How can I 'inflate' or plump up my my sleeping bag?

Question

I have a very nice sleeping bag which has been kept stuffed as compressed as possible in a backpack for a couple of months. After reading about the negative effects of such actions, I was wondering if there was anything I could do to return it to its original poofy-ness.

Answer 1

Original Poofiness (or OP as they call it in the 'wood) will always be illusive. No matter how you care for your bag, it is on a steady decline toward compression from the moment you buy it.

To attempt to re-gain some loft, you need to separate the fill so the fibers or down (or whatever) that are inside can trap more air between them.

You can:

1. Shake the bag vigorously from all directions
2. Fluff the bag like a pillow -- slap, punch and clap it
3. Feel for clumps of down in the bag and gently pull them apart with your hands
4. Place the bag in a large commercial tumble dryer on air (no heat) with a couple of tennis balls tossed in

Of course, as you mention, never store a bag compressed in the first place.