Recommend me a camping mat / inflatable matress.

ELIMINATOR

ELIMINATOR

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Just ordered the tent, got the sleeping bag.
Now I need a camping mat / inflatable matress. What do I need. Only intend to camp in this country in summer. Must be GS friendly.
 
slee[ping mat.

Thermorest without fail, get a full length one. All self inflating , light , and pack up small, dont buy an air bed, they are heavy, bulky, get punctures and not so warm.
dave (self inflating) gs.:beer: :beer:
 
As what all the above have said :thumb

I've used a Thermarest for the last 4 years now and never looked back. When I let my misses and daughter have a go I had to go out and buy another two! Definitely the definitive sleeping mat - mines been all around the World with me, suffered punctures, soakings, dirt, dust, 60 degree heat, - 25 degree cold and loads more yet still gives me a comfortable nights sleep each time. Thoroughly recommended and one of the best things I've bought in my life.
 
I had a thermorest for three years. Great compared with the old Karimats.

Then I bought an Exped Down mattress. Far better IMHO.

Link :thumb
 
Whatton said:
I had a thermorest for three years. Great compared with the old Karimats.

Then I bought an Exped Down mattress. Far better IMHO.

Link :thumb
Click to expand...

What he said :thumb I've owned and used a Thermarest for 3 years, last year when the missus camped we borrowed an Exped down mattress from Travel Dri Les - far better and now the missus gets the thermarest every time :D
 
judge said:
What he said :thumb I've owned and used a Thermarest for 3 years, last year when the missus camped we borrowed an Exped down mattress from Travel Dri Les - far better and now the missus gets the thermarest every time :D
Click to expand...

That would explain why she's been feeding you that plaster of Paris to make stones for the last six months then :thumb

Thermarest here as well...go full length full width....bigger to carry but worth it :)
 
just to be different, we use the ortlieb mats, also from les. comfy & waterproof (came in handy when our pre exped tent flooded at princetown).
 
Sod the mats. I've tried quite a few out and none of them come anywhere near the Halfords double inflatable mattress for comfort. Big and heavy but sooo comfy. I think the current one was £20. Insulates well on cold ground and lets you get a decent nights sleep. Folded up it sits nicely on the back seat with my other gear. If the missus is on the back it rolls up and gets strapped to the rack.

I've got one of Travels dri's thicker Exped mats as well. It's ok for the odd night but if you spend a few nights on the road then you need as much comfort as possible.
 
Thermarest or exped mattress

I use the same Therma-rest that i was donated in 1996 for an expedition. Never really self inflated after the first month, but a few quick puffs and its ready to go. Its a full length one and i have the chair convertion option for it, which is great.

BUT i also bought a 9cm thick down exped mattress which is great..for colder camping, and is thicker.

Comfort wise, the trick is not to inflate the mattress too hard. Otherwise you might as well sleep on a piece of wood..lol.. or the floor.

It should deform enough to support your hip/backside depending on how you sleep..

If your, shall we say, of the heavier build.. the exped matt may give that little extra "support"..
 
Thermarest here as well :thumb

We have one each and Thermarest do a really good connection system which is two figure eight loops that join two mats together - stops them sliding apart during the night and means I get more space :) At a fiver or so it is well worth getting.

Also dont over inflate them, just let them self inflate then maybe one or two breaths if needed.
 
Exped here.................have tried all the rest and finished with the best...:D
 
Yup - Thermarest, end of story.

I have a rufty-tufty 3/4 length thinner exped one, and the missus has a top of of the line pocket sprung luxury thing.

So I tend to use hers.:D
 
mines better than yours.

I borrowed a Thermarest from a mate and then I tried an exped down air and the exped sim borrowed from TravelDri Les. I didn't get on with the down air (although they really suit some people) and ended up with the exped SIM. Have used it in cold and hot climate. Have used it on various floors with and without carpet. Have used it on stony and soft ground. Have always slept well with it.

My advice = try before you buy.
 
Exped every time

IMO got to be the the 9cm Exped Down mattress, both extremely comfortable/warm and small pack size. I did put a link in the bargain section a while ago for a mail orer shop in the lakes. They were only £60 havent checked recently.

Brian
 
Thermarest here too :thumb If you get one always store it unrolled & with the inflation valve open, under the bed is ideal. It`ll then inflate quicker when unrolled :thumb
 
Nippy Normans supply Touratech, Wunderlich, Desert Fox and many other makes of accessories.
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