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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Sleeping mats etc
I love camping but also love my creature comforts at the same time (within reason)
The biggest gripe I have is with the floor, and pillow. Evil or Very Mad
If I don't get a decent few hours of comfortable sleep it takes the fun out of the following day, Crying or Very sad
At present I have a foam roll mat which I find good for taking the ground cold away but no good for comfort
And a run of the mill cheepy self inflating mat which is pants!
And for a pillow one from the house with some clothing underneath for extra height

Any suggestions on what to use and how do you do it?
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Post #214674 26th Feb 2013 11:43pm
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TR51



Member Since: 17 Apr 2012
Location: Dorset UK
Posts: 333

France 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 SW Corris Grey
Is it for car based camping or hiking?

For car based, get an inflatable mattress, as not much beats that...

If hiking, personally I use a thermarest when hiking due to the weight yet still comfortable.
A friend used a rollmat from AlpKit (Think it was the predecessor to the Dirtbag) on our ML, and at 6cm thick it was ace... you can inflate it enough to cacoon you or to a higher pressure if you prefer a harder surface.
It was also thick enough to sit outside on without puncturing Thumbs Up

As for pillows, I cope by putting a fleece inside the sleeping bag stuff sack...


Last edited by TR51 on 27th Feb 2013 11:27am. Edited 1 time in total
Post #214676 27th Feb 2013 12:02am
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Pam W



Member Since: 25 Oct 2011
Location: North Yorkshire
Posts: 1169

England 1998 Defender 90 Td5 SW Auto Oslo Blue
We really like our Alpkit Fat Airic self-inflating sleeping mats. They self-inflate to a certain degree but we find they are best 'topped up' with a few large breaths!

Got them a few years ago and Alpkit have since revamped the range - the current equivalent is the Dozer -
http://www.alpkit.com/shop/cart.php?target...ory_id=289 Our blog - http://landytravels.com/

Yorkshire Off Road Club - http://www.yorkshireoffroadclub.net
Post #214677 27th Feb 2013 12:36am
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MartinK



Member Since: 02 Mar 2011
Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border)
Posts: 2665

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Orkney Grey
TR51 wrote:

...I use a thermarest when hiking due to the weight yet still comfortable.

As for pillows, I cope by putting a fleece inside the sleeping bag stuff sack...


+1 Thumbs Up Themarest even OK for insulating you from the ground when sleeping on a glacier at 10,000 feet Thumbs Up

Here for instance, near Mont Blanc a couple of years ago...

 Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's)
Post #214711 27th Feb 2013 10:34am
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Small Clanger



Member Since: 22 Jun 2011
Location: UK
Posts: 210

United Kingdom 
As stated above, Thermarests are great mats, I use one when away on the bike.

Even better but slightly bulkier (when packed) are Exped Downmats, I have the Exped 90.


www.exped.com available from www.facewest.co.uk
Post #214748 27th Feb 2013 4:01pm
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WarPig



Member Since: 04 Dec 2009
Location: Sheffield
Posts: 1748

England 1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi USW Bonatti Grey
When caravanning I sleep in the awning (yes, im weird Rolling Eyes ) and use an Aerobed inflatable mattress. They inflate/deflate quickly and are very comfy.

The model I use is their Active Raised which is deeper than their standard airbed.

http://www.aerobed.co.uk/pages/which.asp
Post #214749 27th Feb 2013 4:04pm
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Tarrel



Member Since: 21 Sep 2012
Location: Ross-shire, Scotland
Posts: 94

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Thermarest Prolite Plus. Thicker than the normal one but still very light and compact. Being not very tall, I opted for the women's version, which is shorter than the men's but the same weight. Apparently this is because they put more insulation in the area of the small of your back, which is exactly where I get cold. Whistle

I've never yet had a self-inflating mattress that inflates sufficiently on its own. I always top it up with a few blows, to give extra support.

