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: kzfaq.info/get/bejne/bqmjksWessDGnX0.html

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

When we had an explosion at our local refinery I was able to grab two MMSS and our tent and some canned goods, the Coleman 2 burner, one of our cats and the dog and get to a closed for the season KOA and spend the night safe. Next day they got the fire out and we could go home. The most time it took to bug out was catching the cat. I'm really glad I had the sleep system ready to go. Thanks for the vid.

Few years back the winter freeze and blackout in Texas had it 20 degrees inside my home. The cold weather bag kept me and my dachshund warm. But I’m sure the army doesn’t issue a dachshund to each soldier.😂

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.

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!

I was gifted one of these sleep systems. I absolutely love this system!!! I use hunting. Got caught in 15 deg low over night. I was warm. My buddies in their high dollar fancy stuff were super cold. My sleep system goes with me on EVERY outdoor adventure.

Man this is not an official test but I’ve been using this in Alaska in sub -20 temps and with all three layers I’ve found that the bag stays much warmer the more you strip yourself down. The bag does an incredible job at capturing your body heat and making a cocoon for lack of a better word. It seems counter intuitive but I was warm all night after the initial shock of the cold. My hunting bro was freezing his ass off all night because he refused my advice

None of this existed when I was in, but I was POG. We had a gun system on an APC to haul our stuff around but we still slept outside, no room at all inside the vehicle. We were issued the Extreme Cold Weather bag…10 pounds of feathers, canvas, and brass zipper. Packed down to the size of trash can 😂😂. But I’d wake up in the desert in winter, knock the snow off, toasty warm. So damn big you’d have to have a Sherpa without an APC to carry it! 😅

Excellent video! Bought complete MSS for under $100 about 12 years ago. I have used it(patrol bag in summer, winter bag in winter) every night of those 12 years(minimal use on the bivy). Recently just applied a strip of ripstop tape to a torn seam in the footbox of the winter bag. Great piece of gear.

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.

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.

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

A great instructional and informative video on the MSS. We used the old mummy bags back in the 80's with the roll-up stiff foam mats. Big bulky SOB's.......

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.

Man shit sure has changed we used canvas cover ,sleep pad green cardbord lol and two linners and your clothes 2. Always 2 long john paires pant liner ,m80 nycos and shirt 65 field jacket if its going to get cold 2 jacket liners we stayed good. Thank for shareing your knowledge

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

I keep this complete system with a poncho liner in my truck, and one in my Jeep. When I was BOG in the sandbox I liked this system because you can configure it anyway you want. I live in the mountains so I’m always prepared for at least the rain if I get stuck somewhere, and when I go fishing or hunting for the night, this is my go to system. Any elevation above 4000 ft can be unpredictable and cold if your not prepared.

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.

I've got an OG Woodland Bivy, love that piece of kit. Usually I just use the Bivy with the light Jungle/ Patrol Bag until harsh winter hits, then I have to go to a modified ECWS using an extreme cold-rated bag with the Bivy in tandem, good to -35F generally (with worn layers can go much colder comfortably). Good stuff!!!

I absolutely love my MSS, I bring a tarp with me as well but sleeping under the stars with it is an experience everyone should have.

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.

Ex Aussie grunt here. I am happy to see you use bungys on yoour shelter, i watch some clips with guys setting up lines and taking 15 mins to put up a hootchie (tarp) bungys and your set up in a minute or 2. I also used a bivvy, and a light weight sleeping bag, down to around zero C (32F) . I have been cold, but only a couple of times. Good presentation mate.

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.

I have a bivy and use it quite often, but I certainly wish that I had one back in the 1970s. As a Ranger, we had to travel light, so we primarily just used a poncho, poncho liner and sometimes a wool blanket. In the artic, yes we had heavier/bulkier bags, but that is the only time we used them.

travel light freeze at night.

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 ☃️ 🍺🫵🤟🇨🇦🫡🇺🇸🤟🫵🍺☃️

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

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!

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

There is a really easy way to fit all 3 components of the Sleep System in the small stuff sack. You gotta have them fastened together and zip up the outermost bivy layer to keep everything cohesive, you take the foot end of the full combined system and begin stuffing it in the sack, no rolling no folding no nothing, it takes some finagling but it should all fit in the end and fully covered by the stuff sack and abled to tightened down by the straps, the added advantage is because everything is fastened underneath the bivy it acts as an extra layer of water protection for the winter and patrol bags.

Love seeing these getting used, as we weren't allowed to take them out into the field (late 90's, 1/505, 82d).. they'd show up for a bunk and junk inspection and back into supply they went; i imagine if you hit an army navy store in Fayetteville in the late 90s, you could find some pristine examples of these f'ers. Thanks for the video, stay well.

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.

