Help Choosing a Comfortable Mat

[Hiking Noob]

Is there any decent way to keep a pillow on the mat? Mine just slides it merry little way up to the tent fly and it's a massive pain in the bum, I'd love a mat with a pillow built in.

[JohnStrider]

I've never used a pillow. Have either used my backpack or put some clothes in a stuff sack and used that.

[GPSGuided]

Is there any decent way to keep a pillow on the mat? Mine just slides it merry little way up to the tent fly and it's a massive pain in the bum, I'd love a mat with a pillow built in.

Doesn't that depend on the particular mat/pillow and their covering material along with the level of inflation? Pillows bounce off when both the mat and pillow are fully inflated. Drop the pressure a bit and let it mold to each other.

[Strider]

What pillow? Paint some silicone stripes on it?

[corvus]

Quilts whilst being suitable on the warmer "big Island" areas IMHO are not suitable for Colder Tassie conditions.

Interesting claim. Have you ever used a quilt? There is no reason a quilt cannot insulate as effectively as a sleeping bag if sized as used correctly. I would even say a quilt can insulate more effectively, as it is possible to have far more insulation available for the same weight.

G'day Strider ,
Never used a Quilt nor will ever as I can open up my Down Sleeping Bag to act like one if I am ever in a situation where it is overly warm.
How much does you Quilt weigh ? my Warmth Unlimited Tundra Pure Dry- 5 Ethical Down Bag weighs with stuff sack 955gm , dimensions are 280x180 and 600 circumference with the bonus of having a water resistant shell and I love the extra insulated box foot.

[Strider]

EE Revelation 20F, wide width, 180cm long, 850 loft with 1oz overfill - 619g.

An unzipped sleeping bag is really not comparable to a quilt. A quilt is shaped and designed to be cinched down to a mat and is really more like sleeping in your bed at home than sleeping under a makeshift blanket that does not seal around you at all.

[corvus]

EE Revelation 20F, wide width, 180cm long, 850 loft with 1oz overfill - 619g.

An unzipped sleeping bag is really not comparable to a quilt. A quilt is shaped and designed to be cinched down to a mat and is really more like sleeping in your bed at home than sleeping under a makeshift blanket that does not seal around you at all.

860 loft for the Tundra Sleeping Bag 336g heavier and water resistant more than your Quilt however slipping into a silk liner and knowing that I won't have to ensure I need to cinch down my bed cover like a blanket on my mat is a plus for me ,as I said to each their own

[DanShell]

Here you go Dan not very compact or light but it's free. I found this on a walk I did today, along with a heap of other rubbish.

Dumped mattress.JPG

Lol that looks like any little side track up behind home in the tiers.
I can't understand what goes through people's heads when they take a load of rubbish and dump it in the bush.

[DanShell]

Is there any decent way to keep a pillow on the mat? Mine just slides it merry little way up to the tent fly and it's a massive pain in the bum, I'd love a mat with a pillow built in.

I use an old pillow case sewn to fit over the end of my mat. I then put my pillow/s under it.
My thermarest is really slippery so I had the same problem.

[icefest]

as I said to each their own

Yet you still profess that they are not suitable, not having tried one.

Each to their own.

Danshell, I usually solve that problem by having a larger pillow that sits above the mat.

[Joomy]

G'day Dan ,
How often will you use it in very cold conditions especially with a Quilt ? I use a Prolite 4 in all conditions in Tas in a Scarp Tent with a Tyvek ground sheet and a "Proper Down sleeping bag" and have worn my Down Jacket and fleece pants when it on rare occasions gets down to really cold on the snow but never considered replacing it for the amount of times it would be used.
Also think a Mylar Space Blanket from your First Aid Kit would help as previously suggested however Quilts whilst being suitable on the warmer "big Island" areas IMHO are not suitable for Colder Tassie conditions.
Camping on Platforms can be a lot colder than on ground owing to Air circulation depending on your ground sheet base /mat that may have caused some of your discomfort.

People use quilts in far colder conditions than you ever get in Tassie...

[Pazanne]

Have you looked at the Nemo Cosmo Air, with a Pillowtop for comfort and insulation ? I'm a side sleeper and find this combo very comfortable.


