Improvised Sock (DIY-ish)

[ryanscottdavis]

Hello!

In late 2015 I did a cross-country bike tour, with minimal gear and an ENO DoubleNest. Along the way I picked up an Army Modular Sleep System (MSS) off Craigslist. The MSS is a multi-bag sleeping system rated from summer to winter by using each of the two included bags separately, or by snapping them together to go really cold. I also had an US Army Wool Blanket, because I like blankets.

One very windy day I decided to create my own "sock" by throwing the blanket and an open bag over the structural ridgeline, and using tie-down straps to secure them. The results were great! The first night using this system I actually woke up because I was too hot, a fun problem to have! Easy solved by pulling back the blanket to ventilate. I used this system in a bunch of configurations to great success. I slept down to 30*F dozens of nights with no UQ. I kinda liked how cozy it was, and very dark, allowing one to sleep-in if desired.

Night #1
sock.jpg

A very very windy night (as horrible and blurry photo confirms)
2015-10-01 21.23.59.jpg

I think I will get a true Sock for the future, but I was very presently surprised by this dry-weather solution.

Thanks!

[Dublinlin]

Great work around!

[Ozipit]

The MSS system is really nice.. I used the whole system including the Gortex bivy bag a lot the last two years as a ground dweller during my oil cloth tarp adventures.

Did you get the bivy bag also with the purchase? I take it you used the black bag inside, right?

Ozi

[ryanscottdavis]

Did you get the bivy bag also with the purchase?

Sadly no, it only included the warm bag and the winter bag (which is grey, not black). So I used the grey bag inside and the warm bag on top. I think maybe my system is an older model? But I picked up the two bags with the compression sack for $40 at a McDonalds in Ohio so I'm not complaining. I'll try to dig out the bags and look up their model numbers for clarification. I would be interested in the bivy at some point, although I'd rather hang, sometimes on a bike tour I'm so tired I just want to lie down immediately.

[Ozipit]

Mine is the older woodland camo version.. No real difference.. Get the bivy Gortex bag.. It adds warmth like a winter sock does to a hammock

Ozi

[ryanscottdavis]

Yeah I will. Mine bags are the green Patrol Bag and the urban grey Intermediate Cold Weather sleeping bag.

[Speedogomer]

I made a similar mod with Costco quilts. I'm surprised how nice it works to keep heat in.

I posted this is in the show off your Costco quilt thread, and I'll do a separate thread at some point, but I'll leave a link to the video I made anyways....

http://youtu.be/5R7QbP-kh6Q