Posted: 4/15/2015 7:30:54 PM EDT
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Saw these on copes site. $79.99 shipped with “FREE50” code for Free Shipping on orders over $50.00
http://www.copesdistributing.com/usgi-modular-sleep-system-wusgi-barracks-p-8646.html Is this a good deal? |
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Still nice stuff at the price. Heavier than commercial gear and not quite as warm as the old mil extreme cold weather bags.
ETA- Copes are good folks. I've had a few transactions with them. One was on wool blankets and the one I was shipped was shrunk up small. They replaced it and told me to keep the mini. Wouldn't talk about shipping it back or paying a lesser amount for the one too small. |
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I bought one of those MSS a little over a year ago. I have slept in it a fair amount over the past year when camping. Size wise. I am 5-11 and yes I wish it was longer and bigger. Its not uncomfortable or too small for me to fit into but at the same time there is not a ton of extra space in there.
The -30 rating may be rather optimistic. It is nice to have a woobie to stuff down with your feet to keep them warm. Overall- good quality. Certainly better than you will get commercially for that price. Happy with mine overall. One of these days I would like to try sleeping outside in the winter just to see how it really does in the cold. The coldest I have used it in was around 40's maybe upper 30's |
| I have one of those. It is durable, warm, and heavy. I like it for cold camping when I have an atv, but it's not fun to carry very far. For warm camping, the Bivy with the green bag is nice and much lighter. I'm 5'11", and got mine from ebay for about the same price. |
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not quite as warm as the old mil extreme cold weather bags. I find this somewhat surprising. I slept in an extreme cold bag (issued new) in a GP medium tent in Bosnia for pretty much all of 1998. Our new MSS bags didn't show up in time for the deployment and we lusted after the MSS bags that showed up with the new guys in the following months after we arrived. I don't remember sleeping cold in the extreme cold bags but almost always slept with poly pro on during the winter months. After we got back state side and got our MSS it sure seemed like it was a warmer bag but I don't have anything scientific to compare the two other that the good old fashioned butt dyno. One thing I have noticed with all USGI surplus bags through the years is they vary significantly based on how they were treated before you got them. If they were washed too often, stored heavily compressed for too long or too many feathers had escaped (old intermediate bags) then they never fared as well as one in better shape. I've seen extreme cold bags that had soo little loft in them that they were hardly any better than the old intermediate cold bags. |
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I find this somewhat surprising. I slept in an extreme cold bag (issued new) in a GP medium tent in Bosnia for pretty much all of 1998. Our new MSS bags didn't show up in time for the deployment and we lusted after the MSS bags that showed up with the new guys in the following months after we arrived. I don't remember sleeping cold in the extreme cold bags but almost always slept with poly pro on during the winter months. After we got back state side and got our MSS it sure seemed like it was a warmer bag but I don't have anything scientific to compare the two other that the good old fashioned butt dyno. One thing I have noticed with all USGI surplus bags through the years is they vary significantly based on how they were treated before you got them. If they were washed too often, stored heavily compressed for too long or too many feathers had escaped (old intermediate bags) then they never fared as well as one in better shape. I've seen extreme cold bags that had soo little loft in them that they were hardly any better than the old intermediate cold bags. Quoted:
Quoted:
not quite as warm as the old mil extreme cold weather bags. I find this somewhat surprising. I slept in an extreme cold bag (issued new) in a GP medium tent in Bosnia for pretty much all of 1998. Our new MSS bags didn't show up in time for the deployment and we lusted after the MSS bags that showed up with the new guys in the following months after we arrived. I don't remember sleeping cold in the extreme cold bags but almost always slept with poly pro on during the winter months. After we got back state side and got our MSS it sure seemed like it was a warmer bag but I don't have anything scientific to compare the two other that the good old fashioned butt dyno. One thing I have noticed with all USGI surplus bags through the years is they vary significantly based on how they were treated before you got them. If they were washed too often, stored heavily compressed for too long or too many feathers had escaped (old intermediate bags) then they never fared as well as one in better shape. I've seen extreme cold bags that had soo little loft in them that they were hardly any better than the old intermediate cold bags. No experience with any other mil surplus bags, but I have lots of experience with cold weather commercial bags. The MSS IS WARM. My only fault with it is it's heavy and bulky. That's a big negative for long hikes in the cold, but that's the only negative I have. The positives are it's warm, very well made, flexible, made in the USA, cheap, and individual parts are easily replaceable. |
