When were sleeping mats introduced?

[David M]

These days no one, not even ultralighters would sleep without a mat of some kind. I was wondering when these became common as when I started bushwalking in the late 70's and early 80's they weren't in common use as far as I know, and then there was a big gap in my overnight walking until recently. I recall sleeping on a Space Blanket as a ground sheet with some clothes for a pillow and padding and perhaps a small piece of foam I also used to stop my H frame backpack digging into me.

[GPSGuided]

When human walkers became soft.

[Onestepmore]

When we were camping in the late 70's and early 80's we used Lilos. Blow up air mattresses, blue on one side and burgundy red on the other. Heavy and cold.
Mid 80's was my first exposure to a friend with a new fanged and very expensive self inflating Thermarest. I still have my first one, pretty bulky and heavy, with a metal valve (that now doesn't work, does anyone know if it can be replaced? The mat itself is fine and would still be suitable for my son for Scouts)

Wikipedia says 1970's
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Therm-a-Rest

Lol, in my usual way I got sidetracked. Here is an article bemoaning the demise of the sport of 'Liloing' because Lilos have been supplanted by self inflating mats. Ditto the Dunlop Volley gets a mention
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Air_mattress

[ULWalkingPhil]

I own a Self inflating Thermarest that would be at least 25 years old. Still going strong. I remember it cost me over $300.00.

[Franco]

The first that I know of was the Karrimat by Karrimor (UK) in 1966.
Very much like the generic Blue Mat of now.

[Moondog55]

Americans were using a similar but different mat at the same time I remember using an old woolen blanket cut down in my early days of Mountain Mules and japara covered down bags

[Franco]

Yes, Karrimor where the first in Europe (according to them) so they must have been available elsewhere.
In the UK at least Karrimor became the generic name for a mat (like Hoover or Scotch tape)

[gbedford]

Well done Franco.

Here in Australia my first memory of sleeping mats is the creamy soft ones from Bushgear in Melbourne (remember them).
I bought one in 1972 I think. But I got a yellow karrimat (Karrimor) in 1974 as a backpad for my Joe Brown climbing sack.
Stupidly I left my original Bushgear mat in The MUMC hut on Feathertop.

Gordon

[stry]

Well done Franco.

Here in Australia my first memory of sleeping mats is the creamy soft ones from Bushgear in Melbourne (remember them).
I bought one in 1972 I think. But I got a yellow karrimat (Karrimor) in 1974 as a backpad for my Joe Brown climbing sack.
Stupidly I left my original Bushgear mat in The MUMC hut on Feathertop.

Gordon

I had a couple of those Bushgear mats. Luxury !!! But heavy and bulky by todays standards. Also still have an old white 3/4 closed cell thing which may predate the Bushgear mats.

[Moondog55]

Ensolite; just remembered what the material was in the US and Bushgear mat was.
Gordon I may have slept on your mat in the MUMC hut once.
Karrimor had 2 mats. the yellow one for general use and a Green one labeled as an Expedition use one. Strangely the Expedition mat was thinner than the yellow one as I remember things, the green mat was also made in NZ for a while as it was the issue mattress for the NZ Army for a long time.
Stry I remember those mats, excellent insulation but no comfort at all, I think I finally cut mine down as daypack padding

[legend]

I remember seeing the first closed-cell foam mat (a grubby white colour) in 1972 (my first year bushwalking with my club). It quickly changed the comfort of sleeping out. The yellow thermarest was bought by a member in 1973

[Lindsay]

In the early-mid 70s with Scouts we used a plastic shower curtain as a ground sheet and that was it. A boy once brought along a canvas and wire stretcher and we all thought him soft. Now I wouldn't consider going without my neo air.

[GPSGuided]

In the early-mid 70s with Scouts we used a plastic shower curtain as a ground sheet and that was it. A boy once brought along a canvas and wire stretcher and we all thought him soft. Now I wouldn't consider going without my neo air.

Talking about going soft. I recall a while back when I was shopping for a new mat, the local shop assistant in a technically decent store here suggested in shock and horror manner that one must sleep on an R-something mat or the heat loss and ensuing hypothermia will "kill" me. I gave her a funny look.

[Moondog55]

I wonder what the "R-Value" of an old, grey woollen, army blanket is; but it was warmer than sleeping on the groundsheet on its own; just.

[GPSGuided]

Moondog, that's not what you used during your enduring winter camp, was it?

[Moondog55]

No. way back when I was 15/16 and walking with the Scouts.
I got soft and my base camp mattress is much warmer and thicker. RidgeRest Solar Large + 50mm Thermarest clone + 12mm CCF pad and fake fur over that