British sleep mat specialist Multimat has launched two new
ultra-lightweight, self-inflating sleeping mattresses which it
claims are the lightest made.
The Adventure Superlight 25 weighs just 530 grammes for a
full-length mattress that Multimate rate as four season. Meanwhile
its cousin, the Adventure Superlite Compact, a three-quarter
length mat weighs a stunning 390 grammes making them - says Multimat
- 'the world's lightest, ultra-compact, self-inflating
mattresses'.
How Light?
By comparison, the lightest Therm-a-Rest equivalents, the ProLite
3 weigh in at a claimed 570 grammes and 370 grammes. The
Therm-a-Rests are only three-season rated though, the four-season
equivalents are 680 and 482 grammes, claimed, though they're thicker,
some 38mm compared to the Multimat's 25mm, which is the same as the
ProLite 3.
What's not in question is that the new Multimats are right in
there and kicking hard when it comes to light weight. The company
saved some 150 grammes on the Adventure Superlite 25 over the
original Adventure 25 mat, which had the same dimensions, but the
price remains at £50. Meanwhile the smaller mat lops 60
grammes off the weight of its predecessor and retails for
£40.
They pack down impressively small as well, always a consideration
if you're travelling ultralight with limited pack space.
Weight Savings
The mats save weight by basically dieting hard all round. The top
and bottom layer are made from a lightweight 20D polyester fabric
while the core is made from a lightweight, vertically drilled PU foam
and the air is kept where it belongs courtesy of a TPU membrane.
The mats come complete with a stuff sac, a neat elasticated
retaining strap and a repair patch and adhesive. Multimat says
they're tested between +55C and -15C and they carry a 24-month
guarantee.
In our experience really lightweight self-inflating mats can
require a little more care than heavier, more robust versions, but
they offer briilliant comfort and insulation - we've used a
lightweight Therm-a-Rest on a glacier in the Andes and been quite
comfortable.
We're going to use the lightweight mats for a while and report
back, but if you're after a very lightweight self-inflating mat at a
competitive price, check out www.multimat.uk.com.
The company, by the way, has been producing mats for over 20 years
and has supplied numerous Everest and polar expeditions.
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