Sleeping Bed
By care and cleaning know-how, you can keep your sleeping bed in top condition for many camping or backpacking seasons to com
Keep your sleeping bag clean and dry. Accumulated body oils, sweat and dirt can rob your sleeping bag of its insulating power. Tips:
- Sleep in clean clothes. Best is long underwear, socks and a hat. If it's warm out, wear clean cotton clothes to bed. Just don't fall into bed in the same clothes you hiked in. You'll drag dirt into the bag with you, and you're likely to sleep colder because of accumulated perspiration.
- Avoiding sleeping in the clothes you cooked and ate inespecially if you're in bear country.
Consider using a sleeping bag liner. Liners weigh little and keep your bag clean. Plus, they add about 5° F to 15° F to your bag's temperature rating. At the end of each trip, wash the liner and you're good to go again.
- Air out your sleeping bag daily. Even if you have to wait till midday to do so, turn it inside-out to dry out any moisture. Don't leave a bag in direct sunlight for very long, as UV light slowly degrades the fabric. But if your bag gets really wet, it may be necessary to air it out for several hours.
Tips for using a stuff sack:
Use a larger stuff sack to make stuffing easier. You can still pack around the stuff sack inside your backpack.
- Compression stuff sacks save space in your pack; just avoid compressing your bag for an extended period as it will reduce the bag's loft.
- For easier stuffing, start with the foot first and the zipper at least partially closed. Push the bag firmly into the bottom of the stuff sack and stuff evenly as you go up. This also puts even stress on the stitching.
Wet weather? Line a nylon stuff sack with a plastic garbage bag and then stuff the sleeping bag in it. Or use a waterproof stuff sack.
Tent Maintenance
Follow our tips below to make sure that you are clued-up on proper tent maintenance and care...
How to pack away your tent:
- Ensure the inside of the tent is dust/stone/debris free
- Open tent up and leave to air for a while before packing away (on dry days)
- When ready to pack away partially zip the tent doors leaving room for air to escape
- Unpin the poles from the pins and collapse the tent with the poles still in
- Push (don't pull) your tent poles out of the sleeves and fold them
- With a person at each side, fold the tent to the same width as the bag, pushing air out as your fold
- Place the pole bag and peg bag on top of your tent, start to roll as tight as possible
- Tie the tent up and pop it back into it's bag. (If folded tightly enough, the tent should go back in the bag it came from)
What to do with a wet tent:
- Wipe excess dirt from the tent
- Shake off any excess water, and wipe down with a clean cloth to take as much water from the fabric as possible
- If you have to pack your tent away wet, make sure you unpack it and air it out AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. - - To air the tent, pitch the tent again in dry weather, or hang over a washing line in your garage. This will prevent the tent developing a musty smell or becoming mouldy
- If the tent needs to be cleaned, do not use a harsh detergent, use soap or a tent wash mixed with water, before allowing it to dry
- Do NOT put your tent in front of an unnatural heat source, this will affect the fabric. Leave the tent to dry naturally
Where to store your tent:
- DO NOT store your tent wet
- Store in a cool, dry area
- Never rest your tent bag on it's end, this can damage the poles. Always place the tent down flat.
