The Modular Sleep System & How Soldiers Actually Use It

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[@GruntProof]

Extra info: 1. Each bag has a large tag at the foot that explains everything from temp ratings, to configuration, to care and maintenance. 2. To clean, machine wash and dry on low heat or hang dry. Dryer re-animates the bivy's DWR 3. Store in the large carry bag 4. I had two systems and had to turn one in so I kept the newer sleeping bags and the old, much cooler woodland bivy. Here is the old school sleep system before the MSS; the Ranger Roll: kzbin.info/www/bejne/bnTWkJWjgr-Vo6s

[@tony7106]

Woodland camo is 👌. My tags are so worn and faded they are unreadable

[@lejohnson513]

You never explained why you liked the woodland camp bivy better.

[@DiabloOutdoors]

@@lejohnson513 I'd be interested to know why as well. But 6 months and no reply to your post :(

[@shadownexus1]

It's an awesome setup. One lesson I learned the hard way, is to not wear a bunch of your snivel gear while inside of the sleep system. In the freezing cold, get down to as few layers as possible. Then stuff your extra layers at your feet so they aren't freezing when you put it back on the next morning.

[@wgpken]

Mine was stolen at Fort Irwin before we deployed, I sent it up the chain of command. I went through deployment in Afghanistan without one. After we got back I filed a flpl and my CO denied it. I had to go to a pawn shop outside of Fort Lewis to get one, $350. Thank you to my chain of command.

[@Bones575]

Aww man, I'm so sorry!😢

[@Roman6Alpha]

Right before I got out, I bought a brand new set that was still in the plastic wrapping from one of our NCOs that got issued it and never used it as he had 2. Best $50 I ever spent.

[@nosurrender4824]

$50!!!!!!! They're $475 now! 😳

[@kurtrussell5228]

@@nosurrender4824 not if you're patient.....keep your eyes open, they're out there for much less

[@narutobroken]

@@nosurrender4824 I was going to say, even beat up ones go for 3 times that

[@orilion1820]

​@@nosurrender4824you can piece together the system in good condition for $250-$300. Ebay has some decent sellers.

[@samuelclayton4405]

Brother TA-50 has sure changed over the years. I enlisted Feb 1976. Our bed rolls consisted of, Shelter Half, Air Mattress ( the rubber lady), Mountain Sleeping bag ( 10 pounds of Goose Down) with Bag Cover, one Wool Blanket, Five tent pegs, therr tent poles and one tent rope. Sure is different.

[@exsanguinenation]

That's the first time I've ever heard her called a 'lady'! lol

[@devildogcrewchief3335]

If memory serves me, I believe it was a rubber bitch.

[@sheldonbromen2603]

I always put a poncho liner/woobie in my system as well the full system with an added poncho liner plus sleeping in the cold weather clothes I've slept in -40 f in northern Minnesota not a comfortable experience but a survivable one

[@soonerfrac4611]

I enlisted in June of 2k and our during basic was essentially still that.

[@jeffthomas7734]

I have an old mountain bag with goose down. I've slept in below freezing weather and never knew it was that cold. Loved it.

[@Nalu.Emperado]

As a Army Veteran I have used this system probably over a thousand times. It works great and keeps you dry and warm even in teen weather blowing wind and rainy. Comfy over not being covered. Good job and good video. 18 years and miss it but picked family over finishing career. Wouldve lost my wife if i hadnt due to a life threatening illness. Take care god bless.

[@CptnSavage]

As a full time care giver for my wife [20+ years retired army veteran '92] GOD BLESS you for choosing your wife over the army! Prayers to you and your family mate.

[@Nalu.Emperado]

@CptnSavage thank you and appreciate it. Same for you taking care of your wife for over 2 decades. God bless you and your family.

[@TeurastajaNexus]

@@slappy8941 Not many muricans seem to know how to write English properly.

[@Rule-of-Threes-Survival]

Family is always first.

