some of you may have read my barmy idea that me and hubby are off camping on our bikes...... dont know the first thing about it but think it will be fun!!!! lol
anyway i need a bit of advice on sleeping mats, i have never used them and dont know the first thing about them! we need a lightweight one, that we can carry with us.
i dont know if we need a self inflating one and are they comfy to sleep on?
i need to add i am not sure about price but we cant really afford the themarest ones.
thanks in advance
------------- A tent is like a newborn born baby..... to some they all look the same..... but if its yours it's beautiful.
:o) gillychick
Willows - Laceby March
Lee Valley - London May
Nanctol Wales June
Croatia September
undecided October
The self inflating ones are a lot more comfortable than the standard inexpensive foam mats - although, they are heavier and bulkier. ours are made by Gelert, not too expensive and we found them much more comfortable than the airbed they replaced.
------------- Growing old is mandatory; growing up is optional
I'd say you definitely want one which is filled with air at least (i.e. not those rolls of foam you can get!). Self inflating is nice, but not essential.
The self inflatingness works purely by the mat restoring itself to its normal shape when unrolled, and thereby sucking most of the air to fill itself in as it restores its shape. This means you need to store them flat when not using them so that they conform back to that shape when unpacked (thermarest suggest under your bed or behind the sofa).
Even if you didn't store it properly and it wouldn't self inflate, you could blow one up in about a minute I think.
Thermarest are good and incredibly light, the copies from other manufacturers I've not used but they do seem much better value though heavier of course. To put it in perspective, the thermarest prolite is about 500g, the others are around 1kg, so double. 1 litre of water weighs 1kg, so you are adding a half litre weight of water to your packing - not the end of the world by any means.
Therm-a-rest offer a life time warranty. Here it is
I still use my Therm-a-rest, bought in 1993, for a guaranteed good nights sleep when camping.
Was pleasantly surprised when a I was informed last year that it was still under guarantee.
p.s. Here is a very interesting quote from the Therm-a-rest website:
Is it OK to leave my mattress inflated in my car or tent?
No. Don’t leave your mattress inflated in your car or tent on a hot day! The air trapped in the mattress will expand, and the heat can lead to fabric delamination or a burst pad and will not be covered by your warranty. You don’t have to roll it up as long as the valve is left open.
How many of us are guilty of leaving our mattress inflated in the tent all day long?
If you are on a bike you want to keep the weight down. Go for a simple foam mat. Don't worry about sleeping all night on the hard ground - it is impossible to sleep all night on the hard ground!
I have in the past when away with my Scouts just used a ½ inch foam mat which offers no support but evens out the ground. It surprising but you can sleep on this without needing the comfort of an airbed or self inflating mat.
------------- Nigel
March 2012 - Dove Meadows
6th July Moving to Hayle
Foam is useless, you may aswell not have anything at all. Take a duvet cover and fill it with all your clothes and lie on that, it would be about 50 times more comfortable and lighter than a foam roll. In fact, a decent flat bit of grass would be.
Amazing family weekend with old steam engines, classic car displays, market stalls, and full catering and bar. And camping on site - Save £25 by booking in advance.
Topic: mats
