View Full Version : 58 pattern sleeping bag
I'm sure this has been thrashed out before but for the sake of a newcomer, can anyone give some feedback on the 58 pattern army sleeping bags. I'm thinking of getting a warm sleeping bag that'll take a bit of abuse but do it on the cheap.
Thanks
Peter
I've been trying to get one for a while but the surplus place in plymouth only seems to stock "medium" size which are too short for me..?? anyone else found this?
good bags - get new if you can and get long lengths. Oh and use with a bivi bag to protect from damp.
Rhapsody
09-01-2005, 15:21
good bags - get new if you can and get long lengths. Oh and use with a bivi bag to protect from damp.
Quoted for truth.
Living in what is traditionally an army town, these things are all over the place. The local surplus shop sells them new for forty sobs, which is certainly not to be sneezed at.
I have one of these myself and it is certainly a great bag for the money (the built-in groundsheet is a stroke of genius), but I might invest in one that rolls up to a smaller size if I really feel the need. Also, after a thorough soaking I recently recieved in it, I found out that the down filled bag doesn't dry out nearly as slowly as I was led to believe it would.
I'd say go for it, myself; they're very warm and definitely hard-wearing. For the money I'd say there's no better.
tomtom if you're still interested here's a link to Belfast Combat Gear (http://www.belfastcombatgear.com/products/misc/british_sleepingbag.php) . They're £29 inc postage. The owner's name is Will and he's a really decent guy. He's only a few left. The 58 Pattern bags are labelled "long". From base to shoulder cover they are 6ft, from base to top of hood cover (overall length ) they are 7ft.
Thanks for the link mate!
I'm sure this has been thrashed out before but for the sake of a newcomer, can anyone give some feedback on the 58 pattern army sleeping bags. I'm thinking of getting a warm sleeping bag that'll take a bit of abuse but do it on the cheap.
Thanks
Peter
Peter, I have stated it many times before and will state it again, the 58 Pattern bag is the best value for money that you can get (@£30) as long as you get one in good condition, down bags traditionally pack down smaller than most synthetics and tend to loft very well providing a very good degree of warmth.
The only fault that I ever had with one of these bags was the zip which in my opinion was the only thing that lets it down, but you will not get another down bag for much less than £100 unless it is an old issue arctic bag also from 58 pattern era :wink:
Ive got one myself great bags,great value and bloody warm,too warm for summer use.
Great Pebble
09-01-2005, 19:07
They're great, if a tad bulky.
One proviso, either examine one before you buy it or agree a "refund if not delighted" policy with the vendor if buying by post. There's a lot of very poor ones out there. If damaged by water or humidity or ripped and repaired thay can lose a massive degree of their insulation, and might still look okay in a photo.
rapidboy
09-01-2005, 19:33
Nice link peterkm
I live about 5 min's away from this guy so he could be a useful source and a lot handier than mail ordering all the time.
I see he has some 85 pattern combats ,the last ones i got mail order where a very strange size so it would be nice to try them on before buying :biggthump
Thanks for all the advice guys. Give him a ring Rapidboy, he's really sound and approachable.
Peter
SquirrelBoy
09-01-2005, 21:14
The local surplus shop sells them new for forty sobs, which is certainly not to be sneezed at.
Do you have an address for this shop Rhapsody? Might check them out :biggthump
Rhapsody
09-01-2005, 21:55
Just did a google on them and they've actually got a website! Blimey.
http://www.dubora.com/
The address is at the top of that site; it's very near Aldershot train station, which is handy.
RAPPLEBY2000
09-01-2005, 21:59
what ever you do don't get it wet, i spent a very cold night in a shellscrape when mine got rained on during an army excersise as a desperate meassuer i got into my waterproofs then back into the bag which had no effect!
i always found them slightly small (i'm 5'11") make sure it is a good one some are in pretty poor shape! and double check the zip they are nasty as you cannot get out through the bottom like most sleeping bags.
Make sure you get the long version,iam 6ft and its just about comfy,but then again i like lotsa room as iam stretchy out sort a ******.
Paganwolf
10-01-2005, 01:44
Yup what they have all said great bags, tomtom if i can get a good one from my local shop shall i get it for you???
SquirrelBoy
10-01-2005, 09:15
Just did a google on them and they've actually got a website! Blimey.
http://www.dubora.com/
The address is at the top of that site; it's very near Aldershot train station, which is handy.
Cheers Rapsody :biggthump
Oh im 5`10 in height - any ideas as to which one to get, a medium or long?