[@IronSharpensIron127]

​@@Nalu.Emperado howz it brotha. I was stationed at Schofield Barracks for 7 years. The first time I went to PTA, I just pulled out my bivey because that's what I used on Oahu.... Big mistake 😂😂😂😂 it gets cold on the Big island. I pray you and your family are doing well, God bless.🤙🏼

[@HostileTakeover2]

It's pretty true of all bags that unless otherwise stated, you have to assume the temp rating is only survival rating anyway, not comfort rating.

[@williamdrylie7951]

January 6th 2023 camping at Turtle River State park. It went to -8 F overnight. Gear = Alps Mountaineering 4 season 2 man tent with footprint. Self inflating mattress (Thermarest R value 7) M1949 feather sleeping bag, green outside sack snug pack over that. Inside the bag was an M1944 wool bag liner with alps mountaineering poly liner inside of that (to keep off the wool). Outside temp at 7:00am was -8 f according to tent thermometer, small clip on on my duo fold long underwear read 85 f. That old junk kept me toasty. The alps stuff new, the M1948 and 1944 liner was mine from mountain warfare school USMC. I tried to turn it in when I left but supply didn’t want it. Didn’t want my Asnes skis either. I got up, had coffee and pot roast MRE, broke down, stuffed old Alice, strapped on NATO skis, and skied my 72 year old ass to the van a mile and a half away. That sleep set up weighs about 11 and a half pounds with heavy mattress at almost 5 lbs. Had my 1911 with 5 clips, my M1A1 Springfield scout squad with 5 20 round clips. Alice going in at 85 pounds and 69 pounds leaving. 3 day trip. I reckon I might have one or two more winters like that then too old and rickety to do it anymore.

[@tony7106]

I took the old black cold intermediate bag on its own to single digits in Minnesota. Slept in just a fleece base layer and woke up sweating. Shelter was just a tarp and ridge line. Love that old system!

[@seldomseenn]

I took the black bag with the bivvy to about 10 F in Utah. Woke up freezing at 4am

[@ulflyng]

@@seldomseenn It's always at 4am....

[@josephjohnson6849]

​@@ulflyngcoldest part of day

[@robertphillips93]

Cowboy camper here, and I like to carry a torso-length piece of thin foam for use under the inflatable mat inside the bivy. Keeps the damn thing somewhat in place, and folded up on the outside of the pack, its good for sitting or kneeling on hard pokey stuff.

[@miltonhill3022]

Good on you for posting this. I've had my MSS kit for about 5 years and I can confirm as a guy originally from Bermuda who now lives in Canada, that the whole system with my inflatable mat inside the bivy sac that I've slept out in -30 degrees celsius/-22 Fahrenheit. It works.

[@TheTEXMIKE]

travel light freeze at night.

[@araiakunin352]

Last year, I ran across this channel when I needed a new cold weather bag. Before the video was even over, I was searching for one of my own and before long I found an unissued ACU sleep system. After last winter, I'm sold on the performance of this system. Keep the videos coming

[@gunnarisaksson8677]

I am a Swede and bought a surplus NATO equipment for arctic warfare. I live in the northern part of Sweden where it gets real cold during winter time. It has a summer bag and a winter bag. The summer bag fits very well in the winter bag. I guess with the Bevy I could sleep outside in - 40 degrees centigrade. It is a great equipment.

[@proehm]

What you grow up with does make a difference. Going to the gulf coast in January: Locals - Puffy coat, Tennessee - Flannel jacket, Michigan - Long sleeve shirt, Canadians - Wife beater.

[@wahyasaquii7563]

Ha! True story. …from Madawaska, Maine. 👍

[@forbiddencue1101]

Quickly becoming one of the most useful channels I've come across in years🤙🏼🇺🇸

[@sniperforce34]

I purchased the MSS back in 2015 and used it twice, the jungle bag and bivi kept me warm in fall conditions only used the winter bag twice as well, it about roasted me alive in 20 degree weather, good system

[@moosespeak6140]

I did -46°F in this system with winds blowing 50 mph last winter outdoors in Bonner,Montana. I had 3 layers on and had to activate 6 handwarmers place 3 on each side of me spread out. I thank God and Army Rangers as my father was a decorated Army Ranger from the Vietnam era and passed on his skill set to me. At one point i hated my dad as a child becuz he was so hard on us. As a grown man I thank God and my Dad each day in life now.

