MSS Patrol bag question

crmiller84

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Nov 30, 2015
Messages
211
Location
Indiana
First off, I know there are better options out there for weight, compressability, etc, but this has been bugging me because I can't find an answer. Everyone knows how heavy the overall system is, but the patrol bag on its own doesn't seem too bad for a synthetic 30*-40* bag at it's size. 2lbs 6oz and not overly bigger than 2-3L compressed cylindrically.

Has anyone tried or tested the temp rating of two of these bags together?

I started thinking about this after looking into EE and seeing their suggestion for low temp camping by doubling their quilts over top of each other. The MSS uses the same principal, why not try it with two of the Patrol bags? With them being rated at 30* and estimating them coservativley at 40*, how low do you think this would take you? This is of course assuming sleeping in wool base layers and having a sleeping pad or pads with a 5+ R-Value. If this would get you down to 0*, this is a pretty cost effective system for >1lb penalty over a much more expensive synthetic of similar dimensions.

Or am I loosing my mind?
 
I was issued this piece of kit in the mid 90's and while I know there are more experienced folks on here, I've never used two of the patrol bags together..to me it would seem to be twice the dookie. You need to remember that the MSS system was meant to be a GP piece of gear. It was meant to be issued to 17-21 yr old fire pissers who didn't give a damn about "gear". It was meant to provide a measurable level of comfort to the average Joe Schmuckatelli E1-E4, in austere environments, and survive that and the fact that young fellas break shit and don't give a f*&K about "loft". As such, while adequate..if that is your budget (and there aint nothing wrong with that)...rock out and make it work for you. Make no mistake, there are a lot of great options out there that are probably within your budget.

MSS is good in that WILL keep you warm when you combine whatever appropriate bag with the bivy..but my experience is that the bivy is the clincher and must be used to get the numbers that the specs say. The bivy aint light but does a good job of being a bivy and wicking water. IMHO the patrol bag by itself is a VERY light summer bag (read 55-60 deg and above) by itself. With a the bivy, you can add another 15 deg to it.

Like I said..there are far experienced folks on here that will give you better advice than mine...but I say, save your sheckles and buy something that is more specific to your needs. And more modern.
 
Last edited:
I tend to agree with JoshTX on this one. In my limited experience with the patrol bag I wouldn't want to take it below about 50°. For what it is it isn't terrible but it's meant as part of a system. I'm not sure 2 patrol bags would nest inside each other properly but that's probably a minor deal for most guys. For me it would likely be an issue as these bags weren't meant for anyone over 6' tall to begin with so it would only compound the issue for me. I also feel like the hood on these bags is lacking compared to alot of other options out there. Of course there are ways to supplement that like you would have to do with a quilt as well but it's another thing to think about. If you have one and can make it work more power to you but I doubt it would be a system I'd want to live with personally.
 
I completely understand what both of you are saying. My wife and I already have two anyways as summer bags, so I was just wondering. I have nested them, and they weren't bunched or losing the small amount of loft they have, I just haven't tested them together in cooler temps because I just thought about it three weeks ago and it's getting warm here. We used them down to 40* three weeks ago and we're comfortable on a heat sucking uninsulated air mattress from Walmart while car camping, so for us at least they will be better than 50*. One question though, I've heard from several people that these were designed around sub-6' tall people, but I'm 6'1 and my feet are easily 8-10 inches from the bottom of the footbox. Is that simply because it's the outer bag of the two?
 
One question though, I've heard from several people that these were designed around sub-6' tall people, but I'm 6'1 and my feet are easily 8-10 inches from the bottom of the footbox. Is that simply because it's the outer bag of the two?

You must have a longer bag than me, I'm also 6'1" and when I zip it up I can feel the bag pulling on my feet and head. It pulls enough that I'm compressing the insulation and losing a bit loft. It would still be usable but it's not as comfortable for me. I've moved on to quilts and just kept MSS as an emergency back up. Of course, I wear a size 13 shoe so that doesn't help but there is no way I'd have 8-10 inches remaining in the footbox. If you are comfortable in it down to 40 give it a try. It wouldn't work for me but it might work for you. If it does, that's money saved you can put towards other gear or tags; there always seems to be something to buy...

I will say this, I've layered a couple of down top quilts before and it definitely boosts the temperature rating a lot. The dead air between the bags adds a couple degrees worth of warmth in addition to the loft of the quilts/bags. If you can take one bag down to 40 comfortably my guess is two would likely get you down to 10 degrees but that's just a guess.
 
Only have a few nights in a patrol bag myself. Temps may have dropped into the high 50s. Had the bag and bivy attached, but left it open and covered up in a poncho liner from the waist up. I did cover up a bit more around 3am if I remember right. I would say if you can fit a black mms bag inside the green patrol bag then two patrols together would be no problem.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
I have the cold weather bag (the black one) and i get cold around 30 degrees. I doubt the patrol bag will get you much below 45 degrees.
 
Back
Top