Sleeping mats self inflate vs Foam

[Lasse]

For winter camping, I carry both a foam mat (cheap) and an inflatable (mid price) and use them on top of each other for extra warmth.
If the inflatable leaks, you still have the bombproof foam. So you get better insulation, more comfort and certainty that you always have some functional insulation.
Also, foam mats are so light that I don't notice them hanging on the outside of my backpack.

Talking about foams, which ones are the best insulating? Multimat Expedition Summit? Or is there something better available?

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Talking about foams, which ones are the best insulating? Multimat Expedition Summit? Or is there something better available?

I don't know this particular mat Are you planning on doing some winter mountaineering ?......for an alternative, I've heard a lot of good things about the dutch army roll mat. a little heavy though http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dutch-Arm...Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3a6bc251c7

 

[jeffz]

Millets -big discount on the multimat inflatable. Tough, warm, packs small. Good for winter.
Sports Direct -Karrimor X-Lite 3/4 length self-inflater for under £20. Super light. Surprisingly resilient.

Both work for me, as I like to use a 30-litre pack, and don't like bulk.

 

[Lasse]

I don't know this particular mat Are you planning on doing some winter mountaineering ?......for an alternative, I've heard a lot of good things about the dutch army roll mat. a little heavy though http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dutch-Arm...Collectables_Militaria_LE&hash=item3a6bc251c7

Something like that, yes. Coming winter I have a trip planned to the Vosges in France which will be followed by higher altitude/more northern winter trips if all goes well
That dutch mat looks comfy, but indeed heavy!

But to stay on topic: it's only fair to compare the best available foam mats with inflatables like the ones form Thermarest and Exped, right? The Multimat I mentioned costs and weighs less than half a down Exped. But how does the insulation compare?

 

[forestwalker]

I have an old Ridgerest foam, which I like. What I like about the foams -- and reindeer hides -- is that they are hard to destroy. Sit near the fire, with sparks thrown? No biggie. Sharp pointy sticks? So what? I have tested laying dowon on the better, modern inflatables, and I agree that they are very nice. I just don't trust them under rought conditions.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

Something like that, yes. Coming winter I have a trip planned to the Vosges in France which will be followed by higher altitude/more northern winter trips if all goes well
That dutch mat looks comfy, but indeed heavy!

But to stay on topic: it's only fair to compare the best available foam mats with inflatables like the ones form Thermarest and Exped, right? The Multimat I mentioned costs and weighs less than half a down Exped. But how does the insulation compare?

Les Vosges doesn't get that cold.(smiley here).......you're right about comparing like with like, the mat you linked is only 12mm thick yet it claims to be usable at - 60°C.......I rest doubtful but if it's true then it insulates better than most inflatables.

 

[salad]

I guess if the mat does not have enough insulation for the weather you find yourself out in then we can all thank the bushcraft forum gods that we have all spent time reading up( over the years at home and errrm maybe at work) on how to insulate with natural materials as well , and as we all got nice sharp an pointy knives we can go chop our selves some spruce-bows or somit to lay under our mats

 

[Lasse]

the mat you linked is only 12mm thick yet it claims to be usable at - 60°C.......I rest doubtful but if it's true then it insulates better than most inflatables.

I also have my doubts about their claims, hence the question.
You appear to use closed cell foam mats a lot. Down to which temperatures do you find comfortable with which model?

 

[mountainm]

I have a pacific outdoor one that uses Aerogel in the torso section - it works very well.

 

[blacktimberwolf]

I also have my doubts about their claims, hence the question.
You appear to use closed cell foam mats a lot. Down to which temperatures do you find comfortable with which model?

No I don't use them alot but I do prefer them........I usually use the multimat trekker 5, the military one ( without the metalic side) & I've used them well below freezing (frozen ground, ice sheet on tent fly) no idea of the actual temperature as I don't carry a thermometer with me but I don't go anywhere extreme..so far I've not been cold ( a good sleeping bag helps too ).....if I ever needed more insulation, I would probably just put 2 mats down which would be more than adequate.
I don't find them very resistant though,if I don't carry them covered on a rucksack, they do get chewed up by branches & dog claws turn them into packaging foam.

 

[lannyman8]

well for a bivi bag id go Army issue or sungpack £50 new (the same thing i think) a foam mat £5 jobbey and if its going to be cold i use the issue 3/4 inflatable which keeps the little extra cold off, with that setup i camped last year in the snow, down to about -8 10 ish and was toasty...

not exspencive but does the job and does it well IMHO, combine it with a issue sleeping bag and your good to go....

hope this helps.

chris.

 

[Harb505]

Wow thanks for all of the great responses I found a Grade 1 XL gore-tex bivi bag for £45 and I'm thinking it can't be much bigger when packed than the Hunka so I'll probs go for it. As for a mat, choices choices choices... Probs just pick up a £10 foam roll for now and see if I can get a down one after christmas or winter in a sale. that way I will have a foam mat I can put under the more expensive mat to protect it.
Thanks Again

 

[BillyBlade]

I've used a foam roll and a cotswolds goretex bivi in -10°C before and was fine. Decent thermal underwear and a hat and you dont even really need an incredibly expensive sleeping bag.

Thats me though. Some people produce a huge amount of heat as they sleep, and some are the other end of the scale and need a warm rock to thaw out on in the morning. I'm very much in the former catagory.

 

[forestwalker]

I've used a foam mat down to -25 C with ok results, doubled with Rudolph down to -40 C or so.

 

[Nice65]

My al kit fat alrics leaked within the first month. They were thick enough that the hassle of sending them back didn't seem worth it. My other al kit purchases have all been good.

I don't rate Alpkit mats at all. I have an Alpkit and a Multimat. If you lay on each without inflating you notice a vast difference in the density of the foam. A punctured Multimat will still offer some insulation whereas the Alpkit is like a burst lilo.

Having lightly brushed past many a bramble and had cold nights on hard ground as a result, I'm going to get a foam mat once the Multimat gives up completely.

 

[Badger74]

I plan on getting a Clas Ohlson mat as it is reasonably priced, and I think 15mm thick instead of the usually 10mm thick jobbies.

 

[The Lord Poncho]

I have a Clas Ohlson one- they are very good (quite heavy, but fine for car camping/short distances), but the valve takes some getting used to!

 

[Badger74]

Sorry LP, I meant the ccf mat, as far as I know it hasn't got a valve

 

[The Lord Poncho]

aha- I'm with you now!!

 

[Harb505]

Anyone got an opinion on a British forces Gore-tex Grade 1 Bivi 260cm x 95cm-65cm? Here's the link http://www.allarms.co.uk/product.php?c=13&s=20&p=65 Looks pretty good and might even fit my pack in the bottom