Overheard a guy at REI say his 20 year old sleeping bag still lofted like new because he stored it hanging, not compressed

I've been stuffing my down bag into that tiny sack for 5 years straight and it's getting flat, so I grabbed a mesh hammock for my closet last week. Anyone else wreck their gear by not storing it right?

2 comments

2 Comments

cameron4261mo ago

My brother had a down bag from the 90s that he tossed loose in a big storage bin (like one of those Rubbermaid tubs) for years and it still lofts fine, so it's not just about hanging. The real killer is compression, not just the shape you store it in. I actually use a giant cotton laundry bag for mine now, cost like 5 bucks at a thrift store, and it breathes way better than nylon. That REI guy probably never even thought about how much dust and dirt gets trapped in a hanging sack over 20 years either, could be why his still looks new.

john_singh1mo ago

Yeah, that's rough. Down loses its puff fast when it's crammed tight all the time. I learned that lesson the hard way with an old jacket, so the mesh hammock move is a solid fix.