Introduction

On outdoor activity or longer trips, after a tired traveling all day it is necessary to take a rest and prepare yourself for your next adventure goal, to do this, you need to have a sleeping bag to provide relaxation and a satisfying sleep system it needs to be dry, warm and comfortable to fulfill your need. Now to remain warm and dry, your sleeping bag must be waterproof so that it does not become wet and absorb moisture but here the question is how to waterproof your sleeping bag.

In the given blog post we will be discussing methods of waterproofing sleeping bags, and certain factors to know before the waterproofing process, why to waterproof it, and other tips tricks that will help in maintaining and waterproofing your sleeping.

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Things To Know Before Waterproofing Your Sleeping Bag

Before waterproofing your sleeping bag, consider certain factors to ease your waterproofing process and avoid any inconvenience, irritation, and damage to your sleeping bag while waterproofing it, to save your precious time and money.

1. Waterproofing Spraying

Always use a soft and material-friendly waterproofing spray that does not affect the fabric of a sleeping bag while using a harsh waterproofing spray might damage your sleeping bag severely

In this regard, first, it is advisable to consult the manufacturer’s instructions on which spray would be suitable for your sleeping bag fabric but most companies recommend the Nikwax TX-Direct Spray as the best water-repellent product.

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2. Cleaning Of Sleeping Bag

Before applying any type of product clean your entire sleeping bag well so all the dirt, dust, or oil on the bag is properly clean and clear because dust, dirt, and oil on the sleeping bag affect your product by following the manufacturer’s instructions on the product for how to apply it on your bag.

3. Identification Of Material Of Sleeping Bag

It is important to identify the construction material of your sleeping bag whether it is made of Nylon, polyester, down, or other because different constructive materials of sleeping bags require different methods to waterproof your bag.

4. Spot Test Before Applying Any Product

Before applying any product whether it spraying or seam sealer do a spot test before applying it on the entire surface of your sleeping bag because it will give you a signal whether a specific product is suitable for your bag or not otherwise you will lose your sleeping bag in case of an applying wrong product on the bag.

5. Protection Of Zippers

Mostly the zippers are left unattended because zippers are potential entry points of moisture which should be treated well by applying zipper wax or any other zipper protective product to waterproof them from seeping moisture.

Why You Need to Waterproof Your Sleeping Bag?

Waterproof or water-repellant in your sleeping bag is very necessary especially when you are sleeping in an outdoor activity having different types of weather conditions. Here are several reasons that you need to water proof or water-repellant your sleeping bag

1. Waterproofing sleeping bags provide you protection from the rain during your outdoor journey which is common in mountaineering areas, in contrast, wet sleeping bags have irritable and uncomfortable sleep at night.
2. It prevents your sleeping bag from condensation, especially during the cold and humid conditions provides insulation, and keeps your bag dry.
3. Mostly during the night dew can be placed on your gear and ground moisture can seep into your tent and can wet your sleeping bag but it protects your bag from entering the moisture into your bag.
4. Waterproofing or water repellency can extend the lifespan of your sleeping bag

How To Waterproof Your Sleeping Bag

You can not fully waterproof your sleeping bag rather it can be water repellant to protect you during rain or any other wet condition by applying DWR spray, wearing a rain cover to your bag, applying seam sealer, and using of liner inside a sleeping bag

1. Applying Of DWR Spray

It’s an effective method to enhance the waterproofing or water-repellent capabilities of your sleeping by applying a DWR (Durable Water-repellant) spray on the entire surface area of your bag to provide an extra layer of protective coating against rain or any wet conditions.

In this regard, try to look into the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the selection of a spray that will be suitable for your sleeping bag fabric otherwise a harsh spray can ruin your sleeping bag.

Most companies recommend the Nikwax TX-Direct Spray as suitable and material-friendly.

2. Wearing a Raincoat or Cover

This method protects your sleeping bag against water or any wet conditions while traveling. In this method, a sleeping bag is wrapped in a raincoat, or a cover is wrapped around your bag during the packing process.

A raincoat or cover provides an extra layer of protection to your sleeping bag and helps during traveling, crossing any bridge

You can buy any suitable raincoat or pack cover from a reputable brand from Amazon.

3. Applying Seam Sealer

Seams of a sleeping bag are a potential entry point for water and need to be covered as they affect the waterproofing and water-repellant capability of your sleeping bag, so fix this issue as soon as possible.

In this regard, the seams are sealed by applying a good quality seam sealer considering the manufacturer’s instruction regarding which seam sealer is good for a specific sleeping bag material.

The seams sealer is applied with a brush on the stitching area and ensures that all the stitching area is completely covered then let it dry for an hour.

4. Using Of bag Liner

A sleeping bag can also be waterproof by using a liner of the trash compactor bag inside the bag which will also provide an extra layer of protection to your bag, further, a pack liner can also help in backpacking in wet condition

Tips To Maintain or Waterproof Your Sleeping Bag

By practically and observing and after research we have picked a few tips for maintaining or waterproofing your sleeping bag which are as follows

1. Try to hang out your sleeping bag every morning after using it at night because morning dew or condensation might fall on the bag It needs to be dry for your next comfortable night’s sleep.
2. Always avoid wiping beads on your sleeping bag because they can penetrate the bag rather use our first tip of hanging out your sleeping bag every morning in the open air or dry place.
3. Try to ventilate your tent at night by allowing a little airflow that will help prevent condensation inside your tent.
4. Avoid sleeping directly on the ground use a tarp or any other same like things under your sleeping so that the moisture does not seep into your sleeping bag.
5. When buying spray or seam sealer check the reviews and feedback of the previous customer so that you may know the cons and pros of these products.
6. Before using any spray and seam sealer must check the manufacturer’s instructions regarding that product because a harsh spray and seam sealer might damage your sleeping bag.
7. Similarly, do not keep your sleeping bag under direct contact with sunlight as UV rays will degrade the fabric of your sleeping bag.
8. Synthetic sleeping bag is more waterproof than a down bag

Conclusion

I hope by looking into all the methods above regarding how to waterproof your sleeping bag along with certain factors to consider before waterproofing a bag and other tips and tricks you will be now in a position to apply any one of the following methods and protect your sleeping bag every exit and entry point of water to keep your sleeping bag dry.

FAQ’s

1. How do you keep sleeping bags dry?

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 wet, it may be necessary to air it out for several hours.

2. What materials are used to protect the sleeping bag?

A sleeping bag liner protects the sleeping bag from perspiration, grime, and body oils. This will mean that your sleeping bag will require washing less often. Liners are available in a range of materials including silk, cotton, and polypropylene.

3. What detergent is best for down sleeping bags?

If it’s a down sleeping bag, you’ll want to wash it with a down cleaner formulated for down feathers and fibers, like Nikwax Down Wash or Gear Aid’s Revivex Down Cleaner. If it’s a synthetic bag, use Nikwax Tech Wash or Gear Aid’s Revivex Pro Cleaner.

4. What are the two main types of insulation for sleeping bags?

Sleeping bags can be filled with natural down, the fine under feathers from ducks or geese, or with synthetic insulation, made from poly-fibers. We’ll look at the pros and cons of both filling materials.

5. What makes a sleeping bag warmer?

A sleeping bag traps air and keeps it from circulating. This “dead air” around your body is warmed by the heat created by your body’s metabolism. The bag forms a barrier between this air and the colder ground or outside air. Smaller spaces warm up faster and retain heat more efficiently.