Great video, I have one and I learned something. I like the "Options" with this system. I also have a goose down filled bag that works well in very cold weather that I like but it doesn't have options and probably can't be used for anything but cold weather.

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

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.

Great Review Bro In these troubled times I think every household should Have an MSS System for each person. We do. My bivy and patrol bag is always with me. Have even used the Intermediate sack in Ground blinds Deer Hunting

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.

Damn it Randall! You just created a run on the surplus bivvies! I have a really nice used MSS I bought a few years ago but I'm looking for just a bivvy for use as you've shown in your informative video! Great job!

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.

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.

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

Thanks! I bought one just for the Bivy. Love it! God bless!

Yes it does matter which side the bivi bag goes on the ground, the one in the video has a breathable goretex top and waterproof bottom. If you place the gore side down it doesn’t allow moisture to evaporate.

I got this system used about a month ago, it came with a tear in the patrol bag so they sent me another. Now I have a 4 bag sleep system!!!!!

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

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.

I ran the 3 piece sleep system in a lightfighter 1 tent with winter cover, I added foam pad and an insulated blow-up pad. I wore silke weight and waffle top down to 5 below and was just fine

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

Thank you for laying it all out so clearly.

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

Hello from East Central Mississippi. Have 2 sets of these and love them. Stay safe.

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

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.

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 :)

I have the intermediate cold portion of this kit and it keeps me good and warm all the way down to 20f with a thermal base layer, warm socks and a 3.8R pad. One thing I've found with this bag is that since it's insulated equally you can use it upside down and let the hood drape over your head and that goes a long way toward keeping you extra warm. I don't use it much because it's so bulky, but it's also tough as nails, very roomy and comfortable as far as sleeping bags go and the zipper is like a dream. I guess that's the trade off.

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..

Picked up my woodland bivvy at a thrift store new in bag for $5. They had it labeled as a tent without poles. I did have to pay $15 for the patrol bag at the same store. Southern arkansas and I've never needed anything more but when it gets cold my butt stays at home.

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!

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.

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

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

Great video. Retired in 94 from the Army. When I was with the Rangers at Fort Lewis in the '70's, we used to do the what they called the ranger roll. We would go to clothing & sale and buy a extra OD green poncho and the sleeping bag cover (canvas) and make a lightweight sleeping system. This was good to about mid 50's. Later on when they came out with the m81 Woodland camouflage Poncho we would buy that and the new poncho liner. I use that system many times until we got to Germany.

Thanks Randall ! Keep Em Comin. TAKE CARE..

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

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

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!!!

I have an older M81 bivy and and woobie. I use all the time during our winter here in Florida, which isn't much. But just a few days ago we had temps in the low 40s and i was toasty all night with just the bivy, woobie, with normal pants and long sleeve shirt. It had been an underrated system but is catching traction, especially within the civilian market.

Learned a great deal from this video, thanks!

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

Valuable information, many parts also applicable to other sleep systems. Thank you.

Great video! Definitely appreciate the knowledge.

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

Picked up the the older camo bivy for cheap about 7-8 yrs back and added patrol bag. But I finally picked up the old korean down winter bag which I use singlely with the bivy and its perfect. Just bought a self inflating military mattress and it was stolen before I even had a chance to use it!

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.

Makes me appreciate an old-fashioned 100% wool blanket

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.

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.

picked up the bivy an both bags a couple years ago. recent managed to stuff it into a 20 liter compression sack, a 30liter would be better. in a month or 2 the set will go back into the truck for winter. live in minnesota.

Excellent class you conduct some of the best

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.

Crazy how much it weighs. It’s been a lo by time since I’ve been in, and to think my whole backpacking kit now weighs less than just that sleep system.

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.

Great video, learned a lot, made me subscribe

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.

I always learn from your videos, outstanding!

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

BEST explanation and tips ever, you can really teach! Well Done Bro!

As an old army veteran I loved the wooby and it was the only synthetic we had. My outfit wasn't issued them. So we bought them. They thought air defense didn't need them. But we went to the field too. We had coyote fur lined hoods on our field jackets. We had duck down in our cold weather sleeping bags.

man the ALICE Ruck is the best, I was one of those guys that got away with the bivy abd a ranger roll in korea. As a machingunner I needed my load as light as possible, those 7.62 rounds start to wear you down. So many terrible memories and I love it!

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

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

My go to spring into early fall was the inflatable sleep pad, bivy, and the woobie. I called it Motel 6 🤣 Nice, light and could roll it up and throw it on top of my ruck.

Cool nice job. Our guys really have great equipment-it;s life or death out there.

Got three of these. Used em down to -10⁰F with all bags used and was too warm. Life saver in bad conditions. It's big, and heavy, but is worth it. It's almost instant shelter.

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.