Military sleep system

[sevenhelmet]

Thanks for posting the Wiggy's link. I'm trying to find a good backpacking bag, but every recommendation I've gotten so far is for bags in the $6-700 range. Nice to see there are some options out there that won't break the bank.

[rushca01]

Thanks for the replies. Any other options out there? The wiggys looks like a good alternative although their web page and system is a little confusing. Best bet may be to grab an MSS off ebay for 90 bucks.

[rcoodyar15]

Better and cheaper are mutually exclusive terms when it comes to sleep systems. Many of the military guys with the special budgets swear by Wiggy's bags.

http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?Categ...TOKEN=79353212

I am with you Wiggy's all the way

FTRSS system. Same as the military only better. Pick your temp.
http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?Category=41

for a bivy I picked this. http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=52

[rushca01]

I am with you Wiggy's all the way

FTRSS system. Same as the military only better. Pick your temp.
http://wiggys.com/category.cfm?Category=41

for a bivy I picked this. http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=52

Wiggys didn't get great reviews from the camping/backpacking folks. I'm not looking to spend 700 dollars for a mountain hardwear etc.. Setup.

So with that said is the wiggys at $350 exponentially better than MSS bought off ebay for 89 dollars.

[rcoodyar15]

Wiggys didn't get great reviews from the camping/backpacking folks. I'm not looking to spend 700 dollars for a mountain hardwear etc.. Setup.

So with that said is the wiggys at $350 exponentially better than MSS bought off ebay for 89 dollars.

try these reviews

http://www.survivalcommonsense.com/s...eping-bagfeed/

http://forums.outdoorsdirectory.com/...-sleeping-bags

[USMC_Anglico]

The MSS is functional but heavy/bulky for what it is. The newer foliage/UCP camo system is lighter/packs smaller than the old black/green/woodland system.

I have been issued both and what I use is a North Face synthetic bag and the bivy cover if needed otherwise a Kifaru woobie. Much lighter and better insulation.

If you are going to be rucking this around, spend some more $ and save the weight. For keeping in a home or vehicle it's fine.

[Grizzly16]

I've got the MSS and a wiggy's ultralight: http://wiggys.com/moreinfo.cfm?Product_ID=273.

They both sleep very warm. The wiggy's 0 degree is a comfort rating. The 0 degree rating on the MSS black bag is (I think) a "you'll survive for 4 hours" rating. The comfort rating is probably closer to 30 for me with a ground pad and bivy. I slept in the wiggy's in a bivy with ground pad down to 13 degrees and ended up unzipping it a bit to cool off. The wiggy's bag isn't too heavy for its rating my main complaint is the size. It doesn't compress much besides that I like the wiggy's bag quite a bit.

The main plus of the MSS is you get the option of green only, black only or both. So for a dirt cheap price you get a bivy and three temp ranges of comfort.

[Horned Toad]

Is there anything available on the commercial market that is better than the military sleep system based on cost, weight, performance? You can get a MSS on Amazon for like a 100 bucks but they are heavy and don't compress well. It's a bonus that They are cheap and I like the 3 bags and bivy setup. Anything available on the commercial market that is lighter more compressible but isn't going to cost 5 times more?

What kind of field use will this see. Once I thought I still needed extra heavy duty everything, I don't. I take care of my stuff and know its pros and cons

If a humid environment I would go with Kifaru synthetics
Where its dry I run down, I like the options with Feathered Friends over Western Mountaineering

My 20 degree bag weighs 2 pounds with a water proof stuff sack and stuffs down to about loaf of bread size, its about 4 years old and stuff is now a tad lighter still

[Grunt1776]

When I was in I used the good old "woobie" poncho liner for most of the year. I bought one of the self inflating sleeping pads and used that and my poncho to sleep in weather down to 30 degrees. All three pieces rolled up nice and weren't heavy. As far as use, i used the poncho liner most days, the sleeping pad under me in spring and fall. The poncho was either used as a shelter or as a bivy roll depending on temperature. There were many days i woke up with frost on the poncho and i slept warm. I also kept a stocking cap too for wear on cold days. Anything colder than 28-30 degrees and i used an actual sleeping bag instead of a poncho liner.

[Horned Toad]

When I was in I used the good old "woobie" poncho liner for most of the year. I bought one of the self inflating sleeping pads and used that and my poncho to sleep in weather down to 30 degrees. All three pieces rolled up nice and weren't heavy. As far as use, i used the poncho liner most days, the sleeping pad under me in spring and fall. The poncho was either used as a shelter or as a bivy roll depending on temperature. There were many days i woke up with frost on the poncho and i slept warm. I also kept a stocking cap too for wear on cold days. Anything colder than 28-30 degrees and i used an actual sleeping bag instead of a poncho liner.

Been there done that on all of the above. It took me a while to realize that I don't need mil spec gear. A new issue poncho liner weighs about 28 ounces, my sleeping bag weighs 32 oz, the comfort factor I get for 4 oz is worth it. A 10x10 cuben fiber tarp or sylnylon tarp is a hilton compared to a poncho. Getting some modern gear makes everything so much better. My backpack, shelter, and sleeping bag come in at 6 pounds, which is what my old Kifaru ruck weighed.