View Full Version : German army sleeping bag
bushwakka
23-02-2005, 21:42
I've just taken possession of a mint condition german army sleeping bag..... an absolute snip at £10 on ebay. For those that aren't familiar with them they are sleeping bags with arms!! I've never used one before and was wondering what experiences are out there.
The bag itself seems to be 2-3 season rating at most so is probably ideal for summer/autumn use. I like the idea that the arms allow the user to perform tasks whilst wearing it e.g. making a brew/cooking. There is a horizontal zip at knee level which allows the sleeping bag to be turned into a parker (one less thing to carry!).
I intend to try it out (once the weather picks up) but would appreciate any advice. The potential disadvantages are that the arms may allow body heat to escape.
If they are no good then its only a tenner but I do hope it has some redeeming features!!
:pack:
bothyman
23-02-2005, 22:12
I thought about buying one of those.
I would be interested in what you think of it.
MickT :wave:
how cool!!!. I have been looking at those myself, please keep me informed how it works out for you.
I had one ages again and I think they are pretty good bags, the bottom half can be folded up so the top can be worn as a parka liner too!!
There does seem to be a lot of new ones on the market at present so i guess the german's are dumping a load of war stock ...... I will have to look into this further me thinks!!
bothyman
23-02-2005, 22:40
There are two on ebay ??
Do they have a waterproof outer ?? :roll:
It looks like it. :shock:
Gary if the price is right I might be interested?? :yikes:
But remember I am a Yorkshireman so don't like to part with my money :Crazy_071
MickT
RAPPLEBY2000
23-02-2005, 22:46
hi, i used to have one,
not as warm as i thought.
you either love them or hate them, i hate them.
you have to sleep with your arms in the sleeves which isn't as comfy or warm as a standard bag, plus you can get cold hands!
if you get hot you will sweat as 90% of the bag is rubberised.
if it does get soaked it dries very slowly!
they are quite heavy for the limited warmth.
my advice get some warm waterproof mittens not gloves. to wear wilst sleeping.
apart from these problems it's a very good idea which would be far better with modern materials such as pertex, microfibers and goretex!
on the other hand i have friends that have used them and love them!
I think I read somewhere one of the major uses was for German Snipers. They could operate wearing the bag if needed.
There are two on ebay ??
Do they have a waterproof outer ?? :roll:
It looks like it. :shock:
Gary if the price is right I might be interested?? :yikes:
But remember I am a Yorkshireman so don't like to part with my money :Crazy_071
MickT
You'll be calling me Bruce Forsyth next! :wink:
I didnt mean that Mick - I meant for myself, still you never know!
bothyman
24-02-2005, 09:12
You'll be calling me Bruce Forsyth next! :wink:
I didnt mean that Mick - I meant for myself, still you never know!
Hello Bruce
Didn't realise what I had put till you just pointed it out. :roll:
If you find a place selling them at reasonable prices, I would be grateful if you would pass the info on. :biggthump
Simple fact is you have more contacts than I, so have a better chance of finding one:wink:
PS .those two Lapp Puukko's I got from you are still doing well, but one got hijacked and ended up as a veggie knife. Remember them??
1st thing I ever bought from a member of this group, and yes the price was right :super:
MickT :wave:
did we find out if they do or dont have a waterproof bottom?
did we find out if they do or dont have a waterproof bottom?
Not yet Tomtom, but uncle Gary is working on it!
bushbasher
24-02-2005, 15:46
I've had one for years, Only used it a couple of times though. The damn thing weighs a Ton because of all the PU coated Nylon and it fills a 60 litre Rucksack completely. Also Its not particularly warm, but You can fold the Arms underneath yourself if you dont want cold hands.
It is a great Idea and I'm surprised no one has made a version from better materials. 400 gramme Goose Down filled, with a Drilite outer and pertex inner. Optional overbag in Goretex. Anyone want to lend me a few hundred grand so I can build a prototype? :o):
Fjallraven used to make a great version of this bag. Down filled, decent hood and wide enough at the chest that you could bring the sleeves inside and cross them over your chest for extra insulation. A friend of mine had one and I borrowed it a couple of times - great inside a snowhole. Doesn't look like they make it anymore though.
