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Thermarest or Thermalite???
Folks, I am looking for a self-inflating sleeping mat as I am planning to do a couple of months camping in Europe this Summer. I had heard of Thermarest and went to check them out. A full length one is around £60-£70. A friend said I should also look at Thermalite and when I checked it out on the web it looked very similar to Thermarest but at a third of the price. So for all you experienced campers, here is my question.....which is better? Are they similar? Will I notice a difference? Is there another brand that I should consider?
I have slept on ordinary mats in the past and they never worked for me. I have vowed not to do it again. Will an air bed make much difference? Any help is greatly appreciated. Regards Chris |
Exped is another well worth a look.
As far as weather you will notice a difference between Thermarest "top brand" and the lower price one is up to you.... make sure have a good lay on both in the shop and see if you feel you could get a good nights rest on any of them... I'm not familar with the other brand but try it in the shop as i said above... sometimes the difference between top end camping kit and "B" brand stuff is a big gap in quality and performance... and sometimes it's just the advertising budget and price that make the difference.. If as you say that you'll be camping for a couple of months; think long and hard about your sleeping kit... It will make or break the next days ride.... |
Hi Steve
Yes, I reckon you are right. Im trying to do this trip on a budget and I dont want to be spending for a name alone. It could be called anything it wants to be as long as it works. I must make an effort to lie on them before making a decision.
Cheers Chris |
Chris, Therma-rest are made in Co. Cork which may be a plus or a minus! IMHO they're really good kit. They're thin though, as their main advantage over other makes is they pack down to nothing. I think you'll need a thicker base by the sounds of it. There are plenty to choose from but they can get bulky to carry. I got a decent one from Aldi's a while ago but made the mistake of blowing it up too much and the internal foam seperated from the cover making it twist into some interesting shapes! Full on air beds pack up small and you can inflate them with a 12v pump, try one of those.
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If your planning on doing that long a trip im sure spending a little extra on comfort would not go a miss.
I have a Thermorest 3/4 mat and find it great. I didnt go for the full length one as i needed it for hiking so small as possible was needed. The 3/4 length is great you dont really need anything to hold your feet off the ground really if your in a hot enough climate, and he you do need the extra warmth use your motorbike jacket over your legs or trousers or wear a pair of socks in the sleeping bag. as for the difference i think i remember reading about its the way the make up of the foam and air is. In the thermorest you get small pockets of air where as in other you just get one massive air pocket. Both work ok but on the one with only 1 massive air pocket if you push too hard in one place like your hips or bum will push the air/foam from here away and your body parts might even touch the ground. (depending on size and wieght of user) Where as with the other multi pocket idea the air only moves slightly from one pocket to the other still keep all body parts off hard ground. Best way as most have said it try before you buy. Go in a shop and just tell the guy your looking at sleeping mats and need a good inflatable one for your biking hoilday, they should allow you to blow them up, lye on them etc etc |
I have a 3/4 therma-rest and it kills my knees when I sleep on it. I have to put something at the bottom to keep my feet level. Funny, we're all different. I sleep on my side and even that tiny amount of downward pressure gets me in the end. I just put my waterproof trousers at the bottom and it solves it. You can fold it in half longways before you roll it up and it packs down to a 11"x4" roll.
For long trips I carry my big mat as well which is 72"x25" and use the small one in my chair kit. It rolls up inside the big one so is no extra carriage. It's worth the effort for long trips. If it's raining at least you can sit up inside your tent using the chair kit, it's brilliant. |
decathlon
bought thermarest for myself last year but I have to admit the ones sold at Decathlon are quite good for a fraction of the price, not much difference after all.
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I have a Thermarest 'trailcomfort' which is the slightly thicker version (5cm) which seemed a lot more comfortable on the shop floor than the 'lite' version.
I bought the full length version for comfort/thermal insulation from the ground (I have problem knees too), and as Flyingdoctor suggests, if you fold them in half lengthways before you roll them up they pack away really small... same size as my 3 season sleeping bag in a stuff sack. One thing I would say is that Thermarests are quite narrow - it can feel like you're sleeping on a (albeit comfortable) plank... They do do a wider version (in America at least) which is nice if you sleep on your back/have big shoulders? xxx |
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As for packing it this is where the advantages of getting a 3/4 and a thermorest come into play. The 3/4 mat is even shorter than most mats ast eh name suggests which means it doesnt make as big a size once roled up. As because its a thermorest they designed to towards a body shape (not just a big rectangle where say 10-20% of the mate doesnt really get used) there for it rolls into an even smaller size. It mighten sound much but when packing either a rucksack for hiking or a bike to touring it makes a big difference + they normally give you a wee bag with it when you buy is so once rolled up doesnt unroll everywhere like some others do. |
Just bought a 3/4 mat from Alpkit (UK) for £17.50p. Buy two and they deduct £6 - second one costing £11.50. Not bad I thought, so I did.
Haven't used it yet, but what's there to say? Blew it up tight to check for leaks and it's still ok after 6 days. Choice of colours, sizes, etc. |
exped
For me, exped is definitely the way to go.
The big advantage for me is, that the exped is, when inflated, way thicker than a Thermarest. I hate those thin Thermarest style mattresses, because I often sleep on the side, and using a Thermarest, my shoulders and hips touch the ground and start hurting pretty soon. Using a exped no problem :thumbup1: Size ? If you ask me, about the same. Toughness ? My dealer told me, he punctured both :clap: (The exped includes a free patch set, dont know if the Thermarests do aswell.) Insulation on the expeds are ideal for me, never had cold (2 degrees at night in the desert. (good sleeping bag, of course)) Exped |
Try Alpkit gear, half the price of the Therm-a-rests and mine's sweet so far with 3 weeks' constant use...
