How long can you leave a down sleeping bag compressed?

[johnw]

I'm packing for an overnight trip this weekend and being a bit "OCD" I like to have everything ready at least a couple of days ahead. I bought a new Mountain Hardwear Phantom 15 ages ago. Probably overkill for this trip but it's the first opportunity I've had to try it out. It's been stored loose in its storage bag but I would like to pack it tonight in the compression sack. Would it cause any ill effect to the down leaving it compressed until pm Saturday?

[Orion]

A few days? I wouldn't worry. Just don't store it that way long term.

[Moondog55]

Although if vacumn packed about 20 years appaprently

[langy]

Talking to few designers and manufacturers you can, as long the bag is dry, store them compressed for years with no dramas, they just take long to come up full loft when you first use them again. I guess that works out, as 20 odd years ago my partner and backpacked euorpe for 8 months with J&H bushlites compressed for months at a time between uses,they where then stored compressed due to a lack of room and living with family on return for another year, and the bags are still going strong now.

[Orion]

I have heard this as well, that the main damage comes from the compressing not the time spent compressed. Perhaps the key phrase "as long as it is dry" is why the standard recommendation is to store it uncompressed in a large breathable bag.

It would be interesting to see what data the down feather people actually have on the subject of compression cycles, dirt, washing, down quality, loft, and other variables.

[johnw]

Thanks all for the replies. Has now been stuffed into its stuffsack.