MOD arctic sleeping bag rating

[baggins]

Hi Folks,
i've just been offered a genuine issue british army arctic sleeping bag (synthetic). It is the modern one with the internal pockets and a pack down size equivilent to a small car.
Can anybody give me a rough idea what the temperature for these bags is. I'm planning to go to northern Sweden in December and northern Canada the following winter. I was looking at the featherd friends bags but, as this is free, i thought i'd ask first before refusing it.
Cheers

Baggins

 

[dwardo]

If its the one i have with the internal mesh pocket i have been very happy at -13 or so with a good mat and bivvy bag. Only a thin thermal layer worn in the bag.

 

[Leonidas]

Used same bag on Arctic Exped in Feb 2010.
It was around -18 in the tent, that's with 4 other bodies in there and a small stove.
Also had trusty Bivvy of course....

Had the bag unzipped on some nights as was too hot.....
Whereas some other poor folks in the same tent did get very cold...and some were also on reindeer skins.....(It was very cold)

The differentiator was a 9cm Dlx Exped Down Mat. (Yep I keep harping on about them)
You loose most heat through the bottom of the bag where it is compressed, (Ask anyone who hammocks) a good mat improves any bag by a factor of at least two by insulating you from the ground, the main source of heat loss.

And not to get too graphic.....I was in my undies and a hat, that's it....clothes were stuffed down the sides smaller items in the bags pouches...

In summary, the army arctic bag will provide all the warmth you need provided it is augmented by a bivvy to keep you dry and most important of all a good mat....
Some folks also use a liner, I don't purely as they are a pain in that they eventually tangle, I prefer a relatively spacious army bag...

Tip....never breath in the sleeping bag in extreme cold, condensates and turn to ice, then melts....ugh....

Cheers
Tom

 

[Retired Member southey]

I have slept under the stars in -25>-30 with a bivibag and fully clothed only in issue kit, very comfy night, although being checked every hour by the shelter stag was annoying.