Improved Combat Shelter (ICS)

[Aberrix]

I am looking for people who've had experience with the ICS (particularly cold-weather experience). I've tried to do some research and found little tid-bits here and there but my problem is their description for the ICS isn't very descriptive and I haven't been able to find much info besides the generic stuff I posted below. So, can anyone who has used this tent please give me some feedback.

Also if there is a better alternative to this I would love to hear about it. I can find the ICS for about $175-200 online, so I'd like to stay in that price range for alternatives and before someone ask's I'd like something about the same size as the ICS, so no tiny ecotat-type setups.

What conditions did you use it in? Did it hold up well to those conditions? It appears the fly is made of gortex(?), but I am curious if the tent body itself is also made of gortex? and/or is the tent body also water proof? is it well constructed of quality materials? any complaints?

Thanks in advance.

http://www.herculeswear.com/photos/2359_65008.jpg

Description: The ICS is the next generation one soldier combat shelter currently being used by the U.S. military. This next generation shelter is made of lightweight, durable, flame resistant ripstop nylon.

Details: The ICS is a versatile, man-portable, shelter system for one person. The ICS tent consists of a shelter body, an attachable rain fly (provides a waterproof shelter and forms a shelter storage vestibule, it also can function separately as a hooch), support poles, ground stakes, carry bag, and a field repair kit. The ICS is a single-storage vestibule, one-person size, double-walled, free-standing shelter that strikes easily. The ICS provides protection from rain, wind, and snow in climates ranging from basic cold through tropical hot without leaking or collapsing. The shelter is made with flame resistant materials.

[Desert*Fox]

i have one in acu patteren neaver really use it

[Aberrix]

i have one in acu patteren neaver really use it

have any feedback about it at all?

[theholeinthedonut]

I have one and can't say anything negative about it....only used it in central europe though so don't ask me how it holds up in desert or jungle environement. It is of a very good quality, no problem with heavy rain and storm, I wouldn't trust it to hold up during heavy snowfall, light snow it should be ok, but as stated in the brochure and every other bit of info I found about the ICS it is a THREE SEASON tent!! I love it's lightness and ease of pitching, it is very small though, only enough place for one person and the backpack has to stay outside.

[Aberrix]

but as stated in the brochure and every other bit of info I found about the ICS it is a THREE SEASON tent!!

Thanks for the info, I couldn't find anywhere it said that, it did say "snow" in what I had read so I assumed it was a 4-season... that's what I get for assuming... :P

edit: anyone have any idea what the army/usmc is currently using for cold weather operations? (as far as tents/shelters go)

[theholeinthedonut]

Thanks for the info, I couldn't find anywhere it said that, it did say "snow" in what I had read so I assumed it was a 4-season... that's what I get for assuming... :P

edit: anyone have any idea what the army/usmc is currently using for cold weather operations? (as far as tents/shelters go)

As far as I know still the ECWT, I got two...brilliant piece of kit but forget about carrying it on your own...heavy like a bith..it's a four person tent but really nice stuff made by TNF and Eureka.
http://military.eurekatents.com/tents/ecwt.html

[Aberrix]

eek @ 21.56lbs

looks like I might just be investing in something civilian made...

[theholeinthedonut]

eek @ 21.56lbs

looks like I might just be investing in something civilian made...

I can't remember finding a decent single person expedition tent...so either you take a bivvy bag wich is not something I would like to spend a week in with blizzards raging and snow falling, or you go with the ICS and a multiperson tent for winter use. Mind that the ICS sure can handle a few centimeters of snow, but I don't think it will fare well in the mountains in winter.

[Aberrix]

Well my next candidate is the MSR Dragontail (http://www.msrgear.com/tents/dragontail.asp) which is a 2-man bomb-proof 4-season expedition tent that would set me back about $450 (MSRP) but weighs in at under 5lbs! So although double the cost of an ICS at least I know this will hold up well in the mountains and 50+ mph winds...

[Britboy]

Hmm looks interesting.

Try www.sofmilitary.co.uk (http://www.sofmilitary.co.uk), think they have hooped bivvys. That website is from GB, but at least it'll get you thinking about types and manufacturers I should think.

I'm looking for a hooped bivvy myself (one man or maybe even me + my better half, she's only small) but for civvy stuff, not mil stuff (problem is civvy mountain kit adds a lot to the price tag compared to army surplus!). Mate wants one too, big enough for him and maybe the dog I should think. But then I've not had a hooped bivvy before so I might be way off the mark about the feasibility of squeezing other sentient beings inside too?

Not really done any proper cold weather stuff so it's always been just a poncho/shelter sheet for me, interesting to see what is used though. A 3/4-man tent may be just the thing when you've got a wagon, but it's not good for manpacking (ouch). I've only ever used a tent for civvy stuff, but not sure how you'd use it with mil stuff, after all its not as if you can dig one into a shell-scrape now is it...

[OMON]

I was expecting something bomb resistant....

[Beer Monster]

Well my next candidate is the MSR Dragontail (http://www.msrgear.com/tents/dragontail.asp) which is a 2-man bomb-proof 4-season expedition tent that would set me back about $450 (MSRP) but weighs in at under 5lbs! So although double the cost of an ICS at least I know this will hold up well in the mountains and 50+ mph winds...

Hilleberg Akto (http://estore.websitepros.com/1764795/-strse-64/Akto/Detail.bok). Excellent small tent, $385 dollars but will last a long time.

[szr]

I have a North Face Mountain 25. Bomb proof and weighs like 9lbs. Sleeps 2-3 depending on how intimate you're willing to get. Sleeps 2 with equipment easily.

[Qyn]

hey, the ics 2000 is not Gore-tex material. The rainfly is black on the inside (on the woodland version at least) which makes the inside pretty dark. The fly goes down to the ground on the back side (the side not visible in your photo). If you get one of these i would maybe pitch it in the fly and groundshee only mode to save quite a bit of weight/pack size by leaving the tent home.