Gear

Hi,

I'm heading off backpacking in africa and then south america. I am taking my sleeping bag for nights when I'll need it but have found sleeping on a tent floor or the ground cold so wanting to get a sleeping mat. I've a cumulus mysterius traveller 500 sleeping bag. Undecided as to whether to take my Vango Banshee 2kg tent or not?!

Sleeping mats I was looking at but welcome to suggestions are:

Thermarest Neoair - £85ish - packed size - 23cm x 10cm - 410g - R Value 2.5

Thermarest Prolite - £65ish - packed size - 27cm x 11cm - 460g - R Value 2.3

Alpkit Slim Airic - £30 exactly - packed size - 28cm x 14cm - 743g - R Value ???

As I will be carrying my bag on public transport etc I'm trying to travel as light as possible. Although I'm still trying to decide whether to take the DSLR and tent... decisions!?

Can anyone recommend which I'd be best with?? Reckon I shouldn't be sleeping out on snow or anything that extreme more camping in bunk houses, tents etc. If I'm ever in the mountains in snow I'll prepare for that at the time adding whatever is necessary.

If you are going to be using it for any length of time I'd go for the prolite (you could opt for the short version and use a fleece under your legs)  The mat is going to take some abuse, most mats are stored flat for 99% of their life, not rolled, dragged out of a bag and bounced on day-in-day-out.

Take a repair kit as well!

Steve D

Neoair + deep pockets!

Thanks for the responses... I've still no idea which to opt for. Definately ruled out the alpkit due to weight and quality from what I've read.

So it's between the neoair and the prolite. The neoair seems better in terms of packsize and comfort?? although looks like a lilo, which is kind of putting me off? The prolite looks better in terms of durability perhaps?

Think I basically need to decide which has better comfort and durability wise, the packsize difference seems marginal?? as does the weight?

Once I've decided which is best I can then decide whether to get the short or the regular? I just lay down on the floor there and realised the short isn't that short. Shoulders to below knees. (I'm 184cm and sleep on my side) I usually take an empty pillow case that I put my fleece in for a pillow and it would be above the mat then the mat from my shoulders down to just below my knees... so could put my pack or something for my feet to rest on, or just wear wooly socks in my sleeping bag.

Read a load of reviews on an american site that sells both and everyone seems to give both models 4 or 5 stars.

Seems neoair is maybe more comfortable and lighter which would make it the obvious choice? although the prolite looks more durable and less like a lilo?

I'm hopeless at what should be easy decisions. I even spend ages in the supermarket calculating whether the 25% extra free is really worth it or not on shampoo and beer etc!

Only bit I ever have problem with when sleeping on the floor is my hip hitting the ground when lying on my side, so you reckon the prolite would result in my weight pushing through the mat and making contact with the ground if sleeping on my side? (I'm 208lbs = 14 stone 12 lbs = 94.3 kgs). thanks again.

Thanks for the advice, that might of helped me make the decison. Now to try and find it cheaply, seems like £70-£75 for the small and £80-£85 for the regular.

Can't believe I'm going to spend that much on a lilo. Hopefully I can use it as a bodyboard as well! Although I can waste almost £70-£80 on a good night out.

Hope its not noisey enough to annoy others or has the feeling of an airbed that wobbles when I move.

Had a quick look at the exped down mats but they seem a bit heavier and bulkier which kind of gets away from my requirements. I'm basically looking for a bit more comfort than than the ground. Whilst also taking up little weight or space in my pack.

Just had a look and I've a Go Outdoors 30-40mins drive away so will try and get along later in the week. Would be good to see the quality of both mats together. Also have a Tiso's so will check it out too, although it's a little overpriced.

An Exped downmat has way more insulation capacities and I really mean way more! That's important when you go out also in cold circumstances like early spring, winter and late autumn. If you don't do that the neo-air is your best bet comfortwise.  The neoair short is unbeaten in lightweight for a comfortable mat in normal temparature conditions.

Also with Exped downmats the same applies, a short downmat 7 version is enough and saves some weight. In short a short downmat 7 including a closed cell foam mat for my underlegs is lighter than a standard short 2,5 cm TAR with a complete lenght closed cell foam mat of min 18mm (which is defintely needed to keep warm in winter).    

Winter: Exped 7 down medium.

Warmer weather: Neoair medium.

5'6" length spot for me - don't like the 'drop off' effect (and cooler lower part), but guess this is personal!

Used each reincarnation of Therm-a rest since their inception. Carrying the damn thing gets more important the older i get! Thank god i still run though, as you need the 'puff' inflating it

I just recently purchased a NeoAir. I've been fine with a 3/4 Gelert Extreme self-inflating mattress.

Thicker than most Thermarests and more durable than Alpkit. Packs down OK and is a good light weight for what you get and of course it's dirt cheap.

I bump the Tog rating, if you like, by using a decent foam mat. Only in the colder months, mind and it's all been dandy.

However, I'm gonna be doing an altered version of the C2C in May (min 230miles in 9days...all funds to MRT and British Heart Foundation) and am keen to ensure I get a bloody good nights kip.

The combo I normally use as mentioned above.....well, on 3 day trips I can get sore hips or a dull stiff pain at the base of my back.

With the C2C in mind I wanted to try the NeoAir.

Well, I used it for a winter camp the other weekend (well below -10 at one point) and though I was aware of its thermal retention abilities....it performed really well.

The NeoAir medium I got....I was concerned it was a little narrow. Lying on it my arms are it's sides. But when sleeping it was spot on. The "lilo" look...pah! It's the comfiest bloody mattress I've used ever for camping. Better than them big jobbies you can get car camping!

I was well impressed. Theres some kind of laminate on the NeoAir and it works a treat. I didn't slip or slide.

My only gripe with it is how long it takes to inflate.....and moreover how freakin' fiddly the barsteward thing is to deflate and pack up (inside ya tent).

I don't think it's Tog rating is as good as it says though you can immediately feel the warmth on first use putting your hand on it.

It packs small, is of course light.....so it gets an overall thumbs up from me.

My current concern is it's durability

So, the NeoAir for your trip in Africa would be ideal, I reckon!

Thanks a lot for the detailed responses. Greatly appreciated. It seems the Exped Downmat is probably the best but maybe a bit overkill for what I will need it for 99% of the time.

I never realised the neoair had a medium option, first few sites I looked on only had small or regular. I think the medium is exactly what I need. Measured out the size and I think it would just require me to build a pillow and then fit my whole body perfectly. Alternatively build a foot rest.

Found it online for £80.99 so will go ahead with that. Thanks again for the tips. Hopefully the information is useful for others as well.

I've been looking at one in medium, if you haven't already ordered it's a couple of quid cheaper here:

http://www.actionoutdoors.co.uk/shop/thermarest-neoair-mattress-p-2375.html

Ignore my previous post, I thought I'd found one cheaper then realised it was the price for a small unfortunately, and you can't delete threads on this forum.

I'm thinking about a medium too, seems the perfect size for me.  I like the sound of the grippy fabric - currently I've got a couple of Alpkit mats an a Mutimat Superlite Compact 25, and despite modifying them with lines of seam sealer I still find I slip off them.