Ah, I see it's an R3.2. The Sea to Summit I went with is an R5. I'll take all the Rs I can get
Best sleeping pad
- Thread starter JohnnyS
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Ah, I see it's an R3.2. The Sea to Summit I went with is an R5. I'll take all the Rs I can get
Nanabijou
Observer
Ah, I see it's an R3.2. The Sea to Summit I went with is an R5. I'll take all the Rs I can get
The Camper SV that I'm looking at has an even lower R-value. I'm not impressed either. But I'll probably give it a try this summer in addition to an Exped Synmat 12 (LXW) or whatever it's now called (PlacidWaters - I too was overwhelmed by all the new mattresses on the Exped website!).
PlacidWaters
Adventurer
Yeah, they now offer 84 mattresses and 14 pillows. Do we really need THAT much choice?
kbahus
Adventurer
I have been on the hunt for a quality sleeping pad for some time, it is just really hard to find the nice stuff in the stores to try in my neck of the woods. My REI 3.5" pad leaks down at night, my Thermarest Basecamp leaks down at night, and all I am left with is a Big Agnes Air Core that is going strong, but not very comfortable. I did manage to find a Sea to Summit Comfort Plus pad to try out in store and it was comfy, but not thick enough for my side sleeping habits. I wish I could find a Megamat to try as I feel that gets the absolute most votes for comfort. This thread has been very helpful with suggestions, keep them coming!
PlacidWaters
Adventurer
You can do much better than the Big Agnes Air Core. That mattress was top of the line when it first came out, but it has been eclipsed by better mattresses since then. The Comfort Plus I think of as strictly for backpacking.
I slept on an Exped Synmat 7 (2.8" thick) on a Helinox cot last night as a test and today I spent some time on the REI Campbed 3.5, also on the cot. One fact was clear: A self-inflating mattress with a foam top surface is more comfortable than a non self-inflating mattress without foam. Air can support you and provide some softness, but air plus foam has a softer, more luxurious feel.
BUT: In any case where weight and packed size are important, a self-inflating mattress is at a big disadvantage. They're heavy and bulky by definition. So what's the most comfortable non self-inflating, insulated mattress you can buy, and how do you get around the inconvenience of having to blow it up?
After reading lots of specs I've decided to order an Exped Synmat Mega 12 MW. Specs:
4.7" thick
25.6" wide
73.6" long
2 lbs 8 oz
Packed size 6 x 11
R-value 5.3 (-4 degrees F)
This looks like a do-everything mattress. If you only want one mattress this could be it. It's slightly heavy for backpacking, but not intolerably so compared to the comfort of the width and thickness. It would be perfect for kayak and canoe camping, where weight isn't a factor (unless you portage long distances, but even there 2 lbs 8 oz isn't excessive). The width may fit on a Helinox cot and will fit on a Camptime Roll-a-Cot. Unlike the Megamat, it deflates and rolls up very quickly with minimal effort.
What about inflation? This year the new Synmat Mega 12s come with the yellow pump sack. It takes about 4 sackfuls of air to inflate a mattress in about one minute. Short of a battery-operated pump, I don't think there is a faster or easier way to inflate a mattress.
I don't know of another mattress that I could say with confidence that it works well for everything from backpacking to car camping. I'm pretty sure there is no other 4.7" mattress on the market that's light enough for backpacking.
The one drawback, then, is the lack of foam on the top surface of the Synmat Mega 12. But it's ***less than half the weight and just one-third the packed size of the Megamat!*** With the arrival of the Mega 12s, I no longer consider the Megamat a camping item. I use it strictly at home.
Kbahus, if you can't find a Synmat Mega 12 to try out in person, I honestly think you can order one sight unseen and have confidence in the quality and the comfort. The Mega 12 has easily 4 times the comfort of your Big Agnes (yup, I used to own a BAIAC too). I had to sleep on the Synmat 12 (now called the Mega 12 LXW) for months on a cot and slept very well even with hip and shoulder arthritis. I alternated with the Megamat and found it slightly more comfortable, but not enough to justify the greater weight, bulk, and inconvenience of rolling it up (not an easy job). Several camping retailers have excellent return policies if you don't like the Mega 12. Or order a Mega 12 and a Megamat and return the one you like less.
(Sorry all, I know I get carried away about the topic of mattresses.)
