Equipment |
Sleeping mat |
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Equipment sleeping mat
Sleeping mat gives insulation from the ground and sleeping comfort. However, we have to pay weight penalty for increasing those two factors.
Same like with sleeping bags, mats can be divided into 3 or 4-season (sleeping on snow or not). Every reputable company provides the factor R. It basically tells about insulation quality, the greater number R the better insulation from the ground. Sleeping on the snow requires R equal or greater then 4.0 Very good method to compare mats to each other is R/weight ratio.
Types. Self-inflating mattresses are very popular recently. In fact, they do not pump themselves, but when we release the valve the foam is coming back to its natural shape by sucking the air inside. Therefore, it’s important to keep a mat unrolled at home (with open valve). The problem with these mattresses is that they might get the puncture, and you must fix it like a bicycle tube. The price and weight is still high, but self-inflating mats are certainly more compact and comfortable than traditional sleeping foam mat. They have different thickness. For hiking I recommended 1-inch thick (2.5cm), or for more comfort or colder climate 1.5-inch (3.8cm).
For the summer I'm still big fan of foam (closed cells foam). It’s much lighter and good enough comfortable for me. After trying many of them it turned out that the most comfortable one was from Gossamer Gear company, 
model
Nightlight (3/4 length). Price €20. It weighs just 170 grams, R2.2, and has a fairly high 0.22 R/weight ratio (2.2 divided by the weight of 10 oz). It has good reviews for durability and foam doesn’t compress too fast. The only disadvantage is its large volume. I was considering to buy a foam from Thermarest, a model called RidgeRest. Compare to Nightlight it has the higher R factor, but it’s also heavier if the same length, total R/weight ratio is worse (0.18). For me not as much comfortable as Gossamer Gear item.
The leader on the global market is already mentioned above Thermarest. It specializes mainly in self-inflating manufacture. Besides the traditional ProLite series, on the market appeared ultralight NeoAir (air mattress). Very compact, the full length weighs from 250 grams, R2.3 and above. It’s more comfortable than foam, but it’s definitely not the most durable. For my travelling style it wouldn’t survived for long.
For winter conditions I needed something warmer. But I didn’t choose a self-inflating mattress (low R/weight ratio). I invested in something else - a combination of the mattress with air chambers and synthetic PrimaLoft lining. Big Agnes (the same company as my tent) Mummy Insulated Air Core, full length 183 cm, the rectangular shape, weight 624 grams, R4.5 (according to the manufacturer down to -9 ° C). Lighter than Thermarest self-inflating mattresses, it also has a higher R/weight ratio. Price €85.
Another major mats division is the length. You can have a full length or just 3/4 (and putting clothes or backpack under your legs). The longer one are more comfortable, but they are heavier too.