Therm-a-rest
 

Hi all,
Just having my weekly intake of news via MVN & they have a camping section this time & suggest a therm-a-rest £85!

I have always just layer on the ground via fart sack the cold never really affected me but the bones are getting a bit creaky, so have decided I might need something like this.
I see Lidal Aldi & Tesco all do a self inflating camping lay down thing,
I also still have a Army foam 1 (I never ever used 1 as far too big)

comments suggestions welcome I have looked at the other post about these thurm -o - rest things just looking to see if i can warrant paying £85
I usally get forces discount/bmf any onbe seen it cheaper ?

You need to see if the cheaper one is properly insulated otherwise you'll feel it, some of the cheaper ones are no better than a lilo. I've got a Thermarest Prolite 4 which has been great over two long trips, only one puncture for a thorn but easily repaired.

Thermarest Prolite 4 Regular at planetFear

I use this matras for 3 years now and I still like it: http://www.exped.com/exped/web/exped_homepage_na.nsf

Yes Therm-a-rest are expensive, but you do get a lifetime warranty and they do honour it, even when you bought it in West London and claimed in Tallinn, Estonia!! But it would have to fail two or three times to perhaps save you money in the long term.

Other wise there is the Air-ric range from Alpkit. I have a Slim Air-ric and it is nice: To look at the quality is comparable to Therm-a-rest, IMO.

second that I have both a thermarest and a slim airic i nearly always take the alpkit pad as its so much more compact:scooter:

Alpkit have some regular Airic's left but there new range of sleeping mats is not due until June 2010.

I've been using the same Therm-a-rest for the last 8 years and not a single puncture.

As a survival instructor it probably averages 100 days use a year including Morocco, Southern Africa, SW USA. The key is to always use it inside a bivi bag or with something underneath.

Worth every penny I reckon

on the one hand therm-a-rest mats are as good as you'll get and you get what you pay for.
but on the other hand i dont get on with mats being a side sleeper and wriggler, so a cheap box side air matress and my old vango XL square 3 season bag(autumn, winter, spring, that is, not summer. +10/-2 comfort rating) does me snug as a rug. i was more comfy in this setup last weekend at the BMF show than i usually am in my own bed.

I have one of these. It has been excellent in the last week. In Pyrenean snow and central France below zero. You can sleep on your back or sides and also sit on it in the tent. Cant puncture.

Buy 4 Leg Camp Bed. at Argos.co.uk - Your Online Shop for .

and at £15 it must be good value.

Therm a rest or similar
 

We bought Katmandu versions for a 13 week trip, sleeping on them for about 11 of those weeks. They were great.

If pack size is an issue you can get 3/4 length versions that obviously roll up smaller.

I would invest in the middle of the range one, a good nights sleep is hard to argue with.

thermarests......a 'yes'!
 

Thermarests....been using them for 7 years. got new ones in the last couple of years. best thing we have. profile 4
we also have the medium sized thermarest pillows..a luxury but after a days riding so good to rest the neck on a good support.

yes - the ones we now have are sponsored by them but our first couple we actually bought - they were our first choice after loads of research. we have never been let down.

ive often thought about one of these but i was worried about the legs going through the tent floor?

They are pretty much curved, shaped like a giant flat bottomed U. They can sink a little in very soft terrain (mud, sand) but are really comfy when you pitch on rocks. My tent does not need pegs so can be pitched and carried anywhere. If on sharp rocks, it is best to pad the tent floor to stop it getting pinched. Much better than lying on rocks, even with something under you. It also stops a high spot digging into your hips during the night

eXped Down 9
 

I used to use thermanorest, but, as I too have 'older bones' switched to the eXped downmat 9 about 3 years ago.

It is brilliant, and although a little pricey initially, has more than made up for it in many a comfortable night.

The eXped Downmat 9 gets my wholehearted approval and recommendation that you at least have a look before committing to the therma group.

Stephen

I have been using a Therm-a-rest for years,have no complaints apart from it only self inflates about 5mm then its puff time.
However I just got back from a quick tour of Ireland where my girlfriend used a Mountain Equipment 35mm mat,it was v good,inflated thicker than my mat,good strong easy to use valve & packed down to the same size as the Therm-a-rest (280mm long x 160mm diameter) these were going cheap on the Cotswold Outdoors site.
My 2 other companions both had the Exped 9s & they thought they were great but they do not pack down all that small.

Kathmandu self-inflating mattress
 

Hi guys,

Thought I'd throw in my two-penny's worth...

On my last big camping expedition in the Western Australian desert, I took a cheapie Kathmandu self-inflating mattress cos at the time I couldn't afford anything in the more expensive Thermarest range. Apart from the fact that it rolled up mega-small, it was REALLY comfy whether sleeping on deep sand or rock-hard salt pans. Coupled with an emptied wine bladder as a pillow (I'd forgotten to take a proper pillow!) and a Kathmandu down sleeping bag, I had some of the best night's sleep ever on it!

So if you're looking for a cheap but effective option, I heartily recommend the above! :thumbup1:
Jeanie :mchappy:

PS: I had help emptying the wine bladder, in case anyone's wondering...!!

Can't say that I find self inflating mats comfortable personally, have tried a few from cheap Gelert 25mm 3/4 length ones to a Thermarest 50mm full size one. They are however very good at insulating you from the cold ground. Now I use either a hammock for comfort, or if I'm ground sleeping I use a Thermarest Neo Air, it isn't self inflating but it packs down nice and small and I find it way more comfortable than self inflating mats, even if it does sound as though you are sleeping on a giant bag of crisps at times!

Exped everytime...
 

Exped Downmat 7DLX - the best nights sleep camping you can get! :thumbup1:

I would also recommend the alpkit mats we have three, I have the fat versions, they are better than my bed at home!

I have one of these for about 4 years now. Just love em. They pack really small they are durable and they are nice to lay on. And i haven't been nice to mine so im quite amazed that it is still in one piece. If i ever happen to need a new one i will buy a therm-a-rest for sure.

Hi mate.
Had the same problem. You could try Decathelon sports shops or cut down your foam mat to 3/4's length and a bit off the width(Old Military method). There also used to be Z shaped folding mats that were quite good. Good luck.
Mike