What to kip on?

[faultline]

Hi all, I'm new to the forum and having fun reading all the various areas.
I've been camping plenty of times but going on my 1st wild camp in the Brecon Beacons soon, what do you lot recommend taking as a bed, a rollmat or a camp bed?
Just something to keep me off the floor I suppose but any advantages/disadvantages to either?

Thanks, here's a pic from a hike in the woods today

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[rickyamos]

Thermarest prolite all the way, not cheap but very comfortable, and keep you nice an warm from the cold earth. But any good self inflating bedroll. Any fool can be cold and uncomfortable, so it one bit of kit I don't mind spending the money on.

 

[Quixoticgeek]

Exped Synmat 7UL. Very warm, very comfortable, very lightweight.

I really like mine and would recommend it to anyone. Only downside is they only come in bright YELLOW.

J

 

[racer66]

I have the exped down lite mat 5, and am very impressed with it.

 

[sandbender]

Thermarest prolite all the way, not cheap but very comfortable, and keep you nice an warm from the cold earth. But any good self inflating bedroll. Any fool can be cold and uncomfortable, so it one bit of kit I don't mind spending the money on.

Another vote for a Thermorest prolite, mine is around twelve years old and still going strong.

 

[MikeLA]

Never had a problem with the Foam Rollmat

 

[woodstock]

Or go for a ex army issue mat very durable fairly light and very comfy, Oh and welcome to the forums.

 

[boney gumbo mcgee]

Another fan of the foam roll mat here. I keep mine with separate straps on the mat, so when I stop for a brew I just take it off the pack and use as a seat.

 

[PDA1]

1st consideration is insulation, and A rollmat CCF is the least expensive giving good insulation and is completely reliable. A Thermarest, or similar is good insulation, and more comfortable. It can puncture, and is much more expensive. Any inflatable must contain insulation, such as the Exped mentioned here. The Exped option is more comfortable, warmer, heavier and also much more expensive. I use a CCF mat. Only cost USD 8 (about UKP 5) is the lightest and cannot puncture. Only drawback is that it is bulky to carry compared with an inflatable. As pointed out below, you can use the rolled mat as a seat at a hike break, or in camp.

 

[Alreetmiowdmuka]

These are good best of both worlds tuck your rucksack underneath too prop up your shoulders thermarest ridge rest yer can get em for 25 quid if you shop about http://www.facewest.co.uk/pp/therma...geRest-SOLite/Thermarest-RidgeRest-SOLite.jpg nice n light just roll it up n strap it too your rucksack will never pop comfiest of the foam mats.oh and theirs two thicknesses I've got the thicker one

 

[Inky]

+1 for Thermarest prolite. With the weight and space you save you can pack a warmer sleeping bag or extra jumper.

 

[wales1]

Exped downmat 7. Small pack size, reasonable weight for the insulation values. Warm, comfortable and tough (also comes with a puncture repair kit although have never needed it). Having used thermarest for some time previous to my exped, both are great, but if I were to replace my exped, it would be another exped!

 

[ozzy1977]

I recently picked up a thermarest trail pro, one of their warmest mats, rolls up quite small.

 

[oldtimer]

Thermarest prolite here too. Worth its weight in ... well weight!

 

[DR2501]

I have a Multimat Superlight air - only weighs 300g and it's warm and comfy. Packs down to the size of a packet of digestive biscuits too! Only cost me £25 and its lighter than the equivalent Therm-a-rest.

 

[tent peg]

take a sheep skin

 

[John Fenna]

Ground dwelling I have the choice of a closed cell foam kip mat (cheap, bulky hard wearing and almost indestructible with great insulation but not much padding), Thermarest type ( more expensive, less bulk, easily punctures with great insulation and padding) an exped Down mat (expensive, not much bulk, easily punctured but with luxury insulation and luxury padding though a faff to pump up compared to a self inflating mat) and I use these in my hammock when hanging finding underquilts a pain.
For "primitive" trips I use a combination of sheepskins and reindeer hides and for "minimal kit" I use conifer branches or beds of whatever I can find .... which in the past has even included green bracken over green Ivy - not very insulating but very comfortable!

 

[Squidders]

Thermarest NeoAir Xtherm if I was intent on sleeping directly on the floor - an amazing mat. Thick, comfortable, warm, light and easy to pack.

 

[Nohoval_Turrets]

I've used a Thermarest 3/4 pro-lite for years, and an Exped downmat 7 in Winter. The only trouble with the inflatables is that you live with constant paranoia that your mat is deflating. This is not helped by the one or two occasions when it actually was deflating. Wake up cold on a flat mat, inflate and drift off again. Repeat on an ever-reducing cycle.

But I still always go inflatable - the comfort is worth the drama. Also, they're easier to pack.

 

[ol smokey]

Thermarest or closed cell mat for me , and I have camped for 50 years. Avoid an air bed as the air circulates within
it and transfers the heat away from your body as it has room to move around. I found that the Thermarest ( and mine is an
Original) They may have improved. used to slide around too much if you were restless, or camped on the slightest
slope ,so that your feet were nearly out of the tent by the morning. Have you given a thought to Hammocking? I have
Just moved to hammocks recently and would not go back to a tent or ground sleeping. It is just amazing. You don't have
To worry about rough ground or clearing twigs and stones away. As long as you have trees or some other support ,you
Can even sleep over a stream, if space is limited. Newer hammocks or some of them, have a compartment into which
You can insert a carrymat or other insulation. To protect you from the elements.