Many thanks.
Cheers Rapsody :biggthump
Oh im 5`10 in height - any ideas as to which one to get, a medium or long?
Many thanks.
Go for a long Nigel - I'm only an inch taller and thats what I always used (given the choice.)
RAPPLEBY2000
10-01-2005, 11:53
:rolmao:
whilst i was training in the army one of my fellow recruits was issued a gurka 58 issue bag which must only have been 5 ft long!
it looked like a kids sleeping bag, comming up as far as the middle of his chest :o):
Blankfisherman
10-01-2005, 15:09
Do the armed forces still issue the 58 sleeping bag or have they moved onto something less bulky and lighter?
bambodoggy
10-01-2005, 15:20
They now use a synthetic bag in conjunction with a gortex type bivi bag....it's very similar in style to the old 58 bag but has a compression bag with it and no waterproof base (hence the bivvi bag).
I used the 58 bag as a cadet for many years and liked it but I also kept my newer sleeping system when I left the TA and use that now....I find it very good and still cheaper than civvi alternatives.......but (always a but) it's still rather bulky even with the compression sac.
Blankfisherman
10-01-2005, 15:59
With the birthday approaching may be a new sleeping bag is needed.
Are the synthetic bags similar to snugpaks?
Is any one in a position to comment on the good points and not so good points (being politically correct) of the 2 types of army sleeping bags?
Tom
bambodoggy
10-01-2005, 16:07
Similar to the snugpac I think but not the same.
As I said below they are both good bags if a little bulky/heavy. I really don't think you can beat either for price when compared to civvi bags.
Personally I'd go with the newer type (similar price to the 58) but it will mean you'll need a ground cover of some sort...ground sheet, bivvi bag...whatever.....but you get a compresion sac with it that you don't with the 58.
Bad points:
As warned by others below, the older ones may have been repaired and lost filling.
Both are heavy when wet and take a while to dry.
Both are bulky.
Zips on the 58 need to work properly or don't buy.
Good points:
Both very warm when dry.
Both very good value for money either 2nd hand or surplus new.
Burst open zips (army use them to bug out fast - I use them to nip to the loo in a hurry when I wake up). :rolmao:
Rhapsody
10-01-2005, 18:57
Cheers Rapsody :biggthump
Oh im 5`10 in height - any ideas as to which one to get, a medium or long?
Many thanks.
The medium should do you fine, I'd think. A freind of mine had one and it was only slightly too small (and not uncomfortably so) at my 6'2".
quiggers
11-01-2005, 03:27
I got a new 58 pattern long, and although it's down filled doesn't have the waterproof base, anyone else seen these, as I'm not sure if these are genuine..
Looks the same as the one in the pic on the dubora site mind...but question is - can these be compressed anymore and what compression sack will do the job as I struggle to get it in the hood as it is ????
Cheers,
Quiggers...
Are the synthetic bags similar to snugpaks?
Is any one in a position to comment on the good points and not so good points (being politically correct) of the 2 types of army sleeping bags?
Tom
More like similar to 4 snugpacks , not for nowt is the current issue bag known as the bouncing bomb
Not sure what the filling is , but mine has split and it looks like its packed with a duvet
Only get one if you dont mind bulk
More like similar to 4 snugpacks , not for nowt is the current issue bag known as the bouncing bomb
Not sure what the filling is , but mine has split and it looks like its packed with a duvet
Only get one if you dont mind bulk
I will second that, the new bags are large, very heavy and exceptionally warm (normally too warm in summer). They are good if you are going to be somewhere very cold and don't mind carrying the weight. I should mention that they are very well constructed though.
They are not massively like the snugpacs, the materials are very different (snugpac use pertex for most of thier bags) and it has a central zip (which most snugpac's don't have), they also have a couple of little mesh pockets on the inside of the bag.
I believe that there are newer lighter weight versions out designed for warmer climates, but as yet I have not used one so could not comment on how good they are. :wave:
Great Pebble
11-01-2005, 09:26
Military sleeping bags are "one of those things", like boots, that will never be top of the line. Commercial alternatives will always have the technology drop on them.
They're generally bomb-proof items though and comparatively cheap.
RAPPLEBY2000
12-01-2005, 11:46
quiggers,
it sounds to me like you may have the 58' arctic version!
as you say identical but with no waterproof base as they did issue a coated nylon bivy bag with it (not goretex), you can probably get one for £10-£20, but obviously you are betteroff with a newer goretex version!
don't worry it's still good kit!
