, all your bag will need is a spot wash around areas like the head or footbox. To do this, apply a small amount of down wash to an area and use a toothbrush to scrub away the grime. When completed, use a wet sponge to wash the area and remove the soap. If possible, hold the fabric away from the down filler to minimize getting the down wet. It’s ok if you do get the down wet, you’ll just need to give it adequate time to dry before storing your bag.
DEODORIZE
If your bag has a developed an odor, give it a good spray with Nature’s Miracle or Febreze and hang it to dry. You don’t need to saturate the bag since most of the odor will likely be in the fabric covering the bag. If the smell remains after hanging it out to dry for 24 hours, the stink may be in the down fill. If that’s the case, you can either spray it again – this time saturating the bag – or give it a full wash.
FULL WASH
Washing your sleeping bag may sound like a daunting task, but it’s actually pretty simple – even though it will take a few hours. Down feathers are delicate, so it’s very important to wash your bag properly. Remember to always use a down-specific wash, such as Grangers Down Wash or Nikwax Down Wash. Check our our detailed guide – How to wash a down sleeping bag – for a step-by-step process to cleaning and restoring DWR to your bag.
Sleeping Bag Repair
If you’ve owned your sleeping bag for a while, chances are you’ve experienced some of these common issues before. Most of these fixes should be fairly easy to address on your own. And remember, in a pinch, or even for a long term fix, Tenacious Tape is a really good fabric repair tool for sleeping bag holes or tears. Here are some easy fixes to common sleeping bag problems:
DOWN LEAK
Most down sleeping bags are designed with tightly woven fabrics that prevent feathers from getting out. But every now and then, you’re likely see feathers poking their way through your sleeping bag fabric. (Pro tip: Don’t worry: it’s normal for down sleeping bags and jackets to leak down plumes when they’re new.)
When that happens, we recommend not pulling the feathers out. Instead, try to work them back inside your bag by pulling the fill from the inside. You definitely don’t want to get in the habit of pulling feathers out of your sleeping bag because this only create larger holes, which makes it easier for more feathers to escape.
FABRIC HOLES OR TEARS
Sadly, two-way zippers are notorious for snagging fabric and ripping a holes in sleeping bags. Be proactive and take it easy on your zippers. Zip slowly and avoid yanking if your zipper gets stuck.
If you do develop a hole in your sleeping bag, we recommend using Gear Aid’s Tenacious Tape to patch up the fabric. This sticky-back waterproof tape is great for fixing rips, holes, and gashes outdoor gear.
Alternatively, you could also hand stitch holes or tears with a needle and thread. Serious holes or tears may require a professional repair. If you don’t feel confident sewing or patching your bag yourself, we recommend contacting the bag manufacturer.
ZIPPERS
To fix a derailed or broken zipper, you’ll need a zipper repair kit. That’s usually a task that’s best completed at home, so you may have to tough it out if you’re already on the trail. You may be tempted to use safety pins on your bag as a temporary fix, but we recommend against that because introducing new holes into a sleeping bag’s fabric is generally not a good idea. Also, keep in mind that most sleeping bag manufacturers have warranty policies that cover damaged or defective zippers.
Sleeping Bag Storage Tips
REMOVE FROM STUFF SACK
As soon as you arrive home, take your sleeping bag out of its stuff sack and let it expand. Spend a minute or two fluffing the feathers to help your bag regain its loft. This is one of the most important things you can do to help extend the life of your sleeping bag.
AIR IT OUT
Make sure you unzip your bag and open it up completely to ensure that it’s 100% dry before storage. You can also spay it with Febreze to reduce bad smells, but make sure to let your bag dry completely before you store it.
STORE IN A LARGE SACK OR HANG
Once your bag is dry and ready to be stored, we recommend either hanging your bag up or placing it in its large mesh storage bag. It’s very important to store your sleeping bag in a dry location (not a musty basement or attic).
CONCLUSION
The best sleeping bags for camping and backpacking cost hundreds of dollars. It’d be a shame to degrade your bag’s performance and shorten its life by not taking care of it. These tips and tricks for repairing, washing, storing, and caring for your sleeping bag will maintain its performance and protect your investment in quality gear.
