U.S. Military MSS (Modular Sleep System)

I bought the MSS Sleep System from Smith's Surplus and it's brilliantly adaptable for any environment. Made with high-quality materials, it's durable, and features a waterproof layer that blocks wind and water. With two sleeping bags of different sizes, it caters to different weather conditions, keeping you toasty even below freezing. Its versatile, modular design makes it a cost-effective and practical choice.

I bought the MSS Sleep System at Smith’s Surplus and I have to tell you, it's the only sleeping system I ever need. It's adaptable, meaning you can use it in any setting.

What makes it stand out is the high-quality materials and construction. It's built to last.

The "bivy", or the outer layer, is amazing. It once kept me completely dry, even when I woke up in the middle of a stream. It prevents wind and water from getting in.

The patrol bag, one component of the system, is light and small, but still super warm. Living in the desert of the American Southwest, it's all I need for most trips.

The larger, heavier part of the system, the intermediate bag, is perfect for winter nights in the desert. It may be bigger, but the extra warmth is worth it.

If you combine all parts (patrol bag, intermediate bag, and bivy), you get a very warm sleeping set that can handle sub-zero temperatures.

The MSS Sleep System may not be the newest or lightest model out there, but it's good value, very effective, and its modular design is versatile. You just bring what you need.

Great first sleeping system (with two pads). Horrible for backpacking. I recommend the MSS to all my Boy Scouts.

A used MSS paired with two foam pads is BY FAR the best value in sleeping gear.

Here's what I give all my new Scouts (and parents):

A synthetic-fill sleeping bag and two dimpled foam pads are best for most Scouts.

• Both are cheaper, rugged, easier to wash, and handle wet/dirty conditions better.
• Both can be used with better and/or cold-weather gear you can buy later.
• Consider first the military's 4-piece Modular Sleep System (MSS, two sleeping synthetic bags, Gore-Tex bivy, and stuff sack, made in USA by Tennier Industries). With two bags you can pick a one for summer or double up for spring/fall. This combo is a great value, tough, and rated -30°F (when all are used with clothing and pads). Later, you can still use the outer bag and bivy with a down inner bag. These run ~$80 from eBay used and shipped (recommended).
• For pads, you’ll need R=3 summer, R=6 at freezing. Consider first two corrugated, full-length, foam pads, such as the Therm-a-Rest RidgeRest (R = 2.8, $20).

Personally test, constantly used, tough as nails!

I have personally used this sleep system more than a hundred time, both while I was in service and now as a civilian. It was my first purchase (of military gear) the week I had to turn in my Army issued MSS, right before retiring. It's warm, tough/durable, and with the bivy bag it's water tight.

Now, a lot of people complain about its weight (being around 10-12 lbs all together), but I am 6' 4" and 255 lbs, and I never even noticed when it was in my ruck. I know there are a lot of "similar" type of sleeping bags out there, but once I found the MSS I would never want to even try something else.

BTW, I searched for an affordable MSS when I first retired, and it only took me ten minutes to find one used but in good, usable condition (had some small snags and sew marks from previous soldiers name tapes) for $47.25, with premium shipping and tax it cost me a total of $67.04! Tell me you can beat that, and I'll call you a liar.

If you have the opportunity to buy one of these, at an affordable price (list is well over $400) than JUMP on it!

As long as there are Modular Sleep Systems (MSS) available online and through surplus markets, I won't be using, nor recommending the use of any other system.

The MSS is just that, a SYSTEM. It's modular and will adapt to whatever environment you may find yourself in.

The quality of the materials used and manufacture of each component is high. This is definitely hard-use kit.

The bivy is excellent, and I can think of one particular night mission where we bedded down in the dark on a rainy night and woke up in the middle of a small stream...still entirely dry. The bivy is a shelter in and of itself, cutting wind and water out of the equation completely.

The patrol bag is nice and light, and can compact well. Even though it is the light bag, it is still a very warm sleeping bag. With me living in the American Southwest, the patrol bag is more than sufficient for most outings.

The intermediate bag is larger and heavier, but the warmth it provides makes it all worth the expense. During the winter, knowing how cold the desert can be at night, this is usually my bag of choice.

When the entire system is integrated (patrol bag, intermediate bag, bivy) you have an extremely warm sleeping system, more than capable of handling temperatures below freezing.

I'll be the first to admit that the MSS isn't the latest or lightest wizbang sleeping bag, but it's affordable, extremely capable, and the modularity lends flexibility to your load. Bring only what you need...

The 4-part MSS system might be a great solution, depending on your needs.

Military-grade, -30 to 50deg, all-weather, all-climate capability comes at the expense of some compromises.

First off, all 4 of the components are about 50% heavier than cutting edge civilian equivalents on the market today. Second off, the state of the art of design has progressed significantly since this was created — there's too much of the wrong kind of insulation in many places and too little of the right kind of insulation in others, so to speak...

Inefficient and heavy gear, but undeniably well-built and field-tested. For REMFs or car campers in any weather it's the business. For traditional soldiers, hikers, and mountaineers it's worth considering. For fast and light travel by special operatives, alpinists or thru-hikers, there are superior options on the market at a variety of price points.

Forget the silly $500 sleeping bags. Get a 3-part MSS, which is very similar to Wiggy's FTRSS. Comes with 1 lighterweight "patrol" bag rated 32-50 degrees F, the intermediate cold weather bag for 0-32 F, and a Gore-tex bivy cover. In moderate weather you've got bags for two people. In cold weather, use all three, with some layers of ECWCS stuff--longjohns, grid fleece, and an outer fleece layer, and the set-up is rated down to -40, and claimed to give 4 hours of sleep at -50. (I'd add a fleece cap, I think!)

No wishful thinking, optimistic temperature ratings here--this system is tested and rated by the Army's testing labs in Natick, Mass. It's a roomy mummy with a big footbox, tough zippers, and is machine washable. Plus, like Wiggy's, they're made in the USA. No horrid Communist Chinese factory output with this product. And, it's low key--the latest version has two shades of green for the bags and ACU digital camo for the bivy. The version up until about 2005 has one black bag and woodland camo. No painfully bright colors here.

Look out for, and avoid, the cheap Chinese knock-offs. You'll find both the real and wannabe versions on eBay. The real deal is made by Tennier Industries. All in all, a compact, superbly-designed and built bag. Best of all, it's warm, warm, warm!

Great value, flexible, a little heavy, but extremely durable.

This system is exceedingly durable and very flexible. A huge bonus for this system is that depending on the conditions you can get by with either bag or both to cut down on weight. The bivy can almost be a tent in itself in a pinch.

It is a little heavy and their are better performing lighter weight options available, but for the price this system is a very safe purchase that will perform reliably for years.

It comes in three to four parts, where you can sleep in one part, two parts, three parts or four.

I have slept in it all together and I had to open it up sometime during the night because I had gotten too warm. Come to find out it had gotten below freezing that night.

I have also slept in just one part, the temp was at around 100° to 110° that night. Although it was hot, I was comfortable.

Compresses down to about the size of a basketball, although it could probably compress smaller.

Three to four parts. Easily cleaned and cared for. Varying temperature range.

I like this sleep system.