Reindeer skins.

[Andy BB]

I was passing a "curiosity" shop today, and saw an amazing skin/fleece in the shop. Went in, and it was a magnificent reindeer skin. Trouble is, it was 120 quid. So two questions:

1. Is that a bit expensive?

2. Seeing as its about the same price as an Exped down mattress (9DLX I believe), would it be a better alternative?

 

[Bushwhacker]

To answer question 1 I'd say that's way overpriced.

 

[Jinsin456]

That's a bit expensive mate, the silicone backed ones designed for outdoor use are selling for £115 on Nordic outdoors ATM, swmbo won't let me have one though

 

[DavidJT]

I've paid about £40 in Norway, Ok, home of the reindeer admittedly, but Norway is expensive.
Not sure of current UK / on-line supplier price, but that def steep.
By the way beware of molting hairs.

 

[Pignut]

I have one I traded on here, I don't know about the warmth of the exped mats, but sleeping on a hide is the warmest I have been!

 

[Shewie]

That one is a bit on the pricey side, they're toasty but quite bulky to pack.

Bearclaw do them for £65

 

[decorum]

It depends Andy ~ (very roughly) what approximate dimensions was it?

I named my large hide 'Roomdolf' ~ full length of a US army cot* and draped almost to the ground on either side (about as wide as your average hide is in length). Depending on the grade of the hide, the new/going price for a Roomdolf size hide would be between £130 and £150 ~ The cheapest I've seen is in a sale at £125.



* This type

 

[Tor helge]

Way too expensive. Even the souvernir shops (those shops which sell you china made items at redicolous prices) here are cheaper.

 

[Teepee]

Ambleside Sheepskins have reindeer hides for £40. Mine was top-notch when it came through.

 

[spandit]

They're about £65 here in Lapland at the airport

 

[TomBartlett]

Always fancied a reindeer hide as a sleep mat. A bit bulky though...

 

[spandit]

Bought one anyway... not sure what for

 

[treadlightly]

Sounds expensive. I paid £65 at the outdoors show a couple of years back. Tbh i find sheepskin more versatile and less bulky

 

[Martti]

Tbh i find sheepskin more versatile and less bulky

On the other hand I find the reindeer skins lighter than sheepskins. It might be that the best, or calfskins, are reserved for domestic markets and the rest are shipped to Central Europe. You cannot also compare tanned skins to the dried ones.

 

[rancid badger]

The last time Leprevo ( admittedly about 2 years ago!) had them in, they were around £35 each, so shop around.

To be honest, they shed far too many hairs for my liking and they are also bulky but they certainly are very warm and comfortable in use.

R.B.

 

[spandit]

They're currently £49.93 - if that doesn't include VAT that makes it about £60, which is more-or-less what I paid