does a mat need to be its own bag or could be rolled with out folding it in half and strapping it to the outside of the bag or folded at the bottom of the ruck sack as i think it would save space and time. or am i being daft lo 
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 Stick it anywhere you want really, if it's an inflatable then it's better to try and keep it dry.
One way to get a full size mat in is to drop it into your empty pack in a cylinder and then pack everything else inside it.
Folded over a few time they can go down the back of your pack, sometimes replacing the foam that's already in there.
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I usually use a thermarest. What I do is roll it up tight then seal the valve. Then I open it out and fold it so that it fits the inside of the back of my sack. That way it provides a bit of padding for kit inside the sack. I also had a cheap and light closed cell foam (CCF) mat. I cut it down to fit my torso, cutting a bit of the end off, then scored it taping the back of the scores so it folded into a concertina. This was sized to fit my inside of the sack with the intention of using it instead of the TAR. I made a bit of a hash of it though but the idea was good. It was kind of based on a OMM duomat and another make from USA that I can't quite remember that is lighter. Alternatively roll the mat loosely inside the sack and fill the sack inside the mat so the mat offers a bit of stiffness to the sack.This is a technique used by those who don't have a frame in their sack for UL backpacking reasons. Basically my advice is to pack it how you want to but personally if a TAR ro similar mat which could fail if the skin is ruptured then pack inside your sack. If a CCF then it is not as important as a tear in the mat is simply tear it off if on the edge or tape it back if somewhere important. I would leave the TAR type mats out of their bag (it is only dead weight). Also if rolled up inside the bag it forms a cylindrical shape that doesn't pack in a sack as efficiently unless you surround it with your down sleeping bag (inside a dry bag but also outside of its stuff sack / compression sack). This takes up any gaps caused by the rolled up mat. I hope these ideas help.
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 Open valve roll tight and seal valves. leave valves sealed and unfold. fold in half width ways so you have half a long mat. roll tight with valves still closed but release any air you can force out at the end to make it slimmer again. Tie with strin/strap/bag END SIZE ABOUT A PINT MILK BOTTLE..
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Or you could do that with a NeoAir or P.O Elite AC  I got the impression hypan was referring to a bigger mat?
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| Edited: 12/01/12 23:14 |
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its just a thermarest prolye plus i've just bought i though i could save more space by having it on the outside or folded flat in the pack. yes i could of bought the Neo air but i felt it be more robust and cheaper. i have 5 mats now. sad a
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 I'm a NeoAir user, so my mat rolls small and tidy, yet once it's blown up, it's considerably larger. One day I'll have to figure out exactly how much larger... maybe twenty or thirty times!
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 I have a Z-lite foam mat which I wrap in a bin liner on the packs outside. Can be removed quickly at rests for a sit mat.
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 Are all CCF the same, simply different thicknesses = different insulation? So can I literally get an old used CCF mat cheap and cut as required or is there a better CCF mat? I ordered a Neoair Xlite small, looking to add some foam underneath to protect it and boost its insulation, which will either stiffen inside of my framless pack or strap external where its one of the few items not bothered if its damaged.
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Whatever goes into the tent must always be dry. No wet kit in the tent. Ever. This is doubly important the more days you are out as the bag(s) you store it in must weather the unpacking / packing / unpacking (repeat) cycle. Try rubble sacks from Tesco if it's something like a Karrimat. Mine starts life strapped to the side of my pack on a mulit day trip and as I eat my way through the ballast, it moves inside.
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 Whatever goes into the tent must always be dry. No wet kit in the tent. Ever.
Not a mantra I subscribe to rigidly. Got to be sensible but if you take it too far it's too much faffing about & might make a novice paranoid. I use simultanious pitch tents mostly & if there's been condensation or rain the inner is wet to start with when I put the tent up on the 2nd night. If my waterproofs are wet, especially if they are Paramo they be'll worn in the tent for a while until I'm organised. Quick wipe over with a buff or small microfibre rag sorts things out.
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With a down bag and several days out in the wilderness, add condensation and pitching inner first, it's damage (wet) limitation. But as you say, it's a mantra, and one that I seldom break. Many a cow, sheep and horse have seen me in my birthday suit as I strip off all my wet gear in the vestibule. Lucky them! When I do get the chance, I dry the kit out. Best to be aware of locals when drying everything out in the trees, bushes etc; all laid out, me in my birthday suit again. Not something I'd do in the UK I hasten to add. Socks, p'undies, they all strap onto the sides and top of the pack whilst on the move to get things dry as I've never had much joy drying socks etc 'round my waist whilst in the bag. Did I say I like things dry inside my tent? My sleeping bag is my last line of refuge if I need to hunker-down and duck down doesn't work too well when wet (so I am told).
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| Edited: 04/02/12 00:23 |
