Touring Gear - Sleeping Matts

[hartleymartin]

I'm looking into getting a better sleeping mat. I have a 3/4 length "tombstone" shaped one which I bought a couple of years ago and I've been all places with it (even used it in France and Spain!), but I'm looking for something a bit larger and thicker. I'm 188cm tall, 110kg and rather broad-shouldered so you can imagine that the 50cm-wide matt sometimes leaves a bit to be desired. Is there a good matt about say 70cm wide that any of you would recommend?

[Baalzamon]

If you want thicker, you can't go past the exped synmat/downmat range.

[silentbutdeadly]

If you want thicker, you can't go past the exped synmat/downmat range.

Yep. Exped is the go.

[Aushiker]

If you want thicker, you can't go past the exped synmat/downmat range.

But will Martin get the width? I know my Synmat UL 7 is only 52 cm wide. Haven't bothered to look at the other models in the range.

Andrew

[Baalzamon]

The large sizes of the exped range go to 65cm

[Aushiker]

The large sizes of the exped range go to 65cm

Should be close enough then.

Andrew

[hartleymartin]

Thanks, I'll take a look into it. The tiny tomb-stone mat is good enough at a basic level, but I wouldn't want to be sleeping on it more than a couple of nights in a row!

[elStado]

Hi Martin, is it ok if I chip in? I'm also looking for a light, reasonably comfortable, good quality compact mattress for touring, hiking, camping etc.

I'm slightly smaller, ~68kg/181cm. Was looking at the large sized Therm-a-Rest ProLite which can be had for around $120-130 online. Seems to be the most popular option on most touring sites (e.g. CGOAB).

Anyone else with similar dimensions out there that can recommend a model and size?

[J Quinton]

Hello. My two cents.

I have bought and used the ubiquitous thermarest, a vaude norde (or whatever they are called) and a multimat. I can honestly say the multimat wins hands down. It is the cheapest, only slightly heavier than the vaude and more comfortable than the other two aswell. It's like a lilo. Folds up v small. The big advantage of course is the price. I would buy two if you're getting them online. The best thing about a cheap mat is your not worried about puncturing it or getting it dirty or losing it etc....

This is the item, pretty sure you could find it cheaper elsewhere:

http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ ... irbed.html

[hartleymartin]

The multimat looks good, but I am also looking for something rather wider, more in the 60cm + range. Just to give you an idea of my size, I measure 46 inches around my chest - I'm a BIG BLOKE!

[Baalzamon]

Tis a shame you didn't go look at a Exped mat, apparently there was a 30% off sale on them at mainpeak that ended yesterday. FYI I'm now 49" on my chest and would have been 46" when I was touring with it.

[WestcoastPete]

I can only comment on the Thermarest NeoAir and Prolite Plus.

I originally didn't like my NeoAir, but it has really grown on me. It is comfortable and it is thick. I found that if it was inflated too much, my hips would be higher than my shoulders and I'd wake with a sore lower back. I then learned to deflate the mat while lying on it until is was comfortable - for my this is when I can lay on my side without being able to push my hip through to the bottom of the mat (touching the ground). It takes a fair bit of inflating compared to the Prolite Plus, but it folds down to be much smaller and lighter. For hiking, this is what I use. For short bike tours, I'll also use it. But...

For my upcoming multi-month tour I'm going to take my Prolite Plus. It's bigger and heavier, but I find that I sleep marginally better on it, especially when using it on consecutive nights. It's 3.8mm thick and a fair bit firmer than the NeoAir and I don't have issues with touching through to the ground on it. It's easier to inflate and it fits into my Compack chair more easily. It seems to be more puncture resistant too, but I don't there's any real evidence for this.

Both are 63cm wide and 196cm long. The new NeoAir X-lite has an R value of 3.2 (I think the older one, which I have was only 2.5). The Prolite Plus has an R value of 3.8

[John Holstein]

I bought two Exped Down Mats, one for me, one for the wife. One of the best camping / touring investments I have made. The down mats prevent cold from coming up from the ground, have their own built in pump that is like about 3 minutes of CPR to pump them up and are very compact when rolled up. They appear to be very durable. I have already spent about 15 nights on them, including one night in Orange which reached minus 2 dgrees celsius.
John Holstein
"if we don't change direction, we will end up where we are headed" (Professor Irwin Corey - 1912-)

[il padrone]

I bought two Exped Down Mats, one for me, one for the wife. One of the best camping / touring investments I have made. The down mats prevent cold from coming up from the ground, have their own built in pump that is like about 3 minutes of CPR to pump them up and are very compact when rolled up.

I actually timed it once and just 90 seconds of steady pumping will get the mat fully inflated. There is a knack to pushing on the pump that makes it work better - slow and regular works best.

They appear to be very durable. I have already spent about 15 nights on them, including one night in Orange which reached minus 2 dgrees celsius.

