Using Stuff Sacks For Your Sleeping Bag

Using Stuff Sacks For Your Sleeping Bag

Using Stuff Sacks For Your Sleeping Bag

It took me 3 trips before I started using stuff sacks to store my sleeping bag. These cylindrical shaped nylon, usually waterproof, enclosures protect your bag from unnecessary wear and tear and also from the rain.

Material

Most stuff sacks are made of newer fabrics like coated polyester and ultralight silicone-impregnated nylon.

While the material itself is waterproof, the drawstring closure in most stuff sacks is not so be careful about getting it into water and if you tie your sleeping bag to the outside of your backpack make sure you at least cover the drawstring closure with a waterproof material to protect against rain. A plastic bag will do in most cases.

Newer stuff sacks like the eVac Dry Sack from Sea To Summit don't use drawstring closures but instead you roll the sack down and then close the buckle. This accomplishes two things. First, when you roll the sack down air is pushed out of the base so water can't get in. Second, it allows you to save both space and weight. The weight saving though is not such a big deal. You only save a little bit of weight but the space saving is much appreciated.

The lightest stuff sacks are made of silicone-impregnated nylon parachute cloth. It can be as light as 0.5 oz or even less. GoLite employs this type of material and they made an improvement to the drawstring closure by adding a collar instead of just a drawstring and flap configuration. Outdoor Research on the other hand uses a good waterproof fabric called Hydroseal. This fabric is tough and can handle rough use but still limp enough to mold itself to the contents of the sack. This stuff sack is available in the drawstring-flap configuration as well as roll closure secured with Velcro bindings.

Compression and Size

Most stuff sack suppliers have some sort of compression model with straps, laces or double drawstrings that reduces the volume by up to half. You can also stuff in your down jacket or parka together with the sleeping bag into the sack. Make sure that yours is big enough for you to easily put in whatever you intend to put in.

Don't get a small stuff sack just because you think it would save you space because in most cases you'll just have unused, wasted space in your backpack as a result. Another problem is that even if you can cram your sleeping bag and other stuff into the sack when you're at home, doing so in less than ideal conditions on an empty stomach with the cold wind biting at you can turn it into a monstrous task. Get one that's big enough to take its load with extra room to spare, leaving it soft, malleable and easy to stuff. I use Outdoor Research Hydroseal DryComp Sacks but I'm thinking of getting the eVac Dry Sack from Sea to Summit for myself.

Jonsky is also writes at hubpages with articles on down sleeping bags, stoves, tents and other camping gear. He is also a writer for http://www.hiking-camping-world.com. Check out the range of down sleeping bags on that site.

POST COMMENT

Detecting Allergy Symptoms HOBO Lauren Double Body Wallet Provides Superior-Performance and Sturdiness - Wallet Women Excess Sweating Treatments Dust Allergy Symptoms Easy Nail Care Tips for Winter Body Piercing Instructions and Risks Bodybuilding Revealed Pdf-Brink's Bodybuilding Revealed Review Colon Cancer: Do Not Skip The Signs And Symptoms Colon Cancer Indications And Signs And Symptoms Bodyguard services Total Wellness Cleanse Blogs-Total Wellness Cleanse Yuri Elkaim Skin Brush to reduce Cellulite Overtraining Symptoms: How To Notice Symptoms Of Overtraining Within The Gym