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Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 19:20:11 No.429655 View View Reply Original Report

Quoted By: >>429804 >>429805 >>430254 >>430318 >>430389

Whats the life on a sleeping bag?

I was recently given a bag by a friend who said he paid £130 for it, used it about 2 or 3 times and then it went into storage. I couldnt find out anything about it online so I emailed the manufacturer (Vango) and they replied with;

"Hi Anon

The Q7 350 was only produced during 1999 / 2000 making your bag approx 15 years old.

From new the sleeping bag had a rating of -18Degrees C with a comfort / Suggested usage range of approx +12 DegreesC to -10Degrees C Giving the bag a 3 season rating. These ratings are from new and do not account for the natural breakdown and compression of the insulation material, so it is unlikely given the bags age that it will preform to these ratings now.

Regards
Andrew

Vango Customer Services"

I'd like to use the bag for the first winter overnighters here in the uk that I have done in a long time. I cant afford a new bag so what do you guys think? The thing looks and feels brand new.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 19:23:41 No.429657 Report

Quoted By: >>429663 >>429672 >>429773

I suppose it depends how it's been stored - if it's been loose or otherwise uncompressed it should be ok, I'd have thought. If it's been left in a stuff sack set to maximum squish then it's more than likely goosed.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 19:29:36 No.429663 Report

Quoted By: >>429672

>>429657
Oh shit, thanks for reminding me to take out the bag and hang it. Forgot to do that after my last trip.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 19:39:02 No.429672 Report

Quoted By: >>429682

>>429657

It was bundled up loosely in a garbage bag with nothing on top of it. He lost the stuff sack one of few the times he used it. I think it might be ok. It doesn't feel degraded or thin at all and has lots of density to it, but then I have no basis for comparison because I never felt it when it was new.

My friend said it was as the day he bought it.

>>429663

I didnt even know this was a thing. So storing your bags in their sacks isn't the best? Thats the only thing I ever use the stuff sacks for. I can pack my bag way better if it is just loose and stuffed down.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 19:47:25 No.429682 Report

Quoted By: >>429785

>>429672
Ahh that's good it's been stored in a bin bag, at the very least it's had the best possible chance of staying in good condition. I suppose if it still puffs up a bit and feels nice and thick etc it should be OK. Have a good feel of the thing, if it feels ok it probably is.

Yeah though, sleeping bags don't take well to being stored compressed... I read that synthetic bags are a bit worse for it but it's not a good idea for any bag. More expensive bags come with a neato storage sack for long term, errrm, storage.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 22:17:52 No.429753 Report

Quoted By: >>429785

The pricier bags come with 2 bags: one for storage (large like q trash bag) and stuff sack for compressing the bag to a smaller and more manageable size.

When not in use you should store it uncompressed, so it doesn't degrade. Think: fabric memory and compressing a natural sponge so much it doesn't get back into original shape.

You really need to be very careful about all dawn products; jackets, sleeping bags, pants, you name it; you squeeze it for too long you will notice the loftiness diminishes.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 22:43:16 No.429773 Report

Quoted By: >>429785

>>429657
This

Always store insulating garments and equipment loose in their stuff sac, better yet, hand them or fold/roll them loosely and NEVER stack anything heavy on them. The fibers are like springs, and they will loose their elasticity/springyness if compressed for long periods of time.

I've slept in my Carinthia defence 4 for a full 7 months worth of nights total. Still as good as the day I bought it.

From your description of the bag and its storage, you have what effectively is a brand new bag.

Tips:
As soon as you set up your tent, unpack your sleeping bag inside and fluff it up. This gives maximum time for the springyness too do its work, maximizing the amount of air insulation between fibers. The technical term for this is 'loft'. The better the loft, the warmer and more comfortable night's sleep.

When you wake up in the morning, unless you are breaking camp, fluff up your sleeping bag, and if at all possible, bring it outside to hang and air out for the day. This reduces moisture, odour, fungi/bacterial growth and improves loft.
Never store your bag in it's compression sack with the straps tightened. This is only for when you are on the move. Wash according to instructions, so many people don't read the lable. It's there for a reason.

Follow this guide and your bag will last decades of consecutive out time.

No sense in buying expensive equipment and having to replace it every couple years due to neglect.

Pic unrelated.

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 23:12:58 No.429785 Report

Quoted By:

>>429682
>>429753
>>429773

TIL all this.

Thanks guys. That's good to know! It's amazing the little imortant things you miss that you should know. Scouts should have taught me this one at least!

