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Camping mattress

alexchien

Member
Hi, I'm looking for a new underground camping mattress and wondered if anyone has any good recommendations based on experience of use.
There's a lot to choose from and I'd like to hear from anyone who has used a more modern mattress.

I've used a lightweight air mattress before , a multi cell one , with good results. This is now deteriorating around the inflation valves, although the mattress material is still fine.

Requirements:-
Full length
Small/compact when roll up.
Tough - (good on grit - ie. doesn't easily puncture on sand/grit )
Reasonable price
Can be inflated orally, no pump required
 
Thermarest??

I know that they can be prone to punctures, but if you choose the camp setting right it can be avoided.
 
Not a specific recommendation for your use case, but I have a "Big Agnes" "Boundary Deluxe" e.g https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/boundary-deluxe-insulated-sleeping-mat---regular/

Not tested in anger, yet - I bought it after multiple failures of cheap air mattresses during my 3 weeks at Gaping Gill last year.

To get to the point, it neither requires a pump, nor a lot of huffing and puffing into a valve, introducing moist aid into the foam inner. Instead, it has a bag with a connector on it, you hold the bag open to gather air, roll the top closed and then squeeze to inflate.

There's a video here:
 
I've got a Alpkit Cloudbase, which seems pretty good, although I've not used it a lot.

I've used it in reasonably gritty conditions and it did fine.

Happy to bring it to the Dales if you want a look?

B
 
You'll probably be tempted by Alpkit Numo which meets the small size lightweight requirements for only £37.99 https://alpkit.com/products/numo?variant=40691728056425
but word has it they can delaminate and leak so Benfool cloudbase may be the way to go https://alpkit.com/products/cloud-base?variant=40689877057641
If you're as paranoid as me about inflatable mats in general, you might want to spend an extra £7.99 and 60g of weight by putting a thin foam mat underneath https://highlander-outdoor.com/collections/sleeping-mats/products/reflective-camping-mat
 
Not a specific recommendation for your use case, but I have a "Big Agnes" "Boundary Deluxe" e.g https://ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/boundary-deluxe-insulated-sleeping-mat---regular/

Not tested in anger, yet - I bought it after multiple failures of cheap air mattresses during my 3 weeks at Gaping Gill last year.

To get to the point, it neither requires a pump, nor a lot of huffing and puffing into a valve, introducing moist aid into the foam inner. Instead, it has a bag with a connector on it, you hold the bag open to gather air, roll the top closed and then squeeze to inflate.

There's a video here:
I like the bag inflation on this.
 
You'll probably be tempted by Alpkit Numo which meets the small size lightweight requirements for only £37.99 https://alpkit.com/products/numo?variant=40691728056425
but word has it they can delaminate and leak so Benfool cloudbase may be the way to go https://alpkit.com/products/cloud-base?variant=40689877057641
If you're as paranoid as me about inflatable mats in general, you might want to spend an extra £7.99 and 60g of weight by putting a thin foam mat underneath https://highlander-outdoor.com/collections/sleeping-mats/products/reflective-camping-mat
Thanks, I tend to use a sheet of DPM underneath, but this doesn't stop grit getting everywhere.
 
Thermarest??

I know that they can be prone to punctures, but if you choose the camp setting right it can be avoided.
Bit bulky when rolled up. . The light weight ones aren't that comfortable for me, and the thicker ones take up too much space when packed.
 
Both our alpkit ones lasted not very long before leaking after use in tents. The Xped ones lasted longer and got use underground in mulu too, relatively robust but delaminated in the end. The thermarest ones were king and did some serious trips in Himalayas and s America before delaminating. I now use foam roll mats as you can’t pop them.
 
Bag inflation is brilliant, much the best way. Thermarest are very good on the warranty, although warranty isn't mush use when you're down a cave your mat has gone flat. Exped are well insulated but I've twice had failures between the tubes, so getting a lump running the length of the mat.
 
As a regular Daren Cilau camper and surface conventional camper I will throw in my two penn'orth.
I haven't found any of these fancy self inflating mats, carry mats, thermorests etc give me enough padding and insulation from the ground whether underground or on the surface and find I either can't get comfortable and/or wake up with a back ache. When camping on the surface (I know that's not what you're asking about, but I feel it is relevant) inc friends living room floors etc I use just a sheet of 3" thick foam. To reduce its size for carrying I have cut it down to 3/4 length since my feet don't need to be on the mattress. Rolled up size is then only 30cm x 25cm and weighs 1.5kg.
I then required a camping mattress that I could take into Daren Cilau through the Entrance Crawl to Hard Rock. I bought a cheap pvc inflatable tube style air bed to see well it worked. It has about 9 (or 10) independently inflatable tubes of appros 3" in diameter. I only inflate 6 of the tubes which gives me about a 2' width mattress which is perfectly fine for me. This leaves 3 (or 4) tubes un-inflated. My theory is that should one of the tubes become puntured, I would just inflate one of the other tubes and fold it under such that it lined up with the u/s tube.
I have used this for a number of years at HRC on 2 to 4 two night camps each year and it is still going strong (that's tempting fate), and since it's pvc it hasn't suffered from mould. I do however lay it on top of an old piece of carrymat. I don't sleep very well underground anyway, but I feel that it is good as it's going to get.
 
Just wondering - could you insert your inflatable mattress into a 500 gauge poly bag (of the old-fashioned survival bag variety) prior to inflating it and being careful to keep it clean? That may help mitigate against grit rubbing on the mattress itself. (It might also mean you slide off during the night though!)

I was persuaded to buy a Thermarest in 1997 by Shaun Puckering when I called into the old Hitch 'n Hike shop en route to an expedition overseas. (I'd got that far and realised I'd left my Karrimat at home.) It got hammered in harsh (surface) conditions on that trip and it has been ever since - for example on annual GG winch meets where the tent always seems to end up very gritty due to having to keep rancid caving gear in a small living area. It's still going strong. I miss the sage advice we used to receive from Shaun.
 
could you insert your inflatable mattress into a 500 gauge poly bag
I wondered similar - could you make a cover from cordura or something that the whole bag fitted into, and the grit would only attack the bag. But I suspect that the bag, whether cordura or 500g poly, would be as bulky as the mat itself.
 
If anyone does find a mat deflating, take the valve apart and clean it. Grit can get in and ruin the seal. Unless of course it’s clearly escaping from the mat bit.
 
Hi, I'm looking for a new underground camping mattress and wondered if anyone has any good recommendations based on experience of use.
There's a lot to choose from and I'd like to hear from anyone who has used a more modern mattress.

I've used a lightweight air mattress before , a multi cell one , with good results. This is now deteriorating around the inflation valves, although the mattress material is still fine.

Requirements:-
Full length
Small/compact when roll up.
Tough - (good on grit - ie. doesn't easily puncture on sand/grit )
Reasonable price
Can be inflated orally, no pump required
I have a Sea to Summit ultralight insulated mat. It is light and packs down really small and inflates easily using an air bag. Ideal for backpacking and its comfy. I would not recommend it though as its so noisy. Is squeaks and groans every time you turn over or slightly move. Unless you can stay still all night its no good in a tent. So I imagine it would keep you and others awake if used underground. Mrs Dinwiddy has a Thermarest basecamp. Its heavy and bigger but luxurious and silent.
 
I have an OEX version, yet to be tested in anger.
I have used the lightweight thermarest, was very comfy
I also have an original thermarest, always been bomb proof, if not a little heavy and bulky.
 
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