I used a US Army surplus 3 bag MSS during the dead of winter in Montana as my sole shelter for over a month. I had an insulated mat to get me off the ground and the Gortex bivy bag repelled the snow. Stayed warm down to -2 F. My cat slept in the footbox. She averaged killing 2-3 squirrels and 4 grouse a week for our food supply. Nature gave her much better hunting skills than me. I’m a better cook though😀

@user-ts1fp4nm9y

Ай бұрын

Have you got any kittens for sale????

That was the most complete explanation of how to have a successful nights sleep I’ve ever seen! Thank you for going into such detail

@Tali-Khammael

2 жыл бұрын

Here here!! From Minnesota state USA.

Down bags are great in cold dry climates but in uk once wet are useless. I still have my British sleeping system great value when compared to Carinthia system.

@CPG4444Chopper

Жыл бұрын

Is the British sleep system practical for hiking and lightweight camping? I’m guessing it’s too bulky and heavy.

I always find it hilarious going back and forth between videos from ultralight backpacking and bushcraft 🤣

Being an incomplete paraplegic warmth is essential. In winter iprefer sleeping in a hammock system like the Blackbird xxl with mumbo-jumbo tarp and a snug pack under quilt and snug pack jungle blanket not the bag. Temp is going to be

If youre not tactical anymore, only fools get cold....🤣that was gold!

I spent a brutal Winter in an 8 Ft. Trailer that was a literal ice box, and the only thing that saved me from freezing to death at night was my U.S. Arctic mummy bag. even in below zero F, I would have to let the heat out often. AMAZING BAG! Best bag I ever had.

Recently discovered your channel and the content is fantastic. Former US Marine here so I always seeing stuff from Marine brethren and your knowledge and experience really shine through in your presentations. Be well brother, Semper Fi, and Per Mare, Per Terram.

I’m biased but, the Canadian military has an excellent system. A fleece liner, 2x sleeping bags (1x inner, 1x outer) and a Gor Tex bevy bag. I slept warm in -55 Celsius winter conditions. Hands down the best system. Heavy? Yes it is. If it’s winter, you hump what you need. You can break it down for warmer summer/fall and spring months. Brand new this system costs over $1000.00 CAD. Worth every dime.

Great explanation, as everyone in the comments has said. One tip is a thin cotton 'sleeping bag liner' that fits inside all the sleeping bags; it catches the bulk of the dirt and sweat - keeping your sleep system cleaner inside - and can be washed as much as you like. You reduce the amount of times you have to wash the actual bags themselves and reduce the amount of 'damage' you do to their lofting abilities. You'll be keeping your sleeping bag(s) warmer for a bit longer. They can usually be picked up for around £10 UK pounds and 'adapted' to connect to your sleep system if they don't already. I went with a surplus Dutch system of: a winter bag, Goretex outer and the previously mentioned bag liner that all connects together with studs/straps, fits in a compression or canoe bag and looks similar to your British setup in many ways. A bit heavy, but very warm, waterproof and a mere fraction of the price of off-the-shelf sleep systems. Keep up the great and varied content, Nick.

@NothingToNoOneInParticular

Жыл бұрын

My Mom always had us use a flannel sheet! It acts as a baffle about the neck too, to keep the heat in. I have a silk one that works well too. More slippy in most bags other than a flannel sheet.

@carolinescott3888

Жыл бұрын

I have a silk one. It makes it much easier for me to toss and turn, which I do a lot

Some great tips for this former Aussie soldier. Coldest I can be sure of was -5C, not exactly arctic conditions but then we didn't have that level of gear. So true about stripping off in the really cold weather, providing you have the bag for it. It's winter here now and I am conducting cold weather sleep system testing (in the backyard) and will implement some of your admin routine tips next test. Love your work.

When I was in the Canadian military they had a two bag system (inner and outer) a hood, and a Flannel liner. All of this was contained in a Valise bag with a para-cord (sort off?) compression system. Summer you used a single bag, and liner. Winter: outdoors was double bag, liner and hood, indoors was single bag and liner. No matter whether it was British Army 58 pattern sleeping bag, Canadian Military bag or a civilian bag there was no way I could stay zipped up in it longer than 5 minutes, zip went down and I went to sleep. My uniform was laid down the sides of my bag, and in Canadian winter my boots went into a plastic bag on the bottom of my sleeping bag.

Once again a thoroughly indepth run down of something we all need to know and thought we did know, excellent stuff....

