Compress-Type Sleeping Bags

Compress type sleeping bags are down or feather sleeping bags with a special storage bag to squash them down hard so they take up less space.

You do this by packing compress-type sleeping bags in their small sack, and then cinching the two straps tighter and tighter to squash the things down to a quarter of their un-squashed volume.

But you shouldn't leave your compressable type sleeping bags in this 'scrunched up' state for any longer than necessary, or else the quill parts of the feathers will get crushed (no kidding) and the bags will eventually lose their 'loft'. That's the fluffy filling's ability to take up space and trap warm air. This gives you insulation from the cold.

Your down compression-type sleeping bags will give you years of faithful service as long as you air them regularly, and store them nice and loose when you get back home. Just keep them in a spare pillowcase and store them in plastic with a few moth balls or camphor to discourage moths and mice.

The original goose down sleeping bag my mother bought me when I was a Boy Scout at boarding school lasted me until I was well into my twenties. I think it was a Laurel brand sleeping bag from the U.K., because it did have the motto "Rest On Your Laurels" on its label. Anyhow, that green-colored mummy bag faithfully gave me about 13 years of camping in Scout camps, school camps, camping and caravan parks and in several overseas countries as well.

And if I'd been willing to get that old compress type sleeping bag repaired, a new YKK zipper and a little extra eider down filling would have fixed it up, nearly as good as new. But that wasn't an option where I was living at the time.

That's why I will always recommend that you buy good-quality camping and outdoors equipment. The good stuff will last for years, but the bad stuff will let you down when it matters most... and when you are miles from the nearest camping supply store.

So don't risk it.