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TIP: The online Bushwalk Inventory System can help bushwalkers with a variety of bushwalk planning tasks, including: Manage which items they take bushwalking so that they do not forget anything they might need, plan meals for their walks, and automatically compile food/fuel shopping lists (lists of consumables) required to make and cook the meals for each walk. It is particularly useful for planning for groups who share food or other items, but is also useful for individual walkers.Thermarest self inflating
Sun 08 Nov, 2015 9:36 am
I got a prolite plus, and you do the usual fold in half and sit and repeat to get all the air out. I can get it to easily fit into the storage bag.
Has anyone tried putting it inside a compression sack to get the storage size even smaller?
Has anyone tried putting it inside a compression sack to get the storage size even smaller?
Re: Thermarest self inflating
Sun 08 Nov, 2015 10:26 am
I don't think you'd get much more compression. If you are needing more space, you can carefully stuff the mat around other stuff. once you do a good tight roll, Its about as good as it gets.
I'm assuming you are just looking for space while packing, not long term storage?
I'm assuming you are just looking for space while packing, not long term storage?
Re: Thermarest self inflating
Sun 08 Nov, 2015 7:44 pm
I have the same matt.
As you mention, it is folded in half length wise and rolled up. (I dont usually bother doing it twice as i can get it 99% there in the one roll and the extra time to do a second pass at it isnt worth the absolutely minute reduction in diameter i would get).
I use a velcro strap to hold the matt rolled up and then its placed inside its storage sack. Even if i crank on the velcro strap the matt doesnt compress that much more, and id be more worried about abrasion / wear to the mattress so i dont think there is much more you can do to reduce the packed size of this matt.
Travis.
As you mention, it is folded in half length wise and rolled up. (I dont usually bother doing it twice as i can get it 99% there in the one roll and the extra time to do a second pass at it isnt worth the absolutely minute reduction in diameter i would get).
I use a velcro strap to hold the matt rolled up and then its placed inside its storage sack. Even if i crank on the velcro strap the matt doesnt compress that much more, and id be more worried about abrasion / wear to the mattress so i dont think there is much more you can do to reduce the packed size of this matt.
Travis.
Re: Thermarest self inflating
Mon 09 Nov, 2015 7:12 am
Do you close the valve after rolling the mat up ?
I can nearly always get the mat sufficiently compact on the first attempt, and find that once the valve is closed, it is pretty easy to slip the mat into the bag without needing to strap it. Also comes out easily.
I can nearly always get the mat sufficiently compact on the first attempt, and find that once the valve is closed, it is pretty easy to slip the mat into the bag without needing to strap it. Also comes out easily.
Re: Thermarest self inflating
Tue 10 Nov, 2015 11:05 am
I closed the valve when i have let all the air out!
Just wanted to get a smaller footprint on it!
Just wanted to get a smaller footprint on it!
Re: Thermarest self inflating
Tue 10 Nov, 2015 1:10 pm
bushlover wrote:I closed the valve when i have let all the air out!
Just wanted to get a smaller footprint on it!
Sorry - my bad
I doubt that compression will make much difference a tightly rolled T'rest. Most likely just dag it up.Easiest thing is to buy, borrow, or improvise some thing with straps and see what happens (with the valve open). Most that you will lose is the time spent trying.
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