Army Surplus Bushcraft Bargains - Modular Sleep System (and how I use mine!)
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- Опубліковано 7 жов 2024
- Happy New Year you lovely people!!
And to kick off the new year (and hopefully ready for the snow!!!) here is another army surplus bushcraft bargain that is right up your strasse!
The British Army Modular Sleeping System from FESCA.
Enjoy
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Thoroughly reviewed, I love my arctic bag its bomb proof and plenty of room to put your mat inside and your spare clothing and jacket. I use the US MSS bive, it has the side zip and it's a bit better for access, it's also a bit smaller so it pulls all the access sleeping bag material closer to your body.👍
Just came across your channel mate, spent most of the holiday time catching up with your vlogs, absolutely excellent Neil. I'm ex Royal and your knowledge is brilliant mate, I can't believe your not not previous mob. Love the channel. 👍
When not Hiking or Camping, I use Mine, American MSS , While Deer Hunting in a Blind. The ACU Digital Pattern works Well in Snowy Conditions. The woodlands Camo is Better.
Tip
Put your Sleep Pad inside your Bivy then bags on top. Better insulation.
Great Video. I've been wanting to get one of these British Systems
👍
Medium bag currently available at Preppers Shop @29.99. Just bought one today.
Those mesh pockets fit a 1 litre rubber hot water bottle each ...perfectly .
My personal sleep system for camping includes the " soldier 95"
Arctic bag with water proof base and the British army jungle bag with zip in mozzy net .. inside it .i use it in my carinthia observer plus.
The beauty of the 95 pattern arctic bag is the press studs at the foot end .
Theyre designed to match the
Press studs on my 58 pattern poncho ...this enables the set up of an impromptu shelter system .
Excellent review Neil, I've had the mess system for about two years now and love it,one thing I haven't seen anyone doing on UA-cam is putting the medium bag back into it's stuff sack,the reason I mention it is,for the first couple of camps I did with it, it was like trying to get a zeppelin into a pillow case, I'm sure you know what I mean,I'm sure people who are planning on getting the mess would be interested as at first I found it really difficult.
Excellent video . A bivy bag should be in everyone's kit. Very versatile piece of gear.
sleeping bags are often way too hot and you have to leave an arm or leg out of the bag in order to go to sleep. then the bugs eat you up or you have to wake up when it gets colder and pull the limb inside of the bag. I HATE every oz and cubic inch of crap that i have to lug around, so I use the minimum stuff and try to make everything serve at least 2 purposes. my packs serve as sleeping pads and the sleep shelter gear serves as a pack frame.
Thanks again, Neil. I've been thinking about getting the MSS for some time and your video has given me more encouragement to do so. At the moment, I am using a cobbled together system of my own, utilizing a medium-weight, front-opening surplus bag and a variety of differently rated mummy bags inside. With my warmest down bag I have managed just below -25, in a tent (otherwise I'd have no face left), but it wasn't my best nights sleep. I hope that you get your snow, but be careful what you wish for; we have had a cold-snap here in Norway and we woke to -38 yesterday. I'm not sure that the mega-bucks bags would manage that very well. Hope you have a happy and successful year, inside and out.
Hope you and your family have had a great Christmas and a very happy new year
Thanks Neil. That is probably the best explanation of the sleep system I have seen so far.
Nah then, ey up me duck.
Just got mesen the medium weight British Army sleeping bag in L. Looking forward to trying it on my first stealth camp of the year in a WW2 pillbox. 👍
Interesting video. 👍. Would love to know what that cagoule is you put on at the start.
Always excellent content. Keep it up
Very nice video. Thanks for sharping. I use the army modular system and have an ex Falklands wool liner if really cold. I use the Wynnchester adventurer bedroll, really great piece of kit in all weathers. All the best.
Interesting, because of the variations in the sleep system. I watch all of the survival guys and gals channels. I enjoy these videos. Yeah the bombproof gear, the best quality to have readily available.
Great video. I use a combination army surplus sleep system for sleeping in the Canadian winters in my jeep. I love it. I stay soooooo warm 🥰
Thanks for sharing, I move around a lot when sleeping and will try your head out method. Something I've added to my sleep kit is some of the foil bubble wrap insulation, comes in 60cm width. I use a layer underneath the mattress in summer and for winter I've made a liner for the bivi. Just a top and bottom sheet with a box foot. It's quite light and makes a big difference. If I'm using a hammock I use the single layer of foil in a bivi as an under quilt, again makes a big difference.
