Sleeping mats - a 2010 search
 

Weight: < 830 grams
Size: 183 x 51 x 3.8 cm
Seams: heat bonded
Filling: Anti-Fungal CFC Free foam
Shell: Slip-resistant Ripstop
Packaged Size: 29cm x 16cm x 16cm
Size: 183x50x3.8 cm / 72x20x1.5“
Weight: 870 g / 31 oz (mat only)
Packed: 27x16 cm / 11x6“
Temperature: -7°C / +23°F


Total Dimensions: 184 x 52 x 15cm
Mattress Dimensions: 160 x 52 x 2.3 cm
Pillow Dimensions: 24cm long x 15cm high
Packed Dimensions: 42 x 16cm
Material: Ripstop fabric with Anti-fungal CFC free foam
Weight: under 1 kg
3 carry bags (1 main, 1 pillow, 1 mattress) + 2 repair kits

Caribee LITE Full size Self-inflating Hiking Camp Mat – $82 AUD
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Caribee-LITE-Full-size-Self-Inflating-Hiking-Camp-Mat-/290504768398?pt=AU_Sleeping_Gear&hash=item43a36efb 8e

Full size Size: 183 x 51 x 3.8cm
Approx. weight 1.4kg
Horizontal Cross Coring to aid air flow and weight
Fabric: Slip resistant polyester
Compact and light weight
Anti fungal foam
Repair kit included
Packed size rolled: approx 25cm x 27cm

Look forward to hearing your views and comments. Cheers, Rossy.

An update on my choice. I opted for the Exped Downmat 7 Deluxe. My reasoning being I liked the extra thickness and width/length for the price ($145 AUD from http://www.bivouac.co.nz/gear/camping-and-tramping/sleeping-mats/exped-downmat-pump-with-wide-valves.html) compared to the thermarest ones. The thermarest ones are a similar price but for a smaller mattress (width, length and thickness) and the large thermarest prolite plus is worth $190 AUD.

I figure I can keep it protected enough from punctures by having a tent or if need be a light fly/groundsheet for the grass etc. Any punctures I figure I can fix with a repair kit. Hopefully. I'll keep this thread updated with the results.

It would be great still to see others opinions if they use this thread to select or review a sleeping mat. Happy camping.
Rossy.

+1 For the Exped Downmat 7

I got the short length version in August and have used continously in the UK since inside a hammock and also for 2 weeks wild camping in Morocco inside a bivi.

Very warm and very comfortable plus packs down really small.:thumbup1:

Another vote for the Exped Downmat 7 because they're awesome. Warm, comfy and a small pack size... all the qualities adventure bikers need. Unfortunately quite expensive but worth every penny.

thermarest neo-air
 

I was gutted when my beloved thermarest prolite decided to wrap itself around my rear wheel and tear itself to pieces.

After a bit of research and with some trepidation, I splashed out on the new thermarest (is it called neo-air?). Now that I've forgotten how much I paid for it, it's fantastic. Early days for ruggedness, but tiny pack size, great warmth and comfort.

No experience of others to compare.

JT

Sleeping mats
 

Had a quick ride out to North Wales last weekend, camping just 1 night . I used my Thermarest mat and my mate had the Exped 9 Deluxe. I was cold and uncomforable . He was warm and had a good nights sleep. The Exped inflates by hand prints where as mine is supposed to be self inflating but needs a top up. As I am planning a run up to the Arctic in 2012 Im considering changing my mat . Plus leaving half the gear I took behind. My tent is a Vango Spirit 100+ [with porch]
What sort of temperatures can I expect in northern Norway and Finland in June ?:stormy:

We have 2 of the Exped's 7DLX and wouldn't use anything else after sleeping on the Exped. You won't regret the investment.
Daryll

I have the Exped 9DLX. The additional width of the DLX means you're not forever falling off the thing. It's extremely comfortable and wonderfully warm in cold conditions.

My only moan is that the hand inflation with the built-in inflation valve takes several minutes.

I have a Thermarest self-inflating (very good), an Alpkit self-inflating (very good). Exped are said to be good also. Nordic Outdoors (.co.uk) have an Exped mat at half price for £49 at the moment.
Perhaps see what shipping would cost...

I'm with you Tim.
Have both the 9 and 7 (for the kids). still the old fashioned bag roll-up-pump. 7 is too small for 6ft guys/gals. Also with the warmth the Exped keeps you don't need a bulky sleeping bag

I agree with the others - it's not so much the brand, rather the inflated size and thickness... (and to a lesser extent the pack-down size).

