 Early last year I bought a Pacific Outdoor Equipment (POE) Torsolite sleeping pad. It ways nothing (290g) and yet is surprisngly comfortable to sleep on, giving support to the right areas. My previous mat was a Thermarest Traillite. I still have it and my son uses that when we go together and I am intending to use it under the Torsolite when I go winter camping in a couple of weeks time. The weight and specication of the POE Adventurer AC looks good too, has anyone on here used it? Would you get one to replace the Traillite? Would the Peak Elite AC be a better buy? Lots of questions I know but I get really anal about camping gear! 
|
 |
 I've just used my Elite AC 2/3 this weekend and it's definitely warmer than my NeoAir, not sure if that helps but I thought I'd mention it 
|
|
I'd have gone for one of those Shewie if I didn't already have the Torsolite. I want a full length one to ensure maximum comfort in the winter (to use in conjunction with the Torsolite). Does anyone know the difference between the Adventurer AC and the Ether Thermo 6? Both very similar specifications, has the Adventurer replaced the Thermo 6?
|
| Edited: 29/01/12 21:56 |
Bump. (I need to get one ordered this week really)
|
|
Sorry simon, don't know the answer to your specific questions, but I have been very impressed so far with my full length Elite AC. Feels more comfortable to me than the NeoAir (but that's because I prefer the lengthways baffles, which will be a matter of taste) and warmer. However, I haven't yet slept on it much below freezing and might be inclined to use it in combination with a thin closed cell mat if I did so.
|
|
 My POE Peak Oyl Mountain (should be PoS) lasted 2 1/2 weeks over the New Year period before the seams went in two places on the upper surface (same place each side). Took three weeks, but I did just get the refund. I've since heard there's a dodgy batch out there, inadequate bonding of the seams; may be something or nothing to it.
|
|
 Hi MW. I have a Peak OYL mountain which has performed well. Not as comfy as something like a neoair, and fairly weighty, but I found it warm and tough so far. Maybe you got unlucky. Cheers.
|
|
I might get an Elite AC in the future but I've decided to stick with the Trail Lite for now. Sorry to hear about your problems MW. What did you get instead with the refund?
|
| Edited: 08/02/12 19:57 |
What I got BEFORE the refund was this. Been using it during all the cold weather of the last 2-3 weeks, sleeping just as well as with the series of inflatable mats that preceded it.
|
|
It's big, but it ain't heavy. Nice price too.
|
|
 Simon TAR have a new range of Neoair out here on mainland Europe - Xlite and xTherm. Mummy shaped as opposed to the previous rectangular Neoairs of the past. A few online shops in Holland selling them, but pricy. Xlite: clicky XTherm: clicky
|
|
Mongomery, wow a tog value of 3, so R-value of just under 2, on snow well below zero. You didn't feel a bit, erm, chilly at all? o_O
|
| Edited: 09/02/12 08:26 |
Nope - it gives a lot more insulation than a flat piece of plastic. I also have a torso length of Z-Lite that I started carrying because of continual mat failures. Toasty. Lightweight airbeds: great for gear polishers, not durable enough for longer term use.
|
|
 sorry to be mr negative  but a general point about poe for what its worth - i had a poe ether elite and managed to get about two nights use out of it before it developed a puncture i just could not locate. i then had a drama trying to replace it, in fact i gave up in the end so its now just a useless but expensive piece of material flopping about in my attic! (to be fair, partly my fault for not having the receipt.) the distributor even told me it had never happened before, presumably with a straight face, since even a cursory glance at websites such as bpl highlights a number of problems with poe mats so i dont think im alone in this. anyway, upshot is, i would never buy a poe mat again - they may have improved since, but there are better mats out there anyway imho. in the end i bought an exped ul7 and lived happily ever after!
|
|
Thanks for the replies. My Trail-Lite is "heavy" (almost 1kg) but it does seem well made and hasn't let me down yet. It is a full length mat. I didn't ever fancy a cut down mat but then I bought the POE Torsolite from one of Bob's clearance sales (BPL) and have been really comfortable on it (and again, this seems very well made). I guess the ultra-lite ones become thinner & thinner, therefore, more prone to failure. I do think MW makes a good point about durability and his mat whilst being bulky is certainly light enough & R value of constant 2 is better than starting at 3 and ending at zero. I weigh a little under 14 stone but I guess some of the bigger fellas will always struggle on inflatable mats.
|
|
