I have a friend who is a retired Navy Seal. He was a survival instructor in Alaska. Their winter sleep system was the MSS Bivy and Patrol (green) Bag combined with this set of parka and pants.
I can vouch for this parka. I wore it during a -40 degree windchill on top of some other warm layering and was absolutely comfortable walking around. I'm going to wear it in Northern Michigan for our deer hunt and I'm confident it will keep me warm all day.
It was around -30 F (-60 windchill) last week in St. Paul, Minnesota. I went for a walk with what I had and decided it was time to look for something new.
Of all the RU-vid channels & experts . I honestly believe that you are the only channel giving advice on a multitude of products that myself and the public can know we're not getting taken for a ride and sold on something that isn't worth while. Your honest shows that you can be totally trusted on your reviews. Basically your word is Gospel Truth 100%. Thank you for you absolute honesty on your reviews.
I keep a set in my car during the winter in case I get stuck. Even here in buffalo it's too warm to use as active wear. But if your static in 0 deg around ish weather this system rocks.
I have a set and bought it brand new at Quinn's in Saskatoon for 200.00. Don't regret paying the price. Durable,super warm and made well. Am going to try using it instead of a sleeping bag during a winter camping trip. Will post notes upon return. Strength and honour!
Just picked up the parka to complete my set. I also found the booties too. The parka and pants will serve me well. I plow snow during the winter and I'm all set. Thanks for another great review. I have to watch your vids on the downlow cause my wife is going to kill me if I buy one more thing...oh well who wants to live forever
I just got the parka and took it for a test here in Maine. It was 15 degrees and feels like 12 to 9 degrees with windchill. I went for a mile walk and just in a synthetic t-shirt I was sweating. Interesting enough my sweat did not make me cold in this! Warmest jacket I have ever owned hands down.
For me it has worked great for times I was not moving, such as hunting in a tree-stand. Walking in this set up, burns me up unless I am only wearing my underwear.
Excellent review Luke... Being prior USSF, I can say you did and outstanding job...have used top and bottom in -15 with a chill factor of -31 and did not get cold whatsoever...but keep in mind that was with L1 thru L7...Have a Blessed Day, my friend
The level 7 pants and part in coat is like wearing a sleeping bag I don't know I compare them to like God it's you cannot live without these pants in the cold they are really really truly amazing
Hey bro. I live in west quebec near Ottawa. We get temps at night of around -30 and colder sometimes. I use army surplus cold weather bag, snowshoes, and the works. Love your vids, but I notice most of them are angled towards people with a bit of money. Some of us don't even have the 50 to spend on a pair of army pants. Maybe you could do a "poor mans" gearset like I have. Canadian tire axe.. Sweaters and a farm coat and mechanics overalls. Snowmobile boots... That kind of thing. Farmer gearset. Know what I mean?
I have used it as a sleep system and it does a fine job. Add wool socks and the booties, and you have it made. I still used a light wool blanket, just because I like a cover over me, and I wanted to make sure that no sparks landed on me and ruined the system. The temperature I used them at was 19f and windy.
I have the whole extreme cold weather system ... but I live in Northern Minnesota. It’s extremely awesome. A great option especially when one cannot afford the high end expensive brands like North Face, etc...
I got the whole system too and, having done that, came up against its limitations. I now view ECWCS as a entry point into technical clothing. I've filled in the gaps with a few specialized vests from the premium brands. Arcteryx garments are quite sophisticated in what they can each accomplish when paired intelligently. A superlight insulated vest like the Atom SL would be well-received by tactical users, I think.
Bro, Love your vid, as I had to see what you say about these. Your spot on and this I know. I used these and felt like I lost my dog, after turning in prior to retirement. Forget those with negative comments, this is not for the rich, and its not over priced. Thanks for representing the military with spot on assessment's. You truly have a knack for the doing good vids, "goodluck."
I bought the "non"-USGI vest made by Brooklyn Armed Forces which is derived from the ECWCS/PCU systems. I think vests are really overlooked in a modular clothing system because they add that extra warmth without restricting movement. A vest is usually all I need to bring for extra flexibility. And I have multiple vests in multiple sizes to pair with whatever my existing layering setup may be.
Primaloft being a synthetic is best for when you’re moving. Natural down is better for bag. I know u know this, so no insult. I love the channel and passion for surplus!
Ok i got my level 7 pants and top for $45. I may Never need it here in Alabama but for that price i couldnt turn it down. Your review did it for me. Thks
I was looking at this piece of Equipment last week... Your video confirmed my initial research.....Thanks brother I'll be ordering this tomorrow after I figure out what size I am haha
I'm from Minnesota. 3 decades now. Done a lot of research on cold weather systems. This is level 7 for a reason. There's a wheel of weather showing what layers lv 1 thru 7 to wear in different temperatures and while active or idle. the seven level system was designed to know exactly the attire needed in every situation in inhospitable environments. Neglecting the other layers completely eliminates the true comfort a complete set that's recommended for your activity and temperatures. We do get negative 50 here on occasion. Negative 30 is expected. These items are not for most, simply because of environment, but for the adventurous ones Minnesota and North, these items ARE freedom. Freedom that tundra tries her damnedest to us from.
slept in it,parka,pants and the U.S.M.C.issue boots.Supper warm,stuck in a van at a rest stop on Rt.81 North, south of Syracuse NY. Waiting out the white out.Got to -12, I was over warm,unzipped parka, good to go.
Winter van life? Most people just aren't going to need this much insulation. When it's this cold, most people just look out the window and say, "Yeah, nah, eff going outside."
That parka is excellent. Trying talk my kids into buying me one for Christmas can get one at Joint Base M.D.L. in Jersey.Son and son in law can get one at uniform supply.They are still in Army..We had NOTHING like this when I served in Army,NOTHING! Put that parka under a water proof shell. All you need.
