I currently use an Insul-Mat inflatable mattress with an integrated pillow, super comfortable, but not very warm, and a pain to deflate. So I'm thinking of replacing it with a self-inflatable mat. Thermarest are too expensive, so has anybody tried Exped SIM mats? Otherwise the Highlander ones seem quite good, but the full length ones are heavy, so that leaves the 3/4 length. Are short mats really bad?
I think somebody mentionned the german army sectional mat. My brother has got one, the design is quite good (like most bundeswehr stuff
), but it does have some downsides. It's quite light (400g), it folds up into a "block" instead of a roll, wich makes it easier to fit inside a bag, so you can use it as a replacement frame for your bag (actually the bundeswehr day pack is designed to use the sleeping pad as a frame). It's also just the right size to use as a seat when it's folded up, good for insulation from the cold ground =). The downside is that it's very, very thin, only 5mm, so it doesn't give much padding nor insulation.
They sell them here:
http://www.flecktarn.co.uk/flbkm1ux.html (n.b: it's 56cm thick, not 80, and it folds in two width wise, then folds lenght wise, that's why it's quite thin). The same site also sell the mess kits (cheap and good billy can) and Esbit stoves.
ack:
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