Jugglernick
Reviewed: 19 February 2008
LIGHT, COMPACT AND COMFORTABLE - INFLATE ME HAPPY!
People are really divided in their choice of sleeping mat, I am a confirmed 'self-inflator'; I prefer the lumps and bumps to disappear under an inch of air and foam. This mat does that with ease and is small and easy enough to deal with to use as a sit-mat during the day too.
It is light, compact and comfy, I do rely on a very lightweight sleeping bag (cumulus quantum 200) so ground insulation is essential. I have used this in conditions around the zero mark and had a very good night's sleep - I would expect to be comfortable considerably below that based on my experiences.
Thermarest kit is generally more expensive than the competition, I don't have a problem with this if the quality is there - this is definitely a good quality item, lighter and better made than equivalents from other manufacturers.
This is quite a bit heavier than the claimed weight - mine weighs 408g. It is frustrating that the quoted weight is not accurate but it is still fairly light.
The construction does feel quite flimsy but I have owned a couple of Thermarests and have yet to cause any damage to any of them. I do tend to slide off this mat but that is probably a feature of the material on the outside of the sleeping bag rather than the mat.
This is ideal for me, I have now stopped looking for any other mat. It has been a revelation to discover that I don't need any padding under my feet, I could improvise if I needed to anyway. I use this in conjunction with a Thermarest 'Lite Seat' as a pillow and that covers all the sitting/sleeping eventualities I need.
This packs up into a 2.5 litre space, fits in your pack and works flawlessly - if self inflators are your choice you can't ask for more than that unless you need thicker insulation.
