I have recently been making sure I store my kit right and have even got a new fridge so I can store my platypus in a freezer section!

When I go off on a night in the hills I take my sleeping bag out of its big airing bag and then pack my Thermarest in my rucksack but realised the other day I always leave it rolled up in its ruck sack.

Is this the right way to store them or should it be stored opened up and should it be deflated or inflated? Anyone have views on this and what do you do with yours?

I store my opened up but with the valve open. It stands upright down a gap between a wardrobe and a wall. I reckon if you leave it tight in its stuffbag then over time it must reduce the foam's ability to expand fully.

Like Matt I leave mine stored with the valve open. I read, I think, that if you leave the valve open the inner dries out in time. As you are aware you have to give it a few puffs to inhale the Thermarest and obviously there is moisture in your breath. I have mine, well I have a full length and and a three quarter length, on the top shelf in a wardrobe.

Behind the wardrobe unrolled with the valve open.

Just had a thought about my post.

Sounds like Cluedo doesn't it?

Yeh, sounds quite dodgy in more ways than one - are you sure it's just a Thermarest you're talking about?

;-)

They should all be stored together, unrolled and with the valve open - whether it be the doll, the sheep or the thermarest.

Just remember to grab the right one when you head for hills.

;)

LOL Woodie! Now tell me, which would be the right one for the hills? ;-)

Damn! You sussed me!

Steve - depends on whether you prefer sheep or not. Either way, the big orange mat comes last!!

Merry Xmas

lol

I would have thought the Doll the ideal lightweight camping partner, ;)

Back to the top..... what's that about storing your Platypus in the freezer? mine's full of turkey. I presume this isn't the Austrlian Playpus or are they particularly well insulated

Your platypus is full of turkey? Is it a real, live, duckbilled, furry one you've got then?

I leave a thread ready for sensible answers and woodie always manages to involve sheep! I've heard he's been writing to Agunjilak for them to design an outdoors quality flossy for ages now! ;-)

My bedroom wardrobe is fitted into the wall so I'll have to buy a brand new wardrobe so I can stand it up behind then!... or maybe put it under the bed.

Thanks for the advice, I'm gonna go upstairs right now and get it unpacked and unrolled and valve opened as the comment on the foam loosing its expandibility etc make sense!

And the platypus on christmas day was gorgeous, real crispy!

P.S. FYI has anyone seen the prices for the lightweight rucksacks at The Complete Outdoors...

Gregory G Pack 54l £49.99!
Kimmlite 30RL Jirishanca £29.99!

FYI Found this on the Thermarest website...

What is the best way to store my mattress when it is not being used?

Store your mattress unrolled and with the valve open. Because the mattress foam tends to “remember” the shape it holds most, your mattress will self-inflate faster if stored unrolled. Also, store your mattress dry. It will dry quickly with exposure to the air. If a mattress is left damp, mildew may damage the cover’s air-holding urethane. Many people store their pads under a bed or behind a door.

So you clever people were all right!

Interesting tip on the site about leaving the thermarest in a warm tent can cause leaks and punctures as they expand so best keeping the valve open when left in a baking summer tent. Never thought of that but will open it in future!

I always undo the valve when I get up in a morning Jamie - and yes, i;m talking about the orange thermarest, not the white sheep!!

I store my Thermarest unrolled, with the valve open, in my loft. It makes an extra half-inch of insulation up there, along with several sleeping bags!

As an aside, I have a 'Thermarest wannabe' from a company called Storm Shield. Because I rarely use it, (and got it for nothing anyway), I've always kept it rolled up in it's bag (valve open).

Nevertheless, on the odd occassion I've used it car camping it still functions like new. No problems at all in fact.

I'm sure it's best to store it unfolded etc, but maybe it's not the end of the world if you don't(?)

Ha Ha! Nice one Paddy that has to be the most expensive loft insulation I ever heard of! ;-)