Always used an Arctic Bag. I also have a DD Jura 2 bag. Just a copy of the Arctic bag but with a foot box. I'm spending two night's next month in Northumberland one night in the Bothy and then in my Hammock. Can't wait!! Always try to sleep in my birthday suit 😆. Story: My mate and I along with someone else spent a night at Green Bothy Northumberland. It was a freezing November night but we both had our Arctic bags...But the other guy who in his wisdom thought to save money and weight decided to buy a B&M £9.99 special 🥶🥶🥶 Needless to say I was very warm indeed and slept like a baby 😴😴😴

Being from across the pond, I love the poncho liner. Used with the poncho, affectionately known as the Ranger Roll, works really well. I’ve used two sets of those folded opposite each other down to freezing temperatures. At the time we weren’t issued casualty blankets. I would like to try adding that to the combo sometime to see how much warmth that adds to the scenario. However, those combo sleeping bag systems are great if you can access them after you left them in the back of the Deuce or 5 ton. High speed, low drag!

Thank you for the clear explanations! I’m an older backpacker, going lite weight, for my knees, not ultra. I went for sleep comfort.. this helped me realize I’d made good choices.

Hello Nick. I have to say, I really look forward to seeing your new videos when they come out. The information you provide is faultless for the UK environment, thank you. Your reasoning on a matter is always, well-considered, and backed up by your military experience. You are growing a great channel here, keep it up, please?

I've used the Snugpak Jungle bag for 2 seasons now and I absolutely luv it. I supplement it with a nato cotton sleeping bag liner and a fleece blanket when needed. I don't bother with the stuff sack, I just jam it all into the bottom of my pack, first in, last out.

spent five months winter 2019/2020 in a british arctic sleeping bag, no fire, and it was absolutely brilliant.

I’m really glad your channel showed up on my recommended list. So far lots of stuff I have used and taught over the decades as well as things I had never heared of but they fit in with the way I do things in my little bubble.

I bought the lightweight British bag new at a bike rally as an emergency replacement and was instantly sold on it. Once home I bought the middleweight to go with it and have since found the cotton liners that tie inside the lightweight bag. Best system I've used

Nick, thanks for explaining the ins and outs of the very equipment I have been pondering. Your explanations and descriptions have been really helpful, please keep them coming, thank you so much.

I bought 2 Wiggy's sleeping bags. They weigh 4 lbs each and are rated for zero degrees and have lamilite insulation, real heavy duty zippers. I use them with a military bivvy sack and reflective pad. They work very, very, very well and are worth the price, I consider them to be a very good investment. Much better than a goose down bag and about the same i weight. And you can wash them in a machine. The jungle bag you showed looks like a good choice for the Louisiana swamps. Again , I enjoyed the video, well done. Hand salute from a Vet.

I'm a retired decorated combat vet who really enjoys and apprecite you sharing your experiences with with us. Keep up the good work!!

Excellent video! I use the MMSS when I camp. I find the multiple bag system is effective a capturing my body heat overnight. And I don't ever underestimate the importance of clean, dry wool socks. Rock on!

You just earned my sub. I have never served, but for a long time I was tight for money so I always default to army surplus gear for a bargain bit of kit. Ive had so many bargains over the years. I needed a new rucksack and managed to pick up a mint 100l bergen with side pockets for £50. I think its more likely that I will wear out long before that rucksack does. I picked up a lavvu tent for £40, some amazing boots for £25, an Alice Pack for £30 and a bunch of other stuff. Instead of spending thousands of pounds you can get the same or better kit for a few hundred. Some of it might need a little love and a bit of a clean, some might be brand new, and sure its usually heavier, but its the best cost-cutting way to get serviceable camping kit on a budget. I have got to the point where that musty army surplus smell has become almost comforting. Thank you for your excellent videos. Glad I ran across your channel.

For Australian conditions for me a lightweight 4 season approach is USGI Gortex bivi bag , USGI poncho liner, Sea to summit reactor sleeping bag liner, and Costo down throw. In morning throw out on a line to air, light weight and to easy to launder. Add and remove layers to suit season. Last long spell in a sleeping bag got kinda funky. love the vids.

Had all sorts of bother with sleeping systems over the past year. On my last wander I went back to using an old ex army arctic bag, sorted. Your explanation and methods of use are excellent and I finally know that I am using the correct kit. Much pleasure in subscribing.

Quality and informative video. Thanks and keep then coming!

So much great advise in this video! Thank you very much!

Spot on!

Thanks for another great video Nick. Last Wednesday I followed your link and purchased the British Army Artic sleeping bag. It arrived today (Monday, 1 day early). The quality is impressive and it seems to be a lot better than what I was given when in the RAF in the late 70's.

This video provided me with some professional tips that will help me keep warm on northern Ontario hunting trips … especially acknowledging the importance of sufficient sleeping system loft in cold night situations. Thank you!

Lots of great tips. Thank you 🙏 Definitely cool weather camping now here in Quebec and winter is around the corner. This summer I used just a silk liner bag on warm nights, mostly as protection from bugs.

Very early in my military career I learnt that 'any fool can rough it'. Spent a small fortune on gucci kit, all money well spent. Great video, thanks for sharing your knowledge in a very concise manner.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge is a big help

Another informative video Nick. I currently use the DD Jura 2 sleeping bag but I'm looking at the military modular system, purely to save some weight/volume as I use the gear for Bikepacking, not Backpacking. Weight is less of an issue, but increased packed volume is a pain. Enjoyed seeing Tilly the well chilled pooch too.

Brilliant vid, mate! Cheers

Some great info and tips from experience there. Many thanks.

So glad I watched this video. I went out for my first camp, wore thermals in my sleeping bag and was slightly cold. Will try sleeping naked with thermals on standby and trust in my sleeping bag 🤞Thank you!

I am a middle aged lady and am hoping to do some bike camping, and I found this really useful - SO clear and well thought out, and without any unnecessary information that just takes up time in the video. Much better than many other videos I've seen. I guess you have to think like that to survive in the military.

Excellent video, love the professional military advice, really makes sense. Thanks 👍

Excellent as always, thank you.

Great info, thanks! I use the USGI sleep system and Snugpak products.

Good informative film ,keep them coming!! Thank you

great info and tips thank you!

I use a big synthetic army surplus sleeping bag. People balk at the size and weight, but I have never had a cold night, even when damp from tarping in some truly savage weather. Meanwhile, people with down sleeping bags complain of the cold even on a good night. I live in New Zealand, where the climate is generally cool and very humid. It rains so hard that tents leak, is so humid that moisture condenses inside tent flies and bivvy bags, and blows so hard the condensation flicks back at ya. Synthetic stays warm here. I will happily carry my bag and save weight elsewhere.

Brilliant explanation , straight to the point and very informative

Great tips all around!

Hi Nick, great instruction! I use the British army Arctic bags, excellent sleeping bags in dead of winter combined with gortex bivvie bag is the perfect pairing. I do use a cotton bag liner also , helps to keep main bag clean and adds an extra bit of warmth. Keep up the brilliant work. Stay strong and safe with the natural beauty of mother nature .

@davidgreally4347

2 жыл бұрын

Always watch Nick, your sleep is as important as what you do during the day to reset your mind and body. Weight of sleeping systems is irrelevant in my mind. Must be as comfortable as possible. 👍👍

Thank you very much for the extremely useful information .

Thanks for the great information it explains why I get cold I’ve learned so much

I use a NorthFace One Bag for all 4 season camping - benefits of Down and synthetic (-10C upwards, although NF says it goes lower). It has three components that you can use as and when you need. I shove a silk sleeping bag liner in it, as needed - extra insulation and dirt mitigation. In warmer climes, just a silk sleeping bag liner. if you sleep with your tights or long johns on, then rub them a bit before you get in the bag, so the your body doesn't have to have to warm up that cooler air that you've brought in. Another excellent demonstration with real world applicability, Nick. Thank you. Wearing my poppy with pride.

I am using a u s army surplus mss goretec With a insulated pad to help keep me warm from the cold ground And a Ozark trail 30 degree mummy bag in 22 degree weather And I do stay warm And I have learned a lot of survival information from your videos. Thank you brotha You have saved my ass on many occasions

I’m 2 minutes in and ol mate is already telling people to get their shit in check 😂 love ya work mate!!!

My winter sleep system consists of Snugpak merlin (inner bag) and carinthia defence 4 outer,all inside a surplus bivvybag.Into my 50's now and i always rig up a Hennesy jungle explorer hammock with a thermarest.wet trousers tucked between the thermarest and bivvy bag around the back of my knees to dry out.Sleep in a merino norgie and have my trusty Buffalo SP6(now 30yrs old and still going strong) as a pillow,ready to wear when i want to get up in the morning.Most importantly is having the piss bottle to hand,so i can simply unzip the bags 1/2 way and roll on my side to fill the bottle over the side of the hammock.

Fantastic great information learned a lot thankyou

Very informative, thanks. I had never considered getting naked to stay warm and have previously just added more layers.

