British Army Modular Sleep System, Medium Weight Bag

[@rayfraser4643]

Thanks Andy for the reply. The reason is, I have my faithful Bouncing Bomb that has never let me down, but feel convinced that this new medium bag with the poly cotton liner will compress much smaller and be much lighter to boot! I really need a direct comparison . Great review and keep them coming.

[@AndyWragg]

Ray Fraser with the liner it compresses down to about the same size as a 58 pattern bag.

[@rayfraser4643]

I may as well stick with the Arctic Bag. Thanks again Andy, saved me a few quid!

[@AndyWragg]

I must admit the medium bag loft's up much better than the old 95 pattern bag.

[@lukejones1244]

Hello, is the CQC 1981 58 pattern bag the old Arctic bag, and more or less the same as it?

[@AndyWragg]

Hi Luke - It depends which arctic bag you refer to as there have been several incarnations to my knowledge - but I'm no expert on the matter. I 'think' there was an arctic version of the 58 pattern bag, then an arctic version of the 90's GS synthetic bag. I never saw or used either. Personally I never like the 58 patt CQC bags as they leaked filling like a sieve and were useless when wet.

[@siksikaoutdoors5203]

Cheers for the info on the repair zipper mate, just what I was looking for

[@AndyWragg]

No problem.

[@j.juergen1010]

a very well made review about an important part of gear .... I like it much !! Ordered mine today and I'm very curious what comes from the UK Surplus ..... Also TOP....the explanaition about the repair part for the zipper.....believe this was really important for the guys here around ! Best regards from Germany JJ

[@AndyWragg]

Glad it was helpful!

[@elvisp5713]

Thanks for video - it was very usefull to me - I bought this modular sleeping bag and Im very satysfied - repair zipper was very useful too.

[@AndyWragg]

Glad it helped

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

These zip repairs can be purchased at any decent sewing/quilting/cloth store and everyone should have a few just in case!

[@xix94]

Had this bag for years used it down to -12 and was warm as toast

[@AndyWragg]

Yeah it's good, if a bit bulky and heavy. A great option if you are on a budget and want to do winter camps. I'm now using an Alpkit Skyehigh 900 as it seems I can now tolerate down - it use to trigger my allergies. A lot smaller and so much lighter, but just as warm.

[@terryd229]

I have the Medium and the large size in these bags, I am 5ft 7in and 80 kilo, the Medium size bag is the right length for me but as for the width, around my hip area the bag is tight not much room for me let alone getting any kit in side with me, the Large bag however is long but the inside size for me is much better for movement, apart from the hood, the hood is a little to big. My feelings are they get this wrong and should of made a small, medium, large size and the Medium should of been made a little wider as you would struggle with your SA80 A2 in there. These bags are made for quick exit, so you just rip the zipper open hence the repair zipper supplied with some NOT all.

[@AndyWragg]

Cheers, thanks for watching!

[@saxoncrow2500]

I bought the whole sleeping system. Then I saw how huge the Medium weight bag is. No wonder soldiers need am 85ltr Bergen. It really is impractical for long hikes (unless you're in the army of course). The plus side is that it is proper toasty warm.

[@AndyWragg]

Indeed, always warm in that bag. Although I've now discovered I am more tolerant of down, so my winter bag is now much lighter, and smaller to pack (Alpkit Skyehigh 900).

[@danielspillett5393]

same size as the 90 pattern bag and smaller then the 58 bag

[@AndyWragg]

and better than both

[@muckydog5806]

Just wondered if you could use the Zlide-on zip repair kit to turn the sleeping bag into a 2 way zip?

[@AndyWragg]

I have no idea - try it and let us know.

[@soggz4246]

Hi. I had one come yesterday in Medium size. I’m 5’8” and length way,it fitted fine,but the width was a bit too snug. Can’t imagine would fit in it with the jungle bag,too. I’m 12 stone,but wide shouldered. How did you get on in it? I sent mine back for a large. Regards

[@rethinkingAIDS]

you are correct on the width, I struggle to do my zip all the way to the top.

[@soggz4246]

@@rethinkingAIDS I bought the whole system which came yesterday,,in Large. It’s Loooooong,but wider and a lot less cramped. I tried it with the smaller bag and liner inside,just to see. It’s HOT! The spare zip in the pocket opens out and goes over the zipper teeth,then closes back down. Regards

[@gamevidz6319]

@@soggz4246 I got a large bag on its way, I got the lightweight bag and the liner.

[@rethinkingAIDS]

@@soggz4246 the large bag is so much better for me, I’d be able to stuff clothes in the foot section and actually wear layers in this bag the medium I couldn’t even put my arms by my side properly.

[@AndyWragg]

Thanks for sharing!

[@DuhnFuhr]

10:18...thats all I was waiting for hahah. cheers for.sharing, this looks a little better than the bouncing bombs hehe

[@AndyWragg]

Thanks. It does look a bit large/daunting in the uncompressed state, but squashes down a little smaller than the 95 issue bag (aka bouncing bomb) IIRC - I don't have the old bag to do a comparison. Just waiting for the weather to turn colder now as its far too warm to use just yet. Yeah the bit around 10 minutes was just a bit of fun that my son was having with the camera after I finished shooting the main video. I decided to include it just for a bit of fun.