George
There is a version of this made by Carinthia called the wilderness, it appears to give the option of using the sleeves or having your arms inside the bag. It says that the comfort rating is -27 (we will probably have to wait till the EU tell us what the rating is later under there new system) but it is £189 in USMC, ouch!
A mate of mine had the German one, great if we had a vehicle to carry our kit but not if you were carrying it. Tomtom, I have a feeling the base on the German one is waterproofed but not certain.
Brian
There are 3 versions of this bag.
The old versions issued in the late 1950s were had the waterproof outer cover perminently attached to the bag.
The late 1960's to 1990's version had a removable outer cover which was totally waterproof (top and bottom). As said earlier, sweat can be a problem.
Another version has a wide permeable stripe running along the length of the zip. I guess this was an attemp to solve the sweat problem.
You can often find them in unissued condition. Check the condition of the rubber as some have become brittle in storage making the useless.
The German army later replaced these bags with a mummy type bag in the early 90's
I have been working on a similiar set up where I have a down lower section that attaches to my down parka, attaches with 2inch velcro , when used as sleeping bag, pull sleeves inside coat . also have mittens that attach to sleeves, all from clothes bought at thrift stores. so far only out about 20$ its sitting in a box, waiting for me to get around to sewing it. too many projects, not enough time.!!!!
bushwakka
25-02-2005, 17:53
The version of the bag that I've got seems to be the later one with the wide permeable stripe that runs from the neck to the horizontal zip. The bag seems to be waterproof including the base. I can roll it up quite small and it takes up less than the lower third of my 45 litre rucksack. I agree that it would be great if the same design was made from more modern, lightweight materials
j.roberts7
16-05-2005, 17:38
it all depends on how warm you sleep different people sleep at different temps
i have used one of these ages ago with out a mat and slept very well
but i sleep at quite a warm temp and for most of the time can get away without a mat or too thick a bag even in the uk winter
dont forget army sleeping bags are ment to be slept in fully clothed
Abbe Osram
16-05-2005, 18:19
20 years ago when I still was living in germany I had such a thing.
I didnt know another bag and so I didnt get pissed off about the bag, Today I would say they are cold, swetty, start to stink and you are much better of not having one at all. Most of the stuff is kind of sealed I dont remember if its rubber or something else. But you get wet in it and freeze. Today i live in the arctic north couple of weeks ago I was sleeping on a reindeer fur, having a nice fire and didnt use any kind of sleeping bag in around minus 5. In the german bag I believe I would have started to sweat, and start to freeze my nuts off.
my 2 cents
Abbe
it all depends on how warm you sleep different people sleep at different temps
i have used one of these ages ago with out a mat and slept very well
but i sleep at quite a warm temp and for most of the time can get away without a mat or too thick a bag even in the uk winter
dont forget army sleeping bags are ment to be slept in fully clothed
I used one a long time ago, I wasn't very impressed, but as JR mentioned above it does depend on how you sleep (hot or cold) and if you are fully clothed.
I think RAPPLEBY2000 summed it up either you love them or hate them. :(
Tried one once & ended up giving it to a gentleman of the road in canterbury.
found it to be too heavy for the quality of sleep it gave (or lack of it). Not bad in the summer but would not like to hike too far with one.
j.roberts7
18-05-2005, 16:21
best military bag i have is the 58 patern bag down filled but who cares for £15 you can use and abuse it if it gets wet ripped and dirty at least you havent just paid £250 for it
Great Pebble
23-05-2005, 22:46
They stink... at least mine did, maybe it's just me though.
Was just the job for scooter runs 'cos you could still open and quaff a beer in your maggot.
Never used it in the hills or woods, US "Mountain" bag would have been the tool of choice back then. Big, bulky needed to be kept dry but toastie. Then I "aquired" a '58 long which lasted until I discovered Snugpack.
I may be wrong but vaguely remember somebody either actually or or threatening to sue over a certain well known surplus dealer describing the German bag as being "suitable for arctic use" back about '86/'87
Hi ,
I too have used one of these on many occasions, as long as you bear in mind that they are supposed to be slept in fully clothed, they are no problem.
