RSS FeedsTips for Proper Use of Sleeping Bags
A good night camping sleep starts with choosing the right camping gear especially your sleeping bag. Your role however does not end with purchasing a quality sleeping bag. For years of satisfying camping adventures, you must keep your sleeping bag in good condition through proper care and maintenance.
Campers have the habit of unrolling the bag during bedtime which would really take time. It is recommended that you lay the sleeping bag at least an hour before you go to sleep. This would provide the sleeping bag enough time to expand and therefore maximizing its insulation capacity. On the other hand, allow your sleeping bag to air out after each trip. Hang it outside especially during sunny and let it dry in the sun.
It is imperative that you know how to take care of your bag’s zipper. Make sure you purchase a sleeping bag built with excellent zipper system. This is one of the best features of Marmot Helium EQ sleeping bag. An improvised yet effective means of repairing the zipper is by rubbing a pencil on the zipper teeth. It is best that you purchase only a sleeping bag with self-repairing coil zipper and zipper baffle.
As with hand washing, use only warm water and mild soap or specialty bag cleaning solution. Using a commercial heavy duty, front-loading, tumble-type machine, wash the sleeping bag and set the water temperature on “cool” and the cycle on “gentle”. Dry the sleeping bag over a clothesline. Do not ring out the bag. Use your hand to press excess water out. You may also choose to load it in a commercial type dryer but make sure to set in on “air only” setting.
Maintain your sleeping bag’s loft by storing it properly. Never roll up your wet sleeping bag in a stuff sack. Use only breathable and large stuff sack for your sleeping bag. Avoid compressing it as this will lose its loft easily. It is best to store your sleeping bags loosely on a shelf or just hang it by the loops at the foot like your clothes in a closet.