Sleeping mat

[steveindenmark]

This subject may have been done to death and in which case I apologise in advance.

I want to do a LOT more camping this year and need a nice comfy sleeping mat for my 50+ year old bones and a nice camping pillow.

What model are you using and what would you recommend?

Steve

 

[Aushiker]

I have used a few over the years, mostly Therm-a-Rest models, the last being a Prolite. I am now using an Exped Synmat UL 7 and this one has really hit the sweet-spot for. It gives me the best sleep for the less weight out of all I have tried. Cannot see me updating it in the near future.

Andrew

 

[bikepacker]

This subject may have been done to death and in which case I apologise in advance.

I want to do a LOT more camping this year and need a nice comfy sleeping mat for my 50+ year old bones and a nice camping pillow.

What model are you using and what would you recommend?

Steve

Being a little older than you my bones probably ache more than yours so it even more essential I get a comfortable night sleep. Over the years I have tried every type of mat and for the last 3 years settled on the Exped Synmat. This gave me the comfort I wanted and the only downside was the extra weight compared to others. To save weight I tried the Noeair but did not like it, then a few weeks ago I treated myself to the Exped Synmat UL as recommended by the previous poster. I tested it this weekend on another forum meet and found it to be just as comfortable as it's heavier brother but at half the weight. I know two nights is not a sufficient test but if you have to purchase a new mat, it is worth considering. I also use the Exped pillow and find it the best I have used.

 

[willem]

Insulated air mattresses have completely transformed this market, with much lighter, warmer and more comfortable offerings than what was possible with self inflatables. Exped have a wide range for different conditions, and so does Thermarest with a number of Neoair models. Personally I think in Europe you need a mattress that can cope with temperatures just below freezing, for early Spring and late Autumn, when you can still cycle comfortably during the day, and to cope with Alpine crossings in Summer. There are two mattresses that do this particularly well: the light (540 grams) and ultracompact Thermarest Neoair Allseason and the somewhat heavier and bulkier but cheaper Exped Synmat Basic 7.5. Other models will cope with rather colder or warmer weather. The Exped UL and Thermarest Neoair XLite models are a bit more fragile than the other models, and may be noisier. Comfort is a thing you have to decide on for yourself. There are those who prefer the longitudinal construction of the Exped mattresses, but equally there are those who much prefer the transverse construction of the Neoairs. The best pillow that I know is the Exped Airpillow.
Willem

 

[stephenjubb]

Now this an area I know a lot about having gone through 12 beds in 5 years, either through dodgy valves or delaminating (8 of them).

Are you going to use the bed as a chair?

The problem with these beds is that if you are away and it goes wrong if there is no appropriate camping store nearby you may have to sleep on the floor for two or three days. Not comfortable.

I now use a self inflating mat but have a thermarest neoair small (285g) as a backup.

This has worked. Took a new self inflating mat to whitby last year and after 3 days it delaminated. THink it was my 14.5 stone bulk and big arse landing on it that delaminated it, but I have had them go with not using them as a chair albeit after a longer period.

Such as it was I simply then used the spare bed so no floor for me (unlike 3 months earlier when it happened to a new thermarest self inflating)

As you say you are camping lots potentially this may happen so think of a plan b (i.e. could one be posted or is there availability nearby)

some may think OTT but having had so much experience with camping beds going it is not something I wish to repeat.

I now use foam mats for my thermarest chair, indestructable and use the beds normally (even though thermarest ones are designed for use as chairs).

That and I need to lose weight.

 

[psmiffy]

I have used a simple thermarest for the past 20 years - it is getting on a bit now and i was thinking of replacing it with one of the new fangled ones - what is delaminating?

 

[stephenjubb]

 

[psmiffy]

Merci Beucoup - maybe I will just stick with my old school one

 

[stephenjubb]

To be fair many people have no problems, maybe it is just the way I use them unlike others.

 

[steveindenmark]

Thanks for the speedy responses guys.

I now have the Exped Synmat UL 7 on order.

Steve

 

[andy_spacey]

i have exped synmat ul 7 med, i wanted the ul 7 LW (600g) but don't come into the uk till 1may and i leave tomorrow but will get one when i come back. I also have a down mat 9dlx.

 

[steveindenmark]

The Exped Synmat UL 7 LW arrived yesterday. It is very small and weighs 590g.

I blew it up and have left it fully inflated for over 24 hours and it has lost none of the air.

I had a sleep on it last night for a couple of hours and it is very comfortable. The biggest surprise is how warm it is to lie on, The built in microfibre certainly does its job well.

Steve

 

[Aushiker]

The Exped Synmat UL 7 LW arrived yesterday. It is very small and weighs 590g.

Hope you get many hours of good sleeping on it

Andrew

 

[seashaker]

Just taken a look at the synmat ul 7 anyone know if you could use one of these with a thermarest compact chair kit?

I like the idea of a chair when camping light (well light for me), but also like the thickness of this mat over a thermarest.

 

[bikepacker]

I know the thermarest chair kit doesn't fit the Synmat 7 Pump, so I would assume the same is for the Synmat UL. As stated previously I now have the Synmat UL and have just purchase one of these to have the best of both worlds. http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/helinox_chair_one.html