Perhaps a bit heavy for the amount of warmth provided, these bags are 3 season at best, however I have spent nights on welsh mountainsides under a tarp in one of these in february with no problems at all.
The secret to staying warm in these is quite simple, invert the arms so that they are inside the bag with you, and treat it like a normal sleeping bag, its a little cosy but eliminates the need for gloves or mittens.
Cheers
I have bought a couple of these but have'nt had the chance to try them, we'll see how it goes
I used to have one of those. I didn't like it because they sre so bulky and quite heavy. the material is difficult to compress. You may also find that you'll be slightly cramped in it too. I think the parka bit was intended for use whilst driving long distances, in a truck for example. Like someone else said, when they're wet they take ages to dry our and are not that warm.
I've made this out to be really bad!! I suppose if you get one for a tenner.............
In my local Millets, they are selling two sleeping bags for £29.00. They don't seem that bad either.Obviously they're not for serious use but for mild camping trips in the summer they'd be great. Otherwise go for a Snugpak softie 6 or 9.
Julian.
[QUOTE=Great Pebble] Then I "aquired" a '58 long [QUOTE=Great Pebble]
So you mean you actually had a 58 bag that you just managed to get up to your chest, as long as you bent your knees slightly!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thought I'd post my thoughts & experience with these...
Have had one such bag for some 10 years, but it's seen relatively little use. Anyway, the concept is sound, and I really like the waterproofness. (Yes, the bottom is w/proofed). But the fact that it is rubberized can make it a clammy package, because it can get sweaty if you're warm, or if the tent is warm. Mobility is great, none of that "constricted" feeling some tighter bags will induce.
At some 3 kilos it isn't *too heavy*, but there's no way to compress it properly, so it takes a lot of room. As far as the 3 season rating goes ... well, I can't recommend it for anything under +5. Have had teeth chattering nights at -6, and event at +2, and these in a tent...
Anyway, pros and cons (subjective) noted on exercises and in general use:
+ Mobility of the arms = very "handy" (use *warm* gloves, and you'll be fine)
+ Doubles as a warm parka (no need to carry a separate coat) eg. at the campfire, camp guard duty, stargazing etc. (too squeaky for OP)
+ Summertime you can skip using a roll mat
+ Impervious to showers (no need for a bivi bag)
- Packs slowly (packing it in the integral hood, a tight fit, takes time). If you're out camping, that's ok, if you're on exercises, you don't want to spend the time.
- Noisy, it squeaks. Nobody's expecting a soundless tent, but you get quite conscious of the squeaking.
- It is a bit short, if you're over 185 it might be a bit constrictive
- Cold (then again, if you don't plan on using it below freezing, that's no prob).
So all in all, it's a sound idea, and it works pretty well in warmer climates. If you're alright with it being a bit cumbersome, go ahead and buy one, or two. It is a versatile bag. That being said, I've moved on to lighter weight bags (eg. an Arktis Halo 3 + a bivi bag clocks it in at 2 kilos, so I save a kilo).
anthonyyy
11-09-2005, 21:44
Anybody know where to get other sleeping bags with "arms". Sleeping in a mummy bag drives me bananas and I usualy end up sleeping with the zip half undone.
I have used the German army bag and find it great for warm weather camping. I dont bother using the waterproof cover as I find it too clammy. Not a great sleeping bag for cold weather.
demographic
13-09-2005, 01:24
Both me and a mate bought a couple of these sleeping bags years ago (we were about 18 years old so that would be 15 years ago).
He had the one that was fully waterproof and I got the one that was mostly waterproof with a stripe that wasn't (to allow it to breath, I assume).
Between crimbo and new year we set off to spend a couple of nights in LACY CAVES (http://www.visitcumbria.com/pen/lacycaves.htm) thinking we had some really good kit.
I would now like to apologise to the farmer with the nearby barn for us stealing a bale of straw each cos those sleeping bags were not really up to the freezing conditions :(
Heavy, took up a large amount of space, and needed covering with straw to keep some heat in :o
Oh and if anyone needs a really good supply of sodden wood I can reccommend the woods in the lacy caves area in winter :)
The caves were pretty cool though , well worth a visit:D