I have a Thermarest Trail-Comfort (I think they've renamed it now), full length and 50mm thick when inflated - very comfortable, although as Tim suggests, had I realized they do a slightly wider version, I'd have gone for that as although I like to sleep on my side, you can still slip off it if turning over in the night...

You might be comfortable with a 3/4 length mat, but personally I like the full length versions as the whole of you is supported and off the ground. A trick I've found is to fold the mat in half lengthways before you roll it up, then it's about the same size/shape as a sleeping bag when you stow it.

Jx

Another vote for the Exped 9. Fantastic bit of kit.

Another vote for th 7DLX. Expensive but worth it in my experience. That and my Alpkit SkyeHigh 600 made a couple of weeks in Europe a breeze - in fact it was a little too warm on some nights.

i have the Big Agnes Horse Thief bag. it's only insulated on the top and sides, so the underside is not insulated (makes the pack size very small). the underside is a 'pocket' that their mattress slides into. the full length mattress packs smaller than the 3/4 thermarest (which I also have) and is about double the thickness.

there's no way to fall off it, in the night. and the bag plus mattress weigh less, and have a smaller pack size, than conventional bag and mattress.

worth a look, I think.

I used a Thermarest mat for a few years but it has a lot of pinhole leaks now. I switched to sleeping on my sheepskin that I can remove from the bike seat for the night. It's a long haired skin and it's much warmer and even lighter than any mats I've tried before.

Hehehe, a sheepskin bed ay! Not bad. I ordered a sheepskin for a baby pram the other day, however I don't think I'll fit on that one!

As for the mattress, I'm loving the Exped downmat 7 Deluxe. Comfy, good thickness for me (182 cm x 82 kg) and good width too. Haven't tested it out in the cold yet as its about 35 C and 90 + % humidity here in far north Australia.

Enjoy sleeping!
Rossy.

The Exped downmat 7 Deluxe worked great for me in the cold , tried it out in Germany in November , and it did drop below zero at night , i got into my 3 season bag naked as a jay bird and slept soundly all night , infact the best nights sleep i have had under canvas, very comfortable and warm .

As it said criticism was welcome... I bought an exped and it's a waste of space as far as I'm concerned. Too much of a faff to roll back up, takes up an akward amount of space... IMHO basically just a furry lilo. I'd take it somewhere I needed additional insulation from the ground (ie cold-winter camping) but certainly not on any overland trips. Online quotes/reviews stating it's more comfortable than their own beds need to buy a new bed.

rather than an expensive sheepskin, to keep me warmer on my small thermarest (bought for bicycle touring originally) I have used the dogs vet bed, its great stuff, comfy warm and quick drying. Only problem is the dog then wants to get in the sleeping bag

Ive used the Therma-rest before and loved it I have been camping my whole life I broke down and got a Therma-rest about a year ago and havent regretted it yet!

Has anyone used the Thermarest Luxury Map sleeping mat? Being Vegan, I can't buy the Exped mats mentioned (however comfy) as they're made from down. This looks like a good combination of comfort and small (ish) packing size. I don't want anything too thin!?c?

I was under the impression that the down isn't stripped from the live animals, but collected from their nests. This make it any easier for you?

I suspect you'll find that it is stripped from a quite dead animal.

Endurodude,
Does it make any difference that the demise of the said goose wasn't primarily to provide a few handfulls of fluffy feathers for your bed ?

Back onto the subject of the thread. I have always been satisfied with my original thermarest but all this talk of "the best night's sleep I've ever had" and "sleep naked at minus whatever" is making me really want a new one.

Rgds
BYT

Over the years I have gravitated to using a camp bed. do get the four legged ones, not the three legged. The key to success in any endeavour is to have lots of options. I like to be very warm so my coleman 450 sleeping bag does that even with ice on my cheap dome tent.It is also very roomy. I keep the bottom unzipped as my feet got too warm except in very cold weather. Which for me is below freezing. In warm weather I just sleep on the bag, but I do also carry a sheepskin which I sit on by day and usually sleep on by night.
my tent cost 15 euros 6 or 7 years ago.
my bag cosy near twice that two years ago, I did try a little mummy type bag and although it was small to pack I was never warm enough in it to sleep well.
the bed is £15 from Argos.
Buy 4 Leg Folding Camp Bed with Carry Bag at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for Camp beds, airbeds and camping mats.



anyone else use a camp bed? not the lightest or smallest thing to carry, but usable anywhere. on rocks, thistles and being above ground allows you bag to stay dry should your tent get flooded :)

Exped makes a Synmat with the only difference to the Dolwnmat that the filling is synthetic instead of goose stuff.