We used our Synmats for 18 nights around Tasmania and several other trips including 3 nights over Easter. For the first time I find myself sleeping as well as I do on my bed at home Thes mats have a considerably higher R-value (thermal insulation) than Thermarests.

[Leaf T]

I use the Synmat 7 deluxe I think it's called.It was the biggest 7cm thick one they did at the time. It's been excellent and takes about 75 pumps if you open the valves and let it kind of self inflate while you set up camp.

[elStado]

Mainpeak are selling Exped gear (including all the different mattresses) for 30% off.

I was going to buy a UL Synmat 7 just a few days ago for $139.95, just checked it tonight and saw the price difference.. bought one for $97.30!

Go crazy. This sale ends Monday 18 June. Free shipping on orders over $75!

http://www.mainpeak.com.au/content/Bran ... ducts.html

[baghwan]

Mainpeak are selling Exped gear (including all the different mattresses) for 30% off.

I was going to buy a UL Synmat 7 just a few days ago for $139.95, just checked it tonight and saw the price difference.. bought one for $97.30!

Go crazy. This sale ends Monday 18 June. Free shipping on orders over $75!

http://www.mainpeak.com.au/content/Bran ... ducts.html

This is on again, why oh why didn't I wait just a few days... =(

[JJBLOOD]

Here you have a different model by Therm-a-rest The NeoAir, Large. The NeoAir, Large is 63 cm wide... close to 70 cm wide that you need

It´s very expensive.... 150...to 160€ ... in Europe

This is what Therm-a-rest says about this product...

The NeoAir mattress represents the world’s most advanced engineering in ultralight comfort. Beyond being the lightest air mattress available, we’ve utilized two patent-pending internal technologies, making it up to three times warmer and far more stable than any other uninsulated air mattress available. And when it comes to space in your pack, you’ll appreciate that it’s no bigger than a one-liter water bottle. Revolutionary by design, the gossamer NeoAir mattress makes comfort one less thing you’ll need to compromise when traveling fast and light.

Ultralight & Compact: Weighs just 14oz. and packs down to the size of a 1-liter water bottle.
Unrivaled Warmth: Our patent-pending reflective barrier returns warmth to your body and reduces heat loss to the ground, keeping you three times warmer than any other uninsulated air mattress.
Sleep Stable: When inflated, patent-pending Triangular Core Matrix technology creates an internal truss system, resulting in the most stable non-self-inflating air mattresses.
Lasting Performance: Achieving thermal efficiency without down or fiber insulation means the NeoAir mattress can be inflated directly without the added weight of a pump, or worrying about exhaled moisture wetting insulation and decreasing performance.

[elStado]

After only a week's use I already have a puncture in my Synmat.. thankfully its only small and easily repaired. I think the valve pinched the fabric as I packed it away. Have to be more careful with it.

[WestcoastPete]

That happened with my neo-air when it was almost new, small hole in the fold line. Patched it with a Park stick on patch and has been fine since. I've used it in my thermarest seat doovawotsit and everything.

Hopefully just a bad start...

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2

[elStado]

Looks like I missed the punctures. I patched two yesterday and the mattress was flat again this morning. Not sure what's going on but its not much fun as I am currently in France..

[Baalzamon]

Happy downmat 9 user here, no puncture issues at all

[il padrone]

I've been a happy user of the Exped Synmat 7 for the past year (including 20 nights in Tasmania, with no punctures). Sad to hear of your trials in France, ElStado. I must admit I am always very fussy about the ground I put my tent down on, clearing out any sticks and sharp objects. In the outback I will be packing a closed-cell mat to place under the tent for thorn protection if I miss any.

[elStado]

I've been a happy user of the Exped Synmat 7 for the past year (including 20 nights in Tasmania, with no punctures). Sad to hear of your trials in France, ElStado. I must admit I am always very fussy about the ground I put my tent down on, clearing out any sticks and sharp objects. In the outback I will be packing a closed-cell mat to place under the tent for thorn protection if I miss any.

I was camping on soft grass in a back yard. I got two tiny punctures in the underside and also two small punctures on the top side in another area. I've patched them all up and the mattress has been good for the past few nights so I am hoping it was just a bad start. I am super careful about where I put my tent down and I always use my Tyvek ground sheet under the tent to protect the tent floor and mattress from any sticks that I might not have seen. I understand that light weight gear has the caveat of not being super durable, but honestly it's a bit annoying to get 4 punctures within 7 nights of usage considering how careful I am with my gear. I've got another 4 week trip in a few days so it's a chance for the mattress to redeem it's self. Otherwise it goes to the bin and I'll get a more reliable foam matt instead.

[Wingnut]

I use a Thermarest RidgeRest, works fine & no punctures...bad enough fixing a flat tyre let alone a flat mattress...