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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.
I think they are the warmest mats now aren't they?Quote:
Originally Posted by woods223
Going by specs yes. I’m a warm sleeper usually but went for this as I’m starting to get soft and feel the cold more as I age.Quote:
Originally Posted by Sika 8
Go wide for comfort and decent r value for warmth.
As you get older you need warmer too.
The weight penalty isn't much for what you get in return.
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Had the Thermarest Neoair since 2017. Had to glue around the valve, but other than that rock solid. I do cart around an exped foam mat below it. Adds to the comfort and protects the pad. Really hard to fault for weight/warmth. Next pad will definitely be a wide, rectangular version, over the mummy shape.
My thermarest X-therm is reg wide but still a mummy shape
I got the Klymit Static V insulated last year. I have found it to be really versatile and good value for weight and money. Importantly, the baffles are designed so you don't roll off of it and stay centered. This helps with a comfortable sleep. It is also very quiet, which if you share a tent with mates is something worth its weight in gold. I find it to be a bit more durable than a lot of the uber light ones.
I have the Thermarest Neo air, really like it very light and packs down very small. My girlfriend has the new Rab stratosphere 5.5 and that’s comfy the one gripe is that the storage bag is too small to easily pack it away, the Thermarest on the other hand has a bit more space and is very easy to pack.
I have a Nemo. I like it. Hard wearing. can't remember what model but it had the thickest fabric.
Therm-A-Rest Neoair Xlite in large is what I am using. The R value is 4.2 and the dimensions are 64 cm x 196 cm x 6.4 cm thick. It weighs 460 grams and packs down pretty small. It is very comfortable and warm.
I learned something about sleeping mats recently. Porcupine quills go through them.
So sweep the cabin out properly. Only takes one.
Think mine is an xped suspect most if not all quality brands just as good so comfortable cf the old style- in the tent at bushline with snow about in June no problem with cold from the ground
Hunting at the zoo again mate? :DQuote:
Originally Posted by 7mmwsm
Interesting point though, thinking of upgrading from my venerable Thermarest (not a flash one, from the 90s I reckon) and looking into the various mats .. different denier between a lot of brands but I suspect what will puncture one will puncture all. Abrasion may be a different story.
The Rab Ionosphere seem pretty sharp on price for the R-val right now