View Full Version : How do you pack your down sleeping bag?
InTheWind
01-07-2013, 22:14
Lets say you use a trash compactor bag inside your pack and a cover on the outside. What is your preferred method to pack your cold weather down bag? Waterproof compression bag? Regular waterproof bag? No bag and cram into the bottom of your pack to form better? Other?
Northern Lights
01-07-2013, 22:19
cram it in the bottom of your bag
Stir Fry
01-07-2013, 22:19
Cuben fiber stuff sack, pack liner, and a pack cover. You can'nt be to carefull.
thebrewguy
01-07-2013, 22:25
Sea to Summit eVent compression sack. It's waterproof besides total dunking, and lets me squeeze it down as small as possible. I put it in the bottom of the pack and I use a pack cover when it's raining, no liner.
Extra food bag on bottom then quilt in bivy loose. Hard stuff like pot next then clothes bag. The loose quilt fills the nooks and crannies. Also makes it easier to loft bag when you stop.
SassyWindsor
01-07-2013, 22:36
Dry bag. I use one for bed cloths and bag. Another one for everything else that doesn't need to get wet, such as food stuff and other clothing. You ever get a down bag wet you'll be getting one too.
Sea to Summit eVent compression sack. It's waterproof besides total dunking, and lets me squeeze it down as small as possible. I put it in the bottom of the pack and I use a pack cover when it's raining, no liner.
I also use a Sea-Summit (DRY) compression sack. I also use a pack cover when raining. For what it's worth, I also store 2 items that I will term my "sleeping clothes" inside my down bag - patagonia long underwear (expedition weight if it's real cold) and my dry pair of change out socks in my sleeping bag) this is just a random habit I have. The sack goes in the bottom of my backpack on top of my tyvek ground-sheet which lines the bottom of my pack. If I do set my pack down in an especially wet spot, the tyvek keeps water from wicking up.
Above all else, you have to keep it dry. I only take it out of it's sack when I'm in the tent and everything is cool (dry) inside. The same is true for trail shelters - check every one for leaks and pick a dry spot before you pull the bag out.
In stupid bullfrog rain storms, it pays to triple check your tent rig, your ground sheet and make sure everything is absolutely tight and covered before pulling out the bag (and check it in the night too if needed).
buldogge
01-07-2013, 22:49
Pack liner...down bag (Marmot Pinnacle) stuffed loose into the bottom of the pack, conforming to the pack shape...down insulation (EB Downlight stuffed into it's own pocket) and spare clothes (if any) in Granite Gear pillow-sack...roll pack liner and top off with food bag, kitchen bag, and ditty bag...the end.
-Mark in St. Louis
Drybones
01-07-2013, 22:51
I use a dry GG compression bag, your sleeping bag is the last thing you want to get wet.
konradchen
01-07-2013, 23:02
Pack liner + cram into the bottom of the pack. Works everytime, even for days on end.
swjohnsey
01-07-2013, 23:25
Dry sack.......
zorobabel
01-08-2013, 03:45
Just cram the sleeping bag into the bottom of the pack.
Extra food bag on bottom then quilt in bivy loose. Hard stuff like pot next then clothes bag. The loose quilt fills the nooks and crannies. Also makes it easier to loft bag when you stop.+1 more or less what I do. Keep it loose. Load it in last to take up extra volume of pack. My gortex bivy keeps it and my dry clothes dry. Damp clothes are worn until dry.
I also do what gg-man does. Food goes in the bottom because it's the last thing I'll access when setting up camp.
One difference is that because my clothing stuff sack is oversized, I'll put my bivy covered quilt in there when it's raining, and all of that will be in a plastic bag. If I'm using a poncho and an umbrella, that gives my sleeping gear quite a few layers of protection.
Sea to Summit UL dry bag, no pack cover or liner. Keep things simple.
mrcoffeect
01-08-2013, 07:31
Sea to Summit eVent compression sack. It's waterproof besides total dunking, and lets me squeeze it down as small as possible. I put it in the bottom of the pack and I use a pack cover when it's raining, no liner.
I also use sea to summit compression sacs, for my down bag and a smaller one for all my clothes
daddytwosticks
01-08-2013, 08:10
Into a sil-nylon stuff sack. Then into a pack liner (or just a standard plastic trash can bag) and into my pack. Then either a pack cover or in warmer months nothing but a poncho over me and my pack. :)
In 10 years of hiking the AT, I have never had a wet bag and all I use is a trash compactor liner inside my pack with my WM down bag stuffed in the bottom. I use cuben stuff bags for everything else.
bigcranky
01-08-2013, 09:23
My winter bag goes in a GG compression sack made of silnylon. That's the only way it fits in my pack. (WM Antelope 5F bag - it's pretty puffy.)
The rest of the year I just cram my bag into the bottom of my pack liner and put my other gear on top.
Feral Bill
01-08-2013, 13:25
Basic stuff sack.
Another Kevin
01-08-2013, 13:51
Basic stuff sack. I've never got the bag seriously wet inside the pack. I don't like using a compression bag on down unless I have to, it degrades the loft over time.
(At home, always store down unstuffed.)
gonehikn
01-08-2013, 21:13
Used to use a compression sack, but switched to a compactor liner last year. I just stuff the bag in the bottom, it is much easier and faster to pack up in the morning, and probably better for the bag.
Schooley
01-08-2013, 21:17
Pack Liner...cram it on the bottom...and a pack cover (if needed). Seems to work fine even on rainy section hike...so far anyways!
My Marmot bag came with a stuff sack so that's what I used.