U.S. Mountain M-1949 Sleeping Bag

**neo** · 12-08-2006, 12:28

this bag may be alittle to heavy and bulky for most people here
but i am confident i can go to 0 degree's with no problem,i was not
even wearing a jacket or heavy thermal underwear,i have already slept down to 8.6 degrees in it,no i would not go on a long distance hike with it,but i
dont section hike the AT in extreme weather,but on shoter hikes and very cold weather i would carry it,at less than 15.00 bucks it gets the job done

neo

http://www.majorsurplusnsurvival.com...tegory_Code=71

**Jonas4321** · 12-10-2006, 22:35

Neo, when you mentioned that the cover can be left behind (in your other post, I believe), you said that this reduced the weight by something like 2 lbs. Does that mean that this bag weighs around 4-5 lbs without the cover?

Any idea what the outer (shell) material is made of?

What size does thing thing pack down to?

And finally, is that a top-zipper that is shown in the picture? Seems handy for a hammocker

.

Thanks!

Jonas

**neo** · 12-11-2006, 07:56

Originally Posted by Jonas4321

Neo, when you mentioned that the cover can be left behind (in your other post, I believe), you said that this reduced the weight by something like 2 lbs. Does that mean that this bag weighs around 4-5 lbs without the cover?

Any idea what the outer (shell) material is made of?

What size does thing thing pack down to?

And finally, is that a top-zipper that is shown in the picture? Seems handy for a hammocker

.

Thanks!

Jonas

yes the cover is not on the bag its is in the package you have to lace it on with para cord,the bag is good to 0 degree a little over 4lbs,but at 15 bucks for A 0 DEGREE BAG IT is great for very cold and shorter hikes,i like this bag

neo

**SuperTroll** · 12-11-2006, 08:37

Outer cover is a cotton duck material.....mainly used to keep the bag clean...

When I was stationed in germany, a 2lt I knew cut the bottom from a bag, used the down and materiel to sew arms, and turned one into a down coat for use in open jeeps on manuvers....

Kinda a cheap source for down for other projects as well, no?

**neo** · 12-11-2006, 12:35

here are some better pictures of the M-1949 DOWN SLEEPING BAG.

neo

http://west.loadup.com/images/large/461215.jpg

http://west.loadup.com/images/large/461215b.jpg

this picture below is shows how you lace the cover on with para cord

http://www.olive-drab.com/images/sle...49_reduced.jpg

**neo** · 02-02-2007, 15:07

i love this bag for less than 60 bucks i bought 4 for my whole family

neo

**stoikurt** · 02-02-2007, 23:04

I had one that I used all my years as a scout and even well into my adult years. My dad bought 2 at a garage sale for 5 dollars. The bag material is a pretty light material and was probably quite high tec at the time. I think I still have it stashed somewhere. A few years ago I bought another from Ebay for my son. At least I thought I was buying the same. The material is much heavier with more of a cotton feel and the bag was not down filled. It's a very heavy bulky bag but extremely warm. Good for car camping but not hiking. My son did use it during cold weather camping around here.

**Honey Badger!** · 03-04-2013, 22:45

I can't believe I found this thread! I have had my M-1949 since I was 12. I bought it at scout camp from surplus. Bought it for $10 with the cover. I have slept probably at least 100 nights in this bag. It has by far been my favorite for the 30 years that I have owned it. But the 8.5 lb total weight has started to take its toll on these aging knees.

So, instead of retiring the old girl i'm giving her a knew skin. The fabric had became so frail that there was many tears and repairs over the year. So yesterday I removed all the feathers from it and plan to use the feathers to ake me a new top quilt with an old soul. Looking forward to our new adventures together! :-)

You can see how warn the tag is. As I started removing the stitching it was just ripping in two. The feathers would have easily filled 2 tall kitchen trash bags but I compressed it into one. The zipper and webbing weighed over a pound!

HB

**Habitat** · 03-06-2013, 06:22

I have two similar ones handed down from a family member...i believe they were used during the vietnam war. I've stitched the holes and have used them ground camping many a time but always figured them to be too heavy and non-packable for backpacking...maybe a car camping trip? How'd you take the down out without making a crazy mess LOL? I get one hole in the thing and it's raining feathers everywhere ahahahahah

**Grinder** · 03-06-2013, 07:50

I have one of those. They are warm as toast ( to get into tech talk)

Be aware that the "down" has (IIRC) around 20% feathers.
This will affect compressibility.
A rodent ate a hole in mine so I am also contemplating making a Top Quilt.

About removing the down:
The method involves a shop vacuum and a piece of fine netting. You suck the hose full of down and then reverse and spit into a bag. Again, from memory, so details are suspect, but a search on the archives should yield a first hand report.