FAQ

Sleeping Bags

Backpacks

– Sleeping Bags

– What should I do with my sleeping bag when I get home from a trip?

Whenever you're done using a sleeping bag, unzip it completely and air dry it for a day or two. If weather permits, spread your bag out on the driveway or hang it inside out on the clothes line so it can soak up some sun. Otherwise, drape it over a stairway railing or an unused piece of exercise equipment. Clean, dry air and sunshine help keep your bag sanitary and fresh-smelling.

– How do I clean my TETON Sports sleeping bag?

Our bags come with a stain-resistant outer layer, so they probably won't need frequent cleaning. When they do get dirty, spot clean by wiping with a damp, warm cloth. For best results, don't saturate the bag. Allow to air dry, and don't fold or stuff until fabric is completely dry. Don't put sleeping bags in a washing machine or dryer, as this may damage zippers, reduce warmth, and void your warranty. Do not take the bag to a commercial dry cleaner. If your bag gets heavy use, consider purchasing the TETON Sports washable sleeping bag liner.

– My child sometimes has "accidents" at night. How do I clean up the sleeping bag if this happens?

Always put a potential bed wetter in a junior-size sleeping bag, not an adult bag. If the worst happens, you can take the smaller bag to a commercial washing machine, whereas an adult bag just won't fit. Be sure to air dry thoroughly before you store the bag.
Do NOT ever put a sleeping bag in a residential washing machine, no matter how big the machine and no matter how persuasive the advertisements were that convinced you to buy that machine in the first place. Even children's sleeping bags are too large. The zippers will catch in the machine, and the bag will be ruined. Even with a large commercial washer, this is a significant risk, but obviously if you have a urine spot, it's a risk you may have to take. Some people have had success hand-washing small sleeping bags. Remember that anytime you put a sleeping bag in a washing machine, you've pretty well voided the warranty. Did we already mention that children do best in smaller, less-expensive bags? TETON Sports carries a great children's bag.

– How do I store my TETON Sports sleeping bag?

Storing any sleeping bag rolled up can reduce the amount of loft and eventually collapse or reduce the fill. However, TETON Sports bags are made with high-quality synthetic polyester fill that is designed to take a pretty good beating without sacrificing warmth. So if you have to compress your bags to store them, don't sweat it.
If you want to really extend the life of your bag and ensure maximum warmth as long as possible, don't store the bag in the compression sack. Instead, drape it over a chair or a railing, lay it flat, or fold/roll it loosely like a blanket and set it on a shelf with nothing heavy on top of it. The bags all come with mesh hanging loops sewn in to one end to help with loose storage.

– What temperature rating do I want for my sleeping bag?

Sleeping bag temperature ratings can be misleading. When manufacturers tell you a bag is rated for -10°, we mean that it will keep you alive at a temperature down to -10°. We don't mean you'll be comfortable. You won't. You will be COLD! But you'll be alive.
Temperature ratings are really survival ratings. For comfort, most people need a sleeping bag rated about 20° to 25° colder than the expected nighttime temperature on their camping trip. If you are expecting zero degree nights, then buy a -20° to -25° sleeping bag.

– Why do TETON Sports sleeping bags have a layer of fabric and a drawstring between the bag and the hood?

The fabric layer between the bag and the hood is called a shoulder baffle, and it is one of many features TETON Sports bags include to increase warmth. To use the shoulder baffle, get in the bag and pull the drawstring to comfortably tighten the fabric around your neck. This will minimize air leaks while you sleep.
TETON Sports bags also have zipper baffles, which are extra layers of fabric and fill that run the whole length of the zipper teeth to keep tiny drafts of cold air out of the bag. In addition, we use offset stitching, which means that no single row of stitching goes all the way from the outside of the bag to the inside. Stitching for the outside layers of fabric is offset by several inches from stitching for the inside layers of fabric. This means that the fill is never completely compressed in any one spot, increasing overall warmth.

– Do you have any suggestions for staying warm in a sleeping bag? It seems like no matter how good my bag is, I'm always cold.

