What Size Compression Sack For Sleeping Bag

So, from backpacking to kayaking, compression bags are always the best option when space is limited.

Keeping warm in either synthetic or down sleeping bags is the key to obtaining insulation.

As such, if you would like your sleeping bag to last, keep it clean, dry, and properly stored while maintaining its insulation and lofting ability.

Compression sacks do precisely that, making them ideal for cramming a warm, bulgy sleeping bag into some kind of stuff sack.

To learn the facts about compression sacks and how it can help you get the perfect packing for your adventures, keep reading this article.

Do I need to have a sleeping bag compression sack? 

The answer is, well, it vary depending on choice. Some people swear by compression sacks, while others refuse to use them. Although there is no single perfect answer, some guidance may be helpful.

A compression sack can enable you to squeeze down a sleeping bag with a myriad of lofts, including an 800-plus fill-down bag, by pushing out all the air.

It is quite useful and essential for long-distance backpackers who have to maximize every inch of the pack for their fuel and food.

Also popular among people who have particularly large and bulky synthetic sleeping bags because they make sleeping bags easier to pack.

It's worth noting, however, that packing sleeping bag inside a stuff sack transforms it into an oddly shaped hard-sided object.

Depending on the shape and size of your backpack, packing a filled compression stuff sack may be more difficult than simply packing sleeping bags into the bottom part of your pack.

However, compression sacks provide more benefits than simply decreasing your sleeping bag size.

They can help keep dirt, dust, and debris out of your expensive sleeping bag.

Furthermore, using sleeping bag stuff sacks or compression sacks can help you keep your gear organized while out in the backcountry.

Choosing the correct size compression bag

Choosing the correct compression sack size for one's sleeping bag can be difficult.

Fortunately, the majority of new backpacking sleeping bags come with their own uniquely engineered sleeping bag stuff sack, as such you may not have to worry about this.

However, if you have misplaced the compression sack or you purchase your sleeping bag secondhand, you must determine what size you require.

The simplest way to determine what size stuff sack you require is to contact the sleeping bag manufacturer.

They may be able to sell you a new compression sack for a reasonable price or offer you a new one for free.

If not, or if you intend to purchase a waterproof compression sack from another brand, the sleeping bag producer will most likely be able to tell you what size you require.

If you don't know the complete details of your sleeping bag, you'll have to do some work to determine what size compression sack you require, which will give you good value for your money.

How do I determine the size of the compression sack for my sleeping bag?

To figure out what compression size you'll need, do the following:

1. Locate a cardboard box slightly bigger than your sleeping bag.

2. Measure the length and width of the cardboard box in inches.

3. Place your sleeping bag in the box and firmly press down on it until the upper surface of the sleeping bag becomes roughly level in the box.

4. In inches, measure the depth of the box which the bag occupies.

5. To calculate the volume of the stuffed bag in cubic inches, multiply the length by width by depth.

6. Calculate the volume in liters by dividing the total volume by 61.

7. If you live in a metric-system country, estimate in centimeters and divide the total by 1000 to get the volume in liters. Voila!

Frequently Asked Questions

Is a Compression Sack Required for Backpackers?

Backpackers are probably the most likely to benefit from the use of a compression bag.

Since backpackers have insufficient place to keep and transport gear, anything that could be performed to mitigate the bulk of the gear is often greatly appreciated.

Compression sacks, on the other hand, are often disliked by ultralight backpackers because they add little weight to one's pack.

Is it possible for a compression sack to adversely affect a sleeping bag?

The only way of ruining a sleeping bag through the use of a compression sack is to pack it into one and store it for a year.

While this will not render your sleeping bag ineffective, it will probably compress the down or synthetic fill and reduce the loft of the bag, thereby lessening the synthetic insulation.

Fortunately, there is a simple solution: use a compression sack when loading up your sleeping bag for transport to the next camp.

Never keep your sleeping bag in a compression sack for over a couple of days at a time.

Are Waterproof Compression Sacks Available?

No, not all compression sacks are water resistance. Waterproof compression sacks, on the other hand, can be purchased!

Waterproof compression sack for a sleeping bag combine the features of dry bags and compression sacks to provide the best protection for your sleeping bag.

Conclusion

When used correctly, sleeping bag compression sack is an extremely useful gear. They can assist in reducing the bulkiness of a high-loft sleeping bag whilst still protecting it from the elements.

These highly water resistant compression sacks are also ideal for outdoor enthusiasts and backpackers who enjoy exploring wet environments but don't want to end the day in a soggy sleeping bag.

Compression sacks help in making hauling gear much easier, and there's one for every type of backpacking trips.

If you need dry storage but not maximum compression, use a dry bag or dry sack instead.

So, whether you choose a compression sack or otherwise, you can now go out into the world knowing a little bit more about them than before.