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PlacidWaters
Adventurer
Good videos:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgQhqGJEGYc Shows difference in packed size between Exped Megamat and Synmat Mega 12.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyS1Rc00xK4 See what deflation of the Megamat involves. It's a beast. Synmat Mega 12 deflation is more or less instantaneous and it folds up in seconds.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hgQhqGJEGYc Shows difference in packed size between Exped Megamat and Synmat Mega 12.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lyS1Rc00xK4 See what deflation of the Megamat involves. It's a beast. Synmat Mega 12 deflation is more or less instantaneous and it folds up in seconds.
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kbahus
Adventurer
PlacidWaters, thank you for that great reply! I watched those videos as well and the Megamat looks pretty comparable to my REI 3.5" pad in packed size, time to inflate, and effort required to deflate. The mat looks much more comfortable though! It is a tough call between the Synmat and the Megamat for me. I love a good night of sleep, but also I try to pack all of our gear inside the rig, so the space savings would be nice too. Decisions, decisions....
PlacidWaters
Adventurer
Kbahus, here's what I have currently: REI Campbed 3.5; Megamat 10; Synmat 12 (=Mega 12 LXW).
The REI Campbed is much easier to roll up than the Megamat. I don't think the Megamat video is realistic. For me personally, here's what it takes to roll up the Megamat:
1) Fold in half and sit on it real hard.
2) Fold in half twice more (so it's folded in quarters) and sit on it.
3) Open it up and roll up. Sometimes it takes me two tries to get all the air out.
For the Campbed 3.5 you just roll it up from the end in one step, right?
Inflation: For some reason my Megamat has never had any self-inflation ability whatsoever. Maybe because I store it rolled up? I always inflate it with a pump. The Campbed inflates itself in a couple of minutes and tops off with a couple of breaths.
Comfort: The Megamat and the Synmat Mega 12 are both much more comfortable than the Campbed 3.5, I promise. I really like the Campbed on a Helinox cot, but not on the ground.
What do you think of ordering both a Synmat and a Megamat and returning the one you like less? Then you can tell us your impressions of both. They feel different on the top surface but honestly I have no trouble falling asleep on either one. I have shoulder, back, and hip problems so that's saying a lot. Older too. On the ground I might prefer the Synmat for the added thickness. In the end I started to resent the bulk and hassle of the Megamat and don't take it camping anymore because the Synamt is so much easier to deal with and so close to the Megamat in comfort.
There are some 20% off sales around right now. Maybe ending today, not sure.
The REI Campbed is much easier to roll up than the Megamat. I don't think the Megamat video is realistic. For me personally, here's what it takes to roll up the Megamat:
1) Fold in half and sit on it real hard.
2) Fold in half twice more (so it's folded in quarters) and sit on it.
3) Open it up and roll up. Sometimes it takes me two tries to get all the air out.
For the Campbed 3.5 you just roll it up from the end in one step, right?
Inflation: For some reason my Megamat has never had any self-inflation ability whatsoever. Maybe because I store it rolled up? I always inflate it with a pump. The Campbed inflates itself in a couple of minutes and tops off with a couple of breaths.
Comfort: The Megamat and the Synmat Mega 12 are both much more comfortable than the Campbed 3.5, I promise. I really like the Campbed on a Helinox cot, but not on the ground.
What do you think of ordering both a Synmat and a Megamat and returning the one you like less? Then you can tell us your impressions of both. They feel different on the top surface but honestly I have no trouble falling asleep on either one. I have shoulder, back, and hip problems so that's saying a lot. Older too. On the ground I might prefer the Synmat for the added thickness. In the end I started to resent the bulk and hassle of the Megamat and don't take it camping anymore because the Synamt is so much easier to deal with and so close to the Megamat in comfort.
There are some 20% off sales around right now. Maybe ending today, not sure.
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
I'm about five months into a refresh of the sleeping pad review I wrote for Overland Journal in 2013. So far, my favorite pad is the ExPed Synmat Mega 12. It's pretty amazing and a fraction of the packed size of the Mega Mat that I originally gave our Editor's Choice award.
PlacidWaters
Adventurer
I agree! How about the Mega 12 for bike touring, since you're a biker? I'm hoping to use it for that this summer. Compare these specs:
Synmat 7 LXW 2.8 x 26 x 77 2lbs 7oz 6 x 11
Synmat Mega 12 MW 4.7 x 26 x 73 2lbs 8oz 6 x 11
That shows what's gained by getting rid of the built in pump: The 12 MW weighs just 1 ounce more for almost two more inches in thickness with the same packed size. This is comfort never before experienced on a bike, backpacking, or paddle camping---the comfort of car camping in a small package. Nothing else on the market compares. The addition of the small pumpsack does away with the former inflation headache.
