August 8, 2007

          The bedroll protector was great for convenience, since you don't have to really put things away to keep them contained and clean... just zip it and roll it up. It keeps out dirt, blowing sand, critters, etc., as long as you're reasonably vigilant about cleaning your feet off, etc. I liked the convenience in dry situations. I actually washed mine off with the hose after use, and liked how easy it is to clean up and how quickly it dries. The zipper functioned well. If you 'cover up' to protect against sprinkles of rain, it gets really hot and 'sticky' inside since it doesn't breath at all. Again, it's not designed to be a tent. It did protect me from the dampening I would have gotten from a light rain.

          Overall, I was pleased with it's performance and, especially, it's convenience, I will definitely continue to use it in many backpacking and camping scenarios. Being the decadent camper I sometimes am, I carried a pillow and was able to just leave it inside as well.

Overall, I think it's a great product at a nice price point. Good job! Keep me posted and hopefully I'll catch you at the winter show in January.

Regards,
Dave Lyle

Guide/Trip Leader

Outdoor Adventure River Specialists

www.oars.com

August 5, 2007

"Hunters, anglers, hikers and others who occasionally spend a night in the outdoors might want to check out the new bedroll protector from Blackstone Outdoor Gear. It's sort of a sleeping bag for your sleeping bag. You unzip the protector, lay your sleeping pad and bag inside, then sleep on top of it, using it as a waterproof groundcloth. The flap -- which you leave open -- can accommodate other gear that you want to keep off the ground. When you are ready to go the next day, you simply fold the flap over and roll the sleeping bag, pad and everything inside the protector to keep them dry while going from one place to another."

Bob Frye

Tribune-Review Outdoors Editor

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/outdoors/s_520691.html

August 2, 2007

"The Bedroll Protector from Blackstone Outdoor Gear addresses the need to keep your sleeping bag dry.  Wet sleeping bags are no fun. Put your sleeping bag and pad inside, zip up, roll up and you have a mostly waterproof storage and transport bag."

Matt Lepkowski

TravelsInParadise.com

July 17, 2007

Dear Blackstone Outdoor Gear:

I had the opportunity to use the Bedroll Protector twice during the spring WildLink season (wildlink.wilderness.net) and would like to share with you my experience.

As a backpacker, I am constantly striving to cut down on my pack weight. Your bedroll protector allowed me the opportunity to leave my tent at home and carry only a tarp as rain protection. I am a stickler for leaving a neat camp when I leave for a day hike. With the bedroll protector, I was able to throw everything I wasn’t taking – including my empty backpack - inside and zip them up for the day. I felt assured that everything would remain dry and clean even when left for the day. At night I’d unzip and have a nice tarp area to lay out my journal, maps, headlamp and other sundries.

In addition to backpacking though, I frequently road trip with my dogs. My car is set up to be very comfortable for sleeping, cooking, and hanging out, with one exception. I have always had a problem keeping my “bed” (foam mattress with sheets and pillow) clean because of the dogs. I was pleasantly surprised to find everything fit inside the bedroll protector, and I was able to cinch it all down to make it much smaller than before. Now the dogs have more room, my bed will remain clean, and I will be able to easily move it outside to sleep under the stars.

I love it when I find gear that can be used in more than one way.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Strickland
C.O.R.E. (Creative Outdoor Recreational EDventures) Co-director
And
Sequoia-Kings Canyon WildLink
Program Coordinator

We sent a Bedroll Protector to Ted Nugent, rock star and host of the "Spirit of the Wild" television program. We received this postcard from Ted in response.

           I have found the “Bed Roll” to be the perfect answer for the protection of you and your equipment from the elements. Plus, it adds to your comfort and brings convenience by giving a clean dry place to put you and all your necessities.                             I have always carried some sort of ground cloth made out of nylon to protect me and my gear from the ground, my dirty old truck bed and the inherent dirt, mud, dust, water, etc. My ground cloth wasn’t very capable not like “The Bed Roll”, which is water proof, very strong, light weight (1 pound 10 ounces) and can be rolled or folded into a very small space when not needed (6”x 4”x 6”) and can be even squish smaller if you want !            

          It can be carried on or in a pack under seat of cars, ATV’S etc. It’s a true multi task piece of must have gear. It could even be a shelter for survival!

