Self inflating mats

[Boris]

I currently use an air bed which is compact when deflated and I can inflate it using a compressor powered by the bike but it can be cold to lie on so I have been looking at self inflating mattresses.

What are the views regarding these self inflating mats? They seem to range from under a tenner to £80 or so. I've had a lay down on both the cheapest (higear) and the dearest (Thermarest) and the difference is plain to see but is Thermarest really the only option for a quality mat or are there hidden gems out there.

I am looking for a mat that can be folded in half before rolling so it will fit in a pannier and doesnt cost the earth. Any recommendations?

[Mabels Old Man]

I've got a thermarest and I also use an exped down mattress. Not cheap but very, very good

[gary and loo]

I currently use an air bed which is compact when deflated and I can inflate it using a compressor powered by the bike but it can be cold to lie on so I have been looking at self inflating mattresses.

What are the views regarding these self inflating mats? They seem to range from under a tenner to £80 or so. I've had a lay down on both the cheapest (higear) and the dearest (Thermarest) and the difference is plain to see but is Thermarest really the only option for a quality mat or are there hidden gems out there.

I am looking for a mat that can be folded in half before rolling so it will fit in a pannier and doesnt cost the earth. Any recommendations?

I have slept on a few self inflating mats and the Thermarest is by far the best, my advice is to pay the extra.

[Mabels Old Man]

I have slept on a few self inflating mats and the Thermarest is by far the best, my advice is to pay the extra.

Whatever you buy it's worth paying for a good one but I have to say the exped is my favourite

[DaveS]

I've tried roll mats, air beds and various Thermarests.

I heartily recommend the Thermarests, they are excellent however my first one a Trail Lite or something like that if I remember correctly was too narrow.

Thermarest Basecamp XL is the one I have now. It's huge but gives me plenty of room for a fat bloater like myself.

[shonasdad]

I have used the gelert 3/4 mat for a couple of years now and spent two weeks sleeping on it at the tt last year and cant fault it, the good thing about the 3/4 is it rolls up very small and keeps the main parts of your body off the damp and cold ground

[chalky4]

I have used the gelert 3/4 mat for a couple of years now and spent two weeks sleeping on it at the tt last year and cant fault it, the good thing about the 3/4 is it rolls up very small and keeps the main parts of your body off the damp and cold ground

On your recommendation I have just ordered one from Outdormainia, £20.00 including p&p. Off down the river Wye in a week by canoe so really hope its comfortable cos I'm going to ache like hell at the end of each day
Thanks for the info
Chalky

[winxp-master]

On your recommendation I have just ordered one from Outdormainia, £20.00 including p&p. Off down the river Wye in a week by canoe so really hope its comfortable cos I'm going to ache like hell at the end of each day
Thanks for the info
Chalky

That looks more or less the same as the one i got from Argos for £25...

All i'll say is i used it once and i now have a Thermarest that cost me about £70... pay the extra.

[Jenna]

I have both a Thermarest (well its a metezler which thermarest copied) and a Gelert X_Treme Lite Mattress.

there is no comparison in construction materials, the gelert almost feeling like 'tesco's version'!... that said the cost of the thermarest is double the gelert so you get what you pay for. On a more personal level we are switching over to the gelert mats as we want to replace all our gear annually, the extra quality of the thermarest is somewhat irrelevant and the gelert has a smaller pack size and weight which are a bonus for us as weigh and space is an issue.

[chalky4]

That looks more or less the same as the one i got from Argos for £25...

All i'll say is i used it once and i now have a Thermarest that cost me about £70... pay the extra.

RRP was £24.99, apparently, got it for £16 +p&p.

• Fabric: Outer - 210T / 75D Diamond Ripstop Polyester top and 210T / 75D base. Inner - Laminated TPU
• Dimensions: L120 x W50 x D4 cm.
• Packed Size: 25 X 15 cm.
• Weight: 520g

Spec reads ok to me and I thought the extra 1cm you get on the depth would be a bonus over the usual of 3cm? but guess proof will be in the pudding, or sleeping in this case!!