KYIV. UkraineGate . . October .2022 | Society .
When choosing a sleeping bag for a soldier, it is better to pay attention to synthetic filler, because in this case natural materials will not be practical.
Citation
“Pay attention primarily to materials. There are two main types of materials: synthetics and natural materials. Synthetics get wet worse, dries faster and keeps the temperature almost the same as natural materials. Natural materials are down and wool. Fluff is considered warmer, but in rainy weather and high humidity, it will warm while dry. As soon as he gets wet, you should not expect any heat from him. And with it a lot of hassle to dry. It is much easier with synthetics in this sense: hang it so that it is blown by air, and nothing else is needed. Therefore, I would not advise taking a sleeping bag made of natural materials to the military. In addition, synthetics are better compressed when there is a need to throw in a backpack and transport. It is worth selecting for individual parameters,” Melnychuk said.
There are also so-called “sleeping systems” or MSS (Modular Sleep System). They have several layers. There is the most insulated, designed for the lowest possible temperature. There is also a less insulated layer for moderate temperatures, such as spring and summer. From above, they are protected by an outer separate layer – it is a membrane material that prevents moisture, wind and rain from penetrating to the insulating layers. Such systems are issued to NATO military and consist of 4 items: an insulating layer, a moderate layer, a membrane outer protective layer and a bag to fit it all.
“Knowing in what conditions you will have to sleep, at what temperature, you can choose one of these layers in combination with a protective one. If there is no moisture, it can be used without a protective layer. That is, to choose under the appropriate circumstances. Such a system is the “gold” standard for a serviceman. As far as I know, they are transferred to us, but not much. You can buy yourself, but the price tags are a little inhumane. I would advise it to be assembled in parts, that is, not to buy all 4 items at once, but, for example, first of all to buy a layer for the nearest weather and protective. And to purchase another layer as needed,” Melnychuk advises.
Details
He also advises not to forget about the mat under the sleeping bag.
“Insulation heats well until it is compressed. As soon as you lie on insulation, fluff or synthetics, it shrinks and the space between the cold surface and your body becomes smaller, so low temperatures reach the body faster. Therefore, rugs are a must. Under it you still need to put something that does not allow moisture to pass through at all. There are so-called “life blankets” – this is a film that does not let in the wind and moisture. You can use the usual cellophane film, throw it on the ground, put a rug on it, and only then a sleeping bag,” the expert said.
Currently, there are plenty of options for rugs. However, those that are intended for sports are too thin, so they will not work. For the military, the best option is a rug at least 1 cm thick.
“Ideally – if it is foam, with closed pores, which will not absorb moisture. There are those that curl, and there are those that fold with an “accordion”. The latter type is more convenient, because when folded, it is more compact. There are various inflatable mats. But in my opinion, they should not be taken for the military. So, they give a larger space between the surface and the body, the thickness of an ordinary mat is 1-2 cm, and the inflatable one is 5-7 cm. But with them there is more trouble, they are more comfortable in tourist conditions, when there is no need to rush anywhere and nothing threatens life. Inside it is the same foam as in a regular rug. But in order for it to occupy less space when folded, air is “squeezed out” of it, and due to this, such mats are more compact. But it takes some time for the foam to completely straighten and air goes inside and disperses over the entire surface. After all, if he does not straighten and lie on top of him, then there will be no point. The military does not always have time to wait. If you have 20-30 minutes to sleep, then no one will wait half an hour for him to straighten. And this is somewhat dangerous,” Melchuk added.
In addition, a regular mat is easier to use, because in case of breaking through a material or burning a small area through a fire nearby, it can be sealed and further used. The inflatable mat after breaking will have to be changed to a new one.
Source: Ukrgate