[@CptnSavage]

Retired from the army in '92, long before this cool sleeping system. WISH I'd had it in the '70s and '80s. Thanks for the explanation and suggestions on making it more effective.

[@ianmurray4081]

I recently picked up a complete unissued MSS system and half of another one (new?) for $25 Cdn. @ a thrift shop. Pairs well with the marshmallow suit and boots that I bought at another second hand shop. Cheers 🍻 take care and stay frosty ☃️ 🍺🫵🤟🇨🇦🫡🇺🇸🤟🫵🍺☃️

[@jonsonnenschein1253]

We didn't have this sleep system in the 80's when I served. The old cold weather bag, along with a woobie and shelter half worked okay but it wasn't designed for anything below freezing. I purchased this newer sleep system several years ago for hunting and it made a huge difference, especially inside a tent. Fall and early winter months in Wyoming can get a little chilly at 9000 feet.

[@marrty777]

That’s really not an unreasonable system for anyone. The lightweight backpacking target for weight for one’s pack, shelter, and sleep system is 10 lbs. That’s not far off the mark, and you’re getting very tough, versatile stuff.

[@harrisdail9939]

Yes it does matter how the bivy is laid out. The woodland side is cut to face up. Otherwise your head on on the ground or mat and the bivy covers your face. It is specifically made and cut for the camo side up

[@franknunally8098]

While in the military, I never had to deal with any of that as I joined the USAF. However, I have had to deal with that as a HOMELESS VETERAN. When one is homeless, one is limited to what they can carry. Durring my incremented time as a homeless vet, I have had to sleep in some rough places and when I did get an all weather sleeping system, things did get more bearable as thunder storms and floods had less of an impact; Insects & Winters were more bearable. Naturally I've caught flack from the other branches, but I have spent a total of 3+ years with and without the above sleeping system and I will say I'd rather have it than not. I am from SW Louisiana, so I hate cold weather. Yet I have had to sleep in All weather conditions, both night & day, to include durring a bitterly cold blizzard in Nevada. Trust me when I say this, my old coonass is no longer the lean mean sexy machine that I use to be, I barely fit in the sleeping system any longer and my movement is not that of a young healthy man. Even with this decrepit old fart that is overweight and ugly enough to break camera's with a smile, I am still absolutely grateful for the sleeping system, even though it has seen better days and is no longer 100% waterproof.

[@josephjohnson6849]

Yea I'm thinking of buying it via statement of charges

[@thegiant573]

We lost power in Afcrapastan. In our tents all I had was a cot with a plywood board and thin egg crate mattress, poncho liner and the med level bag and a PT cap. It was 20 degrees inside the tent. I slept very comfortably.

[@mulhall72]

Navy Corpsman here, I've had mine since 93. At 6'3" I never could fit in the intermediate, at all. Summer, kinda. Bivy by itself, game on. I always heard of the elusive unicorn long MSS, but never saw one. Bummer.

[@brushbum7508]

I came up with 1, but the bags were still normal length. Damn it. TAKE CARE..

[@petermayonejr.3420]

Always great hearing from you Randall! Very important and essential subject matter!

[@GruntProof]

🍻😎

[@VarRedo]

Interesting to watch. The Swedish sleep system is designed to have the summer bag inside the winter bag. The advantage is when you have to wash it, the summer bag dry faster. I'd like to see more of the stoves used in the US army. How would the grunt prepare food in the field when there are no MRE's available.

[@GruntProof]

No MREs? We'd starve

[@VarRedo]

@@GruntProof Our average temperature is 46°F, and generally it's too cold for the FRH to heat the MRE, especially during the winter. I guess you might have the same issues in the northern USA. How do the grunts heat their food when it's freezing temperatures?

