Overheard a guy at REI say he never washes his sleeping bag...

I was looking at camp stoves last weekend and overheard this older hiker tell his buddy he's never washed his down sleeping bag in 12 years. Just airs it out. Made me realize I've been babying my gear way too much with special soaps and all that... has anyone else gone years without washing theirs?

2 comments

2 Comments

lily_sullivan8216d ago

...and then I thought, what if that guy's bag actually smells fine because he's not sleeping in it every night? Like, most of us are using our bags what, 20-30 nights a year tops? That's not enough time for bacteria to really build up compared to a pillow you sleep on every single night. I read somewhere that the real enemy of sleeping bag longevity is actually how you store it, not how often you wash it. So maybe the guy's got a point, but only if he's stuffing it correctly and not leaving it compressed for months at a time.

simonreed16d ago

You're absolutely right. I've had the same sleeping bag for over ten years now and it still smells fine. I just hang it up loose in the closet when I get home, never had any issues.