Ooh, thanks Richie! I'll go and look there, then :)

think foam...it will never leek is a bit bulky but it is way worth it.

Unfortunately I can't sleep on a foam mattress - I can't get comfy.

I used to think what is the point of thermorests, as I'd rather save the weight with a cheap foam mattress.

Sod that. I'm getting old. My back hurts. I need comfort.

This Max thermo thing looks great. However, if you look at a lot of the american websites which sell it, they want to charge 30-40$ shipping!!! If you get VAT slapped on, you are starting to pay double the price that it is in the US.

No where sells them in the UK.

I think ecco got hers from the manufacturer direct. This sounds a bit of a faff.

Wish someone would import them (but no doubt they would charge £60 for them or something silly)

Kat - I agree. According to the POE website, ME are supposed to be the UK agents. However, they don't stock the whole range of things, and I had a major faff getting a mattress from them last year.

I wrote to POE two days ago about this, pointing out that I really don't want to have to pay more in postage from the US than the item costs, pointing out how frustrating it is (for me) that the UK agent doesn't stock some of the most interesting POE products and asking if there is somewhere over here that I can buy it. I'm still waiting for a reply, but I'll write again tomorrow if I've heard nothing by then.

I don't see the point of an agency - from the point of view of the customer - if the agent isn't willing to import the whole range.

I e-mailed Ronhill (owned by same company as ME apparantly and listed as UK distributor). To their credit they replied quickly, but their response was that they didn't stock it, and didn't know anywhere that stocked it.

I'm well miffed. I need a mat for this summer. I was considering the cheap Stomlites thermarests from F&T or the Alpkit one's, but if my back is bad, I really need something with a bit more support. Exercise is good for it, but getting in and out of low tents, and lieing on a lumpy hard floor are not. This POE thing only weighs 700g too.

I can't afford the Exped and it's heavy. I don't need something quite that warm either.

SULK SULK SULK

I also tried e-bay. Not a sausage.

Like Lightning i used a Ridge Rest for all my camping trips, even in winter, its very lightweight but doesnt roll down very small (i actually cut some off the end of mine to make it smaller), to carry it i just use to strap it to the outside (or in the compression straps) of my backpack. The grooves in it are supposed to keep in body heat and cut down on weight. It worked for me, and even though it got condensation now and then most of this was in the grooves so was not a major problem.

Kat - the answer may be to buy from one of the European suppliers. I'm going to wait until I've heard from POE first, though.

If you guys can hang on a little while I think alpkit are soon to be selling self inflating mats, from what I gathered on their site today, might be worth a look

the foam is the best. I have Had 3 self inflaters over the years and busted them all. And you don't have to cary a repair kit! for when (not if) it leaks.

maybe I should start an import/export business.

nice review here
http://www.backpackgeartest.org/reviews/Sleep%20Gear/Pads%20and%20Air%20Mattresses/Insul%20Mat%20Max-Thermo/George%20Griffin/Long%20Term%20Report/

try these guys for shipping, they may be better. I've always had a good experience buying from them.

Kat - who says I'm a girl ??

For those of you intersted in buying a POE max thermo, try emailling prudence@goodwayind.com . Goodway are the HK agents (& poss manufacturers) for POE (listed on POE's website).

Prudence was very helpful, charged me $70 incl delivery & I had it within 10 days (sent from US). This was jan 05.

It might sound a bit of a faff but your back will thank you. I'd even buy from REI now

Thanks ecco - I'll do that now!

Oh sorry Ecco, I must have got a bit confused with someone else-it's nothing to do with your name!

W.r.t Ridgerest. I've tried them, they are better than normal foam mats, and have the weight advantage, but they aren't exactly comfortable.

Comfort is very subjective. I used to be able to sleep anywhere. I can still sleep on a foam mat, but I keep waking up in pain. This is just not fun, so I'm going to have to wimp out and buy something cushy.

I think I'll try the HK agents Ecco suggests.

Thanks so much ecco btw. I would never have considered this mat until I saw your post!

BTW just had a look at the Alpkit site. The mats are now for sale in their shop. Good prices.

Thanks everyone for all your responses. I am going to get a couple of the Alpkit ones and test them out. They work out £30 cheaper a pair than the thermarest and that's with a hefty discount.

I like the sound of the down exped, but I haven't reached the top of the gear nutter pile just yet ;o)

Plus, I need two, if it was just the one......!

Have a gander at Decathlons own brand version of Thermarests.
They are very like the originals but half the price.

Not sure whether it is true but the Alpkit guys informed me in an e-mail that all thermarest type mats, except thermarests themselves (i.e. all the 'copies') are made in one factory in the world. They just buy a model direct from the factory, and thus sell it cheaper than anyone else by cutting out middlemen.