Total awesome I have the jacket but I like the pants enough to buy them thanks for sharing Luke and agreed it could replace a sleeping bag for ultra light hiking.
I have these pants. They are super warm. Luke is going to hate me for saying that I got them from sportsmansguide. They still have them new issue, $45. Well worth the cash, even if you hate the SG. I use mine to shovel in crazy cold Northern Michigan weather and will use them this winter as part of a sleep system to winter camp. Awesome. I wish I had the coat, too, but I have a lot of other down Patagonia, Northface jackets that are equal.....and I am getting a boss full wool suit from Russia!!
I live in Tennessee I have this in my inventory for winter bug out. It sure beats what i was issued for team sprited in Korea in the 1985. I believe it will work great with a lite sleeping bag in the winter in Tennessee. With or without a fire.
Canadian army arctic parka and bib pants are much more warmer. -60°c rated with all the layers. We have a pretty good fleece (comfy af) layer as well. This is equivalent to our ICE parka and pants Good to -30°c.
Very good ! Size wise ,do they assume your fully layered up ,ie a medium size parka will assume a medium size man layered up ? And are the pants similar with waist and length ? Thanks , great videos , your the only one that discusses the improved version of the sleeping bag system in such depth . Nice one ☝🏻
IMO, the newer fleece is inferior to the older black fleece (which replaced the itchy bear suit). It's just thicker, allows better ventilation, etc. I have the newer pants and jacket of the Level 7 Gen III but for outdoor use, I still like the N3B parka. I keep my set, and decent snow boots and Air Force arctic mittens in my Jeep.
I never will understand the fascination with military surplus stuff. I HATED everything I was ever issued, except for my woobie (pancho liner). Granted, I was never issued anything I have ever seen you review, but all of my issue gear was junk even when it was new. Maybe that has changed in the eleven years since I have been out, but I there is a reason I only kept my woobie when I got out.
i was just thinking the same thing. i served in the usmc in the mid to late 90s and everything i was issued was outdated garbage. we were still issued the canvas pup tent shelter halves lord knows how long they have been circulating. although i will say we were issued a modern sleep system (e.g warm weather mummy bag, cold weather mummy bag and gortex shell)
Im not completely sure about the sleeping bag replacement. I tried to sleep in Snugpak Softie pants and Sasquatch jacket in -5°C inside 3 season mode of Litefighter tent. +I covered myself with two woobies and after 2 hours of sleep i woke up freezing and had to jump inside the bag eventualy. The issue is even when you have extra cold clothing you still loosing the body warmth. Fact is That i used the mentioned winter sleeping bag (base camp ops lite version) as an pad replacement cause I could not afford one ať the time. Planning to try Modular sleeping system in the winter.
Hi, Without the fleece jacket, how does the ECWCS parka compare to the M65 field jacket with the M65 liner??. Without "proper layering". I live in the Foothills of the Great Smokey Mountains. I think the coldest I have seen it here during an artic blast here is in the single digits. I am just trying to compare my M65 jacket to what is out there. After 40 degrees "F". my field jacket starts to lose its comfort, after 30 degrees "F" my M65 makes me wish I had something better. My M65 will keep me alive here, but not comfortable.
Luke!!!! How big are you and what size coat do you wear. I have the pants already and just found a great deal on the coat but I dont know what size. I have the pants in Large, and they are a tad too big, I am 5' 10" 162lbs. I want the coat but need your input, brother! and, NO the coat is NOT from the SG!!! haha! Cheers!
I have a question for anyone that can answer I just picked up this parka at Goodwill for 12 bucks fits perfect but I washed it and I'm wondering if I should spray Scotchgard or waterproofing or something like that on its I live here Minnesota and would like to have it Some what water resistant or do you think it will be just fine...... also did you take off the velcro? Mine has it on I'm wondering if I should take it off.
I used it in mn this year at -40 amazing piece of gear. Heats you up very fast say when cold camping and need to go from bag to outerwear ASAP. This does it. I have worn whites over it to take it even further. Amazing stuff.
Intentionally roomy or baggy to be worn in layers with other clothing; also, to permit freedom of movement when in all positions to include being in prone position. Primaloft, created specifically for the U.S. Army, can get wet and still provide substantial warmth; this is why the military does not use goose down as an insulating material. Parka can be worn comfortable inside of today's (circa 2020) U.S. Navy Type III, Parka, Working (Goretex Shell) for extremely wet conditions.
Does anyone by chance have the weight of the parka and pants? I personally love the idea of using it as a sleep system especially for something like a bail out bag. It allows you to stay warm and move quickly without being confined
Luke i noticed the o pants are medium..is the parka medium too?also whats your height-weight?..im trying to figure out what size i should order...in level 1 us army issue i fit both in medium regular and large regular..im somewhere between these 2..not too small not too big..i think i will go for a medium one ...
DVBLUE Short well when I used it it was the PCU, although I admit I was not Army. So when ECWCS started being the name is new to me. I’ve admittedly never used the Gen 3 stuff. As with anything, I guess it depends on your branch of service as to what they call the exact same thing.
I have the parka and it’s a medium long and fits perfect. Thinking of getting the fleece. Should I also get a medium long ? I’m 5,11 and 185 pounds. Thanks
EBay is an AMAZING place to get surplus. Just get from a good seller and make sure the seller's images show the NSN number. I got mine for 43$ and it's way overkill
@@sonfoku73 The only ones I could find on EBay that were under $70.00 were damaged (broken zipper and tears) I would like to know where the RU-vidrs get their prices from . Every time I try to buy something shown on You tube the prices are significantly higher .