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Gonk Sacs

General discussions on joining & training in the British Army.
shemulie
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Gonk Sacs

Post by shemulie »

This is one for fellow squaddies and grunts out there. I'm looking into investing in a high speed sleeping bag as I'm tired of humping the issued one round, bloody well takes up most of the bergen.

I was looking at buying one of those Gucci 2 in one bags that can be used both together or on their own (3 different levels of protection). The first that sprung to mind was the Snugpak 'Special Forces' system. However I have heard that their bags are perhaps too narrow for a knackered squaddie laden in combats n boots.

I was also thinking about picking up one of the new 2 in one US Army sleeping systems, but was not sure how well they hold up.

If anyone has any advice on Snugpak, how durable they are, the US bags then please tell!

Likewise if anyone has any recommendations for any other make of bags, or what’s worked for you, then let us know.

Again this is one for all you experienced foot sloggers out there.

Cheers!
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Post by judy29 »

"gonk sacs"? "shamulli"?
Christ you'r green arn't you mate!
Most of the bags sold in black's are quite good, you cant go wrong by spending £50 or so. :roll:
shemulie
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Post by shemulie »

I don't quite appreciate that kind of attitude. I've put my time in and don't need to go around trying to prove something.

Had a gander at the Blacks website but it didn’t have much in line with what I'm looking for, besides most of em are some lovely bright rainbow colour.

I'm looking into the 'multi bag' bags so I'll have something to suite whatever diverse environement I find myself in next.
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Post by anglo-saxon »

What do you guys reckon to this stuf: http://www.snugpak.com/codegreen/sleepingbags.php4

Is it popular? Any good? Worth the money?
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Post by judy29 »

Shemullie,
If you have done your time then you should know that "green"
is Not an insult........ duh!
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Tab
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Post by Tab »

I always thought they were known as fart sacks.

:drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking:
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Post by mercury »

How do you spell shemoolie anyway ? :oops:
"certa cito"
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Lucent
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Re: Gonk Sacs

Post by Lucent »

Does anyone know the temperature range for the standard issue sleeping bag ? Like shemulie I am thnking of buying my own, if I can get one with the same temperature range and if its a helluva lot smaller when rolled/compressed..

Cheers :)
anglo-saxon wrote:What do you guys reckon to this stuf: http://www.snugpak.com/codegreen/sleepingbags.php4

Is it popular? Any good? Worth the money?
"He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool;
and he who dares not, is a slave." ---William Drummond.
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Post by Sully »

I don't I'm afraid, but I remember freezing my nuts off in a pussers arctic bag when it got below -10. Mountain equipment down bags were about the best when I was in. Top tip, strange as it sounds, is not to sleep in too much kit - it seemed that the less I wore in my bag the warmer I felt - thermals being the minimum though.

Shemuli sounds like a smart bloke. Served under a few of his sort - great :roll:
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Post by Lucent »

Absolutely, its worth while taking the time to strip off as much as you can before you bed down. Its probably the last thing you will want to do coming off your second stag and in pitch black, but by keeping your clothes on, you dont allow your body warmth to filter out and warm up the air and lining of the bag - which is how they are meant to work - and you'll just lie there shivering for the night.

T

Sully wrote:Top tip, strange as it sounds, is not to sleep in too much kit - it seemed that the less I wore in my bag the warmer I felt - thermals being the minimum though.

Shemuli sounds like a smart bloke. Served under a few of his sort - great :roll:
"He who will not reason is a bigot; he who cannot is a fool;
and he who dares not, is a slave." ---William Drummond.
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Post by Sully »

Sounds about right my friend, it sounds arse about face but does work :wink:
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Post by RobT »

Tab wrote:I always thought they were known as fart sacks.

:drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking: :drinking:
DOSS BAGS!

:drinking:
shemulie
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Post by shemulie »

Shemullie,
If you have done your time then you should know that "green"
is Not an insult........ duh!
Er, ok I guess...sos bout that then... it was just one of those days. In the states right now and have become too used to their jargon... hooah high speed!

How to spell shemul.... erm, completely differently from how I did!

Yeah, anyone know the realistic temp ranges of the issued gonc?

I tried out a softie Merlin 3 a 'buddy' of mine has here and it was pretty good, but it weren’t bloody alf small! Too tapered at the feet for me (size 13). Still, we can't always have our cake and eat it.

I tried one of the new US bags over the weekend. It has an inner black cold weather bag and an outer green summer bag that can fit over it. It wasnt bad. again narrow at the feet. But me thinks it's something worth swiping!

Lads, check out www.wiggys.com and have a look at their Super Light with the FTRSS overbag. Quite a few $$$, but the pund/ doller exchange rate is good. Also I e-mailed Wiggy and he said for $20 more he could attach quick release zips which is pretty Gucci. e is very co-operative and helpful. All the zips are big metal sturdy things like the issued gonc, unlike snugpak, very durable. .... and best of all his bags are guaranteed. The bags are replaced or repaired for free!!!


Having said all this, I heard word that the MOD is starting to issue some sort of summer sleeping bag? Any words on this?
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Post by BenP »

I have a Softie 9 which packs down to half the sixe of the issue and is warmer. Only thing is that you can't fall asleep on an incline as you wake up at the bottom of the hill. They are like Teflon. I got one for £75 which I believe is nothing short of a bargain.
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