What to do with a military down bag?

**Roadrunnr72** · 09-18-2011, 18:48

I told my dad to keep his eye out for a down blanket/sleeping bag to use as a TQ. He told me that he may have 1. Well sure enough, dad had one. It has a hole in the end and leaking a little down. I have not unroled it, until I get time to fix the hole/decide what to do with it. He thought it was an artic military bag, rated at -22 deg. It is very heavy- for down. I have no other knowledge about it at this time.

So if you had this bag- what would you do with it?

**JohnSawyer** · 09-18-2011, 19:21

If it's the "arctic" sleep system, M-1949 Vietnam era vintage, it would be 2 sleeping bags that collectively weigh over 6lbs.

The down side... (ha!) is that it wasn't filled with down as much as chicken feathers...(at least the one I had)

**zukiguy** · 09-18-2011, 19:59

I would definitely unroll it and check it out really good before you start trying to decide what to do with it. You might find some other issues other than a down leak (mildew, foul smell, stains, rips, broken zipper, etc). As John said it's probably more feathers than anything else, at least the ones I've seen in surplus shops are.

I've got a cheapo Boy Scout branded down bag that's got me in about the same situation. I can't decide whether it's worth the time/aggravation to try and cut it down into a TQ/UQ. The fabric is not very breathable so it would probably be best suited to an UQ. My last down bag adventure resulted in little fluffs blowing around my patio for a few weeks so I'm not really too eager to try it again until cooler weather.

Good luck

**Southpaw** · 09-18-2011, 20:33

I have one of those things. It rolls up like a spare tire, and weighs about as much as one too. I love it actually. Most sleeping bags feel sticky to me, and it sleeps like it was made for me.

**dkperdue** · 09-18-2011, 21:01

I've used them in the past. Notorius for tearing. Then you would see a Marine come out of his hooch in the morning covered in feathers.
I'd go with the prognosis of being more chicken, seagull or any other bird feathers EXCEPT good down.
DKPerdue

**AaronAlso** · 09-18-2011, 21:04

What about not fixing the rip, removing the feathers and stuffing in some real down? I don't know, maybe that's an option.

**jred** · 09-19-2011, 00:27

Originally Posted by AaronAlso

What about not fixing the rip, removing the feathers and stuffing in some real down? I don't know, maybe that's an option.

While you're doing that, you might as well build a better, light-weight shell...

**JohnSawyer** · 09-20-2011, 22:44

Yeah, the shell is canvas... the weight of the canvas would compress the down

I sold mine on Craigslist to an older gentleman that wanted to do car camping.. said he was looking for one of these for years... Used one in Korea!

**Carolina Razorback** · 09-23-2011, 07:00

Oh well thanks to everyone for killing my hopes of making an AWESOME UQ out of the one that I have.

It is the M1949 in great shape....but after reading this thread I believe if I am going to the trouble of designing and building my own UQ, I will find another source of Down. I was just going to use the down from it. I am a little dissappointed but I am thankful I saw this before I made the mistake of using it. Being that I am not a down conniseur how can you tell the great down from the bad down when you are looking at yard sales and such for cheap down sources...pillows, comforters and such.

**Roadrunnr72** · 09-23-2011, 12:12

Thanks for your responses. It is really heavy. And since it has been roled up (for years), if it was down, it would be compressed and may not return to it's fluffy nature. I would not try to replace the insides with down. I think I will unroll it, check for other damage. If none found, I will fix the hole and use it for car camping, if nothing else. Then keep my eyes open for another Hammock Gear sale to buy a 20 deg Burrow!!