Whats is beeter than my Thermarest please

We're going camping as a family this summer and I've not camped since a kid.

I have a slightly dodgy back so need a good mat but am a tad loath to pay out a fortune on something that wont get used much.

Are the Downmat 9s really that good.

I see from the link above to The Outdoor Shop that they are £172 but a quick look on Amazon comes up with £135.

It looks to be the same mat ??

and this review seems to rate the Therm-a-Rest much higher and it weighs just half of the downmat and packs to 1/7 of the downmat,so if I did ever camp on the bike it would be much more convenient to pack ??
 
Arsey said:
We're going camping as a family this summer and I've not camped since a kid.

I have a slightly dodgy back so need a good mat but am a tad loath to pay out a fortune on something that wont get used much.

Are the Downmat 9s really that good.

I see from the link above to The Outdoor Shop that they are £172 but a quick look on Amazon comes up with £135.

It looks to be the same mat ??

and this review seems to rate the Therm-a-Rest much higher and it weighs just half of the downmat and packs to 1/7 of the downmat,so if I did ever camp on the bike it would be much more convenient to pack ??
Click to expand...

Never used a thermarest so I can't compare but I have a exped 9 and have no complaints. The thing is not to overinflate them as less inflation equals more comfort,I think they should only be fully inflated to provide more insulation if the ground is really cold.
The only thing I would consider swapping it for is a exped megamat.
 
Try a Termarest neoair venture not self inflating but comfy, and packs down small, it is also very light. only £50,
 
If you want super comfort have a look at the Outwell Dreamboat.
Had a lay on one in go outdoors yesterday , very, very comfortable.
 
Big E said:
Alpkit wideboy.
Click to expand...

I have an alpkit Wideboy, very good mat, but mine has an 8" x 8" square patch with around 16 pin prick holes in it and I can't seem to successfully repair it.
The trouble is, I would buy another, but the factory that made them for Alpkit has closed down and Alpkit are unable to supply any self inflating mats at present.
 
I must be weird. Or strange. Or both. I have a Thermarest Trail Lite Large and an Exped Down9, and I really prefer the Thermarest because it's flat and wider. The Exped is really good but it feels like I'm lying on an inflatable watermatras, the shape isn't my thing.

Both are great pieces of kit if you ask me, just stay away from the Thermarest Neo Air series, they pack really small but sound like you're lying on a bag of crisps at night.

Grtz, Philip!
 
Phluppe said:
...............The Exped is really good but it feels like I'm lying on an inflatable watermatras, the shape isn't my thing................
Click to expand...

I think that you're overinflating it. It should feel underinflated when you just push on it with your hand. Then, as soon as you lay on it bliss :)

My Exped Downmat 7LW weighs 1146grms including the bag and the packed size is 15cm diameter by 30cm long. Worth every penny gram and cm3 in my opinion and although the built in pump is quite slow its still a great feature. You shouldn't blow into a down mat as the down absorbs the moisture from yur breath and looses it's insulation properties over time. Previously used cheap air bed, no comparison for me in terms of sleep quality.
 
Packer said:
I think that you're overinflating it. It should feel underinflated when you just push on it with your hand. Then, as soon as you lay on it bliss :)

My Exped Downmat 7LW weighs 1146grms including the bag and the packed size is 15cm diameter by 30cm long. Worth every penny gram and cm3 in my opinion and although the built in pump is quite slow its still a great feature. You shouldn't blow into a down mat as the down absorbs the moisture from yur breath and looses it's insulation properties over time. Previously used cheap air bed, no comparison for me in terms of sleep quality.
Click to expand...

Agree with everything that Packer says,the inflation of all Expeds is critical. Just spent 4 nights up at Dent, the weather was not kind, but I was as snug as a bug on my megamat 10
 
Gary, you sound like you're a similarly sized big unit like myself, complete with discectomy.
I've always sworn by the original Thermarest Dreamtime which, although extremely comfortable, doesn't pack down very small. They've now launched a Neo-Air version, which i've also tried and found that i can always feel the ground through the mat whatever pressure it's pumped up to. I've also found that my ageing original's haven't felt as plush.
Personally, I've found that a custom version of the older mat has been the best for me. You can still buy the XL Dreamtime cover and then purchase the XXL Thermarest Mondoking to fit inside. I put all my bedding in a waterproof roll bag and strap it on the back seat, which then offers a really great back rest. Try Facewest for well priced gear.
My other bedding consists of Quioxte Primaloft Pillows and Thermarest Duvet, with a fleece blanket for the really cold nights and i sleep really well.
I'll have this setup at Bills next month, if you want to pop over and try it for yourself.:thumby:
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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