Request for help: Sleeping mat

[MattH]

Hey all,

Are there any tall side sleepers here on the forums? - I had a quick search but didn't come across anything too similar.

I'm 6'7 so it's always a pain when trying to find stuff.. I got a "custom" extended sleeping bag through snugpack which is a 1 season bag (which i love.. i can't deal with anything thicker as i am a very hot sleeper), but im struggling to find a good mat.

I've gone through 4 mats over the last few years just because i can't seem to get one that is any good.. I sleep on my side a lot so i find if they're not ribbed, i just sink to the floor in the hip area and just wake up feeling crap

I'm technically 204cm but most sleeping gear stops at about 180 - 195cm.

Any suggestions for a long sleeping mat that is thick enough to support side sleeping, yet easy enough to travel around with?

A hammock was one thought, but that's not always suitable for "car camping" with the misses and dog.

Thanks guys

Matt

 

[KenThis]

I'm only 6'4" (and pretty heavy), but have got around the problem of short mats before by having dedicated pillows that I used at the end of the mat. Body and feet on the mat and head on pillows.

I can't really help with thick mat issues, I never found a really suitable one for side sleeping that wasn't an air mattress or proper camping cot, but I have an old thermarest (about an inch thick) which is fine for an odd night mostly, though I inevitably end up sleeping on my back.

I hammock camp now which is about as comfy as it gets imho, I have a really large hennessey hammock and if I get the hang right can sleep on my side, though it's still more comfortable for back sleeping.

 

[Jaeger]

Aye Up MattH,

First off - what type of mat do you mean by ribbed - solid foam or inflatable type?

How thick a mat do you think that you require?

Are you only car camping or do you also intend to walk your kit out into the sticks?

You could for example join two pieces of the cellular foam ground insulation mats (E.g. Brit Mil type) to give the length that you need, enclosing them inside a slip made from a suitably robust material i.e. Cordura. Placing this over the top of either a further solid foam ribbed or a inflatable mat might solve the prob, although to prevent slippage between them I would include the ribbed/inflatable mat inside the slip too.
(I'd also add an anchor eyelet or strap in each corner).

I've done something similar with a Brit surplus inflatable roll mat, not to give extra length but to provide a pocket to slide a solid foam mat beneath so as to protect the inflatable.



For out in the sticks I use an HD plastic emergency bivvy bag stuffed with foliage - leaf litter and/or fern - to provide both insulation and 'upholstery' beneath my sleeping bag a la palias system of days gone by. You can make it as deep as you can find material.

 

[IC_Rafe]

I'd suggest something like the exped long mats. Bit more expensive, but worth it. The LW's are 77in, add a small inflatable pillow, and/or add a small mat or something below your feet (like the thermarest sitting pad, or a stuffsack with some clothes in it). I have the vaude Norssken which is basically a clone of the synmats, and never regretted it (It'll be too short for you though). I'm a pretty heavy side sleeper.

 

[petrochemicals]

I am 6ft 2 which is a short **** these days but I have difficulty finding equipment (sleeping bags tents mats) really they should make these things in different sizes. 2 man tents are barely big ebough even sleeping sideways.


Anyway I too purchaced a matt recently and I asked on this forum. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145298


I ended up with the robenswhich at 195 is long but if I where to buy again I would go to alpkit(didnt see until after order, 40 quid cheaper plus a pump in it)

http://www.robens.de/en/Products/mats-airbeds/airbeds/prima-core-9,-d-,0-cm

https://www.alpkit.com/products/dumo

Obviously popular as it's out of stock!

Robens also do this

http://www.robens.de/en/Products/mats-airbeds/airbeds/rapturous

Which looks good. At 2m long it is quite nice. The other thing mentioned was the vango allure matress. Quick inflation pack up.

 

[brambles]

I am 6'5'' and very comfortable on my Exped Downmat 9LW

 

[PDA1]

Thermarest, Big Agnes, and Exped make 77 or 78inch versions of their complete range.

 

[MattH]

Thermarest, Big Agnes, and Exped make 77 or 78inch versions of their complete range.

I've not had much luck with the thermarest ones and the site is useless, i've kinda given up on them unless anyone can highly recommend one of them.

I am 6'5'' and very comfortable on my Exped Downmat 9LW

Do you find that the vertical supports sink by your hip / bum area?

I am 6ft 2 which is a short **** these days but I have difficulty finding equipment (sleeping bags tents mats) really they should make these things in different sizes. 2 man tents are barely big ebough even sleeping sideways.


Anyway I too purchaced a matt recently and I asked on this forum. http://www.bushcraftuk.com/forum/showthread.php?t=145298


I ended up with the robenswhich at 195 is long but if I where to buy again I would go to alpkit(didnt see until after order, 40 quid cheaper plus a pump in it)

http://www.robens.de/en/Products/mats-airbeds/airbeds/prima-core-9,-d-,0-cm

https://www.alpkit.com/products/dumo

Obviously popular as it's out of stock!

Robens also do this

http://www.robens.de/en/Products/mats-airbeds/airbeds/rapturous

Which looks good. At 2m long it is quite nice. The other thing mentioned was the vango allure matress. Quick inflation pack up.

They look quite good, i'll have a proper look at those when i get home

Thanks so far ppl!

Matt