I hаνе аn extra large mummy style sleeping bag аnd thе stuff sack іt came wіth іѕ јυѕt bіg enough аnd I wouldn’t mind one a bit bіggеr bυt nοt hυgе. Everywhere I look thе stuff sacks аrе sized іn liters аnd οnlу a few give inches bυt nοt thе ones I want. Hοw many liters іѕ thе bag I need? Hοw dο I measure іt?
A sleeping bag should be stuffed as little as possible at all times to prevent it from losing loft. You should reserve a large portion of your backpack as space for your sleeping bag stuffed into a sack of the appropriate size. I designate 1/3 of my pack to my sleeping bag while my wife’s takes up at least 1/2 of her backpack. My homemade sil-nylon stuff sack is 15″ x 11″ x 8″ for a total volume of 1320 cubic inches which is 21. 6 liters, which could take up more than half my 2400 cu in backpack if I didn’t have to carry this bear canister everywhere around here.
REI sells a lightweight (silnylon) 20 liter stuff sack which is 20″ tall with a 9″ diameter bottom (mine’s square) and would pack a lot differently than mine. More vertical than horizontal unless you have a much, much wider pack. You could sew your own like I did. Any stuff sack will need a garbage bag liner or to be waterproof and seam sealed with an ample extension collar.
Here Ray Jardine sells his Classic Ray-Way Stowbag Kit for quilt: http://www. rayjardine. com/ray-way/php/order-form. php
Of course your sleeping bag might need an even larger stuff sack and you might want to bring your sleeping bag and even your backpack in to REI or other local outdoor store and try them out in various sized sacks to find the right one.
At home your sleeping bag should be hung up in a closet if possible or at least laid out somewhere, though stores sell huge bags for sleeping bag home storage it’s better for them to be completely unstuffed.
I have the same problems too, it seems one can never get a bag to go back in it’s original stuff sack with ease. Just take your sleeping bag out of the stuff sack and take the stuff sack with you shopping, compare the size you have with what your looking at and get a size more comfortable for your needs. With so many different sources of bags at such low cost out there I wouldn’t waste any time making one. A lot of places that sell stuff bags will compare the bags weight too a bag for a 3lb sleeping bag. Do unstuff your bag when at home and hang it up in a closet this keeps the fibers from compacting and reducing the loft. Most sporting good stores sell replacement stuff sacks and I have even seen them at walmart for just a couple of bucks so don’t waste a huge wad for one either. There is spray on water proofing for material that is not water proof so no need of adding a garbage bag to make them water proof, also a garbage bag prevents the air from escaping preventing you from compressing the bag and getting it in the stuff sack so why bother.
Now some folks don’t even mess with a stuff sack and many backpacks are compartmentalized for just that, eliminating the need for a stuff sack for the bag. Some Northface and Gregory back packs fit that category. Another option is using a Bivey bag some designs double as stuff bags. Have fun stuffing!
Just take your sleeping bag to an outdoors/camping store like REI, or whatever’s nearby and try them out. If the store won’t let you try them out inside the store, buy a couple of different sizes and bring them out to your car to try them on. Return what doesn’t fit for a refund.