Air mat suggestions?

[trekker76]

My exped SIM 3.8 has a leak which is a good enough excuse to replace the heavy bugger.(900+ grams). trying to save some weight on the big 4. Only catch is I need XL width being 115kg and rugby moron physique. Any good suggestions for something that can handle 0-5 degrees worst case and not too crazy prices? I'd also take 3/4 length but not sure if they come in that? Thanks for any suggestions or your own sleeping mat model, would be interested to research whatever gets mentioned.

[trekker76]

separate tangent, might also combine this with a -1 or so rated quilt instead of my one planet synthetic bag. Down mightnt like the climate here, also being filthy some nights might be a worry. But even synthetic quilts still cut some weight I believe. Pushing the friendship here but any comments or testimonials on this subject also appreciated

[jdeks]

Thermarest Neo Air Xlite. Everything else is just trying to beat this.

You'll need the Large version for your size, but at 460g its a huge step up from that you have now. https://www.alloutdoor.co.uk/camping-sl ... ng-pad.htm

As for quilts, yep, sythetic likely a better choice in the tropics. Enlightened Equipment do an APEX version of the Revelation and Enigma. Haven't used em myself but their down quilts are good kit for the money.

https://enlightenedequipment.com/revelation-apex-40/

https://enlightenedequipment.com/enigma-apex-custom/

[nq111]

I'd still go down for the tropics. The benefits for weight and compression are too great. The new dry treated downs have some of the benefits of synthetics too. I used to use a synthetic quilt.

The year before last I was camping on a very small island (kayak) in my hammock. The set up was pretty dodge (only some small bushes by the beach). An unexpected storm came through about 3am. Short of it is, my loosely pitched tarp flapped and rattled and got busted up a bit and I (and my down quilt) got soaked. I was surprised that the quilt remained fairly warm (there was crazy wind chill) and it held its form and dried out after much quicker than I was used to for down (from experience with non-treated down bags). The quilt is dry treated down.

Also check out Specials, Discounts, Adverts section of this forum for (Mikes?) quilts.

[crollsurf]

+1 for the Thermarest Neo Xlite Large. I'm 6'2" 110kl+ and a side-sleeper. Does make a bit of noise rolling around but doesn't bother me in the slightest.

[emma_melbourne]

I literally today just bought the NeoAir XLite in Large size, having done all the research and weighing up every kind. (Sea to Summit, Exped, Nemo Tensor, etc)

The reasons for this pad is it is very comfortable, very light (460 grams for large), relatively durable (30 Denier, and people thru-hike the Appelachian Trail with the mat, no problems, with a repair kit if they are a bit sloppy with setting up and manage to spring a puncture by planting it on a sharp rock etc), and very packable (28 x 11 cm).

I love it!

I do also have a Thermarest SIM mat which is a 40th Anniversary mat, and 5 cm thick, similar to Prolite Plus large, which I also like but it's much heavier (900 grams) and much bulkier pack-up. And for comfort car camping, I have a Sea to Summit Comfort Plus at a hefty 1.2 kg but very very comfortable, so ideal for car camping etc.

I would definitely recommend the NeoAir Xlite in Large size. Every hiker I know that started with something else, ended up buying the NeoAir Xlite the second time round. They were put off originally by the price, but ended up buying it anyway after working out the hard way that it's the best option.

So rather than buying twice, I recommend buying once and buying this mat.

The only negative on this mat as I perceive it, is that it is a bit pricey, and has a noise a bit like a potato chippy / crisps packet rustle. I plan to wear ear plugs which will eliminate that concern.

Best,

Emma

[ribuck]

Thermarest Neo ... Does make a bit of noise rolling around but doesn't bother me in the slightest.

It's everyone else in camp that the noise bothers, although oddly my NeoAir XLight didn't start making the noise until I had used it for six months.

The NeoAir is the one to beat, due to its compactness, light weight, comfort and warmth.

But some people just can't get a good night's sleep on a NeoAir because the shape of the baffles tends to roll you off, and you need to tense yourself against that. If your body shifts a little to one side it displaces air to the other side which makes the mat tend to push you off.

[Lamont]

If you use a sleeping bag with the newest model Xlite you will hear very little- even a quilt tied tight negates much of the noise. Roll the Xlite up a dozen (or more) times before you use it-I reckon it does make a difference.
I have a dozen nights (after rolling it about 15-20 times before use) on it-Xlite, and it is much more quiet (my empirical evaluation ha-ha) than the first few trials.
But -in my usage, the more you deflate it the greater the noise. If you want that soft bed you can have it, but the volume goes up.
The Xtherm which I have just stopped using, with the milder weather is all but silent.
I have never once felt like I was rolling off.
Good luck.

