The MMSS is driving me nuts.

Odin · Jul 2, 2015

Okay so I Have a modular military sleep system.

Right its the older one... not the new digi camo.

I'm missing the day bag... green one, but I have the stuff sack, the black colder weather bag and the gortex bivvy.

Problem is the stuff/compression sack. Missing the green sleeping bag you would think it would tighten down even smaller. Not so... that black bag is bulky and packin it while ago I snapped the plastic buckle one of the vertical straps.

I tried to fix before with duct tape and wire... blah... whatever I got back to it again today. I scavenged a arguably better plastic buckle... more sturdy from a swiss army backpack and by making a small opening by knife and file was able to securely attach it to the loop an have all functioning straps once again.

Yea f'yea... right?

Okay so I go about trying to do the most amazing tight compression I could get with all my muscles bulging.

Just as I get to the last vertical strap... (although I did a good job... this was finally roughly a foot by foot by foot cubic... or bit more) so tightening the last strap as I'm saying on the side that bulges a bit more.

POP... there goes another buckle.

Dammit. Now I'm trying to bend and shape a piece of "flower/garden" stake... (like a eighth inch thick straight wire with a hook bend at top... hard metal to bend... ) trying to bend it with vise grip and multitool to fashion somekinda buckle...

I need to go get more of those swiss army plastic ones. Hella better.

Thats all. ::facepalm::

wizehop · Jul 2, 2015

Dude bivys are a bitch, they can role up to be pretty big if you bring everything. If you'll be walking for the most part, Id suggest just taking the bare mother fucking minimum.

Odin · Jul 2, 2015

The less I take the more I will learn how to improvise... ...

We will see what happens... hopefully sooner than later.

Relatively speaking in Odin time. >.>

Bl3wbyyou · Jul 2, 2015

Hmm i had the same damn struggles you were having with that sleep system.It seems as if the best use of that black bag with the standard compression sack is to put the black back in that sack then compress it then get a smaller bag or just stuff the bivy in the bag with the black bag so that way the most important layer regardless of the elements would be the driest.

What i use to do is compress the black bag into that standard compression then just stuff the green bag into my main compartment on my pack and call it good.

However over the years you can stuff the whole damn system into that compression bag but it will stress the living shit out of the threads holding the compression sack together lol.

Regardless dealing and living with that system for 3 years and saving my ass numerous times its worth the weight and struggle to carry around.Hence why i still have most of my old gear.Hard to just throw away and be done with lol.

Tude · Jul 3, 2015

If I lend you my spork will you sleep better? Actually I lost my cool spork to a previous couch surfer, meh I'm sure he would make use of it better then I would and I can get another.

I'll even lend you a tabby that hogs the bed, dam thing. He loves to sleep - you sleep - he sleeps but he hots bed. Actually all three of the cats make me sleep into a small pile on my own bed. YOU NEED THEM!!!!

But not after I have my premargaritta dwink - that I have doctored up with more tequilla.

Cheers.

But seriously - take the dam tabby

Odin · Jul 3, 2015

I'll take the tabby... I'll teach it how to play checkers and tell it in the morning we hunt for dumpster pizza...

The MMSS system is not driving me crazy so much cuz I want to sleep in it...

I could care less about that... having it is half the battle.

I just want the damn system to compress... compress damnation...

Right...

... I'm starting to get it though... Kat's sound nice... I could adapt to a kitty stampede.

Run wild.

Tude · Jul 3, 2015

OK big siamese is pissed off at me for moving him. Bo rules hehe.

Odin · Jul 3, 2015

Looks like a sand kat.... ::headphones::

Mankini · Jul 8, 2015

Don't try to compress it: it makes a ball the size of a basketball that crowds out everything else that needs space. Wrap it around your mat in a roll and strap that to the top of your pack. ...???...

Odin · Jul 8, 2015

Yea but I allowed it to get personal between me and the compression bag see...
Just have to fix another buckle...
I could bungee that somehow I suppose... though your way sounds easier.
Just keep the bivy on the outside of the roll to keep things dry...

Though I am trying to go for the most compact set up that still allows me to carry probably too much gear for a backpacking newb.

We shall see.

Bl3wbyyou · Jul 9, 2015

Oh i forgot to mention that you can try and wrap a belt around the sides of the compression bag.That's another thing i did i just attached it to the bottom of my frame on my old Medium alice pack did that for a damn while and it helped reduce the bulk quite a bit.

Desperado Deluxe · Jul 9, 2015

I dunno if these would work but maybe a shopping cart child restraint buckle?

Dishka8643 · Jul 10, 2015

The MSS is just a bulky, heavy system and you can't really avoid it. Extreme compression on a regular basis will cause the insulation fibers to become matted and compromise the performance of the sleeping bag. It's best avoid that if possible.

I usually pack it one of 2 ways:

The first way, which has worked well, is to give each component it's own compression sack. It's usually easier to pack 3 small objects than one large one. This approach has other advantages such as keeping a wet, dirty bivy from getting the rest of the system wet. It's also easier to choose which setup you want to use each night, without struggling to unpack and repack the entire system.

The second way is to have the entire system, individually seperated, inside the compression sack. Meaning, the black sleeping bag is stuffed first, then the green, then the bivy, and compressed. This is significantly easier than trying to compress the entire system already assembled.

Odin · Aug 15, 2015

Fox Spirit said:
I dunno if these would work but maybe a shopping cart child restraint buckle?

Dude I have not found a decent one yet lol. Been to the dollar store and they're carts don't have the kinda buckle I need... still keeping an eye out.

Aussie Timm said:
These mmss bags, are they a good thing to travel with? Specifically if youd want to travel the states/Canada for a long period and will encounter everything from warm climates to cold climates? I googled it and on paper it seems good, but real life? I like the bivy sack that goes over it, all im planning on using for shelter is a aus army hootchie (basicly a camouflaged tarp)

This military system is good for function. Every time I have used it camping or back in the military for training bivouac it has been comfortable and great in all weather.

The problem is the system is heavy and bulky. Also the Compression sack ... the reason I made this thread... is difficult and the buckles can break. (though I do try to murder it by tightening the straps. )

I'd say I'm at the point where I'm gonna ditch the compression sack and just keep the outer bivvy and the bag. (I only have the winter bag not the first layer bag that is a bit lighter)

I might pack them separately or find a way to roll and strap them to my setup.

Odin · Aug 15, 2015

I only have the bivvy and black winter bag. I think thats like 8 or so pounds. 3 and a half kilos? So the whole system is more though the green bag is lighter.

But I'm not sure... my memory is funny and don't remember where exactly I have that figure from.. also it's late at night bro.

Not sure but check it out. sure you can Google the specs online.

Mankini · Aug 15, 2015

With a car, I would say Hell Yes Go for it. The price is right for an MMMMMS, compared to its civilian counterparts. The Bivy is Goretex and as such not only is camouflaged but keeps out rain, keeps in heat, and keeps out unwanted neighbors like bugs and land molluscs, etc.

However. If you can afford it, the civilian equivalent at REI etc will shave off about 5 #s/2-3 kg.

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The MMSS is driving me nuts.

Odin

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