sleeping gear/system

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91xlt

Joined
Nov 17, 2008
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looking for suggestions and feedback on sleeping systems or gear that you guys have experience with.

i am revamping some of my gear.

i camp/hunt all year round, so def need some flexability in temperatures and conditions.
 
I use a US military ECWS modular sleep system. It is 2 sleeping bags, a Gore-Tex bivy and a storage sack. The 2 bags can be used individually or combined. You basically have a summer bag, spring/fall bag or combined to create a winter bag. It is moderately heavy, but a rarely bring both bags. Also, because of the bivy, you don't need a tent (I do bring a tarp or a AMK 2 Person HeatSheet). I bought mine new from an auction site for less than the price in the link below. You can find them new and used on the auction sites. I did a quick search and found some used ones for $129. One thing to look for, make sure you buy a genuine US military one, not just a mil-spec one.


http://www.cheaperthandirt.com/ZWB155-1.html
http://www.thebackpacker.com/gear/sleeping_bags/army_modular_sleep_system_mss.php
 
I have a Big Agnes Lost Ranger and really love it. Its my first down bag, having always used synthetic before. Its crazy lightwieght and (what I love best about BA bags) very, very roomy for a mummy bag. Plus it has a sleeve on the backside that allows your sleeping pad to slide right inside, thus ending the problem of staying centered on the pad while you thrash around.
 
+1 on the ECWS/MSS.

It's not really heavier than most other multi-bag systems, nor really bulkier. If you need both bags, it is bulkier than a dedicated super-cold bag, but you get more flexibility with the ECWS/MSS.

The bags are roomy and comfy, and the bivy bag always comes with me because it help protect the sleeping bag and really blocks the wind. I tested the black bag (the one for coler weather). It's rated to 30 degrees, has a double thickness foot area. I put it in the bivy, on a Thermarest Ridgerest on the ground, it was 22 degrees F, and I turned my big garage fan on high, pointed right at it, and slept like a baby. No chill at all, the bivy completely blocked the wind and I was nice and toasty.
 
if you've got trees in your area, cant beat a henessey hammock for comfort, size and durability.
 
I sleep in a Clark North American Hammock with a Snugpak 3 Merlin sleeping bag and liner.Great combo.Light weight and compact.For a little added measure of comfort put a foam sleeping pad in the bottom of the Hammock.they don't weigh hardly anything but the comfort they add is so worth it.
 
You always want to looks at temp ratings but i usually divide into whether you have the possibility of it getting wet or not. Down fails when wet, synthetic doesn't. Snow is dry in my book.
 
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I have a Wiggy's Superlight and Overbag combo. It's relatively bulky and heavy, as filled with synthetic fill (Lamilite), but versatile, durable, and good in moist environments. In colder climes, I sleep on my Exped Downmat 9 Deluxe. Never had any problems, but you need a big pack for all that comfort.
 
I have been using a old Coleman Peak One mummy bag for the past 9 -10 years with a self inflating Thermarest 3/4 sleeping pad. When the temp drops below the 30's I also usually as a sleeping bag liner for extra warmth. If its really hot I go with just the bag liner and pad.

I'm in the market for a new bag since mine is threadbare in a few spots but I figure, If it ain't broke don't fix it.
 
I'm not a military user or a hunter, but I am a mountaineer. I only use down sleeping bags specifically b/c their warmth to weight/compressibility ratio is insanely good. Waaaaaay better than synthetics. I have a 0 F/-17 C 850+ fill-power bag that stuffs down to a basketball size with ease. Not-to-mention, if you care for a high-quality down bag you can get 15-20 years no problem. The whole "if down gets wet it's useless" commentary is valid, but you have to be doing something wrong. Down does get damp from body vapor, but that's fine for one or two nights. Beyond that in cold temps, you'll want a VBL [vapor barrier liner], which will keep the down dry. If the weather is nice in the morning, reverse your bag and let it dry on-top of your sleeping-pad or tent. Feathered Friends in Seattle makes some very beautiful bags [all handmade in the US]. If you get a 'continuous baffle' bag, you can 'shift' the down on top to the bottom to get a bit more latitude from your bag in warmer months. Pair that with a Therm-a-rest and you're golden. On trips where weight is less of a concern or there's room for one on the route I'm doing, I'll use a tent ... if not, I'll use a bivy-sac. There are lots of great bivy-sacs out there, but I use a Bibler/Black-Diamond. There's enough room to throw your sleeping-pad and bag down inside before crawling in. When you get home, hang that down bag up on a door for a couple of days then lightly stuff-it into a large cotton stuff-sac. Store.