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No experience with any other mil surplus bags, but I have lots of experience with cold weather commercial bags. The MSS IS WARM. My only fault with it is it's heavy and bulky. That's a big negative for long hikes in the cold, but that's the only negative I have. The positives are it's warm, very well made, flexible, made in the USA, cheap, and individual parts are easily replaceable. One thing to point out from a military "front line" perspective that may help explain the weight and bulk issues. Take a unit like the 82nd, when the parachute infantry go to the field they will not take sleeping bags at all until the lows cross a certain threshold and then its a command decision to modify the pack lists. Once the decision is made to add a sleeping bag to the pack list it will only be 1 bag per 2 or 3 soldiers because you are never gonna have more than that sleeping at any one time. With the old intermediate/extreme cold bags (which were equally heavy and bulky) this meant someone ended up with an ass load bigger ruck due to the bag. Now with the MSS you can break it down and spread the parts around - even then I doubt all 3 parts would go to the field for most conditions. I know this doesn't work for civilian "I am gonna take a hike through the mountains by myself" but for SHTF, cross loading a MSS may be worth considering in your plans as a way to offset the weight/bulk issues. |
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One thing to point out from a military "front line" perspective that may help explain the weight and bulk issues. Take a unit like the 82nd, when the parachute infantry go to the field they will not take sleeping bags at all until the lows cross a certain threshold and then its a command decision to modify the pack lists. Once the decision is made to add a sleeping bag to the pack list it will only be 1 bag per 2 or 3 soldiers because you are never gonna have more than that sleeping at any one time. With the old intermediate/extreme cold bags (which were equally heavy and bulky) this meant someone ended up with an ass load bigger ruck due to the bag. Now with the MSS you can break it down and spread the parts around - even then I doubt all 3 parts would go to the field for most conditions. I know this doesn't work for civilian "I am gonna take a hike through the mountains by myself" but for SHTF, cross loading a MSS may be worth considering in your plans as a way to offset the weight/bulk issues. Quoted:
Quoted:
No experience with any other mil surplus bags, but I have lots of experience with cold weather commercial bags. The MSS IS WARM. My only fault with it is it's heavy and bulky. That's a big negative for long hikes in the cold, but that's the only negative I have. The positives are it's warm, very well made, flexible, made in the USA, cheap, and individual parts are easily replaceable. One thing to point out from a military "front line" perspective that may help explain the weight and bulk issues. Take a unit like the 82nd, when the parachute infantry go to the field they will not take sleeping bags at all until the lows cross a certain threshold and then its a command decision to modify the pack lists. Once the decision is made to add a sleeping bag to the pack list it will only be 1 bag per 2 or 3 soldiers because you are never gonna have more than that sleeping at any one time. With the old intermediate/extreme cold bags (which were equally heavy and bulky) this meant someone ended up with an ass load bigger ruck due to the bag. Now with the MSS you can break it down and spread the parts around - even then I doubt all 3 parts would go to the field for most conditions. I know this doesn't work for civilian "I am gonna take a hike through the mountains by myself" but for SHTF, cross loading a MSS may be worth considering in your plans as a way to offset the weight/bulk issues. That makes sense, and don't get me wrong. I'm a big fan of the MSS. |
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I finally bought the green bag and the bivy. Looking forward to trying it out. Maybe a dumb question but is it better to put your sleeping pad under the bivy or inside? Any difference? Buy the black bag too! If it is warm enough you don't need it you can un-snap one side of it (i un-do the left side as seen laying in the bag), turn the "foot pocket" portion inside-out, And fold it BEHIND/underneath you -thus becoming a double-thick pad to sleep on inside the bivvy bag! 
If weather turns for the worse you are all ready with the extra warmth bag with you. If not you are comfy and prepared for the worst. 
