I’d like to share some thoughts on the self-inflating sleeping mat I currently own, before I speculate upon potential weight and space-saving improvements. However for extended basecamp use you might prefer a more generous oblong shape - Exped do also make these with down fill.

Overall verdict: If you want a mat that just works in the cold weather then this is the one to look into. As far as I can tell, it is sold exclusively by Go Outdoors in the UK, which is where I purchased it in July/August 2016.

If you’re looking for a mat for the winter time but want to keep it traditional then look no further. Its whopping 9cm thickness and relative rigidity both help to give the DownMat HL a very comfy, supportive feel. You attach this to the valve, pull the bag out to its full extent, and then blow steadily into it (from a distance of 30cm to reduce the moisture in your breath). We rated the camp star double from Outdoor Revolution on test – it takes only a minute or two to inflate and combines a warm foam core with inflatable panels for a very comfy night’s sleep indeed, with plenty of support for two adults sharing.

This is thanks in part to a synthetic fill which lofts up inside the cells of the mat to prevent convective heat loss from your body to the ground. Overall verdict: If you are after the best self-inflating 4 season sleeping mat then this is the one for you. Its oblong shape gives you more sleeping space than a mummy-shaped mat, which is great for car camping, basecamp use, a larger person or indeed anyone who tends to roll about in their sleep.

By accepting all cookies, you agree to our use of cookies to deliver and maintain our services and site, improve the quality of Reddit, personalize Reddit content and advertising, and measure the effectiveness of advertising. If your ambitions are less extreme then the DownMat could still have a place, since it may permit a thinner sleeping bag to be used. These not only raise you off the ground but provide insulation and help you sleep comfortably all night long.

For those looking to save weight, a 2/3 length Airo 120 is also available, though for most of us that's only going to be long enough for the torso and not the legs too. Not by much though, another baffle would probably have been ok but since it is only the hands which fall off the edge I wondered what I could use to buoy them up? The best of the rival models are both considerably warmer and a lot lighter, and for cold weather campers who are especially keen on counting grams both will be a major consideration. A foam-filled inflatable mat of a very familiar style, what the Airo lacks in thickness, lightness and temperature performance it compensates with value for money and general no frills robustness. This is a measure of how effectively something resists conductive heat flow: a bigger R-value means better thermal insulating properties.We think it's most comfy when lying on your back, and we can't honestly say the side rails make a difference. The upside to this is that deflation is extremely fast, so the whole thing can be rolled away in a couple of minutes tops. An anti-microbial treatment on the fabric helps prevent mould or fungal growth inside, something of a risk with any mat that gets puffed up full of damp breath. I headed up my favourite mountain in Snowdonia and pitched up with a beautiful view of the Ogwen Valley, enjoying the peace and solitude of the outdoors with a gorgeous sunset. That’s why we reckon they’re ideal for festivals, for budget campers or for sleeping on rocky ground (as they can’t puncture).

The official dimensions of the 180 are a length of 180cm and a width of 52cm at its widest point, but measuring just the foam (rather than the crimped fabric edges) its effective width at the shoulder is closer to 50cm. This one has the best warmth:weight ratio of the lot - in fact Exped claim it to be " the world's lightest mat at comparable warmth and comfort levels". The exclusive V-Chambers and dynamic side rails also limit the movement of air, helping warmth stay closer to the top of the pad—meaning closer to you.You can change your choices at any time by visiting Cookie preferences, as described in the Cookie notice. We have however comfortably slept out on a couple of Scottish winter nights in sub-zero conditions, and more recently a high level spring camp where the temperature wasn't far above freezing and the wind relentless.