Military sleep system

[Whiskey1]

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?

Without knowing your operational needs, experience as it relates to the MSS, sleeping bags, sleeping pads and sleeping in the outdoors, I can offer the following:

I've found the MSS to be the biggest bang for the buck for myself and many others. Admittedly, everyone's needs are different.

-Only take the necessary components.
-Use the appropriate sized compression sack/s for these components.
-Choose the correct sleeping pad.
-Wear appropriate sleep clothing.
-Use a watch cap to regulate body temperature.

There are several techniques for sleeping warm.
Hopefully this info helps.


Here are some pics from my last trip:



Not everyone used a sleeping pad.




Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XTherm Sleeping Pad.





Everyone used the MSS.

[trackmagic]

I have a USMC bivy. It is great. I'm pretty sure I could sleep in a puddle and stay dry. I have a down sleeping bag in it and have slept in the rain and snow and it has not gotten my bag wet.

[ra2bach]

light, cheap, good - pick any two. this has been a mantra for as long as I have been buying stuff...

what the MSS does is cheap and good. they are durable. if you're the guy who cuts the handle off his toothbrush, don't bother...

they work, maybe not down to the temps that some people think they do but they are cheap. the goretex bivy that you get is pretty much top of the line. the green Patrol bag is my favorite part because it compresses down pretty small and is three season capable but understand the temp ratings for these are wearing clothing. you're not going to strip down to skivvies and sleep all night comfortably at 30*. a woobie inside helps a lot.

the Goretex bivy adds about 5-10* of warmth and makes this a tentless reality but it has one fault, IMO, in that it has no suspension system and it lays on your face if you're a back sleeper. some people say just wear a ball cap to bed. I'm trying to rig up some kind of internal frame made from thin fiberglass poles but not been happy with the result.

the black Intermediate bag is bulky and heavy. to me, as a single bag it is the least desirable component but I won't get rid of mine. it was stupid cheap and it works. I will probably replace this with a Wiggy's 0* bag somewhere along the line but the other components have found a home with me...

[Grizzly16]

light, cheap, good - pick any two. this has been a mantra for as long as I have been buying stuff...

what the MSS does is cheap and good. they are durable. if you're the guy who cuts the handle off his toothbrush, don't bother...

they work, maybe not down to the temps that some people think they do but they are cheap. the goretex bivy that you get is pretty much top of the line. the green Patrol bag is my favorite part because it compresses down pretty small and is three season capable but understand the temp ratings for these are wearing clothing. you're not going to strip down to skivvies and sleep all night comfortably at 30*. a woobie inside helps a lot.

the Goretex bivy adds about 5-10* of warmth and makes this a tentless reality but it has one fault, IMO, in that it has no suspension system and it lays on your face if you're a back sleeper. some people say just wear a ball cap to bed. I'm trying to rig up some kind of internal frame made from thin fiberglass poles but not been happy with the result.

the black Intermediate bag is bulky and heavy. to me, as a single bag it is the least desirable component but I won't get rid of mine. it was stupid cheap and it works. I will probably replace this with a Wiggy's 0* bag somewhere along the line but the other components have found a home with me...

Its a bit ghetto but I've had good luck with a piece of velcro tied to about 15' of paracord. I can usually find a good spot near a tree. Loop the cord around a branch and put the velcro between the bivy sack velcro clasps. You can use the paracord to pull the top of the bivy up just like a suspension line on a tent.

[hatidua]

Is there anything available on the commercial market that is better than the military sleep system

Absolutely!

based on cost

probably not.

[rushca01]

Thanks for all the replies. I think I'm going to pull the trigger on one, for the money it sounds like it can't be beat. Down the road I may replace the black back with something a little nicer/lighter/packable.

[3 AE]

Its a bit ghetto but I've had good luck with a piece of velcro tied to about 15' of paracord. I can usually find a good spot near a tree. Loop the cord around a branch and put the velcro between the bivy sack velcro clasps. You can use the paracord to pull the top of the bivy up just like a suspension line on a tent.

Neat idea. I'll have to try that next time I'm using the bivy. On the flip side, I'm picturing this set-up in a thunderstorm. Lightning hits tree, travels down paracord to the bivy. You know the rest of the story!

[Mr blasty]

Neat idea. I'll have to try that next time I'm using the bivy. On the flip side, I'm picturing this set-up in a thunderstorm. Lightning hits tree, travels down paracord to the bivy. You know the rest of the story!

Can't account for everything. T storms happen. Some paracord proping up your bivy won't be the determining factor on whether you live or die.

Sent from my SM-G900T using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

[ramairthree]

You can't beat the military light bag, heavy bag, bivy combo at the 100$ price point.

You need to spend at least 3x that to get the same capability in a lighter/ more compressible package.

[strambo]

I know I'm late to the party, and don't know a lot about civilian bags. But being stationed at Ft. Wainwright in the late 90's I can speak to the MSS. I've taken it to -25f overnight w/o a tent before. It certainly works. That said, you have to have good technique: Dig through the snow to the ground, lay a poncho down, then the MSS, 2nd poncho (or same one folded over) on top.