New sleeping mat and pillow

[johnw]

Last weekend I bought a new sleeping mat and pillow, looking forward to trying them out on an overnight walk this weekend. Both are quite lightweight. Mat is an Insulmat Ether Thermo 6 (Regular). It's not self-inflating, you have to blow it up (by mouth or pump). I briefly tried that out last night at home. Due to the extra thickness over a normal pad (and possibly the insulation) it felt absolutely luxurious. Teamed it up with a Thermarest Compressible Pillow (small). I could have happily slept on the lounge room floor last night. Since I usually end up with a backache, I'm hoping for the best night's sleep in the bush yet .

Specs:

http://www.pacoutdoor.com/2008/index.cfm?action=product&productID=132&groupID=23&familyID=1

http://www.thermarest.com/product_detail.aspx?pID=93&cID=4

[johnw]

Results of my brief field test of this gear last weekend. Destination and campsite was the Wollangambe Crater (a meteorite impact crater, or astrobleme. Elevation approx. 800m), which is in a wilderness section of NSW Blue Mtns NP. Our second attempt to find this spot, which is notoriously difficult to navigate to. First attempt was mid-winter a couple of years ago and we became benighted on a ridge. This time the trip was successful, well other than me falling in the drink while attempting a slippery log crossing of the Wollangambe River . Anyway here's my opinion of the gear:

Insulmat Thermo 6 Sleeping Mat (regular length):
Because you need to blow it up (either by mouth or pump is acceptable according to the instructions), this thing reminds mine a little of those horrible old rubberised cotton air beds that we used for car camping a zillion years ago. Used to freeze your butt off, even in summer. However this is a very different animal. It weighs approx. 600 grams, and the surface insulation worked well in the temperatures we experienced, about 5-8 degrees C overnight. The longitudinal channels didn't seem to cause any cold spots, as the sleeping bag and your body tend to sink into them. I note that the manufacturer rates the mat as 3 season.

It was surprisingly quick and easy to inflate by mouth, but you do need to provide a reasonable amount of breath, so best to take it easy. The weather was still warm when we initially inflated them. We noticed that, as the temperature cooled in the evening, the mats appeared to have deflated considerably ( shock, horror, oh no they can't be leaking, they're brand new!). However a few breaths revived them and they stayed correctly inflated overnight.

We were using a WE Second Arrow tent and the length of the mats "just" fits comfortably on the floor of the inner. The long version would present a problem in this or tent or those of similar dimensions. The mummy shape is a different experience to a rectangular mat but I didn't notice any problems. An advantage is that it created a small amount of extra floor space where you can stow bits of gear.

Was it comfortable? Well, yes. It is significantly more comfortable than my other mat, which is an Exped Sim Light 2.5. Another thing I really liked is that it's easy to deflate and roll up. Even better it comes with a stuff sack that actually fits, and even has extra room to spare ! I'm keen to use this mat again and confirm my initial opinions.

Thermarest Compressible Pillow (small):
My other two pillows are both freebies that came with other gear I've bought. Both of these are miserably small and pretty awful; you have to stuff clothing in them to derive any sort of comfort. So the Thermarest pillow was a luxurious change. The downside is it weighs 298 grams, whereas my other pillows are both insignificant in the gram count.

It stores in a compressed condition and you need to let it expand in a similar way to a self-inflating air mat. The amount of expansion is surprising. The filling consists of small pieces of compressible foam. While it doesn't have the bulk of a pillow that you'd use at home, it's the nearest thing I've found so far. It is far more comfortable than my other pillows. I found that suede-like cover feels a bit unusual and this is something that I may need to get used to. The pillow is easily compressed into its cover and secured for stowage. I'm quite happy with it so far.

Both these items appear to be high quality, and will hopefully stand up to the rigours that they're designed for.

[Whos_asking99]

Ahh excellent, someone else who has a Pacific Outdoor mat.
I have one of these: http://www.pacoutdoor.com/2008/index.cf ... familyID=1

Noticed that it was very comfortable despite the cold, but I did notice as well that it did go down a bit in the cold weather, probably just some physics related thing though.
The size definitely is good (though I'm a tad to long for it), and very small when rolled up, but I found it easier to just fold it up and slide it down the back of the pack, takes up less space that way I found.

Out of curiosity, how do you store yours?

[lance.house]

mmm yes, comfy.

ive had one of these matys fora bout 18 months and have to say to is amazingly comfortable. my only negative is the mummy shape, which often means I wake up with a leg off the mat. Considering it weight so little for what you get I would have happily bought a rectuangulr model. Having said that, i'd buy it again If i had to for some reason.
I tend to store it rolled up in its container. I seem to remeber reading that it was fine to do this, but my comments below might suggest otherwise.
Ive probably had 20-25 nights on it and its not showing any problems except that it might be getting a bit of condensation in the foot end. Im not too sure but it just looks a bit wet in there when its compressed down. I pumped it up using a bike pump (rather than my mouth) and put it in the sun then compressed it a few times, in the hope that putting in warm dry air rather than moist from me might get rid of it, but to be honest I havent actually gone backto see if my efforts made any difference.

cheers
LAnce

[johnw]

Noticed that it was very comfortable despite the cold, but I did notice as well that it did go down a bit in the cold weather, probably just some physics related thing though. Out of curiosity, how do you store yours?

