Thread: Sleeping mat recommendations

Hey everyone.

Looking to get a new sleeping mat and would like some recommendations on what you are using, weight, packable size etc. Have looked at a few (thermarest, exped, s2s etc) but would like some first hand reviews if possible!

Happy hunting!

I use a Therm rest neo. I have tried several and like this for lightness, pack ability and gets you off the ground well.

Exped synmat 7 winter. 7cm, R5, mid price range, heavier at 600g but also one of the quietest when rolling over. Comfortable for a side sleeper. Biggest factor for comfort is not inflating too tight.
I tried out 6 at once in bivouac chch when I picked mine.

A bit heavy but By far the most comfortable is big agnes rapid sl. I have the extra wide and just done 3 nights on it without waking up once during the night.

Also have exped synmat which has done me 5-6 years now so going well.

Get the regular wide if it's an option. I love my xthurm but the neoair would be more than warm enough for most of the time. But dose mean I can run a smaller liter bag / quilt is my fav

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Klymit ultralight. Just got one, and it’s a wonderful improvement from the old closed cell foam mat. Sooo comfortable.

sea to summit ether light xt

Sea to summit: usually pack down a bit smaller and lighter for the same r-value
Slippery face material, you may find yourself sliding around on the floor of your tent. Hex baffles, sometimes Crinkly-sounding. 1-year warranty.

Exped: long vertical baffles. The face fabric usually feels nicer and is quieter against your tent/bag. 5-year warranty. Personally i prefer exped, have spent many nights on a winterlite 5cm.

R-value: this is a measure of insulation from the ground, just like underfloor insulation in your house. An r-value of 3 is sufficient for summer and shoulder seasons. Some will say also for winter, but I'd recommend at least an R of 4 if you're in a tent. R-value is additive so you can get a lighter mat, and bring a second closed-cell foam mat to bulk up your insulation on winter hunts. This is a common practice among mountaineers, saves you buying/carrying a mat that's too warm and bulky for most of your hunts.

Source: worked in bivouac for years

Exped Dura or Ultra down mats., not the lightest but not overweight or large either. nice and quiet to sleep on when you roll over, mate has one of those hard surface ones that russles every time he moves, let alone rolls over.
Comes with inflation bag, down filled, oh and the oversize edge tubes that stop you rolling off.

The Dura is 200gm heavier construction than the Ultra.
Z

Had thermarest then got a Rab inosophere 5.5 for winter mission (thanks air NZ airpoint…). It is so comfortable I now use it all the time. Amazing insulation too

Following also as about to upgrade. My 10 year old xterm is has about 6 patche repairs on it, still going good and rate it but want something lighter for more “3 season” hunting (whatever that entails in central Otago).

Any had any first hand experience with the new Rab Ultrasphere mats that Dwight’s are selling? They spec very well on paper, tiny bit heavier then a neo-air nxt (large) but better r rating. Just curious if anyone’s had a hands on play as they’re close to half the price.
That’s the way I’m looking to go! Always oversize myself to a large as I wriggle around a lot and don’t want to be rolling off the mat all night lol.

I use a themarest X-therm regular wide, its insulated & has been brilliant.
I tend to roll around a bit and sleep on my side hence choosing the wide option.
Was at the time the warmest mat available at the time (2 or 3 years ago) weight isn't bad at around 500-550ish grams.

One thing it does have which is really effective is a heat reflective layer which reflects your heat back to you & I assume the cold ground temperature away from you.

I have always wondered if an emergency blanket underneath a regualar non-insulated mat would be just as effective?

i picked up a bushbuck mat back in the day when they didn't have pretensions of being a quality brand. paid $90 for it and honesty that was excellent value for money.

I see they're about $200 now and bugger that, foe that money you could get rab or klymit which from what I've seen are just better across the board.
when it finally dies i guess i'll get a thermorest

Recently got a Nemo Tensor Extreme mummy shape. Spent a few nights on it and it certainly does the job. Good in snow conditions. Suspect it may be too warm for summer camping but will see, might be ok using wrong side up from what I’ve read, might just revert back to foam mat then. It’s a bit marginal for size, l’m 1.8m tall and a bit wide across shoulders, but no worse than foam mat.

Originally Posted by woods223

Recently got a Nemo Tensor Extreme mummy shape. Spent a few nights on it and it certainly does the job. Good in snow conditions. Suspect it may be too warm for summer camping but will see, might be ok using wrong side up from what I’ve read, might just revert back to foam mat then. It’s a bit marginal for size, l’m 1.8m tall and a bit wide across shoulders, but no worse than foam mat.

I think they are the warmest mats now aren't they?