[@tomsitzman3952]

Great presentation. Putting your sleeping pad inside the Bivvy make perfect sense, instead 0f under the bivvy. The inflated sleeping pad is no part of the trapped air insolation, and you can't roll off of it.

[@G1NZOU]

Love the added knowledge of the difference between what the designers intended and how it actually gets stored and used in the field. People do (sometimes rightly) deride Mil-Spec but the bivvy looks to be an exception, looks fantastic for its age, our British army one doesn't include a zip for emergency egress which makes it slightly warmer and more water resistant but at the expense of faster egress, although zipless does mean one less thing to fail.

[@roberttravistext5091]

Thanks very much sir for the video and your service, love from rob in Wales UK.

[@jamesvickery308]

Makes me appreciate an old-fashioned 100% wool blanket

[@xPumaFangx]

My only issue to the sleep system is that my driver was sleeping in his. When a training Grenade hit his. Burning his bivy and sleeping bags up. And half of his sleeping bags liners. Making a large hole in the bottom. I had to be a good battle buddy. That was over 23 years ago.

[@shawnlunsford5310]

I always went the extra step and stuck a wool blanket in my sleep mat because even wet it retained most of its ability's to retain heat

[@bdgackle]

I love this system for civilian recreational camping. It's indestructible, and being able to just toss a snapped together bag on the ground to make camp is just an awesome convenience. It's heavy though. That much is true.

[@TinyGoHomes]

I got a 6 piece kit in my hummer for down to -35c. It’s very rare I use it all together but it’s definitely a smart move to have the full kit.

[@Elizabeth-tg7jo]

I live in AK and the MSS stays in my truck all year. It has seen mud, fish guts, 8 deg temps. It would keep me warm if I went flying off the road in a no-cell area during winter. I could also use the bivy as something of a sled to bring supplies in case another motorist went off. TY for the video.

[@robertbelton7635]

Could you do one for the Chair Force including the minimum standard level of room service acceptable in the hotel

[@JacobJohn-rc4sx]

I'm sure a lot of people including me learned something watching this video. Tanks!

[@mdog1615]

I’m up in the Canadian Rockies , usgi bivvy with patrol bag on top of a Savotta FDF ground mat does me for summer in the mountains. Come fall through winter into spring I use a Carinthia defence 4 with the bivvy & roll mat but I also add a klymit insulated inflatable mat in between the bivvy and sleeping bag. I sleep in lightweight merino base layers and have never been cold enough to notice.

[@AndyCinDallas]

I have the MSS already but bought the Klymit insulated pad after watching this. Thanks for sharing your experience and tips.

[@funbobtime]

Sounds like someone is sick of answering the same questions over and over again! 😂 Great vid! Always good and to the point! Wish this video was around 10 years ago! It took me forever and a day to learn half of these tricks! Thanks!

[@frankshort1448]

There's no school like old school been there done it young man you definitely learn from your mistakes

[@echohunter4199]

I’m a retired 11H/11B and slept in one of those many, many times like most Veterans. During our 15 month tour in Iraq in 2003-04 I slept on a Coleman twin size air mattress then payed the black sleeping bag on top of the mattress then sleep in the green bag. After a couple months there we refurbished a couple old houses and put A/C’s in each of the 5 bedrooms and had 2 men per room and it got cold at night and we found a large 400Kv civilian genset to power the houses and everything worked great for the 9-10 months were were on that FOB (Muleskinner). At the time I was a Platoon Sergeant in 2-6 INF, 1st AD. And if we’re in a tactical environment we’d keep most of our clothing on and I’d take off just one boot and keep my pants and t-shirt on. Just remember that you’ll piss more during the night when sleeping in a sleeping bag, I have no idea why but it’s a pain if it’s damn cold outside. Some men will piss into an empty bottle which is a decent idea when you’re sleeping in a larger tent that’s crowded.

[@taxtrograve707]

Supposedly we are headed back to glaciers taking over again. This is mighty important information. Another great video!

