Czech army bed roll

[Kernowek Scouser]

I've seen this Czech Army Bed Roll (http://www.militarymart.co.uk//czech-army-bed-roll/prod_1772.html) recommended on another forum.

3846

It might be a bit bulky when rolled up but apparently is pretty lightweight, not geared from brass monkey weather, but should keep a chill out from spring through to autumn.

And it is only £10 T^

There are a few bit and bobs on military mart that have caught my eye and I'm about to make a purchase.

I'm toying with the idea of adding this to my order, but before I do, I thought I'd ask if any of you good people have one (or have used one) and how you would rate it.

Cheers,

Colin

[Boots]

Hi Colin,

I got one when they were recomended on 'another forum' and they had gone up to £12 by the time I got one.

Not used in anger yet but a well made bit of kit for the £19ish it came in at, with p&p.

All the best,


Boots

[happybonzo]

This Military Mart seem to be a funny old company. Some of their items are stinking cheap and others are more expensive than the suppliers own websites.
I suppose its the old thing of shopping around

[Kernowek Scouser]

Since posting, I found a rather extensive thread on yet 'another forum' and as the reviews all seem mostly positive, I've ordered one (and erm I might have added a few more bits and bobs to the bits and bobs that I had already decided to buy - thank heavens I no longer have to fund the ex girlfriends social life!)

Shiny times ahead :D

[Fletching]

Cheap as chips that. I'll look forward to your review Colin.

Steve :)

[Kernowek Scouser]

Might be a fair few weeks before I actually get to use it on an adventure, as I've got a raft of birthdays, stag dos and weddings to get through over the next three weeks.

But when I do get a chance to at least do a cheeky overnighter, a review will certainly follow... and there may even be pictures :D

[Kernowek Scouser]

I forgot about this thread :oops:

I'm probably not going to have a proper go at using this bed roll until the RV, but I did do a cheeky overnighter in the back garden when I first received it and this mini review the morning after, posted in the 'What have you bought now' thread.



I was so excited about this trying this bedroll, I had a cheeky overnighter in the back garden, in my tent (yes I am a pussy) and I have to say, I had the most comfortable outdoor kip in a good long while. Bit of a chilly night and the wind didn't make it any warmer, but I was nice and toasty in this bed roll. Didn't need the extra blanket or sleeping bag liner I had on hand (or the emergency duvet, I had on standby in the house), just popped a self inflating sleeping mat between the outer and inner layers, tucked myself in, revelled in being able to move my feet about and wiggle my shoulders, then swiftly dropped off and spent a pleasant evening in the Land of Nod.


As for the bed roll itself, it arrived in pretty much mint condition, two working days after I placed my order. The bed roll consists of a water proof outer layer, a poor man's bivi if you will (although I have not tested if this is actually water proof as my trial was in a tent) a thick (and heavy) inner blanket and a thin and light (ish) liner blanket.

The dimensions of the bed roll are:

The width of the bed roll is 27 inches / approx 69 cms
The length of the bed roll, when unrolled is 200 inches / approx 179 cms
The circumference of the bed roll, when rolled up is 35 inches / approx 89 cms*
*This measurement includes two additional layers, a self inflating mat and a spare fleece blanket, on top of the existing outer, inner and liner layers.

I'm 55 inches around the chest and shoulders and when in the bed roll, it was a comfortable fit for me, I could wiggle my toes and move my feet at my leaisure, I could move my arms comfortably under the blanket (steady on!), turn over without taking the bed roll over with me and most importantly, I did not feel like I was wrapped in elastic bands from the elbows up. I'd estimate there was between one to two inches of give around the shoulders when I was in the bed roll, so the elastic band feeling shouldn't kick for anyone less than 57/58 inches around the shoulders.

I may well replace the heavy inner blanket with something lighter at some point, I may swap the liner layer for a sleeping bag liner at some point too, I may even get a proper bivi bag to put the inner layer and liner into (effectively making the purchased bed roll redundant), but I will not regret spending a tenner on this bed roll if I do.

This cracking little product has not only provided me with a decent sleep system alternative to the uncomfortable and constrictive sleeping bags I have had to endure in the past, it has also sparked my imagination it to life and I am having lots a fun thinking of ways to tailor this sleep system to my needs, in a variety of season and conditions. I may end up getting another bag (or bags) to fit inside the outer and I may get a new outer to compliment any new bags, but I may also found myself out of a job at some point in the future too (it could happen) and be forced to make do with what gear I already have, which includes this cracking, inexpensive, adaptable sleep system :D

I have found my camera, but the cable to connect it to my laptop remains M.I.A. so still no pictures at the moment, but I will add some if/when the cable turns up.

Cheers,

Colin

Btw. did I mention I love this bed roll?

[Tony1948]

Good review Colin,I have seen them cheeper than £12 on ebay but a good price all the same.

[Tony1948]

:Sorry:I did'ant read you'r post properly £10 you said,how mutch was the postage.The one's I saw are £9.99 and £6.95 postage,not a lot of difference me thinks they are from the same place as you got you'rs.

[Kernowek Scouser]

I think the postage was around the seven quid mark (which is pretty hefty) so you'd be looking at £17 all in if you ordered one now.

I think MM are being a bit cute when it comes to their postage charge.

Many, many moons ago I worked for reasonably successful online retailer of boys toys and I imagine the distribution set up MM employs would be similar to the one they had. Volume rates with Royal Mail and other delivery firms meant that the p&p charged was almost pure profit and on the occasions where the postage was fully justified (or even failed to fully cover the cost of delivering an item, like say a quad bike) it was offset by the 30% -50% mark up on the wholesale price.

Now I'm not suggesting MM are marking goods up anywhere near the levels my former employers used to get away with, indeed I imagine in the current climate their margins are pretty tight, but they are being a bit cheeky with the high flat rate p&p, a £3.99 minimum charge flat rate should cover the majority of orders (and still leave a few bob in the kitty for the Xmas party) but I have been out of that game for a good six, seven years so I may well be talking out of my backside.

Then again, you look at other online retailers and their p&p is either fixed at a lower rate or variable depending on the order weight, so maybe MM are being a bit cute after all.

But as I'm happy with everything I've bought from them and was impressed by the promptness of their service, I'll forgive them.