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Introducing the MidwayUSA Military Style 4-Piece ECWS -15 Degree Sleeping Bag. This is a 4-in-1 sleeping bag system that gives you everything you need to stay comfortable in just about any environment, which is very important to me, living here in North Dakota, where we get extreme temperatures for most of the year. This system has four components: a stuff sack, a patrol bag, an intermediate bag, and a bivvy. The total weight of the system is 8 pounds, 7 ounces. Now, compare that to my tent and sleeping bag setup that I usually use at 9 pounds, 12 ounces, and this is lighter while keeping you warmer than what that other system is capable of.
This is based on Special Forces sleep systems by Snugpak you can find online at very expensive prices. This is much more affordable, yet still does the same job well. This system is scalable because you don't have to use every component. You can just take the bivvy if it's all you need. You can take the patrol bag and the bivvy. You can take just one of the bags. It depends on the situation, but what's great is that you get a system like this one, and it's all you ever need for any environment and climate. It covers all your bases. It does take up a little bit of space when you have the entire system. It is packed to about 17 inches by 12 inches, which is big, but it's all you need to stay comfortable.
Compression Stuff Sack
This is what I would consider to be the weak link of the system because it just doesn't seem to be very well constructed. I have already torn some of the straps where the stitching has let go, caused by putting too much pressure on them, cranking down the compression straps, or pulling on them while trying to remove the sleeping bag, which is a very tight fit. Even though the stuff sack is not great, it does the basic job. However, I would personally replace it with an aftermarket one from Snugpak. They make a great compression stuff sack as well, and for the price of a new stuff sack, you still get great value by buying the sleep system. So, even with this being the weak link of the equation, I don’t see it as a big deal. I would also recommend getting a dry bag of some kind. Snugpak makes those too, and they work quite well, at least in my experience. They keep everything dry, and the sleeping bags themselves need to be dry--they're not supposed to get wet, whereas the bivvy is already waterproof. So, you might want to get something that keeps everything dry while working with a compression sack that might be a little bit more durable.
Bivvy (top layer)
This bivvy is made of nylon talson with a PTFE membrane shell. That's what keeps it waterproof and windproof and protects you from the elements. It weighs 1 pound, 14 ounces, so even if this is all you had with a Woobie or some type of blanket, it would be considered a sleep shelter, and you could get out and camp with it. It’s very lightweight, easy to pack, and waterproof. It's 85 inches long by 34 inches wide, so that should tell you, based on your size, whether you'll fit in it. The inner bags are smaller, so the more inner bags you add, the smaller the system gets, which means the taller you are, the less comfortable it might be. But I'm 6'3", and it works perfectly fine for me, so that should give you a point of reference. There's a woodland camo pattern on top of the bivvy, so that might help with some concealment in case that's of any concern to you. At the hood of the bivvy, a hook and loop attachment can be used to close things up a bit more in case you're in rain, snow, or wind and want to keep the elements out of the sleep system without cutting off airflow. There's also a drawstring on the side that allows you to cinch up the hood if things get worse outside. The bivvy and inner bags are integrated together via a series of snaps and two-sided zippers – very simple but very effective at keeping the system environment-proof.
Patrol Bag (middle layer)
One thing I feel I should mention is that the patrol bag in this setup is the outside bag, while the intermediate bag is the inside bag. This seems a little backward because the intermediate bag is 80 inches long by 31 inches wide, and the patrol bag is 77 inches long by 30 inches wide. With the patrol bag being the outer bag, you lose space you would otherwise have, or at least it seems like it limits everything down to the size of the patrol bag. Something to consider if you're very, very tall.
The patrol and intermediate bags are also integrated via a series of snaps and a two-sided zipper. I found that once you're in the bags, you don't really need the zippers because they’re extremely warm. But, if you want them, you have them, and, of course, the snaps can suffice for ensuring everything stays together in case you want to keep it closed, but don't have to deal with the zipper. The patrol bag stays warm down to 40°, so if you had just this and the bivvy and you lived in most of the United States where 40° is about as cold as it's going to get when you go outside, this will probably do the job. The patrol bag by itself weighs 2 pounds, 8 ounces. It has a single layer of 110 grams per square meter of synthetic insulation, and it's made of a nylon ripstop shell, so it should have some durability, though I have not thrown it all around or attempted to drag it through the brush to see what would happen. However, in my limited use of this bag, I haven’t experienced any durability problems with it.
Intermediate Bag (bottom layer)
As I mentioned, you can scale this system down so that if you only need the patrol bag and the bivvy you have a lightweight package. Where I live, wanting a four-season sleep system is part of the deal, and where the intermediate bag comes into play. The intermediate bag is much thicker and heavier, but it is also much warmer. The intermediate bag will keep you warm in -15° Fahrenheit temperatures. It is also made from that nylon ripstop shell, but it has a double layer of 170 grams per square meter of synthetic insulation. Because of that, this bag weighs 3 pounds, 7 ounces, so it is much heavier, but if you need it, you need it, and if it's extra cold outside, well, you know which bag you must use. If you get down to -15°, you only need the intermediate bag, so you can still cut the weight of the patrol bag and just use whatever makes sense at the time. Otherwise, you can use both bags and get into a system that keeps you warm in extremely cold environments.
Conclusion
I haven't had the opportunity to test this system in -40° weather yet, but throughout the time I’ve used this bag in North Dakota, I’ve never found myself wishing it could be warmer. In the video above, I do get in and demonstrate using it. It was snowy and cold during that shoot, and yet it was rather hot inside the bags. I could easily have stayed outside overnight and been perfectly comfortable.
A versatile sleep system that can keep you warm in just about any inclement weather while being relatively affordable is an excellent thing to have. If you want a one-and-done sleeping bag system, in the sense that you buy it, that's all you need to get out in the woods, set up camp, and go to sleep, this sleep system is virtually impossible to beat for the price.
--Magic Prepper