I bought the medium weight bag in tge large size and new condition a couple of years ago for £32! Very good but I share your complaint about the face opening. Also the centre zip is great but also not great as it is designed to open rapidly by pulling apart. So you can’t have it open just a bit for venting as it pulls apart too easy. I also found the inside of the bag material and mash pocket are irritating on the face. If I want full winter bag I fit a 30 year old polartec 200 liner which adds a season but also ads instant heat when you get in. The packed size and weight is bonkers big but for £32 you can’t complain.
I'm such an 'active sleeper' that, if I set my sleeping system up the way you do, I'd end up with my mattress on top of me half the night!
To avoid this, I put my mattress inside my bivi. The latter is an XL so there's plenty of room for me to roll around in my sleeping bag (which is on top of my mattress) without the bivi getting all twisted up too. I can constantly switch from lying on my back, sides or front without the bivi or mattress moving.
I sacked off using the sleeping bag hood long ago for the same reasons you state. Instead I use a merino wool beanie and, when it's proper cold, I add a merino wool balaclava. Both are super comfy, toastie and itch-free.
Using the above, I've been comfortable sleeping outside (no tent) down to a Met Office confirmed -15°C.
Great video. Here across the pond I use the US issued MSS which is very similar to the UK version. It is bomb proof especially the Bivy. It will keep out rain even in the worst conditions. Budget or not, they work VERY well. Worth their weight in gold when it comes to staying warm and dry. It's literally a mini shelter.
I bought one of the medium bags, on your recommendation but only used it once before finding a Carinthia Defence 4 extraordinarily cheaply. It is noticeably lighter, at under 2kg and feels nicer. It is also highly water-resistant. I don't know about the medium. Where the medium wins out is with the pockets and repair kit, as you said. I like the pockets for putting socks in (I have used the lightweight bag extensively) The small face-hole was a big problem for me, to begin with, then I worked out that it isn't a face-hole but a mouth-hole. I put the bottom of the hole just under my chin and the top comes a little way down my nose, leaving my breathing unimpeded and the inside of the bag free of condensed breath. it also covers my eyes, keeping the light out.
The bivvy bag is great too. I tried the super lightweight Snugpak bivvy bags and they're okay but very tight. The army ones are nice and roomy and combine with a poncho (over the head end) makes a great lightweight and simple shelter.
I always enjoy your videos and some of the great ideas you come up with. Keep 'em coming and stay safe in the woods.
Nice demonstration! I sleep on the same way in my Carinthia and I use a merino wool balaclava to cover all my head and face, leaving just my nose outside for breathing :)
nice one Neil, thank you. i've always taken the one-bag approach but the UK isn't Canada and i've finally learned that i need to do a rethink of that. the MSS sounds ideal and your tips are most helpful, as always. 👍✌🖖
Another cracking review Neil Thank you. I invested in this modular system some time ago and really do like it very much. I have still to modify my bivi bag, have been concerned about keeping the waterproof-ness of making the modification, as for your setup, I think that I will try adding a cotton bag liner around my inflatable mat, to avoid me making contact with the plastic, as I don't like wearing much clothing when I sleep.
Thanks again Neil another great vid, keep up the good work.
Great video ! Thoroughly recommend anyone to watch this. I have an arctic, and am going to invest in a sleep system to compliment it. - thank you for what u do
Brilliant explanation 👏
I have nlbeen using the same system for a couple of years now. I discovered the same thing with the face hole and have done the same thing with a fleece pillow. I thought I was weird now I feel normal lol😅. I use mine system at least 4 day a week whilst working at schools. I've even used it inside the bivi conversion you use as a stealth shelter. I love my modular system.
should have a sleeping bag liner to either cover your blow up mat or cover yourself, to help keep the mat clean and unsweaty.
I've got all the bits (including the liner which I've never used) but not used them all together. My go to is the 'wee bag' as I find that does all but the coldest months with a jungle blanket type quilt over the top and an air mat underneath. I've often used the bivvy bag to protect the air mat (not in the sleeping bag) from dog claws more than anything else although there have been occasions where I've crawled into it for the extra warmth, as you say, it can give another season or so of warmth. Thanks for taking the time to do the vid mate, appreciated.
Great video, Ive been using the arctic bag in winter but at 62 I'm feeling the cold so have upgraded
I have the bivvy and Arctic bag and liner. I use pretty much the exact same system. I put my boots in a shopping bag and put them at the foot end. Two huge garden waste or rubble bags with reflective foil can give similar protection in a pinch, sandwiching the foil between the bags, with the string tie up tops help a lot more. You can then but up a basha or tent in the snowy weather or such. Nice one Neil.
