Sleeping bags.

[Captain Edmund Blackadder]

I'm looking for a new sleeping bag. The one we get iss ued is waaaaaaay to bulky for the compartment in the backpack/bergen/big thing you carry gear in. Also, you don't know the last time they were laundered and what the last mangey fecker was dojng in it.I 'd be looking for somethjng decently warm that compresses to a small enough size. Any suggestions?

[apod]

Carinthia Defence 4 is popular and has been recently adopted by our cousins(medium weight 3 season bag) or Softie 9.
I have a Carinthia made MCSS(google it! Two bags for the price of one) and my issue Nanok "jungle bag" (which isn't).
Another alternative is to use a light bag and supplement it with a cotton liner or better still a yank poncho liner/woobie.

[northie]

I'm looking for a new sleeping bag. The one we get iss ued is waaaaaaay to bulky for the compartment in the backpack/bergen/big thing you carry gear in. Also, you don't know the last time they were laundered and what the last mangey fecker was dojng in it.I 'd be looking for somethjng decently warm that compresses to a small enough size. Any suggestions?

Snugpak softie 9 for all round use, their special forces system is also worth a look and will give you summer and winter options.

[Captain Edmund Blackadder]

By light bag do you mean a 2/3 season job? That could provode a workable solution.

[northie]

By light bag do you mean a 2/3 season job? That could provode a workable solution.

The special forces is like the system that apod mentioned - its basically a system that comprises a softie 10 harrier and a softie 3 merlin that have been redesigned around a central zip system. Full details here - http://www.snugpak.com/military/mili...omplete-system its very like apods but I think its been around longer, however the overall temperature rating is lower and it isn't claimed to be waterproof.

[Bam Bam]

If you have more money than sense I suggest you try this website.

http://store.enlightenedequipment.com/

I bought one of their quilts recently and there is no weight to them at all and they remain effective in cold weather.

[rhino]

What is the official issue sleeping bag? I've seen the artic sleeping bag. Very bulky and heavy.
Is there two options ?I seem to remember a lightweight jungle bag being mentioned.

[ODIN]

Nonok was for some time

[X-RayOne]

Another alternative is to use a light bag and supplement it with a cotton liner or better still a yank poncho liner/woobie.

I go with the lighter bag and a liner for most work and play outdoor sleeping. 99% of the time its perfectly comfortable. Goretex bivvy bag, Softie bag and liner. Although I would suggest instead of cotton liner, silk or something like below are better. Less bulky to pack, warmer and dry quicker if wet. A little bit more expensive than cotton though generally.

http://www.snugpak.com/military/mili...liner-military

You can mix and match for weather no problem. Warm/hot and the liner and bivvy fine, middling use the bag & bivvy instead, cold use all three together.

[Truck Driver]

I go with the lighter bag and a liner for most work and play outdoor sleeping. 99% of the time its perfectly comfortable. Goretex bivvy bag, Softie bag and liner. Although I would suggest instead of cotton liner, silk or something like below are better. Less bulky to pack, warmer and dry quicker if wet. A little bit more expensive than cotton though generally.

http://www.snugpak.com/military/mili...liner-military

You can mix and match for weather no problem. Warm/hot and the liner and bivvy fine, middling use the bag & bivvy instead, cold use all three together.

I picked up a sleeping bag liner in Mahers in Cork city over the Christmas holidays. Think that may be it...

[Tango_Charlie]

Jesus are the RDF still giving out sleeping systems on a temporary issue basis?? Disgraceful. You guys should be issued yere own. With some kit a temp issue can be justified but this is a H&S matter. Its 2014 FFS.

[Truck Driver]

I picked up a sleeping bag liner in Mahers in Cork city over the Christmas holidays. Think that may be it...

Yep, confirmed - a Thermalon liner, in its own carry bag

[X-RayOne]

great little piece of kit

[Captain Edmund Blackadder]

Between buying one of these two sleeping bags ahead of the fighting season. Can't decide which one to go for.

First is http://www.cadetdirect.com/snugpak-s...leeping-bag-og

second is http://www.cadetdirect.com/snugpak-s...e-sleeping-bag

The difference between the 2 is the second one is 500g heavier, packs away a little bigger, and has an extreme rating down to -12 as opposed to the first bags -7 rating. My feeling is to get the lighter smaller one and if need be, a liner, because why take up bag space when you don't need to.

Any suggestions?

[The real Jack]

Between buying one of these two sleeping bags ahead of the fighting season. Can't decide which one to go for.

First is http://www.cadetdirect.com/snugpak-s...leeping-bag-og

second is http://www.cadetdirect.com/snugpak-s...e-sleeping-bag

The difference between the 2 is the second one is 500g heavier, packs away a little bigger, and has an extreme rating down to -12 as opposed to the first bags -7 rating. My feeling is to get the lighter smaller one and if need be, a liner, because why take up bag space when you don't need to.

Any suggestions?

IMO just get a jungle bag for the summer, with a bivi bag, warm top and possibly a liner it'll do up till september-ish then just use the issue monstrosity in colder months.

[ropebag]

...Any suggestions?

yes. don't.

they are massive. and heavy.

hit fleabay and find the snugpak softie Hawk 9 or Kestral 6 sleeping bags. 9 is early spring to late autumn in comfort, 6 is late spring to early autumn in comfort. they are around 500g lighter than the bags you're looking at.

i've still got - and use regularly - a Hawk 9 i bought in 1993. the quality is brilliant - Snugpak make some of their bags in the UK and some in China, and when you lay your hands on them you can tell which is which. they have a tab on the website so you where each product comes from. unlike some brands, i find the snugpak temp ratings to be conservative, i've used mine happily in much lower temps than the Hawk is advertised at.

heres a couple from fleabay.

http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/SNU...item2c85c52051

http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/snu...item46223e16c1

http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Snu...item4864e34205

http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Snu...item58b179d9ef

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Snugpak-Sl...item1e8d7c51b7

[gibedepusib0ss]

I have a Carinthia made MCSS(google it! Two bags for the price of one)

AFAIK we get issued these. Although, I was only issued one bag of the bags but was told (guaranteed) it was suitable for Norway. ****ing froze my tits off for 3 weeks, thanks to those caaaahnts.

[Fridge Magnet]

Lads, I was lookinh at going down the route of a Kestral 6 and Thermalon liner.

Yay or nay?

[ropebag]

...Yay or nay?

kestral is a good bag, its a good quality 'baseline' - the Thermaline liner might well work for you (its all subjective, personal stuff..), and if not there are other options to use for different amounts of additional insulation - you can get silk liners, fleece liners, cotton liners...

the only issue is that Polypropylene (i'm pretty sure Thermaline is Polypropylene, the same as 'Meraklon') has a very low melting point, and you'd want to be switched on to that in any bivvy situation. they are however intensly practical as a liner - warm, comfortable, easy to wash.

you could use your Kestral bag in the winter months by using a bivvy bag, a liner, and the softie trousers - you can get them new on fleabay etc.. for £20 these days.