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exped
another vote for exped...
shaun |
Exped again old bean.. I'm afraid to say - way better than anything else on the market
Check out - http://youtube.com/watch?v=oOnJfECen5A and for the best price and support get it from TravelDri Plus - Traveldri-Plus |
better price
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Exped Mats - Complete Outdoors 85 quid old chap or 75 on the synth and FREE P&P |
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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 |
yep
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 :scooter:
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 :thumbup1: 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. http://www.thermarest.com/productIma...ks_group_s.jpg </SPAN> |
The difference between an 'Exped' and the one I got, means an extra 1500 miles roaming in Russia, or 800 miles in Western Europe.:clap:
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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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m |
who the f*** are these Sam Manicom and Austin Vince anyway ? :devil2:
*SCNR* |
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didn’t know that
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:offtopic: 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 |
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Shaun |
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Slightly :offtopic: 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.:( |
cool
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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 F:censored:ing obsessed about is packing light. So, at 180g I think I'll get one. What trip you planning dude ? |
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Decathlon mats??
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:thumbup1: Thats about a third of the price of a therarest:Beach: |
alpkit fat airic
just to add, i started off with a lightweight 3/4 thermarest on the basis of packed size and lightness, at which it excels.
BUT i never slept properly on it! Too thin by far. and if i dont sleep well i dont have too good a day either! so having researched the thicker thermarests and big prices, i bought a fat airic. this is sooooo comfy! packed size is pretty damn big, but across the panniers its no big deal, and still hardly weighs anything. another point not mentioned, i was talking to a young climbing mad dude who said he'd been up much of the alps, himalayas, NZ etc etc, and pointed out if any thermarest type bed gets a puncture its useless. not sure what temp the patch kit glue works down to, but the original closed cell mats are cheaper still even for a posh one, and hard to break!!! |
Alpkit gets my vote I have a wee aric and a thermarest and the Alpkit product is just as good but way cheaper. If you havnt already then look them up I just ordered a ti mug, so will report back on how it performs, again it was way cheaper than the competition. Good point about the closed cell foam mats they dont break.
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(sorry for the off-topic post!) Back to mats.... can't praise Alpkit enough either... really nice bunch of guys... m |
Afternoon,
I've just returned from a camping trip, where I used my Therm-a-rest, self inflating mat and found it to offer little more comfort than a basic foam pad! So I need to find an alternative. Mine's around 5ft 6inch in length but's only thin, at around an inch (when inflated). I'm looking for something that doesn't take up too much space but gives plenty of comfort for my old bones and I'd really like to pick one up from one of the vendors at Ripley. |
Hey Everyone!
I know there's a lot of replies about this but..... I used to work for a camping equipment company and can tell you that camping mats are NOT designed to provide comfort - they are designed to insulate you from the cold ground. If its comfort you want get yourself an air matress. I brought mine from Millets in the UK - it cost £10, folds up to about 15cm x 25cm and hasn't let me down in 4 years of use. You do have to blow it up yourself though! |
Alpkit better than thermarest.
Hi Chris. I recently bought man alpkit fat airic and it is like sleeping on a mattress. Quite large but who cares on a bike and beats the thermarests I have used in the past hands down. Link Down sleeping bags and down jackets, Alpkit outdoor gear for alpine activities including climbing, camping, mountaineering and trekking Hope this helps, Phil
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[QUOTE=NRH30;203929]Hey Everyone!
I know there's a lot of replies about this but..... I used to work for a camping equipment company and can tell you that camping mats are NOT designed to provide comfort - they are designed to insulate you from the cold ground. If its comfort you want get yourself an air matress. QUOTE] You don't want to use an airmatress if its cold. The air inside can circulate so it doesn't insulate. Thermarests are made for different purposes: The 1.5cm 3/4 long for survival, maybe when climbing and the 5cm wide and long, for comfort, so: is a Thermarest comfortable? that depends which one you choose! Is it small and light? That depends ! I have a "light" for backpacking and biking, a "normal" for kayaking etc. and a 5cm for camping with a car I've had them for 8-16 years and they are still OK. I had 2 holes, at the same time, about 12 years ago, when I erected my tent in the dark on top of some thorns. I've patched it and I still use it. |
Exped Down Mats
I use an EXPED Down Mat. It's an airbed filled with down so you get the comfort of an airbed coupled with the insulation of a mat. The one I've got is the 9DLX, which is the top of the range and can be found for about £100 in the UK. It's expensive but I value my sleep.
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Next tour, especially if I go anywhere cold, I am planning to treat myself to the Exped down mattress. |
Sleeping Well
I've tried many options but after using the EXped 9 DLX, won't be using anything else...ever...Air and down, has it's own inflation bag - 2-3 minutes to full inflation, which keeps you about 4 inches off the ground less if you deflate a little - It's warm, comfortable, durable, smaller than Thermarest or thermalite - deflates in 1 minute or less - reasonably lightweight...
...if you haven't already spent money on something else, do yourself a favor and try/buy the EXped.....it really is good gear!! :sleep1: (You can get a slightly smaller version if you are a smaller person - 7 DLX - I think)... S |
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