Anonymous

Anonymous Tue 09 Dec 2014 23:56:54 No.429804 Report

Quoted By:

>>429655
>Vango Customer Services

Translation; "buy a new sleeping bag from us!"

Even if it was tightly rolled up all the time it was stored, it'll still be fine.

Coldfoot !!eppOvF3ot92

Coldfoot !!eppOvF3ot92 Wed 10 Dec 2014 00:05:37 No.429805 Report

Quoted By: >>429808

>>429655
For synthetics (which is what it appears is inside of the Vango Q7 350), it depends on how much (how frequently and to what degree) they have been compressed. Synthetic fibers don't have the best resiliency, and will eventually wear out with use. Now, if it's just sitting in your closet, then it's not wearing out - you have to actually compress it a lot in order to wear it out.

Down is quite a bit more resilient and resists damage from repeated compression very well. A good down bag can be expected to last many times longer than a synthetic bag, although you do have to store it bone dry. Storing down moist can invite mold into the bag, which breaks down the down fibers, destroying their ability to loft.

Synthetic bags can also get moldy if stored moist; however, I am doubtful that a little mold in a synthetic bag can be nearly as detrimental to the insulation as it is in a down bag. With down, since it's a natural fiber, the down is actually decomposing. Synthetic insulation is made of plastic, which isn't going to break down in and of itself (although a massive fungal colony weighting it down could certainly reduce overall loft).

Coldfoot !!eppOvF3ot92

Coldfoot !!eppOvF3ot92 Wed 10 Dec 2014 00:09:38 No.429808 Report

Quoted By:

>>429805
Also, while a lot of materials are less springy, and can develop compression memory if stored compressed for a long period of time, all materials are different and this is not a universal principle. Synthetics are a little worse about having a compression memory than down, but that doesn't mean that technology won't advance at some point to make this the opposite case at some time in the future.

As long as your sleeping bag is reasonably uncompressed, it's probably fine, although it will be better for bag health if you allow it enough room to "breathe."

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 10 Dec 2014 00:28:36 No.429818 Report

Quoted By: >>430246

Awesome. I had put it in a spare compression sack i had lying around but i've taken it out, this and my spring summer bag can live free from the compressions sacks of doom in the spare room.

Pic related, the bag my friend gave me.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 10 Dec 2014 19:29:03 No.430246 Report

Quoted By:

>>429818
It does look in a good order.

All temperature ratings are done, with certain aspects often omitted by people when getting a sleeping bag.
It may say 20F, but it assumes you will be wearing your thermal underwear top to bottom. So if you know it will be getting chilly, get your long johns, good socks, top, and even a sweater.

A good tip: eat a bit of something before going to bed.
Get some hot water in a water container and stuff it at the bottom of your bag to make your feet warmer.

If you get a manufacturer that does custom jobs, like Cumulus, they can get you a bag with more dawn filled at the feet, or towards your ass, wherever you get colder during the night (usually its feet and head).

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 10 Dec 2014 19:48:17 No.430254 Report

Quoted By: >>430322

>>429655
my down bag is 25 years old. I still use it as blanket in my Bedroom.

Zipper is broken. Packsize too big. But still comfy as fuck. No bad smell.

Girls react always highly sceptical about a sleeping bag in the bedroom. But when they feel the warmth they are all lost.

Anonymous

Anonymous Wed 10 Dec 2014 22:41:48 No.430318 Report

Quoted By:

>>429655
My army sleeping bags were made in 1985, probably improperly stored by decades of stupid recruits although I treat them fine.
Theres nothing wrong with it.

Anonymous

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Anonymous Wed 10 Dec 2014 22:52:51 No.430322 Report

Quoted By:

>>430254
>down bag is 25 years old.
35 here, twin bags that zip together, smaller bag nests in 6'6 bag for death by heat.
, in the small bag it was cool to start on high exposed ridges, till the snow covered me up ,, mmm warm snow.
, wake warm in the morning i looked up, and i was GONE!!,, ive blended into the landscape!
,,"GETOFFAME!" shake and kick in bag to fluff the snow off, this is MY spot!
,,
,,,,,CRAP! can feel it get noticibly cooler on the windy side.
,"im sorry snow,, comon get back upu there!"

Anonymous

Anonymous Thu 11 Dec 2014 02:16:10 No.430389 Report

Quoted By:

>>429655
>Whats the life on a sleeping bag?

If you actually take good care of it, it should last at least 20-25 years (AT LEAST). That's using it for like 2 weeks at a time around 6 times a year I think.

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