 | Home > Camping, Caravanning and Holidays > Self inflating mats |
 
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| wyvern Member Since: 13 Dec 2009 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2117   
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We have some kampa mats that we started using this year and love them ...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Kampa-Kip-Luxury-...kampa+mats well recommended and have used them for 2 weeks every night with no issues ....  Poppy - TDCI (Puma) 110XS 2.2 - Camper conversion - see the build here - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic56530.html
Elgar -TDCI(Puma) 110XS Dormobile - now sold Devon & Cornwall 4x4 Response - DC126  |
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14th Jun 2016 6:55pm |
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| Mash Member Since: 09 Feb 2015 Location: Guernsey Posts: 1674  
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On eBay there are some memory foam waterproof ones, very comfy but a tad bulky if hiking 90 wolf - Jasmin http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic39408.html
90 V8 - Maggie http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic42564.html 110 TD5 - Buggsy http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic59029.html 52HG25 lightweight https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic72342.html D3 Hse - Fiona Capri 2l S - Anna Think I might have a problem............ |
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14th Jun 2016 7:32pm |
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| Chris86 Member Since: 15 Jul 2014 Location: South Yorks Posts: 793 
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Take a look at alpkit
https://www.alpkit.com/featured/sleeping-mats I have had a few bits from them, I know others who have had lots of gear from them- never heard a bad thing said and the gear I have had has been great. Chris |
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14th Jun 2016 8:02pm |
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| Ads90 Member Since: 16 Jun 2008 Location: Cots-on-the-Wolds Posts: 812 
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I bought SIMs a couple of years back - Vango 5cm - perfectly comfortable for a night or two.
But we found a whole week on them was not so good, and have since resorted to buying a big ol' airbed for the summer week away - with a mattress topper to keep out the cold, there's just no comparison. The downside to the airbed as you'll probably know is that it needs a bit of extra air several times during the week, and the risk of punctures! I also considered a fold-up foam mattress (a bit like the seats you get in a caravan), these are probably the most comfortable and won't deflate, but are obviously very bulky not just for travelling with, but also for storing at home. Note the thicker/wider SIMs are also quite bulky when rolled - you won't save much (if any) packing space over an airbed. If you do get SIMs, try and store them inflated, as we deflate ours to fit in a cupboard and they now no longer fully self-inflate - like a fluffer on a porn set I have to put in a few puffs to get them hard. |
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14th Jun 2016 8:40pm |
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| miker Member Since: 13 Sep 2015 Location: Surrey Posts: 1768 
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Alpkit fan here. My several year old airo (super thin one) now leaks down over a night, but I can't find the puncture! Lasted through a lot of heavy use either way. Think I'm going to replace it with one of the thicker ones.
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14th Jun 2016 10:39pm |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665 
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I have 2 of the original Thermarests
Both still functioning perfectly despite being over 10 years old, and been on many excursions (including Alpine climbing trips) However also use some Alpkit stuff (though not their mats) and agree - great VFM  Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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15th Jun 2016 5:06am |
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| Greadh Member Since: 17 Feb 2016 Location: North West Posts: 97 
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Hi,
Thanks for all the advice, I will take a look at all those suggested, Alpkit seems to be suggested often, I have dry bags and tent pegs form them - but nothing more. I guess a question is - all those suggested are in a similar ball park cost wise ~£50-70, most are available in ~10cm thickness. Has anyone got any experience with the more expensive ones? The Exped and the Outwell mentioned are both ~£130 and indeed so is the Thermorest Neo-Air.....Interested to know if these are worth twice if not 3 times the money? cheers |
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15th Jun 2016 6:50am |
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| MartinK Member Since: 02 Mar 2011 Location: Silverdale (Lancashire/Cumbria Border) Posts: 2665
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One of my Alps Pics:
Thermarest worked a treat! Good insulation from the cold ground... The newer ones can be bought under £60 http://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/thermarest-prolite-regular-p206782 This makes them quote price compatible? Even been able to sleep on rocky terrain: Click image to enlarge Not knocking Alpkit in any way - I use one of their down sleeping bags in the Alps... Admin note: this post has had its images recovered from a money grabbing photo hosting site and reinstated  Defender "Puma" 2.4 110 County Utility (possibly the last of the 2.4's) |
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15th Jun 2016 7:42am |
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| Greadh Member Since: 17 Feb 2016 Location: North West Posts: 97
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Thanks Martin, those pics make me jealous, unfortunately the gf is expecting something more along the lines of this for her 2 week summer holiday:
Click image to enlarge Well maybe not quite, but I think 2 weeks camping in the snow would be pushing my luck! Its a hard thing to buy as it is generally subjective and many of them aren't easy to go take a look at as not available on high street (Alpkit for example). One thing that isn't too much of an issue is pack size - these wont be for hiking etc. 100% car camping with a 110, so space is there. This said, I have never had one good nights sleep on any airbed, so going to avoid these for now. |
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15th Jun 2016 10:02am |
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| dantastic Member Since: 04 May 2010 Location: London Posts: 367
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These self inflating mats are great. Very comfy. Mine is about 2" thick and it's plenty comfy.
I have 2 real problems with my mattress though. If I was buying again I wouldn't buy the same one. 1) The top surface is really slippy. Nylon sleeping bag on top of nylon mattress means you easily slide off unless the ground is 100% flat. Don't underestimate how flat the ground must be if you've no friction between the sleeping bag and the mattress. 2) It's too narrow. I think it's 60cm wide. Fine for a night but if you are using it for an extended amount of time you need something a bit more comfortable. In my case I found I don't wish for thickness but width. Other things to look for is ability to blow in more air. Mine says it's self inflating but that's a lie! This also means that you have to shove the entire valve into our mouth to add a bit of extra air. It's has this cage kind of screw valve. Probably a fine valve knob if the thing was actually self inflating... |
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15th Jun 2016 10:48am |
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| Chris86 Member Since: 15 Jul 2014 Location: South Yorks Posts: 793
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Im pretty sure Alpkit do free shipping and returns if that helps- sure I read that on their website somewhere when I was looking at trying to get a down Jacket for my wife a couple of years ago. Chris |
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15th Jun 2016 3:37pm |
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| Scotm Member Since: 28 Feb 2014 Location: Aberdeenshire Posts: 671  
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Martin - Glad to see someone else is still using their early 90's karrimor hot route rucksack. I have a twin!
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16th Jun 2016 10:10am |
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| Jimb1978 Member Since: 05 Sep 2012 Location: Huddersfield Posts: 808  
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http://www.outdoorgb.com/p/Exped_Mega_Mat_...Ar4-8P8HAQ
Two of these with a standard bedsheet over the top with some Velcro straps sewn to it underneath. More comfortable than my bed at home! 2002 110 td5 |
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16th Jun 2016 10:22am |
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| mick Member Since: 08 Feb 2010 Location: Yorkshire Posts: 2109 
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These are the dogs danglies http://www.basecampgear.co.uk/sleeping-c39...Gwod_SEFPQ I've got two top kit
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16th Jun 2016 7:22pm |
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