I use the skinny bags like Oex 250 and MW 200 & 300 for the "camping seasons" and a British Army Arctic bag for the Autumn/Winter season. I just had delivered one of the Highlander Stealth 1 man tents for my bike tours coming up soon. With a 400 bag, liner, bivvy, air pad and tiny tent or hammock option i should be okay. (I use the 6P's or KISS option). A stealth camo net and basha are in the kit too to maximise my options. Trangia or Esbit for cooking, IFAK, Small changer of kit. etc. Longer trips - 3 days and over - goes 25kg - 35kg due to water and food requirements.

Solid tips for cold climates! Thanks for having Tilly in your video!

Many thanks, that was an amazing level of detail with so much really useful information. 👍

I love your videos mate, really entertaining (especially seeing Tilly putter around) and informative. I think for the money the military surplus bags can't be beat and it's interesting seeing different countries approaches to sleeping systems. Keep up the good work!

Great video Nick. I have all of those sleep systems. The MSS is a great system that served me well during my military service and will go inside my bugout bag with my military Litefighter tent. For everyday camping and backpacking in the fall and winter I recently picked up the Big Agnes Sidewinder sleeping bag and the Big Agnes Q-Core SLX insulated air mattress because I am a side sleeper. This system was recommended by a KZread backpacker that I follow but I haven't had a chance to use it yet.

Great vid, good common sense delivered in a friendly D I manor! I myself roll carrying approximately 25 kg, 3 of which is just water, 1 is food carried in a warrior x300 Bergan, my sleep system consists of parts of the Fesca modular bag in a Brit army bivi bag depending on what time of year it is. A great find for me was the German army folding mat with a 3/4 British army inflatable on top under a DD 3x3 MC basha which has served well for the North York Moors. I don't compress my scratcher down, trending to stuff it in the bottom of the Bergen after waterproofing it in the bivi bag and folding over inside to compress it a bit. None of my camp's include a fire as I tend to keep them as stealthy as possible and I stay on open access land.

I have not finished seeing the whole video yet, but there's something I would like to mention about the compression bag as provided with the Jungle Bag. I see you pull the straps just like that. For longevity reasons of the compression sack, I would advise to put your weight on the bag so that the strap comes rather loose. Then you can pull it. This prevents too much stress on the seams. Also, for the longevity of the bag it's always a compromise between durability/longevity and packing volume. The smaller you pack it, the more stress there will be on the insulation. Of course you cannot pack it loosely like you would store it at home. But to compress it to its maximum day in and day out, might not be the best option.

@AugisTv

2 жыл бұрын

this, lol, pure facts, I would even add that you can just stuff your sleeping bag into the bottom of the backpack, this way sleeping bag uses more space available, fills out the corners, also it doesnt get as compressed as when in the stuff sack, thus causing less damage to the loft, and you dont need compression sack.

@simongee8928

2 жыл бұрын

I would have thought that doing that was pretty obvious - !

Thanks nick! Happy Sunday morning from the U.S. Well done.

I completed a urban wild camp right here in Norwich against a disbanded building. The day didn’t begin well as it poured rain for 0.50 an hour durning the morning. Always a cold night predictable when rain has fallen during the day. I covered my tent with a camouflage tarp hopefully preventing anyone spotting me, too quickly. Extra bonus of making the tent dark long after the sun rose. I find most sleeping bags very constricting so I had it opened but tucked in underneath my body. (Love your sleeping bags that show there is plenty of room to change clothes)! BTW I slept with my clothes on with a few extra jackets to keep warm. Then I had a the extra layer of an emergency blanket. I’ll add I was warm & snug & the best sleep over I’ve had in a long while.

I truly appreciate your attention to the big and small details. 🙏✌️❤️🌏

love it my 12 yr old daughter who grew doing this watched with me, main thing she noticed was you use same coffee sachets we do. we do some real old school stuff using wool blankets in bed rolls during summer. but also have the modular system along with others, even still use my issued to me 58 bag, but we carry ours in snakeskins outside bergen.

This is gold

Great stuff, thanks.

Really interesting vid Explaining it all so well Thanks May explore surplus gear myself

Great tips on the routine of getting in and out of the bag, thanks for that

Always entertaining and extremely informative. Thank you very much... excellent..)

Thank you for an excellent video.

Really enjoying your videos. Good clear explanations. As for sleeping systems, I have 2 sleeping bags. First for the warmer nights is the good old snugpack. and for colder nights my British army sleeping bag. I use both with, as required, a goretex bivi bag and a cotton sleeping bag liner. I've slept in combinations of just the liner right through to the liner inside the snugpack, inside the army doss bag, inside the bivi bag(It was a very very cold night). FYI, as a sleeping mat I use an old Bundeswehr folding mat. It's pretty thin, but it does keep you off the wet ground. It slips nicely into the backpack taking up little room

Very good video Nick. This is probably the best explanation of the military sleep system, and the best way to use it. Cheers from Canada!

