If you use a compression bag never fold your bag or jacket, just stuff it in to avoid fracturing the downs.

If you carry your down bag and down jacket in a compression bag, you need to shake it up time by time to help the clumped downs to get fluffy again. Best way to do this is to let it lay in the sun for heating up. Than shake it several times from different angels again and again; this will take some time.

If your bag or jacket got wet and you had no chance to dry it in the sun or to use a dryer than it is better to wash it before you start reactivating the downs.

If you don`t have a special detergent for downs available on the road, you can use/buy a detergent made for wool. Downs are chemically the same as wool. They consist of keratin and you have to use a non degreasing detergent to avoid destroying the feather structure of the downs. Do not use mild hair shampoo because it contains allways a degreasing detergent!

Best way to wash a down bag or jacket is a washing maschine with a big drum(=/>6kg). Use a light wash or wool washing program with 30°C. Use the lowest possible spin cycle and add a seperate rinse cycle after main wash.

Use a dryer and put 3-4 tennis balls into it. The "boxing" tennis balls will help to fluffy the downs again.

I am using these methods for more than 30 years now and by my experience I know that it extends the life cycle of my jackets and bags. At home I stock jackets hanging and bags in a bed box lying on top so it doesn`t get compressed. While traveling I use compression bags which are bigger than the ones which comes with the bag/jacket. In my opinion they are much too small because every manufacturer argues with the packing dimensions...

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