Fat Airic done good

[Shewie]

Just thought I'd give these sleeping mats another bit of deserved praise in case anyone is looking for a good base/car camping matress.
I got back on Sunday from two weeks tent camping in the Alps region of France and Switzerland and took along two Fat Airics from Alpkit. We did pretty much the same trip last year but SWMBO used an old inflatable Outwell mat and I used my 3/4 Thermarest. It wasn't too bad for the first five or six nights but as we moved round to different sites, it was getting tougher to get a good nights sleep and I was suffering from sore shoulders and hips and my arms would go dead occasionally. You really notice the difference on commercial sites to when you crash in the hills or woods, the rocks become exposed and tree roots usually riddle the floor.
Anyway back to the Fatties, although you wouldn't want to stick one in your pack, for car camping or even a prolonged stop in one place, nothing I've ever tried before (excluding hammocks) comes even close to these beauties. I inflated ours fairly firm and lying back on them was just like our mattress at home, rolling around I couldn't feel anything through the base and my hips and shoulders were nicely cushioned.
I've used mine once before at a festival and it was superb but the trip this year and the rocky camp sites made me appreciate the difference.

I don't think they make the Fat Airic any longer, it's now been replaced by their Dozer. It looks like the same mat although I've not compared the tech specs.
They're not cheap and you wouldn't think about carrying one far, but a damn good investment if you're looking to buy a new mat in the future.

Alpkit customer service deserves a quick mention too. Two days before our trip I was packing the mats away from on top of the wardrobe. I noticed the one I bought for SWMBO didn't have a carry bag or puncture kit with it. The wife didn't say anything at the time she unpacked it in April so I wasn't to know. I got onto the phone to them at 4 o'clock in the afternoon and by 8 o'clock the next day I had the bag and a couple of extra puncture kits.

Just for the record I've got the Exped down mat too but I didn't want to get it trashed over there

 

[Nagual]

An interesting point you raise there Rich. Comparing the durability of the Exped and Alpkit mats, which do you think is more likely to last? If you were worried about getting your lovely Exped mat trashed does that mean it couldn't handle it? Ignoring the obvious cost differences in replacing a bust mat of either type of course.

 

[Shewie]

Not too sure yet mate as I only got the Exped a few weeks ago when I won the Tamarack draw and it's not been christened yet. When I was packing for the trip I did roll it up and then thought the Airic was more robust in comparison. I have no doubt the Exped will be strong but the material is still very thin compared to the make up of the Alpkit one.

It's funny really as I'm intending to use the Exped with my bivvy bag out in the hills and woods, where there's a good chance of punctures and damage. But the Fat Airics will get used for car camping with a tent and maybe the odd canoe trip. Doh!
The Exped packs down small though which is better for trips and half the reason I got it really, a few folk have recommended them too. Not sure I was ready to shell out for the full price but when I fell lucky at Tamarack I knew what I was going to get.

 

[fast but dim]

i am a firefighter, and since we lost our beds and went to reclining chairs i've slept on a fat airic two nights out of every eight for the last two years. ( naughty me!) plus the occasional weeekend camping. I'd say that qualifies as hard use, far more than the average camper!
i've done a quick bit of maths, and it's been used for over 170 nights, and is showing no signs of wear, plus it's stored stuffed in a locker the rest of the time.
I'd have no hesitation in recommending them to anyone.