self-inflating camping mats - worth the extra?

[Asa Samuel]

hey,

I was just wondering about peoples views on self-inflating camping mats over the standard foam mats.

Less weight and less space taken up is a good thing but as they are double, nearly triple what the standard ones cost are they really worth it?

Thanks,
Asa.

 

[lamper]

Yes and no.

Yes:
- if you have the money (get the thermarest)
- much warmer (i find)
- more comfy to lay on
- packs down smaller

No:
- if you want to abuse it a bit more and use it as a sit mat
- you ground out unless the air is spread evenly (i.e like when you lay on it)
- can puncture
- dont have money - weight of cheaper ones isnt worth it
- are total gram weenie - inflatables come in at 300+

Saying that I love my thermarest, but i use my foam matt just as much when roughing it or about the camp site.

 

[addo]

I cant make my mind up.

The 3/4 termarest is hardly noticeable in my pack, and very comfy.
But they are costly and get punctures. I still take mine but use a solid one cut down as a sit mat and to take up the other 1/4 in colder weather.

Guess if you convieniently forget about the cost and look after them, there better. Except in a hawthorn wood!

 

[Peter_t]

they do not weigh less but they are far smaller. personally i don’t like them, they leak through the valves after a while and there is always the risk of puncturing it. also i find inflating and packing away a pain.

foam mats may be bulky but there is nothing that can go wrong and they are cheep!



pete

 

[sapper1]

I have one 5cm thick 68 cm wide and 200 cm long it weighs 2.2kg but is the only mat I would use to sleep on the floor.It is made by the same people in the same factory from the same materials and in the same way as thermarest yet is a quater of the price.
I would heartily reccomend these mats to anyone.

 

[Joonsy]

I was just wondering about peoples views on self-inflating camping mats over the standard foam mats. Less weight and less space taken up

I thought foam mats were lighter but bulkier than self-inflating.

 

[Asa Samuel]

Thanks for all the replies, and sorry about the weight issue - I just thought that because they take up less space they would probably weigh less too

I think I will just get a standard foam mat, a lot cheaper which is a good thing for me

Asa.

 

[Ed]

It is made by the same people in the same factory from the same materials and in the same way as thermarest yet is a quater of the price.
I would heartily reccomend these mats to anyone.

What name are they sold under?

Ed

 

[RAPPLEBY2000]

hey,

I was just wondering about peoples views on self-inflating camping mats over the standard foam mats.

Less weight and less space taken up is a good thing but as they are double, nearly triple what the standard ones cost are they really worth it?

Thanks,
Asa.

Yes

Been using them for around 10 years, before then I'd have said a foam mat every time! Even if they get a puncture (which is unlikely) they'll still insulate you from the ground!

 

[Toddy]

And when your nearest and dearest are stumped for a Chrissie prezzie you ask them for an Exped Down Mat.........that's even better than the thermarest by a whole degree of magnitude
Until then though, well, we used the closed cell mats for years and thought them the bees knees. I distinctly remember being taught how to scrape out shoulder and hip hollows before putting down the groundsheet in the days before camp mats

Spoiled rotten now

cheers,
Toddy

 

[Goatboy]

You can buy one of these for £20 http://www.vango.co.uk/products/accessinfo.aspx?productid=119&modelid=19&id=35
So much more comfy and thermally efficient than a foam matt that costs just under half that. On the scale of diminishing returns I'd say that was a good deal... but it depends what you're up too, sometimes take an old sheepskin instead... and it's wonderfull. Have a couple of ultra light Thermarests and they are good too... but are they four times better ( by cost) well you'd have to decide that yourself.

GB.

 

[Joonsy]

You probably know but there are different thicknesses of foam mat available often sold as three or four season depending on thickness. I just use a foam mat, i cut it to desired size and for carrying fold it and insert in back of backpack, it doesn't offer much padding but i can sleep well on quite hard ground (they are not meant to provide comfort simply to be an inslulator from cold ground as you probably know), on occasion i have used ferns or leafy fir branches under foam mat for extra padding and insulation, personally i use a foam mat because it is so light (not an issue if not travelling far but i like to travel light) and nothing can go wrong with it or break on it, and they are so cheap, you can always double-up and use two if you want more comfort but then have the extra bulk, a few weeks ago i saw some Dutch army ones in an army surplus store that were very thick indeed but very bulky, oh and there is something else called the Ridgerest as well which i have no experience of.

 

[sapper1]

Ed, they are gelert expedition xl.

 

[jimford]

oh and there is something else called the Ridgerest as well which i have no experience of.

The Ridgerest is excellent and I prefer one when backpacking to the Thermarest Prolite I also have..

Jim

 

[harryhawk]

You can buy one of these for £20 http://www.vango.co.uk/products/accessinfo.aspx?productid=119&modelid=19&id=35
So much more comfy and thermally efficient than a foam matt that costs just under half that. On the scale of diminishing returns I'd say that was a good deal... but it depends what you're up too, sometimes take an old sheepskin instead... and it's wonderfull. Have a couple of ultra light Thermarests and they are good too... but are they four times better ( by cost) well you'd have to decide that yourself.

GB.

Ay, I've got a Vango as well. Good bit of kit and mine's in green

 

[Big Geordie]

Don't Thermarests have a lifetime guarantee? We prefer them to anything else. In the "olden days" I also used to cut down a foam cell mat to 3/4 size to make it easier to carry with my webbing. It never affected my comfort either.

But a light Thermarest weighs very little and takes up a small space.
They are more of a longer term investment however....uppy_dog
ATB
G

 

[sandbag47]

check Aldi they might still have some in they cost just under £13 and i've had no problem with the one i have

 

[robin wood]

How old are you?

I found that when I was 18 I could sleep well in a supathin cheapie sleeping bag with only a sheet of polythene for a groundsheet. The at about 20 a few of my mates got karymats...we called them wusses until we tried them. Slept well for 10 years that way.

Then discovered Thermarest. Now this is a whole different level of comfort, however rough and bumpy the ground is underneath I still get a good nights sleep. They form a supportive bridge across the lumps and bumps, no more waking up every 2 hours to adjust the aching hip. Trick is don't blow them up too hard, just enough so you hip nearly but not quite touches the floor.

Had mine well over 10 years now and would throw lots of other things out to save weight before that went. Kids have trashed several cheap ones quite quickly.

 

[SimonM]

I have had my Thermarest for about 7 years now. Prior to that i thought they were a gimmick and was happy with my Karrimat. How wrong I was!

I love my Thermarest, but as already has been said, chepaer ones are false economy IMHO. I bought my daughter a cheap one (£15 ish) and it is nowhere near as comfy, doesn't roll up as small, is slippy to the point that she regularly slides off it, and is VERY difficult to get bck in its sac!

If you can afford it, buy a genuine Thermarest - full length. If not save up and wait would be my advice!

HTH?

Simon

 

[sandbender]

"...ask them for an Exped Down Mat.........that's even better than the thermarest by a whole degree of magnitude ..."

These do look pretty good.

Exped website.

picture of mat.