Camping Mattresses

jellybeard999 · 30 Jan 2012 at 23:17

My foam carry mat has seen better days and since I've had it since I was about 12 I've been meaning to replace it for a while. An uncomfortable night's sleep at the weekend was the straw that broke the camel's back.

Will mainly be left at the site, but will be used occasionally on hikes, so something relatively compact is a must.

Looking at http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/inde...n/products.detail/code/83120063/id_colour/108 at the moment, though there is the next model up for another £6, it seems larger and the review compares the two and it seems this model is suitable for my needs.

Any other suggestions? Looked at Thermarests, but they seem a bit pricy for me tbh.

Jono · 30 Jan 2012 at 23:21

Buy a thermarest.

Fin.

jellybeard999 · 30 Jan 2012 at 23:28

Jono said:
Buy a thermarest.

Fin.

I'm not looking to drop £90 on a carry mat tbh.

Jono · 30 Jan 2012 at 23:33

I'm sure they never used to cost that much....ouch.

jellybeard999 · 30 Jan 2012 at 23:37

Done a bit of reading and http://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats come recommended. Anyone used these?

63 or 75 for one I'd be happy with, but still, it's nearly double some of the other options.

http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/inde...=162&sort_method=price_high_to_low&itemcnt=12

RoboCod · 30 Jan 2012 at 23:39

You can get thermarests much cheaper than that if you shop around, CCC usually have some kind of offer on. Just dont over inflate it and find it is too solid like I did

jellybeard999 · 30 Jan 2012 at 23:45

Captain Planet said:
You can get thermarests much cheaper than that if you shop around, CCC usually have some kind of offer on. Just dont over inflate it and find it is too solid like I did

CCC seems to bring up GoOutdoors - is that right?

http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/product-search/therm-a-rest

£59.99 for the Trail Lite, plus I presume my £4 or whatever membership again (only lasts a year iirc and have only bought one thing there; my boots a few years ago).

Still a little pricy for the use it'll see if I'm honest

eashton · 31 Jan 2012 at 00:03

Thermarest! They used to have lifetime warranty don't know if they still do. I wouldn't have chosen any other when I did my Queen Scout!

gary996 · 31 Jan 2012 at 00:43

I have 2 thermarests still going strong after 10 years

Bennie-Mac · 31 Jan 2012 at 00:46

Vango do a similar thing to thermarest at roughly half the price, I couldn't really notice any difference in quality between the two either, so I got the Vango. Not sure on model numbers or anything but i know mines the full-length men's lightweight one...

jellybeard999 · 31 Jan 2012 at 01:18

http://www.theoutdoorshop.com/showPart.asp?part=PN19241

http://www.theoutdoorshop.com/showPart.asp?part=PN70327

Found a couple of Thermarest at acceptable prices above. I like Vango stuff and have a Vango sleeping bag, but their mattresses seem a little too cheap at sub £20.

Think I'll go into Cotswolds during lunch tomorrow and have a look at them in person and go from there.

the shadow · 31 Jan 2012 at 08:36

Jono said:
Buy a thermarest.

Fin.

fire_munki · 31 Jan 2012 at 08:52

jellybeard999 said:
Done a bit of reading and http://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats come recommended. Anyone used these?

I've got a Alpkit one and it's great, all the kit I've got from them is great, not as flashy but does the job very well and for less.
I'd rather be able to buy 2 bits of kit from them instead of one "named" bit.

#Chri5# · 31 Jan 2012 at 08:56

jellybeard999 said:
Done a bit of reading and http://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats come recommended. Anyone used these?

I've got a Alpkit Regular Airic (last model of sleeping mat) and a Dirtbag (plus other Alpkit gear). I've not used the Dirtbag yet as I only got as it was on offer at £25. Ronseal bit of kit - does exactly what it says on the tin.

Another place to look for VFM is Decathlon

misterPK · 31 Jan 2012 at 10:01

I've had my thermarest for 4 years now, and I think it's a great improvement over my old karrimat. That and my wonderful down sleeping bag manage to keep me toasty whatever the weather outside, even when I've woken up to find ice covering my tent.

I've got a Trail Pro, it's thicker than most but still packs down small. But I've got to admit, I'm sure it's more expensive these days.

http://www.gaynors.co.uk/productdetail.asp?productcatalogue=050302440015

QuagmireUK · 31 Jan 2012 at 10:12

Buy a lilo when you get there, then throw it away when you come home. It works suprisingly well

Jono · 31 Jan 2012 at 22:31

What about something like this?
http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/hi-gear-camper-lightweight-sleeping-mat-p143977

ianh · 1 Feb 2012 at 00:09

I know this is expensive at £105 but I've got the Exped Downmat 7 DLX. It's 7in thick of treated Goose down, 200cm x 65cm but rolls up to 27cm high and 14cm diameter and weights 1.1kg.

I've had it about 4 years, used it for every type of terrain from Arctic Norway to Jungle to Kenya to the Middle East and even Scotland and it's always been comfortable, warm and packs very small/light.

The only hassle is the inflation if you're knackered after a hard day.

haaammit · 1 Feb 2012 at 13:50

I've a lightweight Multimat that has done me well for many years - I've been very impressed by it - there's quite a range of them - maybe worth looking at that brand?

Amp34 · 1 Feb 2012 at 15:58

Might sound a bit odd but get one smaller than you. Lighter, cheaper and easier to carry.

You don't need to have your pillow on the thermarest and it's not really going to matter if your feet dangle off the edge. If you intend to do a lot of walking then I suggest that rather than a "normal" size one. But then I hate carrying heavy stuff and try and fit a few days walking stuff in a 35L bag rather than those giant 80L bags so many people seem to carry (where is the fun in that!).