Thermarst camp and comfort product line
 

It seems some people are ok to carry heavy floor pads.

Have look at Thermarest's "camp and comfort" product line. Some mattresses are 4" thick.


Patrick

I bought one and tried it for a few nights. I can honestly say its alot better than the Exped 9dlx I had and easier to pack away plus ultra comfortable. The material is fairly tough so I think it will hopefully last and for the price a bargain. Using a sidewinder plugged into the bike it takes seconds to inflate

Update
 

An update on our sleeping system. Due to some issues with our state transport dept our light weight trailer has been put on hold and we went with a tent and sleeping gear that surprisingly I am really happy with.

We both got BigAgnes Air core ultra inflating sleeping pads;

Air Core Ultra

And Roman Palm IV sleeping bags that zip up together to form a double.

We topped that with a Vango Soul 300 tent. All compact on the bike but actually quite comfortable.

I went through a couple of cheap self inflating pads, like the OP I found I just couldn't sleep on hard ground - too hard, too cold. But the self inflating ones are bulky and heavy due to their internal structure, and don't provide much cushioning. Also, they both developed leaks very soon after buying them. So now I've got a Thermarest NeoAir Xlite. Inflates about 3" thick, super comfy and built to be durable. It weighs about a pound and rolls up to the size of a small thermos. Easy to carry on the bike.

I also bought a Thermarest mini air pump so I don't have to huff and puff to inflate it.

Sleeping Pad inside the Sleeping Bag
 

I use a sleeping pad, but many people put them under their sleeping bags, but I find it's too easy to wake up and have my face on the tent floor and the sleeping pad over somewhere else because I don't lay perfectly still all night. What I do is put the sleeping pad inside my sleeping bag and I sewed a thin sheet so that the pad slips right into the pocket I created with the sheet. This way the pad is always under me and the sheet makes it comfortable and it packs up small. Just an idea.

I use a Eureka Solo Plus, but when I have the kids along we use either an OEX Coyote or OEX Cougar which are Go Outdoors own brand which I bought ‘off season’ for silly money. (Low) They are good enough for what you need and the quality is impressive enough too. The Vango range of bags are good value and perfect. I do have a Thermarest quilt which is less than a year old and I’ve got to say quilts are worth thinking about.

For about 30 years now i have been using what i totally unPC call Paki mats which are the approx 70mm mattresses you can buy in any souk from china to morocco.i drive a landy and i keep it in the ceiling with bungies spanned from the interior trim beer