Customer Reviews

3 - in - 1 Military - style Sleeping System

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

I was in 10th Special Forces for over a decade and used this system from the Alps to the Arctic circle in Norway for a month at a time. It is the best system you can possibly own, and this price is absolutely unbeatable. Even the bivy sack with is made of a lightweight and waterproofed nylon is perfect. I had the gortex version in my ECWS issue in SF and although an excellent piece of gear, it weighs about three times as much. The rest of the system, the two bags (patrol and intermediate) make for the perfect combo. You can bring what you need from 50 degrees with just the shell and a poncho liner, to freezing with the bivy sack and patrol bag, down to 10 below with the intermediate and minus 50 if you use all three!

I've seen this combo elsewhere with the gortex cover going for almost $400. Don't do it! You don't need it, trust me. The water resistant one that comes with this one works EXACTLY the same, is lighter and will do the job. Unless you plan on submerging your sleeping bag, this one is all you will ever need. At most sleeping bags get a little wet if water gets underneath you when you're sleeping, and this is more than ample to protect you like that. I don't know anyone who would sleep under the stars in a downpour, and that's the only reason to go for a heavier bivy bag.

As for the rest of the combo, it is lightweight and well made. It will last you for years and years even with regular and hard core use, and at this price you can buy a new one every year if you feel like it.

Get this one. Stop shopping and don't even think about any of those name brand fufu bags. All you'll do is regret that you didn't listen to me and GET THIS ONE! Trust me. It gets this green berets two thumbs up! I'm still in Special Forces and I bought this one just for camping in the Olympics. Cold, wet and as miserable as mountains can get below th arctic circle. This bag is all I need.

I started looking at bivy sacks because, as someone who camps to briefly catch some sleep when on long hitchhiking journeys, I wanted a shelter that was lightweight and faster to set up and take down than a tent. This three-in-one sleeping system is priced amazingly low, so I thought it was worth a try, though I was sceptical of its quality.

It turns out to be remarkably rugged. Open first opening it, I thought the zippers might be flimsy, but they've taken a lot of use without any sign of coming undone. Putting the system together (the bags and the bivy cover snap together) is fairly easy even in the dark. I have not yet used the winter portion in the field, but I do find claims that it works down to sub-zero temperatures convincing.

I can think of only two caveats, but they have proven significant for me. The first is that there is no protection against mosquitos when using this cover, not even a way to attach mosquito netting bought from a third party. I suppose one could sleep in a mosquito hat, but this wouldn't be very comfortable. I'd suggest applying repellant to one's face and pulling the bivy layer's cover almost completely over one's head before falling asleep.

The other problem is condensation building up between the sleeping bag and the bivy layer. If one must leave the outside of the sleeping bag and the inside of the bivy layer to dry every morning, then the advantage of being able to swiftly pack up and hit the road is gone. So far I've been OK giving it a thorough shake, packing it, and then leaving it to dry somewhere within 24 hours, but I hate having to fret about it like that and fear it will eventually get moldy. If you have lots of money to spend, getting a Gore-Tex bivy layer might be a wise investment (though Gore-Tex isn't completely effective once folds develop).

I was excited to use this bag in my home state of Alaska for a early winter hunt. The bag arrived quickly, and in good condition and appeared to be well put together.

A night out in the bush quickly highlighted this bag's critical flaw - the nylon bivy does not breathe! If you like waking up in the middle of the night with temps in the 20's and covered in condensation and sweat, this is the bag for you. If that isn't on your list of enjoyable activities, I reccommend that you save a few more bucks and buy the legit military sleep system with the gore-tex bivy.

The first problem I have with it is that it says that the bivy sack is waterproof and breathable. It's not breathable at all. It keeps all the moisture from your body and breath inside and when you wake up you're all wet inside, even when it's dry outside. It also falls apart at the seems really easily. I've never even used either bag outside but they're both falling apart at the seams on the inside of the bags. Also, the snaps on the bags are painful if you lay on one. I think you're much better off just getting a regular sleeping bag, or two, and a bivy that is actually breathable. That's what I'm planning on next, or maybe a hammock instead of a bivy, so I won't need a pad. The reason I'm giving it two stars instead of one is that it does do most of what it says it does. It's a lot better than nothing, and would keep you alive and relatively warm and somewhat dry in bad weather.

This is one of the best bags for the price I have ever seen! I have used many bags that promised many things, but this is the first one I have used where I can say that there are no issues, and I will say that at times I am actually too warm. If you are looking for a bag that you can take anywhere that it might be a little cold, go with confidence with this one.

There is one downside, that doesn't matter to me, but might when it comes to a hiker, it is a wee bit heavy, but what would you expect with a bag like this? I keep it in my Rover and have used it to sleep out there on trips and have had no issues.