Excellent content. Well presented. Thank you.

Brilliant advice! Thanks a lot. Great advice to prepare me for a winter camp. I always thought the sleep naked idea was nonsense but it makes sense how you explain it. I will test it out next time! Cheers for the video

Great explanation and advice 👍 A good, comfortable night's sleep is a real boost

You’ve definitely sold me on the British Army Gortex Bivvi and Artic Sleeping Bag combo tbh.

Nick, I love a bit of well explained science, and as you say anyone can be uncomfortable. I've never been in the situations you have but I'm willing to learn from someone who has and most likely learnt the hard way. An excellent video on keeping your core temperature up which I wouldn't have considered. I usually just add layers. Thanks for posting it.

What a great video!!!! Loved it!

I used your advice on a trip to Normandy for Remembrance Day. I spent four days wild camping under my motorcycle with a tarp, arctic army bag and vortex bivvy and you advice was priceless as it was cold wet and windy. Thanks for sharing .

@bolton737

2 жыл бұрын

@@hiddenvalleybushcraft5683 it’s an incredibly beautiful and moving place.to visit. Spent Remembrance Day at the Normandy British Memorial and Remembrance Sunday at Bayeux memorial cemetery. Then everywhere else in between. Even got a visit from a inquisitive boar one night 😁

Great informative video, thank you! I’ve just bought myself the multi-bag sleep system, we didn’t have those back in the day but the arctic bags are brilliant! Best I go look for one 😉

Good to know... Cheers

Great detailed video mate, I still use my Arctic dossbag and gortex bivvy for wildcamping, I find that when it's tested in cold climates such as the Falklands, and the heat of Oman and they are durable, rugged, you can't go wrong, great content buddy 👍👍

Thank you 🙏🏼

Helped alot with my decision on my sleep system, again very grateful for the vids. Keep it up pls.

I use the 58 pattern sleeping bag, - absolutely agree it's heavier than a synthetic bag, but it has so many benefits. the waterproof bottom liner that can just roll straight out, the bag being built in as a hood makes it much easier to "build" a pillow from clothes. that are outside the main hood. they are incredibly warm (down filled) I got my first (medium size) one, when I was about 8, it had been used (it had a name written in black marker on it.) I used it all through cubs, scouts, then camping as an adult (wild camping in the woods.) finally 30 ish years later I upgraded to the large size one. (never used) because I'm too tall for the medium, now my nephew has it and is using it for his cub camps etc... They cost about £40, there aren't many 4 seasons down filled sleeping bags that'll out last a squaddie and still be useful many decades later at that price point.

Great information video. When I was military we had a synthetic bag and a down cold weather bag no Gore-Tex bivy bag those would have been great. Thanks for the experience of your service. Have fun stay safe.

A great presentation, thanks for that.

Nice to hear the “get naked and let the sleeping bag work” theory. I have always thought this and its good to get confirmation. I am so much warmer the less i wear in my down bag, up here in Scotland. Love the channel. Thankyou. Please keep up the good work. Cheers. Gus

brilliant video! and perfectly timed as im looking for a new winter sleeping bag, and may just go with surplus one for the first time! thanks for the video!!!!

Excellent talk, the info kept coming. My best bag is U.S. Korean era emergency evacuation bag. Down. Issued to injured soldiers only, has two straps on each side for carry of the injured by four other soldiers. Lots of room and multiple zippers to allow medics to access soldier while he still in the bag. I slept it to -25f Big. Heavy. It keeps you warm twice, first when carrying it in, ...

Cracking video, brilliant advice, I hammock camp alot so for late spring to early autumn, I run with a snugpak underquilt and snugpak top quilt, that is toasty warm , I use a dd jura 2 xl for winter, but take my top quilt too as the jura is alright to about 3'c, but combined with the top quilt I've done -9 toasty warm, now for being a ground rat, I tend to do 10% of the time in the summer, so use my dd jura with a Britisharmy bivvy bag, but I am in the process of getting the current British military modular system as you have shown for ground rat mode as I'm going to do more ground stealth camps all year round, was looking at the carinthia defence 4 bag, but out hf my budget ,hence the modular system, I find your insight most valuable, always learn alot watching yourself, good health and safe travels my friend, cheers craig

all your vid drops make my day 🤙

Great parachute set up I’ll b using my ripped up one to make sleeping bag liner & lightweight stuff sacks

fascinating and so educational

Great video! I have seen many about the sleep systems like you showed but this one was better! You explained how to use and how you use it and not just describing the bags. Well thought out and informative!! Thank you from across the pond in midwest US!!