Storage of mummy bag?

I just bought my 12 year old son a Quest -25 Thermolite mummy bag along with a Thermarest self-inflate mattress. He used these items this past weekend on a 2 day canoe trip down the Delaware River in PA. He's only 100# so I try to keep his load light. I got the small-size mattress thinking his head,neck, shoulders, and back need it and his legs will be fine in the mummy bag. However, reading the mattress instructions, after it was depleted of air, rolled and bungee-corded, it states to store it flat with air in it. The mummy bag has no storage instructions. Should it be stored in the stuff sack or remain out? Thanks for the help.

Never store your mummy bag in the stuff sack more than about 2 days. The crimping/breaking of the fibers will lower the insulation value over time. If your mummy bag did not come with a separate storage bag, you have a couple of options. One is to store it flat or hanging, which works, but isn't real practical if you're short on space. You can use a large laundry sack, or an old king-size pillowcase (my favorite)and loosely stuff the mummy bag in it. This will make it a little easier to store, but doesn't compress the fibers so tightly that it reduces the insulation.

Ditto on the Thermarest - never store it for extended periods compressed.

go to your local "feed and seed" store and get yourself a big burlap sack for $1.00.

Put (not stuff) your bag in the sack and hang the burlap sack in a dark dry closet.

Rose petal smell optional.

Thank you so much! What a simple idea too. I know that down may have been better however my son has severe allergies, takes 3 meds and is getting 3 allergy shots a week right now. Plus he has only 75% lung capacity due to his allergies. BUT HE LOVES THE OUTDOORS and scouting and lives the 'no excuses' rule. My husband, his dad, is not involved in any of this outdoor stuff because he said he hiked, backpacked, and camped enough in Viet Nam. What a wonderful site for info!

This is a great and cheap idea too however with Josh's allergies/asthma, I don't want to risk the mummy bag accumulating those stiff fibers from the burlap. Have you ever washed/machine-dried the burlap and if 'yes' did the fibers wash off. Can't hang Josh's stuff outside due to pollen and right now the ragweed here in NE PA is torturous even for those without allergies.

But thanks for the info., I will pass it on to the boys in the troop.

I never had a need to wash the burlap since it never comes out of the closet (so to speak).

Never noticed my down bag or my synthetic bag picking up any burlap fibers.

Dog hair yes, burlap hair, no.

"I know that down may have been better..."

"Better" is all relative. Down bags are warmer than synthetic bags of the same weight of fill and will stuff smaller. However, they take more care,generally cost more-way more in some cases, and if the down gets wet, are useless for keeping you warm. Synthetic bags will provide some warmth even if wet. The same is true for down jackets, vests and pants which is why you now see down bags, jackets, etc. made with Gore-tex or other waterproof or water-resistant outer materials.

There are great bargains to be found for synthetic bags and jackets-just a matter of doing a lot of looking around on the online outdoor company websites such as Campmor, REI (their Outlet website has the bargains), EMS, or any of the many others. Websites such as this one have reviews of bags so you can compare them. Backcountrygear.com has comparison charts of what they offer.

My advice is to stick to a name brand such as Sierra Design or North Face, just to name two well-known brands. Places such as Wal-Mart offer very cheap gear, but it is worth spending a bit more for better quality.

If money is an issue, eBay is a great place to shop if you already know what you want. If you are unfamiliar with it, just watch a few auctions before bidding. There are hundreds (if not thousands) of bags that go through there every month. No need to overspend. The same is true of almost anything else your son may need. I've bought a tent, down jacket, stove, pack and a few other things on eBay and saved a bundle.

Couple comments -

For backpacking, the general rule for kids and beginner backpackers is limit to 1/4 of body weight. However, you say he was on a canoe trip. Since he generally would not be carrying the gear very far, it is ok to go well above the 25 pounds the rule implies for a 100 pound youth. But the pack for canoeing has different requirements than for backpacking. You need a truly waterproof sack (not waterrepellent, but waterPROOF). This means something called a "dry bag".

The sleeping pad - I assume you got a "self-inflating" foam-filled pad, such as a Thermarest. First thing is never, ever, use a bungee cord for backpacking (or canoeing, for that matter, or even bicycle trips). They tend to pop loose at inappropriate times, and the hook can do serious physical damage (I know of one case where an eye was put out). Also, when backpacking and bicycling, they have been known to lose gear (like sleeping bags and sleeping pads) due to the bouncing loosening the bungee. It is also less comfortable (in fact, downright uncomfortable) to have the load bouncing around.

Anyway, yes the inflatable should be stored flat with air in it. This does not mean fully inflated, though. Just lay it flat and open the valve to let it inflate by itself. Also, when using it, be careful to avoid blowing your moist breath in - this tends to promote growth of various forms of fungus, which breaks down the foam much more rapidly. The fungi might also not be so good for someone with allergies.

It is certainly ok to squeeze all the air out of the pad for carrying. You can carry the pad in your pack or securely strapped to the outside (emphasize - straps! not bungees!), preferably in a bag made for such pads.

Sleeping bag storage - for both synthetic and down, the bag should be stored loosely, as others have said. You can use a large cotton laundry bag ($1 or less at WalMart, Target, etc). The idea is to let the fill fluff up and to provide breathing (no plastic garbage bags! They don't breathe).

As for Dad "hiking", "camping", and "backpacking" in 'Nam - hey, guy, that was NOT hiking, camping, or backpacking. That was miserable minimal survival. Hiking, camping, and backpacking is a whole other Universe (not just another world). The gear is light, the boots a lot more comfortable (properly fit, even more comfortable than everyday shoes), and the sleeping arrangements can be really nice. And the food can be of gourmet quality. Ya just need someone who knows what it can really be like to show you and teach you the right way to do it.

Tonight I was looking at our old down bags. I keep them stored in over- sized storage sacks (that I sewed a long time ago). These sacks are sort like giant sofa pillows. The bags vary from 25 to 34 years old. Loft is still great. Could not be happier.

When camping I always try to 'air out' the bags in the morning to let any moisture escape. I have not needed to wash the bags too often. When I do I usually go for a commercial front loader using Woolite on gentle cycle.