So totally NON-Ultra light

[Moondog55]

Just bought my-self a new winter mattress set-up.
Ridgerest SOLAR (Large )at 740 grams

http://cascadedesigns.com/therm-a-rest/ ... ar/product

plus a cheap Mountain Designs Somnus pad
http://www.mountaindesigns.com/online-s ... odID=16209
because they were on sale at half price, $99- although I don't believe the stated R rating
I know the weight is high but I am simply too old to loose sleep because I am not comfortable or warm

I am so impressed with the thicker Ridgerest I may just get the regular to add to my summer kit, I have always thought that Ridgerests provided good insulation, the fragility and bulk is what stopped me in the past.
I have an extra large, cheap, thin CCF pad from K-Mart that will provide protection for the Ridgerest and that adds another 350 grams to the total mass but as this will more than likely be put in the pulk and towed the extra weight won't mean much and it does mean I can use a much lighter sleeping bag

[sthughes]

Okay I may not be the brightest spark, but I don't get it. Why not just use a Neo Air All season, Exped Downmat or something?

[Moondog55]

Poverty, this combo is as warm or warmer, less likely to fail and many dollars cheaper, DMs are good but I was not aware that they were made in the width I need for sleeping comfort on snow.
That extra width; +100mm makes all the difference to my comfort
Besides which I had the cheap K-Mart mat and the returns voucher from MD.

[ninjapuppet]

Ive got one of those ridgerest solar in the regular size. Stated weight is 540g, but mine measures at only 481 so yours might come in abit lighter than 740g
The solar reflector layer does make a difference compared to the standard ridgerest and you can feel the difference. However If you use it directly on snow, the little holes tend to collect snow and ice and stay there, so I prefer to use it in tents or inside bivies if using for snow camping rather sleeping directly on snow with it.

Your 1.69kg MD mat sounds abit more like a car-camping mat tho?

[Moondog55]

I specifically bought the XL version of the Solar because of the extra width, No I did buy this mat for snow camping, as I said the extra weight and bulk do not matter much for a pulk. I had a semi static camp in mind for the coming ski season, probably even be using my old Paddy-Made Era ( but with flysheet added ) total luxury for one man.
If there was a half or three-quarter length mat in a wide I would be the first customer. I am still using my old 38mm 3/4 Thermarest for trips with a rucksack

[sthughes]

Poverty, this combo is as warm or warmer, less likely to fail and many dollars cheaper, DMs are good but I was not aware that they were made in the width I need for sleeping comfort on snow.
That extra width; +100mm makes all the difference to my comfort
Besides which I had the cheap K-Mart mat and the returns voucher from MD.

The Neos can be had for a similar price as those two combined (online), and in the same width (a delux Downmat is bigger still). But yeah if they failed there wouldn't be any warmth at all, while your combo would still be warm enough even punctured, just less comfy. With a voucher for the MD one it makes a very cheap, very warm, and very comfy bed

[Moondog55]

I see that the Deluxe Downmat has come down in price quite a lot since I last looked, but the possibility of failure is high on the list of reasons for buying the Ridgerest, and i can still use a lightweight airmat on top if I get rich