What should a bug-out kit contain?

[Malamute]

My down bag came with a stuff sack and a storage sack. The storage sack is about 3' long by about 18" wide. It keeps the bag more compact than storing it open, but doesn't compress it too much.

I've had my good bag for about 30 years, and it's still going strong. I only use it for extreme cold, and cheaper bags for minor cold, like into the 20's and above.

 

[AStone]

+1 for YMonkey's suggestion: store it in a large loose-fitting bag. Most sleeping bags come with both a stuff sack and a duffel bag sized storage bag.

Also, regardless of what your bag is filled with - synthetic, down or shredded newspaper - before you crawl into it at night (well before, if possible, like right after you get camps set up), shake it out like a shirt that you're trying to shake dust out of. Not so hard as to rearrange the filling (that's important - don't leave "cold spots"), but enough to fluff it up. When a bag has been compressed, it takes a while for the loft to return. This is even more important sometimes with synthetic fill bags that tend to have less loft than down. (At least I think, says the guy with down bags.)

2c.

 

[rwc]

synthetic bags can loose loft if stored tightly compressed. Better loose if you can. Also, make sure to use a coton storage bag. You want that bag to "breath" when stored so moisture does help anything grow.

ANother tip on trips - after you get up in teh mornign if you are getting up and out of your bag, pull it out and set it aross your tent or a branch to dry out. You don't notice it but quite a bit of moisture/vapor gets trapped in teh insulation. Letting it dry out each day if you can will defiantely keep you warmer in winter.

 

[dmftoy1]

Thanks guys! We've always kept our down bags stored loosely like that. Just trying to figure out if this new bag could be stored "packed and ready to go"

Have a good one,
Dave

 

[goosegunner]

Another trick to use when it gets real cold is to have a plastic bag, or other vopour seal, between your body and the sleeping bag. To awoid moisture to freeze in the fibers making the bag havy and bulky and loosing insulation. I know because I found out the hard way, but it is probably a problem assosiated with beeing north of the polar-circle.
(but the plastic bag also works if you are forced to use a wet sleeping bag)

 

[LAK]

rwc

You want that bag to "breath" when stored so moisture does help anything grow

Yep; large pillowcases work well.
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[joab]

This discussion has gotten me so anxious that I had to call into work today to repack my BOBs