British modular "Tropen" sleeping bag, surplus

Unlike everyone else, the British army just could not make a sleeping bag deal with the Teutonic devil, which is Carinthia. So they did the next best thing and copied the Tropical bag and Defence 4 bag, and called it the Modular Sleeping Bag System. So here's some proud English vision for sale!

• A summer sleeping bag
• Opens up as a blanket
• Durable and dependable
• Weight a bit over one kilogram, depending on the size
• Part of a modular system
• Compression bag NOT included

A great choice for summer use, this lightweight bag also works together with the heavier Brit bag or virtually any other you could think of. What separates this military bag from many civilian ones is more bulk, stronger materials, and way cheaper price, being army surplus.

The bag is almost a direct copy of the Carinthia Tropen sleeping bag, with slight alterations.

The key features of the lightweight bag are the large hood section with an insect net, mesh pockets for valuables or just socks, and zipper closure with a non-locking zipper. The zipper reaches all the way to the edge of the foot end, so this bag can be folded open as a blanket too. The mesh pockets and blanket feature are missing from Carinthia's bag.

Tips for use

Blanket/thermal cloak

As the bag can be zippered wide open, it will also work as a simple thermal cloak for those times when you have to be stationary. Just throw it over your shoulders. A great feature during the winter season, as the thickness is comparable to Softie jackets. Also a good way to get most out of your kit - multipurpose gear is the best.

Used together with another sleeping bag

This bag is a part of a modular system: if one were to put the British medium weight bag over this, the result would be a four-season bag. Along with the official companion, you can use just about any other sleeping bag with this, just that the tie-strings are naturally missing so the bags aren't fixed together - not a huge problem.

Materials and temperature rating

Made of strong nylon material, with hollow-fiber padding sandwiched on the inside. The comfort rating of this bag when new would be about 10° C / 50° F. No accurate info, though.

Care

Machine wash at 40° C / 104° F if you absolutely have to. Hang dry. Washing sleeping bags should be avoided unless necessary.

The British army tells us these bags can be washed 20 times until their temperature ratings drop too excessively. These haven't been washed many times, hardly even once.

Size info

Available in two sizes according to the user's recommended height. Even if you're a little taller, you should still fit inside.

Although a shorter person can sleep inside a too-large bag, there will be some extra room in the feet to be heated up, along with unnecessary bulk.

The following measurements are taken from the bag itself:

Medium

• Length: 195 cm / 6' 5"
• Shoulder width: 70 cm / 27.5"
• Weight: ~1200 g / 2.65 lb

• Length: 210 cm / 6' 10.5"
• Shoulder width: 75 cm / 29.5"
• Weight: ~1400 g / 3 lb

Condition

Used, sometimes a bit seedy around the head but intact. We recommend washing the bag before use if you feel like it. Apparently, these are made by FECSA, a Spanish company that also made sleeping bags for the Dutch army at least.