[@cgmiller82]

I've been using this system for a few years winter camping (for "fun")… there are a lot of really good tips here! Thank you!

[@artcianfanojr]

I am pretty lucky that the local base, formerly know as Ft Dix, has a private surplus store. Was able to get the ICS used in great condition for $120..

[@davidowens1424]

1995 I was with 3/4 and we were tasked with testing this gear (along with the gen 1 gortex) Ugly side note, we had the crap gumby suits for water protection before that. Anyway, this gear quickly became a the fav. Of course we had to turn it all back in and get our old gear back. That was sad.

[@ModelCreatorSL]

bivy + poncho liner == very good option IMHO (when not too cold)

[@bugoutbrad8395]

Thanks Randall. Got me thinking about. My mix and match equipment. To do a good combo. Cheers 🍻

[@danieljones2183]

Excellent class you conduct some of the best

[@petek2832]

We didn't have the MSS when I was in....however, I have recently purchased on for a trip to the Adirondacks this fall. Looking at temps in the mid-twenties at night. I have a decent tolerance for cold being a northerner, so my plan is bivvy, cold weather bag and a poncho liner. I figure that with some snivel gear and my fairly decent sleeping pad, I should be good to go. Originally, I wanted to do the patrol bag/bivvy but I couldn't find any credible source for that combo's temp rating. I think it better to err on the side of caution. I don't mind humping the extra weight around. Excellent info, great video.

[@GruntProof]

The jungle bag gives you a lot more warmth at the same bulk than the poncho liner.

[@Buckaroomedic]

Great video GruntProof! I used my old Thermarest ¾ length air mattress the same way you demonstrated. I always snapped the jungle bag into the ivy tho, I hate it when I get all tangled up inside the bivy! The woodland camo bivy and jungle bag is still my go-to for backpacking/foot patrol.

[@WillN2Go1]

Good video. It's great to see such a comprehensive system well presented. In 2016 I bought a very simple Minimalist Bivy at an REI parking lot sale. Best $12 I ever spent. It's just got a mesh window. In Japan at the Mt Kitadake hut, 9500 feet, I went outside to sleep in the blowing rain (unvented kerosene heater). I had all these plans on how to make a waterproof cover for the bivy, that I still haven't gotten around to making.... What was immediately obvious at that moment was: Just turn the whole bivy to face away from the rain. Also the air mattress (I use the Klimit as well) inside the bivy keeps you and your bag above any water that gets inside. I always use an inflatable pillow. I've made pillows from t shirts and padded dry bags, but nothing is as good as the basic air pillow (I also use the Klimit). Something I always do. Attach some paracord to both sides of the pillow so it can tie around the air mattress to hold it in place. I also always have some kind of sleeping bag liner. I guess it's like the Jungle Bag in this system. Near home it'll just be 2.5 yards of fleece folded over and stitched to make a bag. (Forget zippers.) If I'm traveling, I'll bring a Thermorest Reactor Liner (rolls up smaller. I'll even use it in hotels, hostels.) The final part of any sleeping bag, bivy system is how you use it. Super cold? Zip everything up so only your face is sticking out. Super warm, just sleep on top of your bag or liner, but inside the bivy (keep the bugs off.) Open or closed up tight gives you a lot of range. In the California desert temps often vary 50f between day and night. Non desert places have less range during a day. Also a bivy below your chest should be as flat and airless as possible. If you have a big tent like space down there condensation forms and makes everything wet. And I like to have a pair of dry wool sleeping bag socks. The final part of not just my bivy/travel set up, but every time I go to sleep? Black or dark t shirt over my eyes. Even a tiny amount of moonlight can disrupt sleep. (I also try to sleep on my side, no snoring - probably helpful in a combat zone. No snoring means better breathing, means a great night's sleep.) I just sailed for three months, when we got to the north Pacific it was cold 8C 46f, I used a SOL Emergency Bivy $25, and the Costco down comforter I happened to bring and the Reactor Liner, I also slept in my layers (mostly merino wool which even after 24/7 for a month never stank. right against the skin layers, did stink, and undies, drip drip? that stinks. I changed these every 5 days or so when I showered. The other thing I added to my bivy are some grosgrain loops. This way if I'm on any kind of a slope I can stake it to the ground, or run some paracord to my other stakes. When I was first using my system in Dorset, England in 2018 I often woke up in the morning with two feet of the bottom of my bivy sticking out under my rain fly. I like roll top dry bags, they're easy enough to make. I'd want a system like the Modular in a roll up dry bag. You can sit on it to compress it so when you roll and snap that top it seals and stays compressed, when you cross that lake you have the buoyancy if you needed, but what you don't have is water seeping in. (I think if you get the compression bag six inches below the surface there's enough water pressure to seep into it. Of course I haven't tried this with this system.) And final bit of my nonsense? I once lived above a discotheque. I learned to sleep through anything (or I'd have lost my mind.) On the sail boat we were bouncing and slamming a lot of the time. Imagine dumpsters hitting your house several times a minute all night long., while you're being flipped like a pancake. I slept right through it, but if someone whispered my name a couple of times or some odd noise occurred I'd wake right up. People talk about love and money, but sleep is just as important.

