Self-inflating sleeping mats are great - surprisingly comfortable
and small packing too - but they do have a couple of
weaknesses.
One is that even with the latest 'grippy' surfaces, you still tend
to find yourself in a crumpled heap at the foot of your tent as slick
Nylon sleeping bag fabrics make a Torville and Dean bid for freedom,
the other is that you're constantly aware of the risk of punctures,
particularly if you're bivvying.
Well, it looks like the guys at Ortlieb could have both problems
licked. Their new Sleeping Mat won the award for the 'Product of the
Year' at the recent Friedrichshafen Outdoors show and looks
interesting.
So what makes it stand out? It's reckoned to be puncture-proof to
a figure of 70 Newtons, which is a lot, and the tough new fabric
developed specially by Ortlieb for the application isn't so much
'grippy' as gummy and sticky. You can't imagine sliding off it.
Should be fantastic in rocky, bivvy situations and feels as tough
as old boots. The only downside we could see was that the Ortlieb
mats are heavier than the lightweight versions from the likes of
Therm-a-Rest with the lightest 'Classic Light' tipping the scales at
35.3 ounces or about 1,000 grammes compared to 680 grammes for a
full-length Therm-a-Rest Ultralite.
Some of that is down to the tough, thick fabric, some down to the
'normal' as opposed to die-cut foam. Then again we've punctured
UltraLites on several occasions, so you pays your money...
Sizes available are: 184 x 52 x 2.5cm, 184 x 52 x 3.8cm, 184 x 52
x 5cm and 195 x 60 x 5cm. Prices range from £50 to £80 and
the importer is Lyon Equipment, see web
site or call 015396 25493 for stockists.
Guy Walker