You shouldn't have to freeze your tail off every night just to go camping. First, understand that staying warm in a sleeping bag is all about heating the air in the bag, and then trapping that heated air inside the bag as long as possible. When your sleeping bag is directly on the ground, you mash the air out of the bag's fill and you let a lot of cold come in from underneath you. The first suggestion is to sleep with a pad under your sleeping bag, not simply a plastic ground cloth.
Do what you can to warm your body before you get in the bag. Twenty jumping jacks before you hop in the bag may keep you warm hours longer, because your body will better warm the air in the bag. Once you're in the bag, strip off all non-essential clothes so your body heat can be used to warm air, not clothing. And of course, don't sleep with wet clothes.
Use the shoulder baffle included on all TETON Sports sleeping bags to cinch around your neck and trap the warm air in all night. Buy a wide enough bag of the right temperature rating so you can leave the side fully zipped all night long. Also, if you eat right before bedtime, your body temperature may drop slightly while you metabolize, and you could suffer all night as a result.

– Why does my TETON Sports bag have two zipper pulls?

All TETON Sports sleeping bags have a two-way zipper that allows you to zip and unzip from both top and bottom. If you get too hot in a TETON sleeping bag, unzip the bottom 6 or 12 inches and every time you toss and turn, cool air will leak into the bag. If you get really warm, you can zip up from the bottom and down from the top, leaving a small connection point in the middle for modesty.

– How do I know if my sleeping bag has a right-side zipper or a left-side zipper?

When you lay on your back facing up, if the zipper is at your right hand, it's a right- zip. If the zipper is at your left hand, it's a left- zip. This matters if you want to zip two bags together, or when you want your natural sleep pattern to face you toward or away from the bag opening.

– How do I zip two sleeping bags together to make a double bag?

A bag with no hood is easy to zip together. You completely unzip it, place another identical bag on top, and zip all around the U-shape. However, most TETON Sports bags that zip together come equipped with hoods and shoulder baffles for greater comfort, making zipping together a bit more complex. Once you get the hang of it, it's pretty quick, but try it in the daylight the first time, when you're not already freezing and tired.

Step 1: Make sure you have a left- zip bag and a right- zip bag. That way both hoods will end up on the ground, and one person in the bag won't get a face full of sleeping bag hood while the back of the head sits on cold ground.

Step 2: Make sure your bags are in the same series. For example, a Celsius XL and an Elk Hunter won't zip together. See the next question for a list of compatible bags.

Step 3: Place the right-zip bag on the ground to the left of the other sleeping bag. Yes, you read that right. The right-zip bag goes on the left (if you were laying on your back facing up) of the double bag.

Step 4: Unzip the right-zip bag completely and separate the zipper. Both pull tabs of the zipper will be on the sky side of the sleeping bag. The metal tab at the end of the zipper will be on the ground side.

Step 5: Unzip the left-side bag completely and separate the zipper. On this bag, both pull tabs will be on the ground side, while the metal tab will be on the sky side.

Step 6: Zip the underneath zipper (closest to the ground), starting at the bottom.

Step 7: Zip the top zipper (closest to the sky), starting at the bottom. Your double sleeping bag should now be snug and tight and ready for sharing.

Step 8: Don't be surprised if, when two bags are zipped together, the zippers don't fully align at the top. This is common with all brands of sleeping bags when zippers from different production runs are zipped together. A small variation in teeth spacing can add up to a couple of inches when fully zipped. If this happens, just stretch the velcro tabs from one bag to the other to keep the zippers in place.

– What bags zip together to make a double bag?

To zip together, sleeping bags must be the same length, with identical zippers. Color and temperature rating don't affect compatibility.

Celsius Bags can zip to other Celsius bags of the same length, regardless of temperature rating or color. For example, any XL Celsius can zip to any other XL or XXL Celsius. However, a Regular can't zip to an XXL. Celsius Regular and Celsius Regular for Women will zip together because they are both regular length.

Mammoth Bags have zippers on both sides, allowing you to fasten as many bags together as you want. All Mammoths zip to all other Mammoths regardless of temperature rating or color.

Deer & Elk Hunter Bags are not compatible with each other. Any Deer Hunter can zip to another Deer Hunter and any Elk Hunter can zip to any Elk Hunter.

Remember that you need a right-zip and a left-zip in order to hook bags together properly. See the left-zip/right-zip question if you need help figuring out which zip you have.

– How do I put the sleeping bag back in the compression sack?

The simple answer is, just stuff the bag in the sack. It will fit. But there are a few tricks:

Fold bag in half lengthwise before you start, but do not roll it. Rolling adds bulk.

Start with the foot end of bag so you don't trap air in the bag while you stuff.

As you put the bag in the sack, turn the sack slightly after each stuff. This helps the sack fill up evenly.

When you get the whole bag stuffed in, pull the drawstring to keep it closed and tuck the round protective flap into the hole so no part of bag is exposed.

