How to Attach a Sleeping Bag to a Backpack

Place the sleeping bag in its compression sack. Sleeping bags designed for backpacking should come with a compression sack that allows you to minimize the size of the bag.

Tighten the compression sack by pulling the cords tight on each side. Compress it evenly on all sides.

Place the sleeping bag in a dry bag or plastic cover. When storing the bag on the outside of your backpack, you'll want to protect it from moisture to keep it dry. Fully close and seal the bag.

Store the bag on the bottom of the inside of your backpack. If you have enough space in your pack, opt to store the sleeping bag inside on the bottom. Many backpacks have a compartment specifically for storing a sleeping bag. Keeping it inside the backpack will protect it from the elements, leaving you with a dry place to sleep.

Fill the external frame backpack. Prior to attaching your sleeping bag, you want to load the rest of the gear inside. Bear in mind the basic strategy that lighter items go first, while heavier items should be at the mid-upper part. Heavy items should be stored against the back and centered in the pack.

Attach the sleeping bag to the lower outside of an external frame pack. In order to properly balance your weight, you want to store the sleeping bag as close to your back as possible, so that it doesn't snag or affect your balance. To attach it, you'll need a pair of accessory straps that will wrap around and lash the sleeping bag to the frame or lash points of the backpack.

Wrap the straps around the lash points, center the sleeping bag underneath the main backpack and place a strap a few inches from the each end of the sleeping bag.

Tighten down both straps so that the sleeping bag is secure on the pack. It should move with the pack and shouldn't jiggle around independently.