Self-inflating camping mat - any thoughts?

Self-inflating camping mat - any thoughts?

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Discussion

Foxeh

Original Poster:

1,114 posts

131 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
I'm on the lookout for the above, and was wondering if anyone had any recommendations?

I've decided to go for a height of 50mm - although i'm not discounting a 70mm one, if it can compress to the size of a 50mm. Which leads on to the next point which is lightness, and that doesn't take up too much space.

I often go to motorsport events, and if there's no available space to stick the tent up then it's sleeping in the car time. It got quite uncomfortable at Crychan Forest last year at the Wales Rally GB.

I have noticed that the prices vary from about £15 - all the way upto £90ish! However, i'd like to spend no more than £30ish, because it's a piece of kit which wouldn't be used that often - but i'd rather it be quality and last.

Thank you for your advice. smile

SlidingSideways

1,345 posts

231 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
http://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats

Take your pick, there's a pretty comprehensive comparison page.
Great kit, had mine a good few years and it's had 2 - 3 weeks use every year.

chopper602

2,172 posts

222 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
Thermorest

-+- End of thread -+-

tenohfive

6,276 posts

181 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
SlidingSideways said:
http://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats

Take your pick, there's a pretty comprehensive comparison page.
Great kit, had mine a good few years and it's had 2 - 3 weeks use every year.
Alpkit gear get's some cracking reviews. Think the Dozer is one of the bigger/thicker ones. I've just picked up an Airo for wild camping due to it's size and light weight and I'm very impressed with it but if it's car camping then you'll want something much thicker. Heard good things about the Numo.


Edited by tenohfive on Thursday 20th June 13:02

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

181 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
I had one. Once.

Rubbish to sleep on, and impossible to roll back up into the bag. Utterly useless.

tenohfive

6,276 posts

181 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
Rubbish to sleep on, and impossible to roll back up into the bag. Utterly useless.
Who made it?

HereBeMonsters

14,180 posts

181 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
tenohfive said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Rubbish to sleep on, and impossible to roll back up into the bag. Utterly useless.
Who made it?
Er, Karrimor I think. Cost me about £30. I gave it to a guy I know who's a Scouting volunteer. He had the same experience.

tenohfive

6,276 posts

181 months

Thursday 20th June 2013
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
Er, Karrimor I think. Cost me about £30. I gave it to a guy I know who's a Scouting volunteer. He had the same experience.
Don't buy Karrimor. Full stop. Their old stuff had a good reputation but their new stuff has been utter tripe since they were bought out a few years back.

Alpkit, Exped, Thermarest all make decent self inflating matresses.

Balmoral

40,660 posts

247 months

Friday 21st June 2013
quotequote all
Alpkit Dozer, wonderful, highly recommended.

CatJ

9,586 posts

242 months

Saturday 22nd June 2013
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Balmoral said:
Alpkit Dozer, wonderful, highly recommended.
I tried to buy 2 of these only the other day, sadly they are all out of 2013 stock and there is no more coming.

abbotsmike

1,033 posts

144 months

Monday 24th June 2013
quotequote all
Alpkit airo here, along with several of my climbing friends.

Fantastic to sleep on, easy to roll back into its bag, and relatively cheap too. I use mine for all sorts from lightweight hike camping (smaller, lighter and better than cheap foam mats) to car camping and scout leading! The air makes it much warmer on cold ground too.

mad4amanda

2,410 posts

163 months

Monday 24th June 2013
quotequote all
Another vote for Alpkit here too we have a pair of FAT AIRIC mats had them for years the most comfortable thing I ever slept on in a tent or back of a car.

Foxeh

Original Poster:

1,114 posts

131 months

Monday 24th June 2013
quotequote all
Cheers all!

Ordered an Airo 180 today. biggrin

AmiableChimp

3,674 posts

236 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
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Holy thread resurrection Batman!

Just to add, I bought a pair of Alpkit Dozers this week to use in our new Mazda Bongo so they are now back in circulation.

Initial impressions are very good!

HustleRussell

24,602 posts

159 months

Thursday 10th January 2019
quotequote all
HereBeMonsters said:
tenohfive said:
HereBeMonsters said:
Rubbish to sleep on, and impossible to roll back up into the bag. Utterly useless.
Who made it?
Er, Karrimor I think. Cost me about £30. I gave it to a guy I know who's a Scouting volunteer. He had the same experience.
I know this post is 5 years ago now but you've gotta love it... buys the cheapest product available, surprised when it turns out to be st!

I have a Vango Shangri-La. It's 10cm thick and too big and heavy to carry any real distance however great for camping, festivals, crashing on people's floor etc. I sleep on my side so anything thinner probably wouldn't work.

gregs656

10,818 posts

180 months

Friday 11th January 2019
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I switched from self inflating (Thermarest) to an inflating, insulated Klymit Static V and haven't look back.

They do various sizes.

Very comfortable indeed, packs down smaller and is lighter.

aberdeeneuan

1,339 posts

177 months

Monday 14th January 2019
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I have an Alpkit Dirtbag which I've been very pleased with, comfortable without taking up heaps of space. I use it for cyclecamping as a compromise for comfort and weight against pack size.

For proper car camping, we use Outwell Dreamcatcher 10s as my wife can never get comfortable. They take up quite a bit of space though!

MonkeyBusiness

3,912 posts

186 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
quotequote all
The thread that keeps coming back.

I am on the lookout for a new camping mat after my Alpkit Numo sprung a leak. Its been a good buy - packs down very small, lightweight, and comfy.
I could buy another (although out of stock as I type) but quite fancy an Airo 120.

Or should I just get a Thermarest Pro Lite? I like my lightweight wildcamping.




LordHaveMurci

12,034 posts

168 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
quotequote all
MonkeyBusiness said:
The thread that keeps coming back.

I am on the lookout for a new camping mat after my Alpkit Numo sprung a leak. Its been a good buy - packs down very small, lightweight, and comfy.
I could buy another (although out of stock as I type) but quite fancy an Airo 120.

Or should I just get a Thermarest Pro Lite? I like my lightweight wildcamping.
I've had a Thermarest Venture for a couple of years, very comfortable & packs down small & light enough for my wild camping needs. It's only got an R value of 1.8 but I don't winter camp, if I do then I'll use a foam type roll mat under it.

Last week after lot's of to'ing & fro'ing I ended up buying another for my daughter, couldn't justify spending double to get an XLite for what she'll use it for, the Venture is meant to be comfier & quieter too. Prolite I think is bulkier & possibly heavier though possibly warmer?

Did look at alpkit, nearly bought an Exped but too many reports of failures.


Bujinkhal

75 posts

65 months

Tuesday 20th August 2019
quotequote all
Had a Alpkit cloudbase (summer kit) and Alpkit Dumo (winter kit) for a while now. Both excellent, though I don't much like the inflation mechanism on the Dumo, once it's up though it's amazingly comfortable. I've not had a self inflating one for a while as I find them either too bulky or not comfortable enough depending on thickness.

They have a 15% off sale starting on Friday I believe too.