http://www.featheredfriends.com/
 
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brians said:
I have a Wiggy's Superlight and Overbag combo. It's relatively bulky and heavy, as filled with synthetic fill (Lamilite), but versatile, durable, and good in moist environments. In colder climes, I sleep on my Exped Downmat 9 Deluxe. Never had any problems, but you need a big pack for all that comfort.
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How do you like your Exped Downmat? I was thinking of getting one.
 
russamurai said:
You always want to looks at temp ratings but i usually divide into whether you have the possibility of it getting wet or not. Down fails when wet, synthetic doesn't. Snow is dry in my book.
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5 straight days of continuous downpour last fall in the Porcupine Mountains and my down Big Agnes stayed dry and unstinky. Of course it was in a tent but still surrounded by high humidity. :)
 
Over the years, I have accumulated three bags -- a very good REI 35-deg. lightweight synthetic bag, a very good Sierra Designs light synthetic 10-deg. bag, and a cheap Cabela's heavy synthetic -10-deg. bag, plus a fleece bag liner that can be used alone in summer or to add another 5-10deg of range to one of the other bags. I have two Thermarest eggcrate foam pads: a short thin ultra-light one and a full length thicker one. They are so light (compared to the inflatable type Thermarest pads) that I usually bring both and double them up.

I have an Integral Designs Solathe bivy and a Big Agnes Seedhouse 1 solo tent, as well as a couple of tarps and a larger tent.

This will pretty much handle any kind of outing I would go on. I camp the most during late spring, early fall and late fall, so eventually aquiring a range of bags seemed to be a reasonable plan. It can get hot as blazes on my late spring bicycle camping trips, and very cold on my late fall hunting camping trips here in the Adirondacks. I'm guessing you can buy three different reasonably light bags for the price of one super-premium modular system....

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
desmobob said:
I'm guessing you can buy three different reasonably light bags for the price of one super-premium modular system....
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I bought mine new ECWS military modular system for around $150 at an auction site. Most of the other bags I considered were well north of $100 (and like you said, I would have to buy 3 of them), so if I bought a summer, spring/fall and winter bag it would set me back $300-500. Most of the Gore-Tex bivys I've seen are between $100-200 also.

$150 vs. $400-700

I'm happy, warm and dry.:thumbup::D
 
BushcraftBrainTrust said:
I bought mine new ECWS military modular system for around $150 at an auction site. Most of the other bags I considered were well north of $100 (and like you said, I would have to buy 3 of them), so if I bought a summer, spring/fall and winter bag it would set me back $300-500. Most of the Gore-Tex bivys I've seen are between $100-200 also.

$150 vs. $400-700

I'm happy, warm and dry.:thumbup::D
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That sounds like a real steal! If I was looking for a bag, I'd certainly check out that possibility.

Stay sharp,
desmobob
 
I use a GoLite Xanadu 1. 1-Person 3-4 Season it was about 320.00
I like the golight tent because you can sit up in it and you can roll the rain fly up for a side of the tent all mesh screen. I loved that because I could sit in my tent and still see outside. It has done me well in heavy rain and snow. bathtub bottom kept the rain out.

I have used a hammock, and I have used a bivy sack before and wasn't with it. I liked the hammock but when there was no trees you were screwed. the bivy sack was great for weight reasons, but on a 5 day hike and it starts to rain non stop for two days it kind sucks to get dressed in and to hang out in a bivy sack. I found I had to bring a siltarp to go with the bivy for shelter.
sleeping bags. I have a +15 rei zephyr and I love it. I bought a coolmax liner for when it gets really cold and have had no problems.
 
BushcraftBrainTrust said:
How do you like your Exped Downmat? I was thinking of getting one.
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I have an older version and I've read that the pump system is better on the new ones, although I've never had a problem. They have the best R value for inflatables and the Deluxe model is 3 inches thick and 26 inches wide - great for those of us with wider proportions.

Little more bulk, but comfort doesn't get any better and I have Thermarests, Z-Rests, and a Big Agnes Air Core. It will certainly help retain the warmth rating of your new sleeping bag. Coupled with a good winter bag, and winter camping is much more enjoyable.
 
brians said:
I have an older version and I've read that the pump system is better on the new ones, although I've never had a problem. They have the best R value for inflatables and the Deluxe model is 3 inches thick and 26 inches wide - great for those of us with wider proportions.

Little more bulk, but comfort doesn't get any better and I have Thermarests, Z-Rests, and a Big Agnes Air Core. It will certainly help retain the warmth rating of your new sleeping bag. Coupled with a good winter bag, and winter camping is much more enjoyable.
Click to expand...

I've always wanted one of these, but of the three people I know who have them, they've all had downmats fail at inopportune times: i.e. on a trip. 1 valve and two holes. I've had Therm-a-rests fail [once a lightweight one holed on a rocky bivy], but my oldest one [and most robust] has never given me any problems and it's nearly 20 yo. The Exped Downmats are luxurious!
 
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