Normally I’d agree with you matt but, this time….

Exped Mats - Complete Outdoors

85 quid old chap or 75 on the synth and FREE P&P

A price that TravelDri would match I have no doubt - plus of course you get the stunning support of Les... and let's be honest, he's the guy who Sam Manicom and Austin Vince go to see when they need kit... I know where I'm shopping!

Even though I'm sure Les would match the price - where you buy your kit from is about more than the cash - it's about getting honest advice and genuine support - it's about buying your kit from someone who's a biker and knows this stuff inside out - someone who's been there, done it and not only got the t-shirt, but knows how it's made, where it comes from and if it's exactly the right t-shirt for you!

We went down to see Les after meeting him at the Excel Show - he spent nearly all day with us, going through tents, showing us the options, going through sleeping bags and mats - it's something you don't necesseraly get via a website - even though they do have a site - I understand it's being improved as we speak! ;-) After we'd finished he took us down onto Dartmoor (must have been a 40 mile round trip for him) and showed us the best place to camp and test our new kit - as it happened that weekend 18 people were air-lifted off the moor so we didn't hang around! But that's not the point!

Can't recommend TravelDri-Plus enough.

m

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Yeah, I agree.

But an Exped mat is an Exped mat, and if you’re watching the pounds, 15 quid is 15 quid. At least we both agree they're good mats

“And let's be honest, he's the guy who Sam Manicom and Austin Vince go to see when they need kit...”

I’m not the kind of person who is worried about things like that matt. I research and find out what kit I think is the best, and within my price range. The people you named can probably afford a bit extra, I can’t.

“Where you buy your kit from is about more than the cash.”

No, it’s not with me. It’s all about cash, I earn minimum wage in a rubbish job. I use the internet to find the best price on a bit of kit people like you recommend, and buy it from the site offering the best deal.

I don’t buy my weekly shopping from a store because the staff are nice I spend what little I have in the store with the best deal.

The bottom line from my point of view is, I saved 15 quid. I’m starting from nothing getting all my kit and prepping my bike, all the savings I’ve made have paid for me getting up north for the HU meet this year

Regards
Shaun

Just for experiential

I have used Thermarest ProLite 4 many years and it’s worth of every buck.
You just adjust your comfort by blowing air and adjust air pressure it’s so easy.
Works all the way more than -20C with good sleeping bag and all way to +30C.
Have used ProLite 4 from Barents Sea to South Atlantic

ProLite 4™ Stuff Sacks

These superlight stuff sacks provide durable, water-resistant protection for our men's and women's ProLite 4 mattresses. They include a handy clip loop and end handle for easy unpacking and portability, and are made of 30-denier silicone-impregnated nylon.



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...You know it's a bit windy when you get passed by your own dust...

The difference between an 'Exped' and the one I got, means an extra 1500 miles roaming in Russia, or 800 miles in Western Europe.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Chris,

My girlfriend and I bouthg 3/4 length Trail-lite thermarest mattresses. They have been very good. On our SA trip, one lost pressure, but this was a seem that I was able to fix with the use of an iron to re-seal the edge that had opened. Other than that it has been great. I think we were just unlucky. They seem sturdy and are comfortable.

They pack small and kept us warm from groud chill in southern Argentian, Northern Scotland and Estonia! As others have said, think well and not just of price a good rest makes a good trip and if you fork out now for better kit, it's someting that you won't have to buy again any time soon!

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Adventure: it's an experience, not a style!
(so ride what you like, but ride it somewhere new!)

I do understand your points dude - makes perfect sense - which I why I started the recomendation with .... TravelDri would match the price.....

m

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http://thelondonbiker.com/blog

Watch some of my camp cooking videos

AIM: mattcashmore
SKYPE: matthewcashmore
MSN: matthew@matthewcashmore.com

who the f*** are these Sam Manicom and Austin Vince anyway ?

*SCNR*

I think they sell t-shirts and mats.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Hi matt, must admit I didn’t know they price matched. I’ve just about got all my prep done now so, it’s a bit late.

BTW that little MinieXpresso coffee thing is wicked and it only cost 10 quid coz the packet was mashed a bit, picked it up from a store in town.

Shaun

I did start looking at stuff that way but, I’ve got things in the past then regretted getting it, then got the other one. So this time not having much cash (till i get a better job) I’ve gone the other way, not made any wrong buys yet.

Shaun

Me too, or buying something I thought I needed, but didn't. I'm getting close to the point where I can't think anymore. Getting road-struck.

Slightly but a perfect example of the above, I just bought this water filter. Looks like a 'bike bottle', but apparently, it's a serious bit of kit. Wasn't going to bother - this kind of stuff is so bloody expensive - but figured it'll pay for itself in bottled water. Cost me 300 miles it did.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

Still

Funny you should make that post; it’s about the last bit of camping kit still on my list. And, water is one that I’ve been thinking about for a while. One thing I’ve become completely Fing obsessed about is packing light. So, at 180g I think I'll get one.

What trip you planning dude ?

Nothing's cast in stone. General idea is to cross Europe via Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia, then into Russia and drive from St Petersburg to Vladivostok. A stop along the way at Lake Baikal might be in order and, depending on time, money and inclination, a possible detour down to Mongolia to get lost for a few days. If I do get to Vladivostok, I hope to leave the car (sell it?) and get the ferry to Japan - it's fairly near and it's probably the only chance I'll get to see it. I love the food and, despite their politeness, suspect they're all a bit wilder than they tend to make out. At least, I hope so. On the other hand, I might do something COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. I see you're aiming for RTW. Nice one.

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I've a feeling I'm not in Kansas anymore.

After alot of consideration about what mat to buy ive just brought a lovely mat from the big sports superstore Decathlon. I really wanted comfort over wieght or size so brought the biggest self infator they had. its about 6ft 4 long nice and wide and nearly 3" (7cm) thick. Its a great feeling knowing ill sleep well as thiner mats just dont do it for me.
I tried one of the ribbed exped mats that have a down insulator but its no where near as good as this baby!
The best bit is the price £39.99 reduced to £29.99
Thats about a third of the price of a therarest