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Add a wooby to any military sleep system and you will be warm anywhere I do that too. I wad it up and use it for a pillow usually. If it is hot enough outside I sometimes just let my dog sleep in it. If it is cold out he becomes a space-heater in the bag with me 
(He's only 32lbs, and I'm 170-ish, so we both fit in there ok) |
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Add a wooby to any military sleep system and you will be warm anywhere ^^ True fact! ^^ I'm still convinced that the woobie is the best piece of gear the Army issued me. I still take one camping with me and keep an extra in the truck too. It's amazing how much warmth those things add to a sleeping bag. |
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No experience with any other mil surplus bags, but I have lots of experience with cold weather commercial bags. The MSS IS WARM. My only fault with it is it's heavy and bulky. That's a big negative for long hikes in the cold, but that's the only negative I have. The positives are it's warm, very well made, flexible, made in the USA, cheap, and individual parts are easily replaceable. Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
not quite as warm as the old mil extreme cold weather bags. I find this somewhat surprising. I slept in an extreme cold bag (issued new) in a GP medium tent in Bosnia for pretty much all of 1998. Our new MSS bags didn't show up in time for the deployment and we lusted after the MSS bags that showed up with the new guys in the following months after we arrived. I don't remember sleeping cold in the extreme cold bags but almost always slept with poly pro on during the winter months. After we got back state side and got our MSS it sure seemed like it was a warmer bag but I don't have anything scientific to compare the two other that the good old fashioned butt dyno. One thing I have noticed with all USGI surplus bags through the years is they vary significantly based on how they were treated before you got them. If they were washed too often, stored heavily compressed for too long or too many feathers had escaped (old intermediate bags) then they never fared as well as one in better shape. I've seen extreme cold bags that had soo little loft in them that they were hardly any better than the old intermediate cold bags. No experience with any other mil surplus bags, but I have lots of experience with cold weather commercial bags. The MSS IS WARM. My only fault with it is it's heavy and bulky. That's a big negative for long hikes in the cold, but that's the only negative I have. The positives are it's warm, very well made, flexible, made in the USA, cheap, and individual parts are easily replaceable. Heavy and bulky when talking about MSS is relative. I started out with the old intermediate before we were issued the extreme cold weather versions. Then the WC MSS, and ended my career with the ACU version of the modular system I think the ACU version didn't keep you as warm as the WC version. Neither of the modular versions are as heavy as the old ECW bag I haven't seen anyone mentioning drying the bags, and if you're in the field for any length of time in anything other than ideal conditions this will be an issue The modular system dries a lot quicker if it gets wet in the field but is obviously less forgiving due to materials if you're laying it around an open flame, either to warm yourself or aid in the drying process...... |
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I live in northern NY. I used to be up by Ft. Drum, the home of the 10th mountain LID.
The area gets cold, cold and wet, and bitter cold. My experience with the old extreme cold weather bags was with the USMCR and the ARNG. Both in the field open air, and in GP tents. I also picked one up and used it in camp during hunting season in the Adirondaks. Only on the rare occasion did I get cold in the old style bags. Experiencing -20F temps were common enough. -30 on a few occasions. I only got the new WC MSS in the last couple of years. I asked an active duty friend of the same age who also experienced the old intermediate and CW bags in Ft. Drum (and Bosnia). Before I went afield I asked him how they stacked up. He told me straight up that the MSS was not quite as warm as the CW bags but they were lighter. They're pretty close he said, but not quite as warm. I used my WC MSS (very new condition) this last winter in -20F weather. I used 2 rubber pads on a cot, used the woobie for a pillow and slept wearing poly pro mil issue thermals. My feet got a bit cold on night one. Cold enough it interfered with my sleep. Not as bad on the second night because I piled my exterior clothing over the top of the foot of my bag. I don't have a lot of nights on the MSS but in my experience in -20F weather the old bag was warmer too. The bag is new or like new condition. Maybe I'm just getting old.  (I joke but it's entirely possible it's a factor)
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There's NSN for a Tall MSS. I've never ever seen one though and that probably means there's a warehouse full of them somewhere waiting for auction. I've been looking for the tall one for years and haven't seen an excellent condition one for less than $300. 
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Quick shipping..... I know it could be hit or miss but mine doesn't even look like it was issued, very happy with the purchase Mine had been used in the mud I threw it in the washer and it came out fine I'm happy with it and the North Face down I found at the local thrift store for $20 |