[wildwanderer]

I use the nemo tensor (insulated version). I have the 3/4 at 265grams. The full length is 410g

Its comfortable (8cm thick) and very quiet. Noise level is important if your staying in a hut or a camp cave. (or sharing a tent but who does that..) Ive heard stories of bad things happening to noisy sleepers gear when its preventing fellow campers from getting to sleep

Ive used the nemo down to -2C and not felt any cold coming up from the ground. They state -4C to -9C comfort rating and that seems about right to me.

Its 20 denier fabric which is thinner than the 30 Denier of the neo air. This is no problem in a tent but I wouldnt be using it on the grass/dirt for a afternoon snooze.

[trekker76]

Thanks folks what is the xlite like to lie on when its hot weather too?

nq111 any chance you could provide the brand and model of your down bag? sounds like its worth taking a look.

Thanks all for the other suggestions, checking them out as well.

[jdeks]

I'd still go down for the tropics. The benefits for weight and compression are too great. The new dry treated downs have some of the benefits of synthetics too. I used to use a synthetic quilt.

The year before last I was camping on a very small island (kayak) in my hammock. The set up was pretty dodge (only some small bushes by the beach). An unexpected storm came through about 3am. Short of it is, my loosely pitched tarp flapped and rattled and got busted up a bit and I (and my down quilt) got soaked. I was surprised that the quilt remained fairly warm (there was crazy wind chill) and it held its form and dried out after much quicker than I was used to for down (from experience with non-treated down bags). The quilt is dry treated down.

Synthetic for the tropics is less a question of loft retention, more a matter of long term durability in light of needing more regular washing.

That said, the bulk of data on the matter does also indicate fairly conclusively that modern synthetics will retain their insulation rating in the presence of moisture far better than even DWR treated down. While the DWR down these days (as you observed) is pretty resilient against short wetting events, it will still inevitably lose insulation if exposed to prolonged damp/humidity. Moreover, DWR treated down often tends to have less loft, even in ideal conditions, than pure down, and can be prone to clumping.

Tekker, the xlite is fine in hot weather. Mat insulation is primarily a factor in colder climes.

[trekker76]

Long term durability might be a point here then, offtrail you are same colour as the terrain with detritus. I make an effort to wash down before bed, but dependant on water supplies. Also some places 200-300 days rain a year.

[nq111]

nq111 any chance you could provide the brand and model of your down bag? sounds like its worth taking a look.

Yeah, it is by Jacks R Better (USA). But I would have a look at Undercling Mike's quilts if buying now (and will be doing so myself in next year - looking to get better setups for the kids).

[nq111]

Synthetic for the tropics is less a question of loft retention, more a matter of long term durability in light of needing more regular washing.

That said, the bulk of data on the matter does also indicate fairly conclusively that modern synthetics will retain their insulation rating in the presence of moisture far better than even DWR treated down. While the DWR down these days (as you observed) is pretty resilient against short wetting events, it will still inevitably lose insulation if exposed to prolonged damp/humidity. Moreover, DWR treated down often tends to have less loft, even in ideal conditions, than pure down, and can be prone to clumping.

Yeah, I would agree with synthetic maybe if you were spending maybe months in the bush at a time but for recreational use? One to two weeks at a time max - usually less. You then get home and air the bag.

Whilst it gets really, really wet and humid in the tropics, I find the moisture easier to manage then say Tassie, where the damp infests everything and as is cold, gets hard to dry out (plus lots of condensation). That is said from having lived for years in both Tassie and NQ, and having done many walks in both sets of conditions. When it is wet and humid in the tropics it is almost always hot, and I sleep in a hammock with no insulation top or bottom. The quilt maybe gets pulled on to half my body for a few hours in the morning - not much time for condensation to be an issue. The wetting event described earlier was a freak event - it shouldn't happen - but it shows how resilient down can be.

You don't need super warm gear obviously in the tropics (though a night at altitude in winter can be surprisingly cold) so a little bit of overfill if needed to compensate for loft loss for DWR treatment or whatever is not an issue if desired and weights would still be less than synthetic

[trekker76]

Thanks Nq111 I am going to check them out at least.
Probably also depends where in tropics as its fairly broad term. eg Townsville gets 3ft a rain a year, to Cooktown/Cairns/Daintree 6-8ft, then my region Tully/Babinda is the real dense forest/wet 13-14ft+ rain, the overlooking ranges are double that again. The big issue here is the mould variety the forest has. I understand your comment about condensation.

[ninjapuppet]

Theres a new thermarest uberlite that seems to be the shiznet comming out soon.
180 USD/ 8.8 ounces
https://gearjunkie.com/roundup/outdoor-retailer-best-in-show-summer-2018/Therm-a-Rest+NeoAir+UberLite+Mattress