Compressing Down Too Long

**LyttleBryan** · 02-07-2010, 13:47

I know the old rule "never store your sleeping bag compressed", but was wondering "how long is too long?" Since I'm sure there's no definitive answer i.e. "never store your bag/jacket/etc more than 3 days compressed" I was wondering what the longest people have kept their stuffed compressed. I'm leaving on a longer trip and won't be using my sleeping bag (or jacket) for a while. Is it safe to keep the bag compressed for a week? 2 weeks? Or should I make an effort to decompress it every night? That may not be an option though because it may be traveling ahead with the porters.

thanks!

**Shug** · 02-07-2010, 14:15

I have had mine compressed for a couple of weeks ... stuff was in transit. I fluffed it well, put it in a dryer on fluff and it was fine.
No ... I am not in "down denial" ... it really was just fine.
Not sure but would not want to go for more than that........

**angrysparrow** · 02-07-2010, 14:33

Same here...had some of my stuff stowed for a couple of weeks, no apparent harm done.

The longer it's stowed, the longer it takes to fully fluff back up. But, it does do so within a few hours.

**warbonnetguy** · 02-07-2010, 16:19

if i was gonna have it compressed for a longer amount of time i'd use the biggest bag i could, obviously you won't be able to travel with it in a huge laundry bag, but perhaps you could use a stuffsac that was 2-3 times the size of maximum compression. that would make me feel better about doing that. a dryer is good for bring it back to full loft, but sometimes that's not do-able. shake it out, let it sit for awhile then shake some more,. like AS said, it may take a few hours of doing this if compressed for a long time.

**Hawk-eye** · 02-07-2010, 16:43

Originally Posted by Shug

... No ... I am not in "down denial" ... it really was just fine. ........

"That's funny ... I don't care who you are" to coin a phrase!

I've got an old summer weight down bag ... I've had since the 70's that's had some unfortunately long compressions over the years ... and it's really survived well .. I think a week would be the limit I'd feel comfortable with these days ... mostly cause of the price and paranoid thoughts!

**LyttleBryan** · 02-08-2010, 07:37

I actually went with the method WBG mentioned. instead of using a compression sack, I stored it in a larger stuff sack.

**vitamaltz** · 02-08-2010, 07:44

Someone, I don't remember who, related finding a piece of down gear owned by his granddad that had been in a sack for years and eventually lofted just fine.

Mine has occasionally stayed in the pack for a few days after I come home from a trip and get immediately distracted. It's usually the smell of gnarly food that reminds me to unpack.

**MedicineMan** · 02-08-2010, 08:14

a different angle....down is a spring...springs fail in use not when relaxed or compressed...light bulbs blow when turned on or off, hard drives fail also in on/off cycles...the more you turn down on or off the greater the chance it will fail but not when relaxed or compressed.....that said i store my down relaxed.

**LyttleBryan** · 02-08-2010, 08:21

Excellent point MM. Either way I'm not taking my good gear, so I suppose if I manage to screw something up at least it won't be anything too nice and will be a lesson or case study in care.

I was going to take my BB and hammock gear but apparently having the porters stand there supporting you is a human rights violation. Who knew?