[@scottysurvival]

This was great video. I definitely learned some new tips👍💯. That sleep system is extremely tough never have ripped the buttons apart just zipper, but dang it held up well when you ripped it open on the buttons. Probably would say you wouldn't be able to do that on other sleep systems. Tough tough. Thanks for sharing your experience and knowledge

[@StevenCarver]

Learned a great deal from this video, thanks!

[@DMF716]

I've got 2 of the 1st gen versions. The black winter, green summer and woodland bivy with black stuff sack. I have one extra bivy never used.

[@NicCageForPresident2024]

Damn lugging those around with everything else was fun. Depending on how ridiculous the command was we used to prefer to leave the heavy cold weather section if it wasn't going to be very cold at night.

[@rjtwocircles]

As you did, I added an inflatable sleep mat to my bivy bag and jungle bag. I recommend a bellows bag for inflating and a quick release air valve on the mat. For extending the temp range and comfort level, a friend added a down blanket he keeps in his bivy. It adds very little weight, and it doesn’t seem to add any size compressed. It’s never gotten wet from the outside. He uses it on top of his sleeping bag inside the bivy. When it’s too warm, he either takes it out or sleeps on it. He has not yet pushed the temperature limits, but he thinks it may be close to the Intermediate Bag. It was crazy cold last winter, but he couldn’t get out at its coldest. I thought I’d try a relatively cheap down blanket to see how well it worked. Most of these blankets are definitely not Grunt Proof, but like the inflatable mat, it will protected a lot by the bivy. If it works, I’ll find a better quality blanket.

[@sicottish]

Can confirm the complete sleep system will keep you dry and not freezing in a Ft. Drum blizzard.

[@mzdaspeed06]

I’m from the gulf coast here in Mississippi and I have used the MSS in northern Virginia during winter. I have taken it down just below 0. It’s not bad just a very cumbersome system that typically took up way to much room

[@socrateszues6024]

Thank you brother, very useful knowledge for a novice going to a certain training in louisiana soon.

[@jonb1428]

Just got the large mollie with the assault pack also got the medium mollie got various pockets and waist bag I think would appreciate being shown how it all goes together and interlocks. Absolutely excellent kit take it everywhere with us rucking in Cumbria in the Uk all the best J

[@caryboozer9814]

Great video, learned a lot, made me subscribe

[@poplarridge9719]

I sleep very cold. The whole system keeps me comfortable down to the low 20s F. Below that, I add a light fleece bag on top. Keeps me comfy down to 0°F.

[@dougtaylor7724]

Take a shot at every “this bivy”. Talk about hammered in a short video......