          I like the fact that you can put a sleeping pad and a sleeping bag and a camp pillow inside the Bed Roll and have a dry clean bed! But you can also put all of your camping gear inside too then just undo a zipper when you get to camp and set up camp with everything at your finger tips!

          With the “Bed Roll “ just be creative, think about it for a moment and you’ll find even more uses than you can shake a stick at, use it to lay on when you climb under a car or to store messy items in a car till you get home. Hmm, I’m gonna use it for laying out in the desert when I point my telescope at the stars and I’ll climb in my nice clean sleeping bag inside when I get tired and don’t want to risk a long drive home at 3 a.m.!                                                

          Technically,

          The zipper is smooth as silk and is bomb proof  as is the fabric and of course if the fabric needs repair duct tape it!

          The “Bath Tub” Style floor is really great as it keeps water and dirt from accessing the Bed Rolls innards.

          I noticed little bumps all over the outside surface of Bed Roll and decided this must be for grip to keep you from sliding on slippery surfaces. The interior seems to keep sleeping pads in place as well. Around 1a.m. last night I decided to sleep out,  But I didn’t feel like dragging out all the individual things I wanted with me making two to three trips. So, I put my Thermarest into the Bed Roll Then My minus 20 bag, two pillows, My 10x50 bino’s (for astronomy fun),  zipped the zipper put on my head lamp and went out in one bundle!

          I was amazed at how much room is in the Bed Roll, after all a 2” thick full length Thermarest and a 20° bag can be 10 to 12 inches thick when fully lofted. However when fully compressed may be only 2 inches thick and compresses a little further when rolled up in Bed Roll. As far as pillows go, its wise to use Thermarest or Slumberjack camp pillows as they can be large and comfy but very compressable.

                                                                                                                  ‘Lightning Layne’

Dear Blackstone Outdoor Gear,

I have been an avid backpacker for 25 years and have been using the Bedroll Protector for about 8 weeks. I have been more than pleased with the quality and protection provided by your product.

I've slept in a number of tents, lean tos, Adirondack shelters, and under the stars, under all kinds of conditions, and have yet to have my sleeping bag wet. Often times in a tent if it leaks, you end up having your sleeping bag lying in water. In an Adirondack shelter, it is most often damp or out and out wet. The bedroll protector not only keeps my sleeping pad and bag dry, but also provides me with a dry place to put my clothes for the next day.

After packing up my tent or shelter and rolling up my sleeping bag in the bedroll protector, it is comforting to know that no matter what the weather conditions, my sleeping bag will remain dry. I've used both external and internal frame packs and by putting my sleeping bag on the outside, it remains dry and gives me more room in my pack.

Thanks for a great product. I've been recommending it to my fellow backpackers and campers. Good luck with your endeavors.

Sincerely,
Jay M.
Wilmington, VT

The following taken from Amazon.com feedback:

Bedroll protector performed better than expected, August 21, 2006
Reviewer: Chris Matthews (Pennsylvania)

When I first saw the Bedroll Protector, I must admit, I was skeptical. I mean, I'd never seen or even heard of such a product. I went ahead and ordered just one. Man, am I glad I did. The weekend after I received the Bedroll Protector, I backpacked into the Dolly Sods Wilderness Area in WV. Friday was great weather, but Saturday it rained all day long. I attached my Bedroll Protector to the top of my external frame pack. When I reached the campsite, I unrolled my Bedroll Protector inside my tent and found that everything was dry. I was really pleased, because before using the Bedroll Protector, I always wrapped my sleeping bag in a garbage bag with less than spectacular results. I also used to attach my sleeping pad to the bottom of my pack where it is exposed to the elements. It was definitely a breath of fresh air to not have wet stuff to start the night.

That night, it rained off and on, heavily at times. I used a two-man backpacking tent with a cut to fit groundcloth. I also regularly seal the seams in the tent. This night's rain was enough to saturate the ground and soak the floor of my tent. To my amazement, my sleeping bag and pad were bone dry. The Bedroll Protector did just as it advertised to do. Without it, I would have been soaking wet and miserable. I will definitely never leave it behind. Kudos to a great product, I will tell everyone I know. Why have I been doing without for so long?


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