To fit your bag in a very small space, tighten down the side straps, one strap at a time to further compact it. NOTE: Extreme compression is fine for a single trip when you're trying to make space in your pack, but do not store your bag for long periods fully compressed in this manner as you may damage the fill and reduce warmth.

– Backpacks

– What is the proper way to load my TETON Sports internal frame pack?

Internal frame packs provide more agility on the trail and can be more comfortable than external frame packs. The internal frame can be adjusted to match your lumbar curve, and the pack can be cinched to compress cargo and reduce bulk. However, internal frame packs do require much more careful packing.
Put heavy items close to your back and spaced evenly between your shoulders. Most of the weight should fall on your hips not your shoulders. Try your loaded pack on before you start hiking, and if it's not comfortable, take time to adjust the contents.
Though TETON Sports packs have substantial shoulder padding and reinforced seams, follow the weight limits specified for each model.

– How do I adjust the internal frame backpack to fit me?

TETON Sports internal frame packs are very adjustable, so keep at it until you get the perfect fit. Once the pack fits the way you want, we suggest you don't loan it to your buddy or you'll have to adjust all over again. Tell your buddy to get his own pack. At this price, you could even buy him one.

Torso: Choose the correct pack for your torso size. When the pack arrives, adjust the height straps to match your torso dimension (see the next question for how to measure your torso). Some TETON Sports packs adjust as much as eight inches in the torso, so be sure to get this one right.

Note: Put at least 20 pounds of weight in your pack before you do the next three adjustments. Filled packs fit differently. Loosen all straps before you start adjusting.

– How do I measure my torso length?

To find your torso length, you will need a helper and a cloth measuring tape. If you don't have a cloth measuring tape, use a string and lay it out flat to measure when you're done. Torso specifications for TETON Sports products are calculated in inches.

Step 1: Stand up straight and bend at the neck so your nose is pointing toward the floor. Ask the helper to locate the bone poking up in the back of your neck. This protruding bone is the top of the measurement.

Step 2: Bend your elbows and put your hands on your hips with your thumbs pointing behind you. The imaginary line that would be created if your thumbs touched each other is the top of the hip bone. This imaginary line is the bottom of the measurement.

Step 3: Have the helper run the tape down the back of your neck along your spine, starting at the protruding neck bone, and stopping at the hip bone. The resulting number is your torso length.

– Will TETON Sports internal frame backpacks fit me?

Because our packs are so adjustable, they can be comfortably worn by men, women, and children. Most likely, we have a model that will fit your body size and shape. Use the size chart below to order the best pack for you.

– What size water bladders do TETON Sports internal frame backpacks carry?

All TETON Sports internal frame packs carry up to a 3-liter bladder. However, we recommend a maximum of 2.5 liters so you can more easily insert and remove the bladder. Whatever bladder size you use, remember to fill only as much water as you need for your hike. Three liters of water weigh almost six and a half pounds.
Our internal frame packs come hydration-ready, with a pocket to protect the bladder and holes and clips for the tubing. The packs do not come with a water bladder.

– What do I do if my TETON Sports gear breaks?

All our products have a limited lifetime warranty, backed both by TETON Sports as the manufacturer and by the store where you bought the product. We want you to be delighted with your purchase.

Because sometimes parts break, especially with the hard use we all give our camping equipment, TETON Sports maintains a Parts Hotline. From the Parts Hotline, you can easily obtain replacement buckles, rubber feet, stuff sacks, or cot end bars. To contact the Parts Hotline, shoot an email to parts@tetonsports.com or head over to our parts request page and fill out the form. We'll contact you back to verify your request, and then we'll ship the part directly to you.

If a replacement part won't solve your problem, please contact the store where you bought the product and tell them how they can best help you. In most cases, you can obtain an exchange or refund right at the store without the delay and cost of shipping an item to a central service center. If you still have unresolved issues after working with the store, you can reach TETON Sports management at service@tetonsports.com.

– Can your internal frame backpacks be used for airport carry-on?

The Scout 3400 backpack meets size standards for airport carry-on, as long as you don't stuff it too full. A bulging pack will exceed allowable measurements and if you somehow manage to get it on the plane, won't fit into the overhead bin very well.
Of course, all TETON Sports backpacks can be checked in at an airport. Fasten buckles, tighten straps, and tuck loose ends into zippered pockets whenever possible to minimize damage from baggage handling machines.

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