> I just got out my Therm-a-rest bag (Guidelite long) , you know the bag the
> inflatable mattress goes in and the dam thing has stuck together like a flat
> balloon that's be left in the sun.I store my mattress unrolled and the bag
just
> hangs on the back of the bedroom door with very good ventilation.The bag is
> a couple of years old but I didn't expect this kind of deterioration. I have
tried
> pulling it apart but as soon as it comes in contact with the other side it
sticks
> together again and makes it impossible to insert the mattress.

First, the bag. I wonder whether it is a Therm-a-Rest brand bag? I ask, because
when we bought some mats the shop
supplied Brand-X bags to hold them. Who knows what the quality of those will be?

Second, the fabric and the coating. This degradation is well known, and happens
on an almost random basis. It depends on
exactly how the coating was formulated and then applied. Once it happens, there
is only one solution: remove and keep
the cord lock, and replace the rest. Nope, there is no cure.

Being closed up slightly damp seems to make the problem worse, but it can happen
despite being clean and dry.

Cheers
Roger Caffin