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That's bike-packable?
I currently have an Alpkit Airo for winter stuff as its insulated, but I get pain in my hips as they touch the ground even if its puffed up hard, so not much sleep. Joys of getting old, was fine 10 years ago...
I also have a aldi/lidl inflatable numo type mat which gives more comfort but isn't insulated. I still struggle for comfort with this though.
So I'm after something which, basically, is going to feel like a proper air bed but have some insulation too. And packs down small and doesn't weigh a ton.
Any suggestions? Real life experience?
PS use would potentially be all-year, I've bivvied in the snow before and have summer and winter down bags and either a bivi bag or micro tent. Did think about strapping the Airo and Numo together!!
Exped down mat is awesome. Properly warm and comfortable.
Airo is not insulated.
For more comfortable options Exped Downmat 7 has been good, other good mat in the family is Thermarest Trail Pro but I haven't tried it personally yet.
Exped synmat HL here, gone from an alpkit slim airic, a world of a difference!
i've got a neoair xtherm. super warm, pretty comfy. like sleeping on a bag of crisps. pack ear plugs. apologise to anyone with you.
What jam-bo said
One of the double-layer Sea To Summit mats. They're split horizontally so you can fill the lower section firm to stop ground contact then leave the upper softer for ultimate comfort. I've not used the Sea to Summit version, but I did have one of the Nemo mats that used the same principle and it was amazing. Might be too heavy though. The Exped insulated mats are good, as above. Therm-a-rest Neo Airs are noisy, as above. Mats without insulation are generally chilly, as above 🙂
Exped Synmat Winterlite here, my wife has the Hyperlite. Those and the Thermarest NeoAir series are the goto recommendations for bikepacking, i.e. light, packs small and insulates you from the ground.
The winterlite weighs 425g and the Hyperlite about 100g less. Here's a shot of them rolled up reasonably tightly with a couple of water bottles for comparison, from left to right: Multimat uninsulated; Hyperlite; Winterlite -
What Jam-bo said.
I've worked out that some of my comfort is down to having a mat I don't feel like I'm about to fall off.
We've three very light, warm comfy mats - but all three feel like I'm going to fall off.
The older, wider less thick mat I often sleep on better.
I am 6' and broad, this may or may not be a factor for you.
(best of the three light and small mats is our quiet, light, warm and comfy Robens Primacore)
Just picked up a Exped Downmat 9M (yes, 9!!) in a black Friday sale. A bit heavier at close to 1kg, but should be super comfy. Will give it a few 1-nighters over winter, then 3 nights of the King Alfreds Way in spring. Its getting strapped to a Surly Ice Cream Truck so weight isn't primary!
Although I could suffer 1 night on the old mat, its a bit of an endurance, and frankly has been putting me off getting out. Hopefully this will spur me on - always wanted to do a BAM so next year might be it! And looking forward to 3 nights of comfort!
Exped Downmat (again), but if you're likely to get it wet a synthetic one is better. Also the "pump" is a bit of a faff.
There's a couple of variants of the Downmats, one has an internal pump, the other uses their Schnozzle inflator bag.
One tip with these mats is not to over inflate them as that means the internal welds are close to breaking strain and "flopping" onto the mat will lead to a sudden increase in pressure causing the welds to undo (having done this myself, at least I got the mat replaced under warranty). Fully inflate then let a little air out, this also has the effect of you not being "on top" of the mat as much but will lead to a slight loss in insulation.
NeoAir Xtherm for me, wonderfully warm and very packable. Don’t find it unreasonably crinkly either, though I’m usually pretty pissed when I go to sleep in a tent or bivvy so maybe it is and I just sleep through it.
Dragging this one up to save starting a new thread.
Anyone happen to have seen stock of an Exped Downlmat HL Winter Medium Wide anywhere..?
Can only find stuff on ze Germans sites and I'm not sure I can really be arsed waiting for it to work its way through customs.
I’ve used all kinds of sims and a few balloon mats. So far the one I got from Lidl for about £8 in the sale has proven to be a dream. My fave to date. Packed dimensions = small and tidy. Weight = 505gms.
Slept on it 10 nights in a row last year and awoke feeling fresh 👍
I have a thermarest prolite which I find very comfy. One thing I do which made a huge differnce tho is rather than having a footprint for my tent made from groundsheet material is I have one made from 3mm closed cell foam - so my whole tent floor is insulated and soft. I am a very active sleeper so often roll off the mat.
the footprint at 2.4m x 1.2 m weighs 200 g more than one made from the lightest groundsheet material I can find. My tent has a very very thin groundsheet so a footprint is essential in my book.
It is bulky tho
Can you still get yellow karrimats?
I got mine from OutdoorGB.com
Great service, turned up after about 3 days in the run up to christmas, and was about £80 off in their sale.
Yet to use it in anger, was going to go up the hill last night but got comfy indoors 🙁
Can you still get yellow karrimats?
Yup, Needlesports have the current version, as do others. I use a torso length cut of an old one under an uninsulated mat in cold conditions, and it works fine.