[@donaldatkinson7937]

Couple years ago, store in my town, had one of these, looked and smelled brand new, soldier went AWOL I believe and sold it. I got it for $85.00 . Last year we had extremely cold weather for SC. I slept in it on a hammock, dumb idea, it got down to 12.degrees, very windy, gust up to 30.mph. couldn't zip it up properly because of hammock and kept having to get up to piss. My feet got cold, but I was fairly comfortable.

[@Mohawks_and_Tomahawks]

As a Northern Canadian and Rocky Mountain Backpacker, I want that whole sleep system! How can I get my hands on one of these systems?

[@mrs9740]

This arrived just in time for a trip I'm going on tomorrow. I have the British version and am not a grunt so didn't know how to pack it 'properly' thank you very much for the informative video you have a new subscriber :)

[@clayl9202]

Excellent information, it always helps to hear the whys as well as the hows. Thanks for the overview.

[@brushbum7508]

Thanks Randall ! Keep Em Comin. TAKE CARE..

[@paulmcdonald1968]

I always learn from your videos, outstanding!

[@clarkmedia1609]

The bivy and a woobie will get you through most situations spring through fall months in most of lower 48.

[@johnmbrown6627]

Do you have any experience with the square folding German mat?

[@msmax1138]

my bivy and green patrol bag go everywhere with me when motorcycle camping, good for most weather im gonna be riding in, if its really cold (below 30 for us southern fellows) also have a synthetic 20 degree mummy bag, that will get me into the single digits combined with the patrol and bivy bag. I also love elk and mule deer hunting out west, hunting high in the mountains i have woken up with 20 inches of snow on the ground and over my tarp and been fine. I use a good a good r4+ rated sleeping pad. im also from mississippi and dont do cold well at all

[@joeydepalmer4457]

When I was in the army, we had (from outer to inner) Bivi bag (green), sleeping bag outer, sleeping bag inner (basically same as the outer but with ties - I never tied the two together for ease of getting in and out of my sleeping bag),sleeping bag liner (also was to be tied inside the inner sleeping bag but I never did for the same reason ease of movement), sleeping bag hood (slipped on like a parka hood with out the parka; I never used it as I put on a full parka); sleeping bag booties,, stuff bag for storage. when everything was layed out, you either had an air mattress or a round pad. Sleeping bag system rated down to -50 though we never slept in -50 to actually test it, just -40.

[@jasongarling20]

Great video! Definitely appreciate the knowledge.

[@wesley20991]

Awesome video, I am a marine and have used the mss more times then I can count, one thing i have seen is the army bivvy bag I have seen issued ones in same grey color as the compression sack. We always had the woodland bivvy. The other thing they always taught us was in cold weather the bags only work well if your almost stripped down to nothing bare skin creates the heat inside. We have used these bags in Korea down to way way below zero it sucked feet are always cold in the morning no matter what but you will survive. Thanks again another awesome video.

[@GruntProof]

Get the Wild Things Tactical Booties. Your feet will never be cold again

[@wesley20991]

@@GruntProof it wasn’t a problem in Iraq but Korea was the worst lol.

[@Rule-of-Threes-Survival]

Many pictures make this system appear much smaller than I believed it really was. (Great work. I'd like to own a few, I am also from the south, but now live in Michigans Upper peninsula; very cold winters. (Worse than those I did in Alaska)

[@tom_olofsson]

Thank you for laying it all out so clearly.

[@tammysilverwolf1085]

I still have my MSS from like 2003. I bought one the day after my ETS from US Cav in Kentucky. I still use it to this day in various ways. Speaking of 2003... Is that an Unreal Tournament flag tat on your left bicep? Talk about bringing back core memories. :)

[@destitute8493]

Drone warfare has changed things. You've got to get below the surface and cover with something like Mylar to obscure your heat signature. That said, Zippo makes a small hand warmer that runs on lighter fluid / Coleman fuel / Napthalene for many hours. Put that in your bag and you're warm.

[@turtlewolfpack6061]

I am good for -5 Celcius or a little more with the bivy, summer bag and the liner from my old flecktarn parka (with a wool toque and socks of course). Done it a few times over the years.