Here's my Big Three for biking, backpacking, and kayak camping:
Exped mattress 2 lbs 8 oz.
Tent: Alps Mountaineering Zephyr 2 4lbs 12 oz
LL Bean down 35 semi-rectangular sleeping bag 2lbs 4 oz
TOTAL 9lbs 8 oz
Those 3 items all fit in one rear pannier. Yes, ultralight could be half that weight or less, but you can't beat the comfort.
Just one frustration: there are quite a few very good yet cheap tents on the market (example: Alps Mountaineering) but no cheap top-quality mattresses. Maybe somebody will clone an Exped mattress, as Helinox chairs have been cloned.
trailsurfer
Explorer
I concur. I own both, but the 12 is my go to mat. From moto to car camping. So small, yet so much comfort!
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
The Schnozzel pump sack is pretty sweet, too. My main beef with the standard Mega Mat is the pack-up process, which can be laborious.
Placidwaters, As small as the Synmat Mega 12 is, it's far too big for bicycle travel. Perfect for motorcycle travel, but I use sub one-pound pads for bikepacking. My preferred by far are the Sea to Summit UltraLight pads in both insulated and non.
I'm pretty comfy with:
Sea to Summit Specialist Solo tent: 1.4 pounds
Sea to Summit Spark SpI bag: 1.1 pounds
Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated pad: 1.1 pounds.
Just a shade over 3 pounds but pretty comfy. Not ideal for nasty weather, but for the bicycle...pretty sweet.
PlacidWaters
Adventurer
Christophe, I'm referring to the NEW MW size, not last year's LXW. The specs above show that the MW is the exact same packed size as the Synmat 7 and weighs only 1 ounce more. Many backpackers are content with the Synmat 7, and I propose that the new Mega 12 MW will offer significantly more comfort for the same packed size and weight while easily fitting in your panniers. It fits in the category "reasonably lightweight," not ultralight. Plus it's half the packed size of the rolled-up closed-cell foam pads that we used to bungee to our rear racks for years.
For older or heavier bike and paddle campers, the challenge is, how can I get close to car-camping comfort at a reasonable weight and packed size? A 2" mattress like the Sea to Summit UltraLight Insulated pad isn't going to work for those folks. Hence my question about what people consider the minimum comfortable thickness and width. For me its 3.5" x 25".
The suggestions in this thread have ranged from 1 to 11 lbs, from quite small to humongous . The place to start is understanding your comfort needs---what you're comfortable sleeping on and what you're comfortable packing and carrying. For years we tolerated poor sleep and pain in the morning because we had to. Nowadays there's something for everyone on the market. No more need to suffer, and we can camp into our 80s rather than giving up the activities we love.
Christophe Noel
Expedition Leader
I completely understand where you're coming from, Placidwaters. Comfort is very subjective. I tend to be sufficiently comfortable on a 2-inch pad if it is a well made pad like the StS pads with the air cushions, which really work, even for my boney hips. For me comfort is relative to more than just sleeping comfort. By keeping my walking or riding weight to a minimum, I'm more comfortable during the day. On the bicycle, or on foot, I like to keep my gear weight as far under 20 pounds as I can for most 2-4 day romps.
On the motorcycle, who cares! I pack for luxury. In the car, I pack the kitchen sink.
My new favorite luxury pad is the Thermarest Mondo King in the XXL size. My wife and I use those in our MSR tent and it fits the tent with a wall to wall 4-inch pad.
On the motorcycle, who cares! I pack for luxury. In the car, I pack the kitchen sink.
My new favorite luxury pad is the Thermarest Mondo King in the XXL size. My wife and I use those in our MSR tent and it fits the tent with a wall to wall 4-inch pad.
texascrane
Adventurer
I picked up a StS comfort plus insulated pad the other day. StS rep happened to be in the store and hooked me up with the dry sack/pump. I ended up sleeping on it in my 1-year old's room last night as he was having a rough night. I'm a side sleeper and I didn't have any complaints. Would one of the thicker pads be a bit more comfortable? Probably, but it's comfortable enough for me and I'm often using the pad on top of the cot so anything thicker doesn't really work for that.