Great Pebble
12-01-2005, 11:59
The nylon bivi bag, although doubtless often used with the '58, was designed for an issued with the Arctic Bag. The Arctic Bag was like a '58 on steroids, but had no platicised base.
Edit:- Great minds, Mr. Rappleby. I really should read things more carefully
quiggers
13-01-2005, 00:48
cheers Rappleby and Great Pebble - that'll be why I'm sweating in anything other than near to freezing conditions then.. :-)
Dead heavy but incredible warmth..if only I can get it smaller..
Only way to get it smaller is to NOT use the compression sack
I end up stuffing mine in my bergan top in its bivi
RAPPLEBY2000
15-01-2005, 22:08
ah yes,
i shall explane!
i've done that before and i agree it can be more effective, sounds wierd but when you put it in a compression sack it creates a hard or solid ball shaped object , when you pack the cmpression sack (full) into your bergen you inveriably get spaces around it you cannot fill, and it can bulge and make the bergen uncomfortable to carry.
using the rucksack to stuff the sleeping bag in is not only is easier, but it's easier to get out to use.
i know to the uninitiated it sounds odd but give it a go! :wink:
Well I finally got my 58 pattern sleeping bag. Seems perfect, zip is perfect - grade 1 bag. The bag is sized long, I'm 6'3'' and it's just about comfortable. Pity it doesn't have a nexk baffle! I've never had a down sleeping bag before so I've nothing to compare the loft to but it seems good. I'm going out this weekend so i'll get to try it out. I've two questions 1) what's the strip along the bottom with press studs for? 2) has anyone ever tried things like Nikwax products for waterproofing the down filling.
Peter
Great Pebble
16-01-2005, 16:17
1. Attaching to the 58 poncho to make a kind of waterproof-ish sleeping/bivi bag type thing.
2. No, but I've no doubt that a waterproofer desigined for down filled items would work.
On the subject of which there's a new Nixwax competion up for those that have been "leeching" off thm.
geertjan
17-01-2005, 07:33
what is the comfort temp. for the 58 sleeping bag?
geertjan
Great Pebble
17-01-2005, 08:18
Whatever you're told it is at the time :wink:
simonsays
17-01-2005, 09:34
Well I finally got my 58 pattern sleeping bag. Seems perfect, zip is perfect - grade 1 bag. The bag is sized long, I'm 6'3'' and it's just about comfortable. Pity it doesn't have a nexk baffle! I've never had a down sleeping bag before so I've nothing to compare the loft to but it seems good. I'm going out this weekend so i'll get to try it out. I've two questions 1) what's the strip along the bottom with press studs for? 2) has anyone ever tried things like Nikwax products for waterproofing the down filling.
Peter
Yes, I've used Nikwax down proof on my duvet jacket. It did seem to reduce the loft a little but it behaved much better when it got damp, absorbing less water and still insulating pretty well.
Although others may tell you differently, I believe you will find that washing and proofing a sleeping bag is a pretty big job as they are a swine to dry properly and easy to damage when wet. I managed to dry my duvet jacket in a launderette tumble drier (With an old trainer chucked in to help break up the lumps of down).
cheers,
simon
quiggers
22-01-2005, 04:49
thanks for the packing advice Rappleby and Mercury - I'll give that a go this weekend..I've always got spaces in my pack so makes perfect sense..
I've been given an army sleeping bag (unused) which fits the bill of being bulky and has mesh pockets. It has a label on it saying JL-8465-99-130-9145
SL32A/4805 1990 Polywarm products ltd.
I assume its the current one as described in this thread. Any ideas what its worth? - I might sell it on ebay.
Cheers
bambodoggy
08-02-2005, 09:46
I've been given an army sleeping bag (unused) which fits the bill of being bulky and has mesh pockets. It has a label on it saying JL-8465-99-130-9145
SL32A/4805 1990 Polywarm products ltd.
I assume its the current one as described in this thread. Any ideas what its worth? - I might sell it on ebay.
Cheers
You should get about £30 or so for it on Ebay. Personally I'd keep it, they are a little bulky and heavy but they are very warm and I use mine as a winter bag. I have a 2-3 season summer bag too.
I used my 95Pattern the other weekend at Ashdown where although not quite freezing it was certainly a little nippy over night. I slept in just my boxers and was so toasty warm I had to open the bag a fair bit to let air in.
They also make fantastic spring/summer/autum bags for girls who feel the cold like my wife.....if only I could get her to try it!!!! :lol: