Sleeping Bags

M

milani74

Joined
Feb 15, 2009
Messages
1,237
What is the concenus of the GI modular sleeping bag v.s. other ones like the ultra-light marmot and north face?
Is there a cheap source for the GI bags? I am 6'1" and find that many bags are too small or they go the other way and are too large to pack.
 
I carry a Wiggys bag, I have 3 sets of the FTRSS, a mummy superlight for me, and the rectangular hooded (hunters) superlights for the girls, hence the purple request. They are big and a little heavy (as far as bags go), but with adequate pack space, it is worth it. My next bag is going a Kifaru MOB set, probably the same temps as the Wiggys. I own a Kifaru Woobie and I am sure I could go down to the mid 40s with it just as is, I am sure their bags will give me the same positive results, they are lighter and compress NICELY. I like the poncho and bivy setups for summer camps. Always take a hammock with me during summer trexs out here, hence the Woobie for sleeping since crawling into a bag in a hammock is a PITA. Placed a order for the Doobie and another pack last week. Got a estimated ship of 8-31, so a wait will be expected from them directly.

On ARFcom alot of people are praising the knockoff MSS found here http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/mummy-sleeping-system-by-guide-gear.aspx?a=333009 I do not have it so I can not comment.

One thing I found annoying about most compression sacks in the ball symdrome you get. Unless its attached outside the pack, it is a PITA as well. I have started using "granite ware tubular stuff sacks" I can fit the overbag into a med, and the base bag into large (Wiggys FTRSS superlight Xlong Xwide). Either of which will now fit any bag I have, and both will fit into 2.

For MSS, the cheapest I have found is ebay or IMS surplus. Ebay as you know can be a gamble. I have purchased a pair of Gortex Bivys from "user name: gruntgear" Both have been unopened still have labels attached for under $100 each (75 and 65).

One thing I found annoying about the MSS when in the Marines was either A) prior Marine destroying them, boots woren while side and tear up the foot area, or B) poor loft from the prior Marine storing them compressed for a few years. I have no commercially avilable lightweight sleepgear. But trailspace may help you search out what you need in that area.

EDIT to add photos.

Wiggys FTRSS the one packaged in the middle is identical to the purple one. The mummy bags pack down a good deal smaller than the hunter series. The bags are mated in the photo.
Wiggys1.JPG


Here is the base bag in gortex bivy, on a multicam poncho that I posted on ARFcom and ZS to show a few members the size of the poncho with the tail undone (great poncho/ tarp) FYI.
poncho6.JPG


Kifaru Woobie... in the attached stuff sack, then compressing it by hand (the bags of theirs does the same thing) due to the design of the lose fill bag, it can help clear out voids in the pack and silence stuff from banging together, you can purchase a stuff sack for it separately if needed, good enough to use a bag to the mid 40s/ low 50s IMHO.
woobie3.JPG

woobie4.JPG

woobie5.JPG
 
Last edited:
wiggys are awesome bags for everything but hiking. they don't pack small and are heavier than the ultralight non-synthetic options.
 
Ive been looking for a good sleeping bag for our camping trip in Nov. I will be watching this thread to see what the overall concensus is.
 
Thanks guys and keep the pics coming. Those woobies look nice, but they arent cheap. Not sure I could bring myself to spend $130ish for a poncho liner.
As far as the ECWS knock offs, I wonder how well they are made and if they are truely water proof bivys.
 
If you can shop around a bit on eBay, you can get a new MSS in woodland for about $150, if you want the new ACU, it'll be about $200.

I have an MSS.
What it is:
- Warm (remember the military's temp rating includes wearing the polypro ECWS base layers in the bag), I've been plenty warm in the patrol bag to the low 40s and slept into the 30s in it, although it was "cool", not really warm. The intermediate bag was plenty down to the mid 20s which is as cold as it ever gets here. Both bags together were too warm and had to be vented. This is sleeping in my skivvys.
- Well made. Tough bags, the intermediate has a double layer foot area, which is very nice.

What it is not:
- Small. It does not pack small, even in the compression sack. about 12" x 18" is as small as I could get the whole thing, and that's after a lot of yanking and cursing.
- Light. If you carry the whole thing, it's about 9.5 pounds.

However, if you can go with just the patrol bag and bivy, it rolls up quite small, and only weighs about 5 pounds (the patrol bag is about 3 pounds, the bivy about 2).

The Gore-Tex bivy is something I'd recommend you get no matter what bag you buy.
Heck, I even emailed Wiggy about using it with his bags, and as much as he's into promoting his stuff, he said it was a good piece of gear and works well with his bags.

I recommend you buy new, if you buy it. Because most likely, the patrol bag will be squashed down to nothing from use. In the Army, I don't remember ever carrying the black intermediate bag, just the patrol bag and the bivy, and there wasn't a lot of loft left in the patrol bag when it got turned in.

If you can afford it, I'd buy a Wiggy's or a good down bag, but would still get a GI bivy.

But the MSS works and works well, as long as you factor in its size.
 
Well, to be clear, I am in the Army. But just not at an installation where I get issued CIF. So although I have knowledge of the ECWS, I dont have much experience with other bags and how they compare to the GI bags. I also know from my hunting gear, that some Army issue items are really good, while other items are not nearly as good as its civilian counterparts.
 
wool blanket. you can sew as many together as you like for length. add as many as you want when weather dictates. they come in several thicknesses.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top