People often ask us how small our quilts compress, but the answer varies quite a bit!
Compression sacks have long been used to pack sleeping quilts tightly and free up space in a pack. Down can be compressed a great deal with little or no long-term damage, as long as it is dry when compressed. Synthetic items won't compress as much as down, and compression can have more dramatic effects on loft for synthetic items. However, we've heard from customers that Climashield APEX retains insulating capabilities even when it has lost some of its loft.
Bottom line, compression sacks are fine for packing your quilt while you're out, but be sure to give your quilt 2-3 hours to loft up before you use it, and gently run your hand over the baffles to redistribute the down. Tight compression over time can cause down to lose loft, so store your quilt in the cotton storage bag in a ventilated area once you're home.
Wilderness packs are typically made with waterproof fabric, but time, abrasion, and UV light will eventually reduce their ability to repel water. So some people ask us about using dry sacks to protect their quilts against moisture. However, many ultralight outdoorspeople prefer to line their packs with trash compactor bags, and then allow the quilt to sit loose in the bottom of the pack. This protects your quilt (and everything else in your pack) against moisture, while also relieving the quilt from the tight compression of a separate sack and eliminating the weight of the sack as well. If you use a pack liner, you'll want to pack carefully to prevent damage to your quilt from puncture or abrasion.