Looking after new mattress and sleeping bag

[slug]

Can anyone enlighten me as to how to look after sleeping bags and thermasrest size (the thin ones) self inflating mattresses? Ive just replaced my ancient sleeping bag and airbed (things are much more comfortable now!) Im wondering if maybe i shouldnt roll up the mattress too tight in case in wrecks the foam type stuff inside??? And what about the sleeping bag? I imagine the contents have changed a little, do they need to be taken out and left to "circulate" and "fluff up" a bit, for want of better terminology?!

[patroler]

We have had a self-inflating matress for about 2 years and it always gets rolled up. There is no obvious damage to it yet.
It does need to sit for an hour or so after being unrolled to form it's shape properly. Ours is about 80mm thick.
Greg.

[LordDAS]

i think its best with the thermarests to leave them unrolled when not in use, and the same with sleeping bags especially down bags.

i leave my sleeping mats unrolled behind the couch and the sleeping bags hanging in the wardrobe. only roll them when they need to be transported somewhere or when travelling

[.::lil-oscar::.]

i think its best with the thermarests to leave them unrolled when not in use, and the same with sleeping bags especially down bags.

i leave my sleeping mats unrolled behind the couch and the sleeping bags hanging in the wardrobe. only roll them when they need to be transported somewhere or when travelling

I agree with this comment. I keep my thermarest unrolled (with the valve open) beside my bed and the wall & i hang my sleeping bag up on a coat hanger in my wardrobe. You can also loosely stuff the sleeping bag in a pillowcase.

[slug]

Thanks guys, much appreciated!

[gtir300]

No problem with keep ing either of them rolled, in fact a sleeping bag should be stuffed (litterally) in the compression sack, that way it will keep the down material spread. Just one word of warning if you have a cat dont let the bugger walk on the Thermarest.........I only found the punctures when I rolled it out and attempted to sleep on it on a trip to Canada in the winter:cry:

[kerry460]

if your are stuffing sleeping bag into stuff sack ,make sure sure you completely undo zipp . most zipps are damaged (tents etc included) by leaving them zipped up
kerry

[granite]

No problem with keep ing either of them rolled, in fact a sleeping bag should be stuffed (litterally) in the compression sack, that way it will keep the down material spread.

Would have to disagree and agree with gtir300. Down bags should not be stored compressed. What makes a down bag work is the ability of the "down" to loft. Unlike wool, down doesn't handle continued compression well. The agree part - down bags should be stuffed into the "stuff sac" - not rolled. Your thermarest should also be stored unrolled with the valve open. Hope this helps.

Cheers.

[slug]

And i suppose it wouldnt hurt to do the same with a synthetic filled bag?

Thanks again

[nilla60]

I have had the same down bag for many, many years. I'd prefer to keep it unstuffed to let the down loft properly, but it seems to have lasted OK. We just bought some of those self inflating thermarests last year and they are fantastic, compact, comfy and warm. I keep the rolled as accidental damage from crap in the shed is more likely to kill them than being kept rolled. I do try keep stuff rolled loosely at home.

[Marc 1]

Would have to disagree and agree with gtir300. Down bags should not be stored compressed. What makes a down bag work is the ability of the "down" to loft. Unlike wool, down doesn't handle continued compression well. The agree part - down bags should be stuffed into the "stuff sac" - not rolled. Your thermarest should also be stored unrolled with the valve open. Hope this helps.

Cheers.

Second that