Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Backpack Hunting US Forrest Service disposable sleeping bags ?

A few years back, a friend told me about a back packing/fishing trip down the lower Mokelumne River using USFS disposable sleeping bags. Apparently they are/were made from multiple layers of paper for insulation. Anybody know anything about these and where I might fine them ? E

Haven't seen those thing for 40+yrs. My Father was a District Ranger for the USFS & they were used for firefighters overnight packs. If I remember correctly a light rain made them instantly disposable. Made out of glorified crepe paper. Good Luck!
Cheers

Sounds combustible, what if all of your hand warmers light it on fire?

I've seen these in the early 90's while working on an fire crew. They dropped them in with an helicopter amongst other supplies. Basically they are crap because while on that fire it started snowing and they became worthless.

I saw those in a friend's basement some 50 years ago and his brother was in the BCFS. About 10 years later, while I was also in the BCFS, I worked with his brother and these had been phased out as they did not do too well in BC's typically "wet" climate.

Snow on a forest fire, yup, had it in June, July, August and always was VERY happy to see that happen! But, I have seen pretty bad wildfires from huge old Cedar stumps, lit by slashburning and buried under snow for the long winter and then, spring hot spell, some wind and whammo, burning like hell and a real shock to experience even before most of our Lookouts were up for the season.

Makes me kinda "misty" to remember those days, 20+ to almost 50 years ago, in detection and suppression for the BCFS and the Alberta Forest Service......tough, often lonely, VERY dangerous work and I would go back tomorrow.......

Firefighters used to use them. Okay in warm temps. Forest has one r.

OPC, I didn't know you fought fire in the 90s.

I've spent a few nights in those bags on fires. When dry, they have more insulation value than a poncho, not as much as a poncho liner let alone a quilt or poncho liner made out of modern materials. They were pretty bulky too. It's been a lot of years, but I seem to remember a roll about a foot in diameter and 14" long. They were pretty light by the standards of the day, but at least a couple of pounds. A DWR shelled primaloft quilt or poncho liner beats those paper bags by a pretty fair margin in every way I can think of.

Sometimes I play the "how would I outfit myself these days if I was still a hotshot" game. For the weight of the GI poncho I used to carry, I could have a silnylon poncho AND a modern synthetic poncho liner.

Thanks, gentlemen. E

I kept mine from my Fire crew days, got the upgraded one from a late season fire, its not bad for a 50 degree bag, I keep it in the truck for emergencys.

Never heard of one! Tried to google up an image but came up blank. If anyone has an image I'd love to see it.

The things we come up with.

Will