Sleep Carrier System in AOR1/Desert Digital?

[Boyso]

Hello, I bought a Desert Digital Camelbak BFM 500


And I'm looking for a sleep carrier to hold a (possibly, haven't bought it yet) Tannier Industries modular sleep system. (http://www.tennierindustries.com/rfi-mss.html)

So is there any sleep carrier like the MOLLE II one? (http://www.armygear.net/armygear/ima...C-FINAL-lg.jpg)

Again, preferably in desert digital?

Thanks!

PS : It's for backpack camping, if it can helps with pointers or suggestions.

Are you looking at hiking much with that pack with sleeping bag, etc attached to it? Or just to drag from your car to tent or whatever?


If you are looking to hike with that pack, and sleeping bag attached I'd recommend against that. IMO it wouldn't be stable and just be awkward/uncomfortable, especially if you are using the full sleeping bag system, be better off using an actual rucksack.

IMO I wouldn't carry more then a foamie, bivvy bag and poncho liner in/off the BFM and similar packs.


To answer your question, this is the only Digital cam(CADPAT) valice I know of is the CP Gear one. If you do attach the sleeping bag to the bottem of the pack, make sure you secure the valice to the pack very tightly so it doesn't sway/move as you walk around.
http://www.cpgear.com/StoreBox/bnc/3019_0.htm

[Boyso]

It would be for hiking, 2/3 days most likely. I actually have never done any camping, trying to initiate myself to it slowly

Good thing about the MSS is most of the time you don't need to use all 4 layers, but only the patrol layer with the waterproof one.

You are right though, it might fit in the bag.

[Conker]

I don't know of any sleep carrier in AOR1. Your best bet is to ask Ferro or another custom gear maker.

[NovaKaynE]

If you're looking for a bag that will carry such a load for a 2-3 day hike, then you will want to purchase a pack that has some sort of frame. No offense but just because a pack says "3 day pack" doesn't 100% mean its a 3 day pack that will be comfy.

It may look cool, but style and functionality are two extremely different things. If you're actual dedicated to doing extended stay, look into getting a ruck sack type pack.

1. Food/water
2. Shelter
3. Clothing

Those are your primary tools for an extended stay. Think of a pack that will house these primary tools and then buy something that will fit that and then other stuff that will make you feel comfy. Don't forget that you have to carry all this shit so pack wisely.

Just my two cents.


EDIT: Obviously, don't forget about navigational tools. A map and compass is your best friend. GPS if you can afford it. But these tools don't work unless you know how to use them so read up on it beforehand and learn as much as possible before you release yourself into the wild. Just sayin...

[Conker]

BTW, I have the Tannier 4-piece sleep system (in woodland, not UCP), and it's been great so far. I highly recommend it. And yes, with the bivvy+2 sleeping bags, you can very comfortably camp in the winter.

[Dimitri]

If its a weekend/long weekend thing, you will want to look at atleast a internal frame for that pack. Yes a frame (especially external frame) gets heavy, but your back and shoulders will feel much better.

My last trip I used a ALICE frame with a C64 pack, was nice, the pack is just big enough to support me and the girlfriend for a 3 day hike, only had her carry about half of her food and a change of clothes as it was her first back country trip out this past summer. Yes the frame is heavy as hell, but at least I didn't feel the load while hiking which would have sucked.

Also what ever you spend on the bag and sleep carrier, spend double on a properly fitted pair of good boots.

Dimitri

[Boyso]

Thanks for the comments.

Like I said though, I really want to start progressively. So I'll start with day hikes, 1 night, to 2 nights out, etc.

As for the pack, I already bought it and will resell and buy a new one if I need a different one down the road. It does have some sort of internal plastic frame though, I believe.
("It does, however, have a wide plastic plate with a long flat thin (~1 1/4" wide) aluminum plate inserted down its middle to provide support to the shape of the pack and distribute the load. It is located in a seperate velcroed compartment (zipper enclosed) just behind the padding for your back and is removable.") -Found on Google

As for navigation, I live near a National Park (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mont-Tr..._National_Park) so it's not backcountry (yet), but I will still carry a map and a compass in case I get lost.

