Owner Review by Wayne Merry

Owner Review: Roman Ultra Lite Trek Advance Sleeping Bag
Date: 11th of April, 2006

Biography:
Name: Wayne Merry
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Height: 1.8 m (5' 10")
Weight: 90 kg (200 lb)
Email address: wayne_merry@user.com.au (replace user with yahoo)
City, State, Country: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia

Backpacking Background: I started backpacking four years ago, although I did day walks in childhood. I hike in various terrain from moderate/hard track walks to some off track walking. I generally like the temperature to stay above freezing, and have not camped above the snow line. I enjoy going on multi day walks up to about a week. I carry a moderate weight pack to enjoy a few creature comforts at camp.

Product information:
Manufacturer: Roman
Year of manufacture: 2000
URL manufacturer's web site: www.roman.com.au
Listed weight: 1.2 kg (2.65 lb)
Weight as delivered with Stuff Bag: 1.19 kg (2.62 lb)
Weight as delivered without Stuff Bag: 1.08 kg (2.38 lb)
Advertised Dimensions: 180 cm (71") height + hood by 70 cm (27.5") at head
Measured Dimensions: 180 cm (71") height + hood at 33 cm (13") by 70cm (27.5") at head and 53cm (20.9") at foot.
Price: RRP Unknown

The Roman UltraLite Trek Advance is a sleeping bag constructed of DuPont materials featuring YKK zips on the side and bottom, DuPont Tactel Diamond RipStop Nylon outer layer, DuPont Tactel Nylon inner layer, DuPont Thermolite Extra filling, 1 cm thick (0.39") anti-snag tape, a pillow pocket and a neck collar. The manufacturer claims a +3 C (37 F) temperature rating. The filling is sewn-in to the outer layer on the front and back of the bag, and to both the outer and inner layer at zip seams, and a seam on the opposite side to the side zip. The current model has increases in the width by 5 cm (2"), the length by 10 cm (3.9") and has added a foot pocket.

Review:
I bought the Roman Sleeping Bag in early 2001 and have used it in many varied locations throughout Victoria and Tasmania, Australia, as well as New Zealand including near beaches, on exposed alpine ridges (but not during the snow season), forested areas and on open grasslands within a tent shelter, as well as in huts in New Zealand. Temperatures encountered during use have varied from 0 C (32 F) to 35 C (95 F). The humidity encountered ranged from 10% to 90%. I have used the sleeping bag at elevations varying from sea level to 1800 m (5900 ft).

I initially purchased the Roman sleeping bag to replace an old bag I had since childhood at a time when I was not yet walking regularly. I first used the bag, without using a liner, in car camping situations. I have continued to use the bag since I began to walk more regularly, and have found it warm enough for all conditions in which I have used it. In warm conditions I have used the bag with the zip partially or fully open, particularly in high humidity. In cold conditions, the hood of the bag can be closed through an shock cord sown into the neck (see below). At 0 C (32 F) which is the coldest I have used the bag (without a liner), I was still in undies and socks and was sufficiently warm enough. I am a warm sleeper relative to most people I know, especially my wife, so my experience using the bag in temperatures below its rating of 3 C (37 F) may not translate to other people. In all situations in the last few years, I have used the bag with a thermal self inflating mattress, both for comfort and for warmth. This is the manufacturer's recommended usage in cold temperatures. Recently, I have also begun to use a silk liner in order to help keep the bag clean. This does tend to help keep me warm in low temperatures.

The bag is supplied with two zips, one for the bottom, and one for the side. I would prefer if the bag was supplied without a bottom zip to save some weight, but at this stage Roman do not manufacture such a bag. The side zip can get caught on the outer layer which is not protected by the anti-snag tape. Snags can particularly occur on the tag showing cleaning instructions. The anti-snag tape (shown below) does however prevent snags from occurring on the inner layer.

The sewn-in pillow pocket is too small to fit any real pillow inside, or even most articles of clothing. I tend to place clothing underneath the bag at the top of the liner. A small LED torch is supplied with the bag. This is on a keyring attached to the side zip. As the torch is small, it does not give a great amount of light, but it has been enough for the times when I have forgotten where I put my main torch. I have used it (the bag torch) intermittently since acquiring the bag, and the battery has not expired yet.

Built around the opening of the bag is a collar with filling. When the neck shock cord is used to close the hood, this collar (shown below) helps to keep heat in by surrounding the chin, cheeks and forehead with extra fill material. The only down side to this is waking up at three in the morning with a claustrophobic fit, which I have done once, but that is not the fault of the bag.

For the first few years of owning the bag, I used the bag without a liner. I have found the nylon inner layer comfortable. When the bag is clean, it feels good against the skin, but can get a sticky feel if I am 7 days into a trip. This can be solved with use of a liner, which also helps to keep the bag clean. The filling is only sewn-in to the inner layer at the bag side seams, allowing it some movement if I want to roll over or adjust my sleeping position during the night. This seems to make the bag more comfortable compared with other bags that have the filling tightly woven into the inner layer.

The sleeping bag is supplied with a compression stuff bag. This bag is large enough to fit the sleeping bag plus a liner, which is handy in saving space in my backpack.

I have now had the Roman sleeping bag for nearly 5 years. In that time there have been no signs of wear and tear on the bag, even though I have used it for more than 150 nights, and it has been on every overnight or longer walk I have ever been on. The bag still looks as good as the day I bought it. I think it is a very durable and well made bag.

Summary:
The Roman Ultra Lite Trek Advance is a DuPont based sleeping bag which is rated to 3 C (37 F). In the nearly 5 years I have had the bag, I have been comfortable in it in temperatures down to 0 C (32 F). The bag is well made, comfortable, and does not show any wear and tear after all the time that I have used it.

Things I like:
1. Warm enough for me down to 0 C (32 F).
2. Lightweight and reasonably compact.
3. Reasonably easy to get into the stuff bag.
4. The torch is cool - particularly when I've lost my main torch in the tent somewhere!

Things I don't like:
1. The zip can get stuck on bag material.

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