We've just bought 2 thermalite self-inflating mats, and I was wondering if it's best to store them off-season rolled-up in their bags, or inflated and flat and under the bed.
we have 2 fat airics and their advice is to leave them inflated with the valves open. they suggest behind the wardrobe/under the bed-which is where ours are.
How are they stored all the time between factory and being sold? They always seem ok when first used. I just keep mine rolled (not tightly though) as I know they will stay dry and clean in my storage box, and never had a problem with them. Then, when I want to use it I undo the valve, unroll it and leave it - sometimes a little puff of air into it, or lie on it if it's cold to warm it up to encourage it to inflate proper like. Seems fine.
Well, the Therma-a-Rest FAQ says "Store your mattress unrolled and with the valve open. Because the mattress foam tends to “remember” the shape it holds most, your mattress will self-inflate faster if stored unrolled." - Dunno about you lot, but I'm never in a hurry for it to self-inflate....so I'll continue to store it rolled, thus keeping it clean and safe in my storage box. My Multimat one is kept rolled, and it still never takes long to properly self-inflate.
Quote: Originally posted by angej2k on 15/9/2009
im looking into these mats, air beds to chilly! are they comfy enough for a weeks use at a time?
Yes.
I use a 3.7 cm mat, I find it fine. My wife has a 7 cm Alpkit Fat Airic, it is more comfortable, but I never really have a problem on my mat. I also have a thinner, 3/4 length Thermarest for cycle camping/backpacking - this is more obviously a packed weight/size compromise for sleeping on.
One thing I like about the Fat Airic comapred to a simialr Outwell thickness one we had is that becuase it uses die cut foam in the core it seems to compress down a lot more, so doesn't really take up anymore space stored than my mat.
I have a thermarest toughskin,and it says,as above,to store it unrolled with the valve open.
When i first got it,my immediate thought,was that that advice was soley for speeding up the process of inflation,and was not really neccessary to do.I am sure,if keeping it rolled up all the time was dangerous or harmful to the sleeping mat in any way,thermarest would say in their FAQ and on the sleeping mat instructions.
I simply keep my thermarest toughskin rolled up and stored under the bed,as i,like many others realistically,will never have room to store it unrolled anywhere in or around the house.
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Topic: Self-inflating mats - storage
