Closed Cell Foam Mats???

Is anybody still using these?

Im doing a lot of overnighters in the hills with my 6 year old at the minute. Hes bit small to carry a pack long distance so Im carrying everything and looking to seriously scale down the weight...

Im looking at the multimat adventurers in compact (little fella) and reg (me)...total weight for both will be 280gms which is a massive massive weight saving on our SF mats. They are only 8mm thick but rated to -15 I think so should be warm enough...and they are quite compact when rolled...I can see them sitting ok on the side of my new OMM VILLAIN.

But are they completly horrible to sleep on? Bear in mind only to be used for a night at a time.

Any thoughts?

I couldn't sleep on one, others find them fine.

Trial them at home and see how you go. 

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

If you are like me and like a "hard" bed (or can sleep on a plank) then a CCF mat is fine.  If, on the other hand, you are bit of a softy...then not.

I have both CCF and SF mats - TBH, for most purposes just go with the CCF (lighter, easier to carry, foolproof, thornproof, cheaper) except when I am winter camping when I tend to use a SF on top of a CCF.

Go for it.   I  used for years & still do from time to time & an even thinner mat in summer.  If our lads owt to go by he'll sleep oon a slab of concrete! 

Even a regualr thermarest seems to be seen as roughing it here on OM butI'm sure you'd be fine!

Im not too much of a softy regards comfort...I feel the cold but when I go to sleep a bomb wont wake me. Sort of thinking we will be tired at end of long days so might just be grateful for any sort of comfort...been using SF mats 2.5 cm and to be honest...dont think they are comfy enough for all the extra weight...carrying a kilo worth of mats is becoming tiresome.

Also thinking of buying one of alpkits junior down bags to save bit of weight as his jack wolfskin bag is 1.2 kilo...and takes up have the bloody sack!

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

Rosswm wrote (see)

Even a regualr thermarest seems to be seen as roughing it here on OM butI'm sure you'd be fine!

Metric Kate wrote (see)

I spend hours every month lying on closed-cell mats, I'm buggered if I'm going to forgo the comfort of an inflating mat when I'm out enjoying a wildcamp!

I only notice the difference when I'm awake & lights out is early!

Aye well Ive almost shaved 1.9 kilo off my back so far by upgrading to new OMM Villain pack, PHD Minimus with MX outer and 900 Down, Little fella new ultralight Jack Wolfskin Alpine jacket...and will be saving another 500gms if I upgrade his bag to alpkit junior down bag...

So if I ditch Sf mats and go with Multimats thats another 620 gms saving...

Total weight saving will be 3020 gms which will be a massive relief for my back so think its worth the compromise.

Was considering ditching the ME dragonfly 2 for something like a Vango ultralite 200 but to be honest the Dragonfly is superb in all weathers (been through the orst with me) and I trust it with my life (and Ive got it scaled down to 2070 gms) so think I'll keep saving the weight in other areas.

CCF mats it is then!

Thanks for all your help folks!!!

Just to mention...for anybody with kids...I got my little fella the new Jack Wolfskin Alpine Jacket...hes 6 and his size weighs 288 gms on our scales...its fully featured with an alpine style cut with just wee bit of extra length compared to adults alpine styles...but it withstood 6 hours driving heavy rain on the hills...he was bone dry...and its very very soft stretchy fabric...if you have kids and are looking at jackets...buy one! 12 day wait as they are sent direct from factory but they are the ticket!!!

Aye well Ive almost shaved 1.9 kilo off my back so far by upgrading to new OMM Villain pack, PHD Minimus with MX outer and 900 Down, Little fella new ultralight Jack Wolfskin Alpine jacket...and will be saving another 500gms if I upgrade his bag to alpkit junior down bag...

So if I ditch Sf mats and go with Multimats thats another 620 gms saving...

Total weight saving will be 3020 gms which will be a massive relief for my back so think its worth the compromise.

Was considering ditching the ME dragonfly 2 for something like a Vango ultralite 200 but to be honest the Dragonfly is superb in all weathers and I trust it with my life (and Ive got it scaled down to 2070 gms) so think I'll keep saving the weight in other areas.

CCF mats it is then!

Thanks for all your help folks!!!

Just to mention...for anybody with kids...I got my little fella the new Jack Wolfskin Alpine Jacket...hes 6 and his size weighs 288 gms on our scales...its fully featured with a proper hood and an alpine style cut with just wee bit of extra length compared to adults alpine styles...but it withstood 6 hours driving heavy rain on the hills...he was bone dry...and its very very soft stretchy fabric...if you have kids and are looking at jackets...buy one! 12 day wait as they are sent direct from factory but they are the ticket!!!

How far/high do you go with him?

 I'm planning on taking our son backpacking this summer - he's 10 but I've only taken him on days walks until before.  He'll be carrying some of his own gear.

My youngest lad at Edale, he was 6 here.

We did a circular taking in the great ridge which he hopped round like a goat, as soon as we hit the billiard table like road surface over he went, i can still remember the thud as his head hit the ground.

Luckily some kindly driver gave us a lift back to Fieldhead.

He was checked out at the park centre and decided to stay for the other day we had planned.

That bandage i carried made all the difference.

Include a little history in your walks. Pecsaetan - Ancient Derbyshire, Staffordshire and South Yorkshire - http://pecsaetan.weebly.com/

Roswwn...

He will go as high as you take him and will just keep walking without a problem...I usually stop at 5.30pm for a snack and start getting a camp sorted about 6ish as hes beat by then....then a good hot meal and its lights out for him which leaves me so sort our gear out before dark.

I started him when he was 3 in a back carrier, then when he reached 4 started morning hillwalks with plenty of stopping and exploring to get him really interested and by time he was 5 we were doing Slieve Donard in Mournes every Sunday morning with regular 2 day trips. Ive taken him on a few multiday trips to Snowdonia and to be honest he can cope with foul weather etc better than me. The summer midges are a step too far for him though...we camped low in the Mournes one night and the midges ruined his trip...

Now I make a point of camping high as possible in summer which is why I want to keep the ME Dragonfly for us both despite it weighing 2kgs...it has handled everything thrown at it inc serious scary gales and non stop 48 hours rain sessions. he has also camped above the snowline in the Swiss Alps with me...and has loved every second of it...

Dont underestimate them...just keep them interested with lots of exploring...and bring plenty of treats.

Twiglegs thats actually a pretty good picture there...thats the only thing I find taking the kids into the hills...Im always on high alert...its exhausting!!!

And my youngest is now 4 and ready for action...here we go again!