Such good videos
Put a cheap summer bag in a artic bag so warm
hi, brilliant video as always!
visually and verbally informative, detailed and very helpful too.
many thanks,
kind regards.
I've just ordered one of these ex army bivvy bags. Looking forward to testing it out under a tarp which I've also bought. Usually a tent camper but I like the look of this.
Really enjoyed the video,thanks for sharing with us.
I use the trials 1999 (Carinthia made) MCSS that was issued for a short time to the British Army. It’s a dual bag zipped together and works very well to -20.C in fact I’ve been in colder temps no problems. The weight and volume of this is amazing so much lighter than anything now.
The US improved MSS is one I use in extremes but weighs double my Carinthia MCSS The beauty of these systems is you can add yet another bag and pop it on the press studs so it will do very cold temps and you stay warm.
I always use a cotton liner though in all the systems and the goretex bivvy bag.
Very nice review this. I do a lot of reenactment and I think I might get one of these to sleep during the summer & autumn seasons. I’ve used a Dutch army hooped bivi which is brilliant
Hello Mate! Welcome to the world of being a little rotund! Nice you caught up, look after the knees! Bang the kettle on, Appy new year! Wil.
Hey watch lot of tyour videos and really appreciate them, saw you in sainsbury's the other day but was to shy to say hi!
You should have come and said hello - it messes with my head sometimes how many people I bump into who watch the channel!
The BA MSS med bag compresses to 17x11x11 (says ebay seller)-thats a monster. Using a Carinthia comp sack my Arctic bag compresses to 13x10x10 and fits snug horizontally in my Vulcan.
Great video 👍
Great review Neil. Lots of good info and well demonstrated. Thanks, as always. Keep up the good work
often you need a hammock to keep up your body off of nasty stuff on the ground and to be in the breezes. My hammock is made out of a gillnet, so it can feed me, if need-be. A hammock also deals with steep slopes when you need to sleep on same. I have a couple of bugnet suits, which prevent bites even if the material IS touching me and they protect me from spiders and tick bites, when I am moving or when I use debris as insulation. I have a couple of camo nets which can hide me and my gear, but which can be combined with the bugnet suits and become insulation, worth 10F degrees or so, when worn as longjohns.
For me around 25F/-3C the bag is around my head whether I like it or not. That’s enjoyable “cold weather camping”. 10F/-12C my heads inside the bag…. I know you’re not supposed to but I’ve never had much issue breathing inside my bag and I’m out just to prove I can. Below 0F/-17F …… I’m super cold why am I out here I told myself the last time I would never do this again…..
None of my gear is affected by its getting wet, all of it is useful in hot weather and it's all wearable as clothing. The main part of my setup is a 1.5 lb, XL size, reflective tyvek bivy, $95 from 2GoSystems.. Dont get the regular size, unless you're a little Asian guy. You want that layer of trapped air around you. Cut the rain flaps off of the zipper, or they WILL jam with you inside of the bivy!
I envelope the bivy in a couple of taped-together 55 gallon heavy-duty drum liners. This assembly lets me sleep ok at 40F degrees, in just cammies. If I add the bugnet suits, camo nets, balaclava, 3 pairs of sock liners, unlaced shoes, gloves and shemagh, I can sleep ok at 30F. in wind or 33F in wind and rain. Every place that the bivy touches you forms a cold spot. So it has to be tented off of you with a ridgeline. I use my rifle, trekking poles and stakes to arrange for a ridgeline if I'm in an area without trees.
I pull a ridgeline and the net hammock thru the bivy and have a separate ridgeline for the "envelope". You have to maintain that layer of trapped air between the envelope and the bivy. Any punctures are a severe problem. so use a light to check for them before getting into this sleep-system. Fold over and tape the bottom corners of both the bivy and the envelope, creating a "mummy' shape. This prevents a lot of wasted heat being lost from your legs. A very small plastic bottle of adhesive release lets me remove the tape.
Great videos mate very inspiring .I must find somewhere local to camp where there are no dog walkers
Happy new year ! Great video Neil. Brilliant content really enjoyed the longer video . ATB Dave
Great review, I have the old style bouncing bomb which I have combined with the jungle bag or bivy.
The only difference is I put the mat in the bivy and bag or bags on top.
I just find in advancing years the need to get out of the bag a least twice in the night at speed is hampered by 2 zips and a bag.
