How to Get a Sleeping Bag Into a Compression Bag

Compression sacks, or "stuff sacks," make transporting a sleeping bag easier by allowing you to compress the bag into a small space. With a little bit of practice, you will find that stuffing a sleeping bag into a compression sack is easier and faster than rolling a sleeping bag. Do not attempt to stuff a rolled sleeping bag into a compression sack; rather, stuff the bag into the compression sack one handful at a time in order to conform the sleeping bag to the shape of the sack.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Sleeping bag Compression sack

1. Spread the sleeping bag out on the ground. Place the compression sack at the closed end of the sleeping bag. If your compression sack has a top flap, open the flap and leave it outside the bag.

2. Hold the mouth of the compression sack in your non-dominant hand and grab the closed end of the sleeping bag with your dominant hand. Stuff the end of the sleeping bag into the sack as far as possible. Grab another handful of the sleeping bag and stuff it into the sack.

3. Rotate the compression sack after 2 or 3 handfuls and begin stuffing from the other side to create an even distribution of the sleeping bag.

4. Continue to rotate the bag after every 2 or 3 handfuls. With each handful, push your hand as far into the bag as possible. Continue until the entire sleeping bag is inside the compression sack.

5. Set the compression sack on its end and fold the top flap over the top of the sleeping bag. Push the top of the sleeping bag further into the sack so that it is completely covered by the top flap.

6. Pull the drawstring as tightly as possible.

Tips & Warnings

• Leave the stuff sack on the ground while stuffing. Do not try to stuff the sack while standing or holding the bag in the air.
• Do not use a compression sack for storage. Storing a sleeping bag in a compression sack could damage the bag's insulation or zipper. Use a compression sack for transport only, and transfer the sleeping bag to a storage bag after you arrive home.

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[tgilmorex]

on 9/12/2009 I just purchase a Teton 0-Degree Mammoth sleeping bag (the queen-sized one!), and after inspecting my purchase, of course I tried to roll it up exactly the way it came and "tried" to put it into the included compression bag--well, 1/2 hour later, sweating like crazy wrestling with it to no avail (it just kept growing and poofing out!), I just wasn't coming close and gave up for the night. I have read horror stories about this very thing, and they weren't kidding!

Being my first experience with a compression bag, I decided to look for help on the internet. With the ideas listed here, I was able to very easily pack the entire bag ALONE, within 5 minutes and without breaking a sweat--there was no frustration whatsoever! Now I feel more confident--thank you so much!

[jull14]

on 7/15/2009 Very interesting article and full of important information. Thank you for sharing this information with us.