Army sleeping bags are not just ordinary sleeping bags. They have to be tough, easy to unravel and pack, light, durable, and not use a lot of space. In other words, the byword in all army sleeping bags is convenience over luxury.

However, compared to the original army sleeping bags created for use in World War II, which was an extremely good sleeping bag even up to today, several modifications have been made to improve on the design.

The one factor that has remained constant though is the fill or insulation used. In 1942, they already adopted the use of down feathers to keep the soldiers warm during those cold winter weather days. The shape used was mummy-like because it uses less space and can be stored easily. In addition, the mummy-shaped sleeping bags help keep the body warm since it practically hugs the body and promotes heat.

The reason for the army sleeping bags made of down feathers is the fact that this material is light, comfortable, and can keep a person warm even in the most extreme conditions.

Interestingly also is the quick release device that allows a person to unfold the sleeping bag with a flick of the hand and the casing which is water resistant. This makes this kind of sleeping bag ideal for mountaineers and serious campers.

The updated versions of the original army sleeping bags made of down feathers is the sleeping bags for the moderately cold and the extreme cold. Then the modular army sleeping bags were introduced in the 1970s.

If you compare the army sleeping bags made of down feathers with the mass produced commercial versions, you will see a distinct difference in the quality and standard. For one, most commercially produced sleeping bags are not equipped to handle extremely cold weather conditions; and they absorb water easily. This makes army sleeping bags very much in demand. They provide soft and comfortable sleep without having to actually bring a lot of beddings to make the ground softer.

Contrary to popular opinion among amateur campers, the army sleeping bags made of down feathers can be found easily on the internet. If you’re lucky, you can buy a brand new one at a very reasonable price. There is also a big chance of finding a used army sleeping bag at an even cheaper price.

Mountaineers and other sportsman had been using sleeping bags for quite a while. In fact, one of the earliest mentions of a sleeping bag is in Robert Louis Stevenson’s Travels with a Donkey in the Cévennes. The sleeping bag he used to travel across Languedoc, France was so heavy that it had to be carried by his donkey.

Army sleeping bags have been designed with cold weather in mind, as well as the need for them to be as light weight as possible and easy to get out of in cases of an emergency.  The M-1942 Mountain Sleeping Bag was designed with these factors in mind.  Mountain soldiers had to carry their sleeping bags with them, so they needed to be lightweight as well as durable and warm enough to sleep in some severe cold conditions.  The M-1942 was a sleeping bag that had a feather and down mixture fill and was mummy shaped.  It also had a slide fastener that had a quick release device which would allow the bag to open instantly in cases of emergency.  This was an arctic sleeping bag designed for severe weather.

At the beginning of World War II, regular soldiers were still issued blanket rolls.  Starting in 1944, army troops began to be issued a sleeping bag that was made of the same type of wool as their blankets only slightly heavier.  It was mummy shaped and came with a water resistant case.  It was lightweight and fairly warm and suited the needs for the regular infantry soldiers.  The mummy shape actually helped to save on material and was lighter than carrying several wool blankets as well as being warmer.

A new mountain bag, the M-1949 was issued in 1949.  It was a feather filled, mummy shaped sleeping bag that also had a heavy zipper with a quick release and water repellent bag.  This sleeping bag was issued all the way through the Vietnam War.  In the 1970s some improvements were made to the M-1949 and the Intermediate Cold Weather and Extreme Cold Weather sleeping bags were issued.

The current army sleeping bag issue is the Modular Sleeping System which first came out in the early 2000s.  It consists of four components: two mummy sleeping bags, the Intermediate Cold Weather and Patrol, a bivy cover and a compression stuff sack.  By using the components together, it can be used in extremely cold temperatures.  Outdoors men who venture out into cold and harsh conditions might want to consider an army sleeping bag. You can often find them at army surplus stores.