Multiple Brands - Tennier Industries, etc. - Modular Sleep System (MSS)

I have army issue modular sleeping bag systems. Those things will keep you warm and dry in an Alaskan winter squall! If you can track one down online or in a local tactical supply shop, I highly recommend since you aren't back packing.

If it's a complete system, it's worth it. You get a summer bag, a winter bag, and a combined deep winter bag. An incomplete system is kind of pointless, though.

I just bought a new old stock military modular sleep system the bad combo, with the Goretex Bivy, the Patrol Bag for nights down to 40 F and an Intermediate Cold Weather Bag for as low as -10 F. You can combine all three for temperatures down to -40 according to the military and the manufacturer. I'm sure that with the right clothing it would keep me warm down to around -20 or so.  I will use it for my surfing road trips to be able to car camp and for emergencies in the car. It should serve it's purpose and last for the rest of my life. I paid just under $200.00 for it in new unused condition, so it was relatively inexpensive. I have two down bags rated at 15 F that are lighter. I'm not likely to backpack with it, so the systems weight won't be a problem. The military modular sleep system supposedly weighs 10 lb.s, but I'm guessing it weighs more like 13 or so. 

Ironically, I have been looking at new, unused versions of the US Military Modular Sleep System. I saw them advertised  new for as little as $250.00 and as much as $500.00. a used sleeping bag is just a little too much of a yuck factor for me. If you wash it thoroughly, it should be fine though. The used ones can be picked up for pretty cheap.  I just wanted the bags for my car in case I wanted to car camp, or needed it in emergency situations. I'm in the coastal range of California and I would assume that it will keep me warm down to 15 to 20 degrees in the back of my SUV. The mid-teens is as cold as the Northern California Valleys and Coastal Ranges near me are likely to get. If I ever got stuck in the snow, at least I would have something that would keep me from freezing to death.  Those bags are heavy, but they are very durable and it has a lightweight Patrol Bag that's rated for 30 F and a Intermediate Cold Weather Bag that's rated to -10 F which I'm sure is a real stretch. On top of the two insulated bags there is the Goretex Bivy Bag that's waterproof and windproof. You can use the Patrol Bag in warm or mild weather, use the Intermediate Cold Weather Bag in moderately cold weather, combine both bags without the bivy for sub-freezing weather and combine the two insulated bags and the Bivy for Sub-Zero temperatures.  The whole system is purportedly around 10 to 13 lb.s which is brick heavy for a damned sleeping bag, but it's versatile and great for car camping. I have a fancy down bag that's rated at 15 F and weighs around 3.25 lb.s. I'm not a backpacker, but if I need to crash out in the car, I won't freeze. The whole system will last me for the rest of my life if it's not stolen or lost. That's good enough for me. If I want to back pack, I'll get an ultra-light bag. A good thick pad with a high R-Value is half of the equation in staying warm. Cardboard will do that for you, but a foam or inflatable pad is lighter and more versatile.

Find a complete us army sleep system- the bivy, the small bag and the big bag. They can be found for a decent price and they are robust and warm. You can use an inflatable pad inside the bivy, and a foam pad underneath it.

My reccomendation is buy a surplus US army sleeping system.

Army sleep system. Make sure you get all three parts of it.

US Army three-piece sleep system. It’s big and it’s bulky but it’s warm as hell. Also eat enough calories during the day, make sure you go to bed with just enough clothing on so that you won’t sweat in your sleep system. Sweating is the enemy of staying warm when it’s cold out.

I’ve been using an old US Army issue Modular Sleep System for my primary sleeping bag but I’ve found they have several drawbacks. Chiefly that they are insanely heavy and bulky. Just the black sleeping bag and a sleeping bag liner takes up about as much space as the rest of my backpack (Gossamer Gear G4-20 Roll Top). The full standard system is about 8.5 pounds. What I’m looking for is something that does a similar job to the MSS but that I can pack down smaller and ideally is more comfortable. The design pretty much hasn’t changed in the 40 years it’s been used, so hopefully there’s something affordable. Thank you all for your time.

Oh yeah, love the MSS, don’t get me wrong. But I’m already not the biggest guy so 8.5 pounds is a bit more than I would like haha. If I’m using a vehicle, though? Absolutely.

Oh yeah, I’ve spent plenty of time agonizing over how to shave weight off of it since I was just getting into backpacking/hiking and needed a good bag.

This is the first thing that came to my mind. I use an army sleep system( summer bag stuffed inside a winter bag, all inside a water/windproof bivy) and some base layers and socks and you’re getting a good nights rest in far below freezing conditions. It’s not ultralight but it packs down small enough to consider replacing all your other cold weather gear you would use for sleep

Accept that its worth carrying an extra pound to have a wider mat and a wider sleeping bag and actually be able to sleep well. I rock a long/wide MEC Draco -9c bag in cold months and a USGI MSS Patrol bag in summer here in Canada. Both are roomy enough to sprawl a bit. For pad I dont go any narrower than 25" but even then the knee might be off the pad a bit, never caused much issue though. Warm blood will circulate to it.

I had the pleasure of having one of these the last several years that I was in the National Guard a few years back. It is one of the few things that I truly wished that I was allowed to keep once I turned in all of my gear for the final time back in 2014. They are a perfect answer if you plan on either car camping or if you plan on staying in one location for a prolonged period of time. It's an extremely durable system that can take a pretty good amount of abuse and it will last longer than most other sleeping systems out there. The only real downside to the army modular sleep system is its weight. It's still lighter and offers more protection and warmth than the OG army sleeping bags that we used to have as well as many of the other commercial sleep systems out there but I most certainly wouldn't want to take one on a major thru hike of any kind due to the weight issue. Damn, now you've got me missing my old modular sleep system now.