Bottom line, if you want to you can spend a lot more money, and get a lighter bag, but if you are not carting around the thing and will just be using it to sleep in the great cold outdoors, you can trust this old boy and for the money it is a Great deal!

I bought this bag for my husband, who is 6'1, 225lbs. He likes the versatility and functionality of the bag, but it is really small for him. He has to use a blanket around his head and shoulders to keep warm, and it seems that the bag is tight around his body as well. I am looking for a larger bag to replace this one. If you are a tall or large person, I would not buy this bag.

The Good:
1) Unbelievable value for money. I purchased mine new for less than £90 inc p&p
2) Flexible design. 2 inner sleeping bags that can be used one inside the other for maximum warmth, or just the outer less insulated bag, or just the inner warmer insulated bag.
3) The quality of manufacture is very good.. Zips and press studs are chunky items. Goretex is thick enough for all but extreme abuse.
4) The compression sack is of good design and will stand heavy use.
5) The combination fits securely together with the heavy duty press studs.
6) I find it easy to wrap up and compress down. Start rolling from the toe end to expell the air!
7) Fits the average adult well.

The things I have improved:
1) The elastic cord and cord lock-offs fitted around the head of both sleeping bags, these are awkward in use.
Easily (and cheaply) changed out for paracord and some decent easy to use cord lock-offs.
The inner sleeping bag is black and the outer green, you can use black paracord for the inner and green paracord for the outer, for that professional touch!
2) Home brew mosquito protection.
Mosquito net made into half length sleeping bag style, same diameter as the gortex bivvy. Climb into your sleep system and pull the net over you and down to waist area, then slightly
tighten with the para cord and cord-lock. Use with some repellent on net and cord.
The net can be suspended using 3 twigs loose tie at one end and spread to make a small tipee and place this just above your head. Or using some cord to tie onto a branch
to suspend the goretx bag and net.. 99.9% effective.

Usage tip:
I cannot sleep with the bivvy bag closed as Im just rebreathing my used air. I always slightly open the bivvy and use the tippee stick idea to slghlty suspend the bag above my head and allow fresh air to circulate to my face and prevent condensation build up from no ventalilation.

Something for the designers to think about:
1) Mosquito net. This should be attached between the lower and upper part of the bivvy at the head. It should have provision to incorporate some flexible support that can be removed, like 3 small suspension hoops to allow a wire support to be used.

To sum up:
Theres always going to be a trade off between warmth, size and cost.
This sleep system is great for most uses but not comfortable in extreme cold. However it will help save your life.
I use this for backpacking (strapped to the top of my rucksack). If I carry a tent its more weight, If I carry just a sleeping bag its not enough protection. Its about what you need and striking that balance.
Worth every penny and alot more.

I Love this bag. I have not found a better value for the price anywhere. Some people have talked about how heavy or bulky it is for hiking. This is true because it is essentially 2 full size sleeping bags plus the cover...When I am going camping/hiking I just take the green/mid-weight part and I find it packs quite nicely. For extreme winter I don't mind carrying the extra weight to stay warm!

I just opened the package to look through and critic what I had purchased.
First let me describe what I wanted in this bag to begin with. I wanted something affordable (checkmark), something that I would probably use as a kind of summer/fall sleeping bag (checkmark) and something that had the potential to save my life if I was pushed to use it at its limits (so far looks like it could).Really I only except to use the innermost as a summer bag to take of the chill and perhaps throw in the second layer when I feel like I could use the extra warmth. From the reviews I read before it arrived I had these concerns.
The Zippers- they look fine, even overkill if you ask me.
The outer layer- it does look like it is made of very thin material but the seams look solid and in a downpour it looks like you would keep dry (or if your tent leaked you should be fine) as to how it breaths- it think you should be prepared to find a better system if you hope to have comfort and functionality in that aspect.
The size- I am 160 pounds and 5' 10" tall. I find the sleeping bag made in heaven for me. if I was just 10 pounds or 2 inches taller I might have to reconsider on it.
The three layers- love it, the system allows for planning and if necessary a safety sleeping bag for an additional person.
The weight- I plan on using only the inner most which I consider to be light enough yet not ultralight. but as a package deal- I would weigh it agains bringing a tent and sleeping bag which might give it enough advantage not to be eliminated at this point.
Lastly the compression bag- I bought a military compression bag which I would feel comfortable using on the system as a whole- its up to you but I think the bag looks like it might tear one day soon.
I am satisfied over all.

Purchased this bag on the weight of the reviews. I'm 6'2" 195 lbs. The bag is really tight in the shoulders for me. This was also mentioned in another review. The bag is well made and good quality. Mine is made in china. Larger individuals beware.