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sleeping mats

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in4:
Anyone happy to give a thumbs up to sleeping mat? I'm looking for a summer use one and things appear to have moved on a bit since karrimats were the mat du jour. Thanks.

David Simpson:
I have a Therm-a-Rest NeoAir. It is very light and comfortable.

Mine is a few years old, but here is the product info for the current model:
https://www.thermarest.com/ca/mattresses/neoair-trekker

Good:
- light: 0.6kg
- comfortable: 2.5" / 6.3cm thick

Bad:
- somewhat pricey? (US$150-200). However, as I am getting older, I find that paying for good sleeping gear (bag, pad, etc) is worth it for a good night's sleep.

- DaveS

mickeg:
There are the self inflating pads that I think are largely open cell foam encased in air tight nylon fabric.  And there are air mattresses, which are much higher quality that the cheap plastic ones that I recall using as a kid to float on water.

Backpacking and canoeing I usually use a shorty self inflating pad, very light weight.  I have several that were made by Thermarest.  I store them fully inflated which I think makes them last essentially forever.

On a bike I usually prefer an air mattress.  Slightly heavier but much more compact to store in a pannier.  Since this is a bike forum, I assume that is why you are asking.  So I will only elaborate on air mattresses.

I am not sure what country you are in, I am in USA where REI is a major retailer.  The REI branded air mattress, Flash model (in my case the long) is my favorite.  I just looked at their site because I was going to include a link to that model, but they redesigned the mattress to be completely different.  So, I won't recommend it because the one they sell now under that model name is one I have never seen.

I also have a Neoair air mattress by Thermarest, I think my model is the Xlite.  It is lighter than my REI Flash model but only has one valve, smaller one that you can put in your mouth but the valve being smaller takes a couple minutes more to get all the air out of it when i roll it up in the morning.

A gal I used to work with was saying that her boy friend punctured his air mattress, bought a new one and punctured that too.  Then they tried to find the punctures and found they both were punctured at the same spot.  Then they looked at the tent floor and found the thorn (sharp pointing thing, not the bicycle).  My point is that you want to be careful with anything that holds air that you need for sleeping comfort.  Do not lie out on a flat rock somewhere for a nap in the sun, etc.  If you use it on the ground instead of on a fabric tent floor, I wish you luck.  You probably will not puncture it if you do, but why take the risk?

I have had good luck sealing holes with Seam Grip, a seam sealer sold in USA.

David Simpson:
REI (the US retailer) has an article about the pros and cons of the different kinds of sleeping pads.

https://www.rei.com/learn/expert-advice/sleeping-pads.html

I have both a self-inflating pad and a blow-up pad. Once inflated, they are very similar to sleep on. The main difference is in the weight and size when they are packed. The self-inflating pads are heavier and larger because of the foam inside the pad. For self-contained camping (biking or camping), the blow-up pad is my preference because it is so much smaller and lighter. For car camping or having an extra mattress around the house, the self-inflating pad is more convenient. Just unroll it, and it self-inflates in a few minutes.

If possible, go to a store and lay on the different pads to get a feel for them. What may be comfortable for me may be uncomfortable for you. Mattresses are quite personal, like bike saddles. If anything, it will give you a feel for how thick you want your sleeping pad. A thinner pad gives less padding (obviously), but is lighter. A thicker pad may be more comfortable, but heavier. I say "may" be more comfortable, because I've found that thick air mattresses (not the sleeping pad variety, but the old style blow-up air mattresses) are too bouncy for me. My blow-up pad (Therma-a-Rest NeoAir) is 2.5" thick, which is very comfortable for me.

- DaveS

Danneaux:
A few more data points to consider...

One factor to keep in mind on some of the premium inflatables is noise. Some are loud enough to keep you and your immediate neighbors awake at night, akin to sleeping on a bag of crisps. It can be enough of an issue to make a store tryout worthwhile.

Some of the premium inflatables contain insulation, whether synthetic or down. It is a Real Good Idea to use an inflation bag/carry sack to fill these to avoid moisture from your breath matting and flattening the insulation.

My favorite cycle-touring pad for the areas I go (3-4 season valley/mountain passes/desert) is a 1kg Nemo Tuo Standard self-inflating mattress. A tapered mummy shape, it has a cross-cored top over a solid bottom to prevent heat loss directly down through the pad. There are dual air chambers separated by a plastic membrane so even if you get a puncture in the outer chamber you can sleep through till morning. They're really good for cold weather. I've slept on exposed rock atop two stacked Nemo Tuos comfortably in temps down to -16°C/3°F. When I think temps will be down to about -11, I slide my closed-cell sit-pad under my bum beneath the mattress and this extends the range of the single pad.The bottom 1/3 is blown up stiff and firm to blunt the feel of rocks and pebbles while the top 2/3 is left soft for comfort. They fold in half before rolling so store compactly inside a pannier or can be left flat and rolled 'round a sleeping bag stuff sack to fit in a dry sack with little added bulk. I love mine (ehm, my "five") and the comfort/insulation/sleep quality are so good I don't care about the weight, but learned to my great dismay they have now been discontinued.

I liked it well enough to make the thicker "camp" version my permanent bed at home. Instead of a standards mattress and box springs/mattress, I sleep on one of these atop a 3/4in sheet of plywood on conventional bed rails with a head and footboard; the pad is covered by a thin blanket and the bed is made conventionally. Best home bed I've ever had, going on eight years now. Sadly, this model has been recently discontinued also. Like the lighter model, the camp model is also silent to sleep on.

For my ultralight "summer" pad, I like my Klymit O-Zone pretty well:
https://www.amazon.com/Klymit-Inertia-Ultralight-Sleeping-Pillow/dp/B00GK4LUXQ/ref=sr_1_1?s=sporting-goods&ie=UTF8&qid=1519188188&sr=1-1&keywords=klymit+ozone 
It is fairly thin, uninsulated, skeleton-shaped and can be used inside my sleeping bag, underneath it, or atop another pad. The idea is the sleeping bag's insulation can herniate up through the holes in the O-Zone mattress and provide some insulation, useful in a down bag where the underside fill is often fully compressed under body weight. I'd say it is useful/warm enough for me down to just above freezing depending on the bag. The attached pillow can be inflated or not or folded over the pad to provide better head support for side-sleepers. It is small. For photos and description here on the Forum, see:
http://thorncyclesforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=11787.msg85865#msg85865
It's primary appeal for me are the small packed size and light weight for use in warmer weather. I've sometimes used it inside my sleeping bag over my Nemo Tuo standard with good results in cooler weather. It is most certainly not a cold-weather air mattress.

I'd suggest weighing your requirements to get the best balance between comfort, warmth, and packed bulk/weight to meet your needs. There's no perfect pad or mat, but the one that provides the best night's sleep is worth a little compromise on weight and bulk. Lost sleep is insidious and additive and can quickly suck the fun out of a tour and leave you feeling miserable and under-performing.

All the best,

Dan.

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