If you're car-camping, a thicker Thermarest would be even better, though they get heavier and bulkier. 2012 Defender Utility Wagon
1981 SIII 88 inch SW
Follow our blog: www.newlifeinnorthernscotland.blogspot.co.uk
Post #214756 27th Feb 2013 4:20pm
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Thanks for the reply, I only ever camp when car based.
I didn't realise that a decent mat would be that expensive!!!
Air beds aren't for me really I tried one a few years ago and couldn't get on with it, the noise and generally how it moves unr you, being 6ft and 18 st I don't think air beds are made for the larger than average chap Embarassed 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
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Post #214883 27th Feb 2013 9:55pm
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Tarrel



Member Since: 21 Sep 2012
Location: Ross-shire, Scotland
Posts: 94

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
What kind of accommodation do you sleep in? If it's a reasonably large frame tent (e.g. Oztent, or any of the family-size tents), you could consider a folding camp bed. I just bought a Regatta one from Argos. 39 quid. You'd probably need something on top of it for insulation, but your foam mat would do the trick. Beauty of a camp bed is they are off the ground, so you can sit on the edge of it to put your socks on! There's also space underneath for storage. 2012 Defender Utility Wagon
1981 SIII 88 inch SW
Follow our blog: www.newlifeinnorthernscotland.blogspot.co.uk
Post #214885 27th Feb 2013 10:01pm
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Laurie



Member Since: 22 Feb 2008
Location: Sussex, England
Posts: 2897

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Bonatti Grey
The cheapest quality foam mats are ex-military.
They're about half inch thick closed cell foam and really comfortable. 
Post #214890 27th Feb 2013 10:13pm
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GREENI



Member Since: 22 Aug 2010
Location: staffs
Posts: 10383

United Kingdom 
Goanna stretchers for me in the Oztent... See Brendan.
Thermarest in the G4 Khyam.
Post #214895 27th Feb 2013 10:19pm
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
Ive got an oztent rv5 but as the mrs and two kids will be with me Evil or Very Mad Camps beds would be to big Idea Unles I get them a different tent Rolling with laughter
The issue mats are good quality but want that bit more! 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)


Last edited by bear100 on 27th Feb 2013 10:42pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #214896 27th Feb 2013 10:21pm
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Tarrel



Member Since: 21 Sep 2012
Location: Ross-shire, Scotland
Posts: 94

Scotland 2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Santorini Black
Easy. Camp beds for you and missus in the RV5. Plenty of space in there for a couple of chairs to put your clothes on, etc.

Two-man hike tent for the kids with foam mats. Gives them independence from Mum and Dad, and their own space plus a bit of adventure. Thumbs Up 2012 Defender Utility Wagon
1981 SIII 88 inch SW
Follow our blog: www.newlifeinnorthernscotland.blogspot.co.uk
Post #214900 27th Feb 2013 10:26pm
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leeds



Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

United Kingdom 
Thermarest are good sleeping mats Thumbs Up Have had one for years.

Closed cell foam sleeping mats are good and lighter then Thermarests.

Now as age/arthritis in knees creep up on me using ground based sleeping mats become more problematical, camp beds/stretchers are more useful. The Oztent ones are rated at 150 kg and weigh typically about 10 kg. Packed size? Cross section is about the same as a Thermarest but about 20-30 cms longer.

Oztent stretchers are on a price band along with items such as Thermarest.


Brendan
Post #214905 27th Feb 2013 10:40pm
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bear100



Member Since: 22 Mar 2010
Location: South Wales
Posts: 1917

Wales 2010 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 USW Santorini Black
The thermarrest is looking the firm favourite so far,
Tarrel, my little gems are only 5 & 8 and I wouldn't sleep unless they were near me Sad 2016 Range Rover Autobiography 4.4 TDV8
2010 110 XS Utility 2.4TDCI
2010 Range Rover Sport TDV8 (gone)
2007 Discovery HSE TDV6 (gone)
1993 110 csw 200 tdi (gone)
1994 90 HT 300 tdi (gone)
1994 discovery 300tdi (gone)
90 hybrid 3.5 v8 (gone)
Range rover bobtail 3.5 v8 (gone)
Post #214910 27th Feb 2013 10:56pm
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