I suspect the thing with the deflation in cold weather is just due to expansion/contraction of warm/cold air. So yes, I guess it's a physics thing. So far I've simply rolled mine up and kept it in the stuff sack, both in my pack and at home. I asked the gear shop about storage before I bought it and they said this was fine. This is different to my self-inflating mat, which I store inflated/valve open between trips to help any condensation buildup to escape.

ive had one of these matys fora bout 18 months and have to say to is amazingly comfortable. my only negative is the mummy shape, which often means I wake up with a leg off the mat. Considering it weight so little for what you get I would have happily bought a rectuangulr model. Having said that, i'd buy it again If i had to for some reason.
I tend to store it rolled up in its container. I seem to remeber reading that it was fine to do this, but my comments below might suggest otherwise.
Ive probably had 20-25 nights on it and its not showing any problems except that it might be getting a bit of condensation in the foot end. Im not too sure but it just looks a bit wet in there when its compressed down. I pumped it up using a bike pump (rather than my mouth) and put it in the sun then compressed it a few times, in the hope that putting in warm dry air rather than moist from me might get rid of it, but to be honest I havent actually gone backto see if my efforts made any difference.

I was a little worried about the "leg off the mat syndrome" too but didn't find it a problem on the mat's maiden voyage. With the condensation problem what about hanging it up, partially inflated, with the valve open and facing down (in the sun might help too)? My assumption is that any moisture would drain towards the open valve and hopefully escape.

[Whos_asking99]

I asked the gear shop about storage before I bought it and they said this was fine.

Hmm ok, thats strange. When I bought mine, I was told to store it flat and with the valve open to avoid the foam developing a "memory", and so any moisture could escape.
But anyway, thanks for the answer, maybe I could get away with storing it rolled up after all....

[Son of a Beach]

I was told to store it flat and with the valve open to avoid the foam developing a "memory", and so any moisture could escape.
But anyway, thanks for the answer, maybe I could get away with storing it rolled up after all....

I'd stick with storing it unrolled and open. We've got three open-cell foam mats at home (all different brands). Two have always been stored unrolled an open in our wardrobe, but the third (and newest) has always been stored rolled up, in a bag, in the back of the car (for kids to sleep on if we stay out somewhere late at night).

All three self-inflated nicely when brand new. The two that were stored unrolled and open still self-inflate well (with just a small breath required to top up). The one that has been stored rolled up no longer self-inflates at all. The foam has been compressed for so long that it seems to have lost all of its springiness, and always requires blowing up from scratch (must be getting very moist inside by now!).

I don't know if your mats are open-cell foam or not, but if so, I'd recommend storing them unrolled and open, for sure.

[johnw]

Maybe there is some confusion here, as this thread has started to discuss two very different types of mat.

My comments about storing rolled up apply ONLY to my recently purchased Insulmat Ether Thermo 6 (or mats of exactly the same construction). It is NOT an open-cell foam mat. It is a series of "tubes" consisting of a (very thin) multi-laminate. You inflate it entirely by exhaled air (mouth or pump). It does not self-inflate at all. When deflated it is almost perfectly flat. Think of an old style "air bed". It is a lightweight 21st century version of one of those, but with insulation layers in the laminate. See http://www.pacoutdoor.com/2008/index.cfm?action=product&productID=132&groupID=23&familyID=1

I agree with Nik's comments about storing open-cell foam mats unrolled with the valve open (which I did indicate in my previous post ).

This is different to my self-inflating mat, which I store inflated/valve open between trips to help any condensation buildup to escape.

In summary, Whos_asking99, if your mat is open-cell foam, then I agree, leave it stored unrolled with the valve open as you've been advised.

Maybe we need a Wiki definition about different types of mats .

[Son of a Beach]

Maybe we need a Wiki definition about different types of mats .

Done!

Although I'm sure you (or others) might want to add to this one.

[johnw]

Maybe we need a Wiki definition about different types of mats .

Done!

Although I'm sure you (or others) might want to add to this one.

Hey, good work Nik, thanks! Now that I feel suitably guilty, I'll have to get off my %@#& again and start writing some more content for the Wiki too.

I might add a bit to the inflated tubes section. I don't know that all of them are easily punctured. I researched mine before buyng it, and it is supposed to be very puncture resistant. However, I'm not going to start poking it with sticks and rocks to find out . I believe that there are some very flimsy single layer ultralight ones that are very easy to puncture, but I haven't seen them anywhere. Generally though, I think the design/construction would certainly be more susceptible to puncture than, say, open-cell foam. So more care is prudent.

As an aside, I was told recently that closed-cell foam is the mat of choice for Mt Everest expeditions, for the reasons you've outlined in the Wiki. They can't accept the puncture/deflation risk of other types of mat.

[lance.house]

I might add a bit to the inflated tubes section. I don't know that all of them are easily punctured. I researched mine before buyng it, and it is supposed to be very puncture resistant. However, I'm not going to start poking it with sticks and rocks to find out . I believe that there are some very flimsy single layer ultralight ones that are very easy to puncture, but I haven't seen them anywhere.

saw one fellow online who tried using 6 or 7 long clown balloons in a garbage bag as a single use SUL mat! not sure if it would pass the everest test or not