Keep the great videos coming, alway good advice and reasonable priced kit.
awesome system, i never liked those "small hole" bags., i rather have an adjustable hood, not even for the sleeping, i just feel trapped in them, so hard getting to sleep even ;)
i've looked into these sleeping bags that you wear, (dont want to list the brand but comment if its ok to do so) i think im going to get one and see if i really like them., lots of freedom in those, just not really made for the colder days i think.
myself i got a flimsy bivi bag, should get myself one of those goretex ones to, and with foam under it, i bet its bombproof.
Thanks for the review Neil
🖖😎
Solid review review as always Neil, great tips as alway too 👍🏻
good
I have a similar set up and it works well thanks for sharing atb
A great review as always
I had a very cold night in a snugpack bag, got home and sent them an angry email, then proceeded to look for the mss ! Ive not needed to combine the bags as yet. I dont use the liner, i have a silk liner, and i dont have the bivvi bag yet. I dohave a very lightweight sugpack but ive not tried it with the mss. Ill definitely try the head out method, the hole has bugged me once or twice.
I also need to find the stuff sack you have, your bag was soooo small ! I have a 45L infantry bergan with side pouches and the removable lid, my medium bag takes up the whole main bag !!! I have to use the expanding top and side pouches for everything else !
it is quite common to be in places and at times when it's 50F+ during the day and sub 30F at night. so you have to lug around the entire 11 lb MSS in order to deal with the conditions. It's also often mud/snow or both and you lay down in that crap, getting it all over your bivy and probably all over your cammies, in your hair, etc. It's just so much better to be in a hammock, up out of all of that crap!
To be honest I don't know why anyone that is serious about dry, warm, adaptable comfort in any condition doesn't use X Army gear. As you gave shown that gear with a low basha or tarp over will never let you down and for the price you can pick it up for again I haven't a clue why more don't use it. Camo net over the top of it all and you disappear. Been out in minus 10 in much the same, but full Arctic setup and been as warm as in bed at home. Good review, let's hope a few learn that spending big money is not always the best answer and very seldom is against tried and tested Army spec. That on a Army cot, if you haven't to carry it far, under a Basha is totally bomb proof.
Because they are much heavier than many items that work just as well.
without the 6 lb arctic bag, the MSS is good only to 30F. The remaining 5 lbs wont get you off of the snow, brush, mud, thorns, ants, roots, stones. and it wont protect from the bugs or get you up in the breezes. or hide you. I have a 5 lb system that handles 100F down to 30F, can be modified to handle 0F, with hot rocks and debris. as well as bugs and includes a hammock and a couple of camo nets.
I must admit Neil I have never though of putting a slim inflatable mat like the cloudbase actually inside my sleeping bag. I'm camping out tomorrow night in my hot tent so I nwill give this setup a try, I don't run the stove during the sleeping hours so will have to rely on the sleep system for warmth and comfort:)
It works for me Sandy
Did it work for you ?
Unfortunately it didn't work for me@@ohforfxcksake
Good video Neil, I like the pegged down Bivvy Bag idea, I've got some webbing strap, I 'll have to get sewing on my Bivvy Bag. 👍
Great video, thank for sharing 👍
Great video, thoroughly explained. Happy New Year 🍻🍻
Hopefully No to the Bad Weather in the UK 😅 Great Vid , thank you
Great video Neil , happy new year mate ❤
Very heavy backpack.
Great video.
Really nice review! I was out during the weekend here in Sweden and last time I checked, the temp had hit it at -19 C and some wind on top of that. And while I'm not changing any of my (Carinthia) gear any time soon, it was really interesting to see something comparable :)
I was also out here in Sweden and it was -20 all night.
But my Tropen/Defence4 combo kept me warm and cozy all night. 😀👍
Great video Neil, BTW what windshirt was you wearing.
So much for global warming??? Im thinking since they are so enexpensive you could buy two extra bags and the combinations ere endless(2 jungle,2 intermediate,etc.) Some would call this over kill, but its better to have and not need than the opposite!!! Great video!! Just subscribed.
Have a great new year Neil
I've got this sleep system..Good piece of kit. Tried using the light bag inside the medium and it's awkward to zip up when combined as one has centre line zip and the other is on the side.
You do know you can travel to see and camp in snow??? Have fun stay safe.