I currently own two pairs of Merrel shoes that are broked-in. Again if I see after a few hikes that it is not suitable for me, I'll see for a new pair

[Dimitri]

Originally Posted by Boyso

It does have some sort of internal plastic frame though, I believe.
("It does, however, have a wide plastic plate with a long flat thin (~1 1/4" wide) aluminum plate inserted down its middle to provide support to the shape of the pack and distribute the load. It is located in a seperate velcroed compartment (zipper enclosed) just behind the padding for your back and is removable.") -Found on Google

That will help.

Also, 1 day or 3 days, doesn't matter, depending on how you do it. Personally one day means ready to eat food, 2 days means ready to eat as well and a not so ideal shelter as the weather conditions for one night can be judged better then a multi-night stay.

Its only for 3 days/2 nights that the weight of the non-dehydrated food ends up making up for the weight of the camp stove, fuel and pot. After 2-3 days though, to extend to a week is oddly enough not difficult at all, because your carrying worst case gear, a proper tent, cooking items as I mentioned, rain jacket etc. The doubling of dehydrated foods is not a deal breaker to extend out to 7 days.

Yes I did my math right, 3 days of food is really 4 days worth, always carry a extra days food, just in case, especially if your not used to bush navigation, not that you will get lost, most trails are well worn, but that campsite you thought you could bypass might end up being needed after all. So for 7 days your carrying double, ie 8 days worth of food.

Day hikes you can travel over great distances without much issue, due to the fact you will be well rested and have less on your back, as you add days, you should pace yourself not to wear yourself out.

You might day hike at a rate of 4-6km/h no problem, but factor in back country long (6-8 hour a day) hikes to really be around 2km/h once you break and pace yourself so you don't get heat exhaustion (especially in the summer).

That park seems nice, and it looks like it has a nice back country trail called "The Park Crossing" to start off with over a long weekend. But please do take someone with you, leave the solo-backcountry camping to later when you've already done a few long weekend trips and are comfortable not with yourself, but with your equipment.

Dimitri

[Boyso]

Thanks for the advice, especially on food!

Bought my stove yesterday, I'm getting there ^^

It's really a nice park, not too many people and really nice trails

EDIT : Also, there are hundreds of lakes/rivers, so less water to carry.

[ThunderCactus]

1) I have a camelbak BFM and I fucking LOVE it
2) I just strap my sleeping kit to the bottom, works alright for me
3) Excellent fucking sleeping system, got one myself. FYI your feet will sweat profusely. And the US army apparently didn't think they'd be sleeping anywhere with mosquitoes, so you might want to sew a mosquito net over the bivvy bag opening.

OH and I almost suffocated stuffing my jacket against the opening so don't think that will work, these things are air tight lol

The "frame" is just a hard plastic back with an aluminum strip down the middle, I take it out when I'm on my motorcycle. The access is underneath the water reservoir zipper as I recall

[Boyso]

I actually got it today, and I'm impress. I could probably pack a midget in it!

Yeah, I can wait to have the funds to order the Tennier sleep system. Pretty cheap and rugged.

And I really love the pack ^^

[ThunderCactus]

Out of curiosity, what are you paying for that sleeping system?
I got mine off ebay before the ACU export ban, back when I was on an ARPAT/US cav team

As I recall, I think I paid either $180 or $220, never slept in.
IMO It's WAY better than $800 or $1200 civilian cold weather sleeping systems, that can ONLY be used for cold weather.
You're gonna sweat though, this thing is SEALED when you got the bivvy bag on. All your body heat condenses on the goretex if the ground is cold, so I highly recommend putting a blanket between the bivvy and your patrol bag so you don't wake up in a puddle of sweat lol

[Boyso]

New 150$, used 100$ is what I'm seeing it pretty much everywhere in surplus in the US now.

And yeah, it seems sooo better than those super expensive flashy ones that tear super easily.

For a fraction of the cost.