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[Joomy]

Have you looked at the Nemo Cosmo Air, with a Pillowtop for comfort and insulation ? I'm a side sleeper and find this combo very comfortable.

Comfy but so so heavy

[Strider]

Have you looked at the Nemo Cosmo Air, with a Pillowtop for comfort and insulation ? I'm a side sleeper and find this combo very comfortable.

Comfy but so so heavy

The footpump is interesting too. Obviously not designed to be used in a tent.

[Pazanne]

I understood that comfort, not weight was the priority. They're made to be used inside the Nemo tents. Mine fits perfectly inside a Galaxi 2P and can be hand pumped at the end if needed.


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[philm]

What about the new Sea to Summit Mats? - the comfort plus insulated looks good?

Has anyone used one in the cold?

[DanShell]

My Exped Synmat UL 9 arrived today. Great service from main peak I must say.

Ill reserve my judgement on its warmth and comfort but it seems ok based on first impression.
I found it took a bit to blow up by mouth and it takes a little bit of effort to deflate it and pack it away. As does most I guess. The quality looks nice, you can feel the synthetic insulation inside it and it comes with a repair kit.

I am quite a bit taller than the mat is long and it is far more noticeable with the extra height of the Exped compared to the old thermarest but It shouldn't be an issue. I could already tell that Ill lay 'in' it better than the thermarest but that obviously comes with the generous height as well.

Ill give it a proper work out next weekend providing the weather isn't too crazy.

[kitty]

This will make it easier to inflate...doubles as a stuff sack.
http://www.bogong.com.au/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag.html

[GPSGuided]

Suggest that you don't inflate by mouth. At some point, making contact with mould is detrimental to health.

[DanShell]

This will make it easier to inflate...doubles as a stuff sack.
http://www.bogong.com.au/exped-schnozzel-pumpbag.html

@ $50 its a bit pricey but I guess it is a stuff sack too. Thanks, ill see how my lungs cope next weekend first

[GPSGuided]

I saw an Exped Youtube video that seemed to suggest some of these newer models come with a schnozzel pumpbag. Is this not the case with this Synmat UL 9? Maybe only with the newer down models.

[Strider]

Synmats can be inflated by mouth. Downmats cannot

[kitty]

More choices if you dont want to use your own breath, still expensive...
The STS Air stream dry sack and the Jet stream pump are both compatible with Exped mat valves.

Jet Stream 50g $36
http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/sea-to-summit/amjsp

Air Stream 50g $48
http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/sea-to- ... vAodrFEACQ

[GPSGuided]

Synmats can be inflated by mouth. Downmats cannot

But the moisture and organic material introduced are still mould inducing. Not recommended. In an emergency, a downmat can still be inflated by mouth.

[DanShell]

More choices if you dont want to use your own breath, still expensive...
The STS Air stream dry sack and the Jet stream pump are both compatible with Exped mat valves.

Jet Stream 50g $36
http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/sea-to-summit/amjsp

Air Stream 50g $48
http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/sea-to- ... vAodrFEACQ

Thanks, the S2S pump looks the goods. Not that Im a tight %$#@ but because well ok I'm a tight *&%$#!

[Gadgetgeek]

Or just make a pump-bag. its pretty straight forward.

[Moondog55]

While good the S2S mat isn't all that thick; I don't think that it is thicker in real terms than my old 32mm Thermarest and isn't thickness what gives comfort?
I have the Long Wide version purchased here
It is however warmer and lighter than the equivalent foam filled self inflator
I'll still use a cheap CCF pad under it to protect the new mattress and I'll add in the Ridgerest Solar in winter as a matter of course because I really do not have complete trust in air filled pads

[Suz]

Dan, I'm thinking about getting a synmat 9 too - found my ridge rest classic (r3.2) not warm enough even on a cool night. Have you tried yours out yet? Would like to know how it went

[DanShell]

Dan, I'm thinking about getting a synmat 9 too - found my ridge rest classic (r3.2) not warm enough even on a cool night. Have you tried yours out yet? Would like to know how it went

Suz no I haven't yet. Well if laying on it on the lounge room floor counts I have and it feels better than the old thermarest but as far as warmth goes I don't know yet

[Suz]

Ok thanks tho Probably will still get one I suppose