Just was given a 'Modular Sleeping Bag Patrol' outer bag only. Tag says rated to 30 degrees. What can I expect its useful rating at in a HH Expedition. It appears not to be down but a lot thinner than I would expect down to be. Any info from someome that has used one of these would be appreciated.
Alan
Yeah, the Modular Sleeping Bag, Patrol came in 5 parts. All together it gave you a waterproof/weatherproof sleeping/shelter system good for down to 0 degrees F. The outer bag uses a thin layer of poly fill and a laminate, similar to the Re-Tain technology that ArcticShield garments and bags use, although not as thermally efficent. It will keep you warm down to 30, and is also windproof. A good 3 season bag.
Military bags are rated to give four hours of sleep at the indicated temperature. I'm not sure how they figure the four hours, but there is a testing protocol to determine heat loss. Bottom line is, it won't be comfortable, but you will survive at that rating. The testing protocol includes clothing and the USGI foam pad, which is just a CCF pad. Testing is done on both the ground and on a cot, and the protocols are available online with a little hunting. Most major manufacturers use the same tests.
As long as you use the pad, you can expect the above results. Being in a hammock though, may require a wider pad because of the inherent curve of the hammock.
Always buy quality (your bag is BTW) and buy the temp rating 20 degrees under the lowest average you will be sleeping in. I would consider your bag's true comfort level to be 50 around degrees. That's just me, I don't want to survive in the outdoors...I want to live!
Get the Gore-Tex bivy cover for it and should will be good for that 30 rating.
Makes a big difference
I made a UQ out of the Patrol bag and was good in my hammock at 24 degrees using a lighter (45 degree) Snugpack Jungle hammock for a TQ.
DKPerdue
if you have the green bag out of the three piece system it is not down.
I know in well and the rating is if your wear all your cold weather gear. The whole three pieces is rated to -50! NO WAY would you ever catch me in those temps in that system more like 0 to -5. That green bag is the best part of the whole thing, packs down kinda small and is good in the wet spring weather.
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