Cool stuff my friend
Just a heads up for viewers, I had the original, unused FECSA medium bag in standard size, it had the spare zipper, was marked FECSA, I got rid of it because it was a bit tight for me. I bought another unused one in large, from Strikeforce. It came in a clear bag with a label that looked remarkably like the FECSA label, but it didn’t have FECSA written anywhere, it was a very generic label but with similar or the same images on. The sleeping bag didn’t have FECSA written on it, nor did it have the spare zipper in its special little pocket, the label inside the bag was similar but different. The bag itself looked pretty much identical, slightly different shade, but it had all the ties for the inner bag. I used it outside on what I would say was a warmer night than the one I used my original bag- that night my milk froze outside my tent but I was toasty warm. This warmer night- but still bloody freezing, I wasn’t quite warm enough, now it could have been because my new bag was a looser fit, but I wouldn’t have thought it would account for the big difference. I suspect my new bag was a knock-off of the original. I should have got back to the shop, but Covid happened and I never got round to it.
Anyway, just a heads up for people to be aware of when buying one, I would recommend, if it doesn’t have the replacement zipper and doesn’t say FECSA- send it back for a refund! I wish I had, because the original one, albeit being a tad too tight for me, was so, so toasty, I really can’t imagine having to use the two together in the UK.
Sadly the wee army shop at Queen Street train station closed.Dont like these shops like-call it Off.Bad gear that is over priced.Cheers from Scotland.
Well someone got a drone for Christmas!
Yeah but can you tell us the other great thing about the jungle bag 😉
A cracking video, what make of jacket are you wearing?
@@mickhardy8727 it's one of my homemade wool & ventile smocks
Made my mind up I'm going onto poobay see if find a bargain I'd love a super duper Rab 100000 but alas out my funds this lifetime 😂and tbh nothing lasts like mil spec made gear FACT good helpful vid green man as think we're. All on a budget these days
I haven’t lived in the U.K. for 13 years now, so I’m a bit out of touch. Are there any surplus websites you could recommend for this and other items? No worries if it’s something you’d rather not do tho! Thanks for all the vids!
Quality video as always, could I enquire what you pullover smock windbreak is and if you have reviewed it on an earlier video? Thanks
It's a Arktis Windshirt, worn over a homemade wool smock. The windshirt is a very good bit of kit, but does lack pockets
@greencraft4783 thank you so much for the info.
This was very helpful. Thank you for showing us all these tips.I have been looking for a modular system like this but I read somewhere that it’s better to buy unissued bags because used bags insulation is compromised if washed too often and now I’m apprehensive about buying used kit. I know you can’t really comment for legal reasons, but I can ask if the kit you bought was new or not? Thanks.
@@gudgengrebe I bought used, grade 1 or super grade is what you are looking for
@@greencraft4783 That’s a relief, thank you. I always enjoy your videos because you have a lot of experience and I trust what you say. Not everyone who makes videos can be trusted.
I had to do the same years ago when I had a older US Korean War era cold weather bag [(small hole for your head) using my US MSS now a days]. Being an active sleeper, I would have the same issues. If I'm not using a watch cap, I use my balaclava. Great minds think alike, like that you added the extra tabs into your bivvy. Interesting that the UK integrated a mosquito net into the jungle bag, I've been thinking about adding some to my US bivvy bag and maybe those stake tabs as well. Have a blessed day.
Where do you keep the wet boots and wet jacket ? Thanks for a great review
Additional: I have a car now. I have been working out car camping options, from the simple to the more expansive. Do you know of a good glue/adhesive I can use to add triangle tie out points to a tarp without ruining it please? I am also thinking I need a place for a smoke stack flap for winter camping, the tarp is 5 x 4 metres and should be enough to stand 6 feet up and attach to the car one end with suction cups and peg out the other - I have old poles from dead tents I'd use inside to elevate the tent. Your advice would be most welcome.
I've got the medium bag on its own and i dont find it that warm! seen it rated-10 without the lightweight inside, are they wearing softie jacket and trousers in it??
Just wanted to raise a point about the way you choose the winner for your excellent giveaway, if you spin through the comments, doesn’t that mean that the first ones, in particular, stand very little chance of being picked, and the ones in the centre, through to around ¾ of the way down the list stand the greatest chance of being picked?🤔. Don’t UA-cam have a way of picking a totally random name out of the list?
What about mosquitoes
It's winter
Fecsa, it is Fecsa; not "fesca". Fábrica Española de Confecciones Sociedad Anónima. I hope you won't delete this as you did last time, due to the link I guess.
I haven't deleted any comments. The only ones I do are usually links to porn which happens from time to time.
You are not the first person to say this either. UA-cam does odd things at times
@@greencraft4783 It might be an algorithm or something when a link detected it is erased altogether with the comment. The link was the official Fecsa web page. By the way, you are not the only who says "fesca" instead of Fecsa 😅Greetings from the Western Mediterranean coast.
I will sell mine if someone makes a fair offer.
Not listening to this insane jangling.
Great video