[@residentoutdoors2303]

Great review.. good info..👍👍

[@AndyWragg]

Thanks 👍

[@noah-xo2zh]

Can you show how you get it back in the sack because I can’t never get mine back in

[@AndyWragg]

Nothing special about it, just stuff it in.

[@johncrouch8988]

I’ve never used a stuff sack! Just ram it in your Bergen !😃

[@lauriebloggs8391]

A helpful review....... found mine fine down to near zero with no other "help" save a cotton liner...not the standard (in my mind, horrible) polycotton one......

[@AndyWragg]

I've stopped using the issue liner as it makes using the sleeping bag a real pain. Thanks for watching.

[@rayfraser4643]

Hello Andy, I understand the system has a waterproof Bivi bag, but is the liner, the summer bag that you use in conjunction with the bag you have and then there is also a liner? Or is the liner, the Summer bag? So including the compression sack, there are 3 parts or 4 ? Hope this comes across alright!

[@AndyWragg]

Ray Fraser hi there Ray. To clarify, the full sleep system comprises 4 main parts. 1st the MVP bivvy bag, 2nd the Medium weight bag, 3rd the lightweight/summer bag and lastly the polycotton liner. then you have a large and small compression bag to put them in. the largest compression bag is supposed to be capable of holding both bags and liner but it would be a squeeze and wouldn't compress that much. the Medium bag with the liner is extremely warm and for me will be the most I need.

[@hickfe893]

Good review Andy. May I ask what is the weight for this bag?

[@AndyWragg]

Hi there, and thanks for watching. The standard size bag (in this video) is approx 2.3KG in the compression bag without the poly cotton liner. The Large sized bag (that I use - my son uses the one in the video) will be heavier. We've used these bags a number of times now and they're always warm.

[@robertquadling7283]

Hi Andy, I've just been issued one of these sleep systems, but is there a technique for getting it back inside the snug pack??

[@AndyWragg]

Persistence. The whole thing (Medium bag, liner and Lightweight bag) is supposed to fit inside the large stuff sack, but I've never even attempted it. The reality is the medium beg and liner will fit in the stuff sack. I doubt (unless you are planning a trip to the antarctic) that you'll need to use it all at once. I spent a night in -16C snow storm (My Gunnerside snow video) in just the Medium bag and the clothes I was wearing.

[@robertquadling7283]

@@AndyWragg Thanks for the reply. I've tried a couple of different ways, and I find just stuffing it in works. Now getting ready for stage 1 Alpha training for the reserves

[@red-pillphil3060]

the are zlides in each bag mate...i noticed today!:)

[@AndyWragg]

There 'should' be. Depends if the grunt that owned it before lost it or not.

[@VapourTrailz]

Thanks for the solid review, lots of good information, on the back of this review I have bought one, brand new £35 to my door, much better than the old 90s bouncing bomb I had issued, cannot find the repair zip or pocket for it anywhere and I've been searching for 5 minutes though??? Cheers

[@AndyWragg]

It should be on the inside of flap that covers the zip, up near the head end.

[@VapourTrailz]

@@AndyWragg yeah noted, I watched your video again and the pocket for it is not there (above label) but for £35 delivered you can't go wrong, It is easily on par with the softie 12 I deployed with too avoid using the bouncing bomb hopefully there will be one on the lightweight bag when I get one for summer. Cheers

[@Mat-kr1nf]

@@VapourTrailz I have the usual size FECSA medium weight bag that has the zipper repair, I found it too snug so I bought the large size, that didn’t have the extra zip thing, the label was also different as in it didn’t have the bit where you can write down when it was laundered. Is yours the large size or normal. I started to wander if the large one I got was a copy, as the label was generic, the smaller size one was a FECSA label. My large one does have the NATO order no. and an arrow on it though.

[@VapourTrailz]

@@Mat-kr1nf yep mines legit, it's genuine if it has an nsn (NATO stock number,) think the arrow thing went out when centurion was a rank not a tank though!

[@buxton6038]

@@Mat-kr1nf I bought both medium and lightweight last month. The lightweight has FESCA label, spare zip. The Medium one has a different label and no zip. I too wondered on its origin, but if it wasnt made by FESCA the quality is exactly the same. Has NSN number and arrow on label and no wash count.

[@royphair9676]

Hi guys just say bought one of these was a bit dirty decided to take to the laundrette to was all OK till I removed the sleeping bag from the machine to say this bag retaines water like you won't believe it comes out so heavy it is literally full of water wash as a last resort

[@royphair9676]

John Hackett hi got it from ebay quite a few been going cheep on there got a brand new one as well for 32 pound

[@jonnyp1778]

Does this compress small?

[@AndyWragg]

It can be stuffed down somewhat, but nowhere near as much as a down bag. Thanks for watching.

[@jonnyp1778]

@@AndyWragg my current bag is a oex down bag but I find it's not got enough room and I would prefer a centre zip

[@lukeharris7672]

Is it a down or synthetic fill bag?

[@AndyWragg]

Hi Luke, thanks for watching. This is a synthetic fill bag.

[@Sparky-ov1ot]

The stuff sack is rubbish! IMHO

[@AndyWragg]

Yep - the drawcord is made of material that doesn't slide well in the slot made for it and it just refuses to draw shut. Also the internal coating sheds after a few years so it's no longer water repellant.