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Hi,

Just got 4xVango sleepign bags.

When we put these away for the winter, do we store them in the compression bags, or would black bin-liners be a better option ?

Vacum pac bags, are the ideal solution. protects the sleeping bags and at the same time compresses them for easy storage. We've just bought a pk of 2 (1 jumbo, 1 large) from a local chep shop for £2. We used to have a TT, and packed all our bags and clothes in them. there also great for storing Summer/Winter clothes.We also used to store the canvas in them for the winter, with no problams. Stuppidly let them go with the TT.

Dave

Do not store sleeping bags in a compressed state,  they will loose their loft over time which reduces their insulation qualities. 

The best way to store them is hung up, either in the wardrobe or from a rail or similar in a dry place like the attic. Leaving them in their compression sacks or even just squashed up somewhere means the filling gets flattened and they aren`t as warm, just like srnet says.

I hang mine up on the pully in my downstairs utility room. It`s a useless pully for drying washing as the room is unheated, but ideal for sleeping bags and bits of tent.

I don`t think it would be ideal to store them in bin bags either...not enough air circulating. If you`re worried about dust, why not hang them up inside an old duvet cover?

I would sugest that you keep them out of these vac bags and its own travel bag.  As has been said this will flatten all the stuffing etc in the sleeping bag.  This will reduce the insulating effect of the bag and you will feel cold.

If you have the space put them in the wardrobe or fold them like a quilt and put them in the airing cupboard. Any damp free place will do.

I just stuff them in a cuboard but make sure not to squash them up.

My down winter bag has been stored like that for 28 years now, and its still as warm as they day it was bought .... 

Remembering a couple of Berghaus equipment courses many years ago, we were told

Down or Down/Feather filled bags should be stored loose, hanging if at all possible.

Not as critical for Hollowfibre filled from a retention of insulation properties. But stored compressed for a long time they will lose loft, storing them in a non-compression bag is ok.

They probably don't do it now, but in the shop I worked in, all the down bags were kept on hanging rails in the stock room, as a humble part-timer I used to have to 'unstuff' all the down bags on arrival and hang them up. Thankfully, they were damned expensive, so they didn't keep that many in stock.