[@BarneyFife1776]

It’s hard finding good gear and I’m grateful you did a review on this as I’m looking to go to Alaska and can’t afford bs claims, opinions, etc. I’m probably going to end up getting this very system.

[@jamesborek8125]

How do larger fellas fit into these? I'm working hard on the weight part, down to 315 from 425.. but there's not a damn thing I can do about being 6'7 😂

[@RedDevil5081]

Ummm....I think you be fcuked! 😂

[@XxTheLostChaosxX]

I don't think it's as large as you hope...

[@XxTheLostChaosxX]

My 3XLT can barely squeeze inside one... Can't get out of it fast enough. I didn't know I could feel clostraphobic until I zipped myself in...

[@XxTheLostChaosxX]

There's a lesser known SF bivy. That would be the one you want.

[@kuzinit2374]

I got a older style , took out the winter bag and replaced it with a older style bivi , also got a one man combat tent , dumb camo that you can see from a mile away , plus I got a giant camo tarp to make the whole system as a base camp , the winter bag makes a nice ground pad but I also use a yoga mat

[@lieutenantcolonelnicholson9228]

Oh and I love your gear reviews! I will probably go freeze my dangly bits off this Novembers tying out an ECWSS and a couple of wool blankets. CARRY ON!!!

[@EdwardHurst2323]

Most down sleeping bags are made from Pertex and have waterproof down a rain resistant cover is good because you use a tarp over the top

[@outdoorslifesurvivecraft5078]

I was lucky enough to pick up an extreme cold weather sleeping bag for $105. Its old but in like new condition. Its some type of cloth, almost like a real thin canvas and is od green. I used it in the back of my truck cap in -6 f with 20 to 30 mph winds. I got so warm that I had to unzip it down to my waist and cover up with a fleece blankets my wife made me.

[@GruntProof]

We had an extreme cold weather bag that was like that

[@vinny9988]

A big wool coat weighs 9 pounds. I've had mine down to about 5 below. The MSS will keep you alive.

[@jaymcdaniel7576]

Randall, you mentioned the wonderful UCP color Cover. Rattle cans will cange that to almost any color that you may like.

[@schlirf]

Rare that we ever used a sleeping bag in the field back in the day, normally it was wooby on the track.

[@jamesyandell4861]

Used it in -25 and was cold but survived. I used it many times in the military. The only thing I don't like is it is a mummy bag. I would prefer more room.

[@43Lugan]

I live in Hawaii, Big Island. I've spent time outdoors in the rain in this bivy, I have 2. But... apparently I sleep hot! I was soaked in the morning from my own body heat. I mean, I woke up in a swamp inside of this bivy. My opinion and my personal experience in a tropical environment, this was too much for me. Again... apparently I sleep hot. My breath plus body heat produces a swamp. Did it leak from the downpour? Fk if I know! I was soaked in the morning tho. My opinion, for me, it's not tropical worthy, for me.

[@SteveJohnSteele]

Yep. I don't have that system. But I have used similar bivi bag and single sleeping bag. I was comfortable at -10C. Often with just base layer clothes on. It's rained and snowed on me and I was fine.

[@micheleaday3902]

I Love How You Syuffed All 3 Bags In One❤😂

[@jmaxson150]

The bivy also does pretty good as an overnight clothes dryer with you in it. Go to bed wet and wake up (mostly) dry. Due to the breathability of the bivy.

[@ryancrane2815]

Would be interesting to get one of us British soldier to compare sleep systems and SoPs

[@albertoriviera8616]

Most comfortable and versatile system

[@magoolew5131]

I learned a lot from you i this video. Now I just need to go to my local Army/Navy surplus store and get enough for at least 8 people. I'll have to buy the stuff for them because they can't afford what they need. I'll have to buy a lot more than they can afford though.

[@nosurrender4824]

Thank you Sir! Great instructional video. Very informative. Tennier is the maker I found who makes them & they're $475 now, but well worth it. 🇺🇸💪🏻