Niklas

Expeds
 

My wife and I are using Expeds 7dl on our overland trip. We both find them very easy to roll up and they are the most comfy camp bed I have slept on, we also have the Thermarest Prolite beds we use when at home in OZ and they are chalk & cheese when it comes to comfort.
As for the price CHEAP...CHEAP....CHEAP !

Cheers
Paul:thumbup1::thumbup1::thumbup1:

Vote for the ProLite Thermarest
 

My wife and blew up every air mattress they had at REI in Atlanta and tried them all, nothing seemed as comfortable and rugged (simple) as the Thermarest Pro-Lite Air Mattress (we got the full length - tried the short ones and did not sleep near as well).

My .02 worth :mchappy:

Have used the Thermarest (Camp) for over 25yrs in -35C to +30C while hunting, snow machining, fire fighting... A bit cumbersome, bulky and slippery but first rate until daughter gave me an Exped Downmat7 a couple of years ago for my touring. Love it! Compact, warm and cradles better although takes longer to firm up. Have retired the thermarest.

I have recently bought this one, packs up small and is very comfortable, but youy have to inflate (I carry a small pump)
2.5 inches thick and great for camping in the winter.

Therm-a-Rest NeoAir Trekker - Lightweight, go-anywhere air mattress comfort.

I have used it six times this year and get a great nights sleep. Not cheap but then my comfort comes first.bier

3 months with the Exped
 

So far the exped is amazing! Have been in COLD places and been warm. Its comfortable. Its small. Light. easy to pack and great exercise to blow up! If you take precaution with where you lay it you will never have problems with leaks! A great mattress and great COMFORT!!!

V happy.

Exped
 

I have the Exped 7DLX - I thought I would need the 9 as I'm quite a large fella but upon investigation the 7 is more than comfortable enough (the DLX gives you a little extra width and length) and the difference in pack size was marked enough that I didn't want the 9.

I got mine from Les at Traveldri Plus - in fact I'm on my second mat as I managed to break the valves of the first one in Australia (old design) which is now impossible to do with the new design. It was replaced under warranty 4.5 years after I bought it. Not bad.

Being a large chap I've tried every sleeping mat there is out there - there's nothing worse than an uncomfortable sleep. The thermarests are the nearest competition, but Exped are so far out in front it's not even close competition.

In fact I was so impressed with the Exped (I promise they don't pay me) it was one of the very first camping gear reviews I ever made.



I'll be making a newer one at some point later this year for the new model.

Cheers to YOU Matt
 

Matt,
When first deciding what mattress to buy, your video review was one of the best sources of info for my choice and largely made me decide on the 7DLX. Cheers mate. Currently in Ecuador sleeping and cooking...and riding of course.
Take care,
Rossy

Oh... you're making me blush! Thanks dude. Safe travels.

My understanding of getting the down, the 'locals' that retrieve the down are only allowed to collect it a particular time of the year, once from the nest's prior to laying season, the birds are also protected, from then on.

Very interested to hear your take on veganism. I have various friends from Jains onwards and really dont get some of them. Some of their motivation is easy but some does not add up.

I use Ajungilak Mammut Mat, in Norway these are called Ajungilak Bamse Extreme, but they can be found other places:

DRAUSSEN.DE :: Ajungilak Mammut EVA Mat

I use two of these in winter, have slept outdoors in -18 degrees celsius on two of these and with no heat drain whatsoever. With only one there is heat drain when lying on the snow. They don't puncture, rip or tear, very cheap compared to all the so called top end stuff out there (what's so top end about a potential puncture anyway?) They are also very light weight. Completely maintenance free.

I would never consider using anything else for a mat. One in spring/summer/autumn, two in winter.

Down side: They are harder than inflatable ones, and take up more room than the down filled ones.

Sorry boys, don`t agree.

Using Exped now for many years ..
Exped is nice for sleeping ... but i have the 3. one allready!!!
Allmost every year i have had problems with verry little wholes.
And I talked with many bikers in germany too ... same problem.
I am f ... off ... allways have to swap them. (garanty in germany)

I am waiting for Thermarest Neo Air ALLSEASON.
Available in later summer in germany.
May this one is more stable.

Sleeping Mats
 

I have slept on my Thermorest Prolite 4 for many, many months. Several months at a time.

I still have my original Thermorest, it to had given me years of faithful
service. I purchased a new one as they roll up smaller.

I would not swap my Thermorest Prolite 4 for anything.