Camping Mattress

[desmobob]

Grateful for the images, and a marvelous example of camp mattresslessness! Love the tarps and minimalist suspension.

:thanks:
Those are older photos... some newer equipment includes a Warbonnet XLC hammock and Warbonnet Superfly tarp. No winter camping photos with those yet...

 

[KITROBASKIN]

Maybe you could show your newer hammock/tarp and relate how a camping mattress is possibly supplanted by that system? You could discuss temperate use?

 

[desmobob]

Maybe you could show your newer hammock/tarp and relate how a camping mattress is possibly supplanted by that system? You could discuss temperate use?

Even at temps in the high 60˚F range, you will get "cold butt syndrome" if you sleep in a hammock without insulation. I use down underquilts in various temperature ratings as bottom insulation in my hammocks. Some folks do use sleeping pads (camping mattresses), though.

My newest hammock, the Warbonnet Blackbird XLC, was purchased with a double bottom layer option, making it easier to use a sleeping pad as bottom insulation. A sleeping pad certainly can be used in a single-layer hammock, but it may be difficult to keep in place while sleeping.

The benefit of using an under quilt, as I prefer, is that it is hung under the hammock and stays at full loft... your body weight is not compressing it and compromising its insulating qualities. With an under quilt hanging snugly below you and an over quilt on top of you like a blanket, you are basically inside a cocoon of down insulation. It's as comfy as it sounds. And, also important, ultralight in weight and extremely compressible for efficient packing.

I don't have links to any photos of my Blackbird XLC hammock or Superfly tarp, but you can see them on the Warbonnet Outdoors web pages. (I wish we could upload photos for posting on these forums...)

 

[Booga]

Another Exped fan here. I had a Thermarest Neoair but never felt comfortable on it, it rustled when I moved and never slept well as I felt like it was easy to roll off of. The Exped Synmat has vertical baffles with slightly higher ones on the edges to help stop you from rolling off. Let a tiny bit of air out so you sink into it and it's really comfortable. Selling my Neoair and getting a Synmat was one of the best gear decisions I've made.

Before those inflateable mats I'd used a couple of different self inflating mats but being a side sleeper I found them too shallow and I'd wake up with sore/cold hips and shoulders where my weight had bottomed out through the mat and touched the ground beneath.

 

[PapaJB]

This thread is a little old but in case anyone is still interested...

Mfr	Model	r-value	Size	Weight (oz)	Width (in)	Length (in)	MSRP	r/lb	r/$100	r/lb/$100	Season	Rating
Klymit	Static V2	1.3	Regular	17.5	23	72	$60	1.19	2.17	1.98	Summer
Klymit	Static V Luxe	1.3	Long	27.2	30	76	$100	0.76	1.30	0.76	Summer
NEMO	Astro Lite	1.5	Regular	13.9	20	72	$110	1.73	1.36	1.57	Summer
Mountain Summit Gear	Self Inflating 1.5 Camp Pad	1.5	Regular	40	20	72	$50	0.60	3.00	1.20	Summer
NEMO	Tensor	1.6	Short	8.1	20	48	$130	3.16	1.23	2.43	Summer
NEMO	Tensor	1.6	Regular Wide	16	25	72	$145	1.60	1.10	1.10	Summer
NEMO	Vector	1.6	Regular	17	20	72	$150	1.51	1.07	1.00	Summer
NEMO	Vector	1.6	Long Wide	22	25	76	$170	1.16	0.94	0.68	Summer
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Venture with Mini Pump	1.8	Regular	21	20	72	$60	1.37	3.00	2.29	Summer
NEMO	Switchback	2	Short	10.5	20	51	$40	3.05	5.00	7.62	Summer
Therm-a-rest	Z Lite Sol	2	Regular	14	20	72	$26	2.29	7.69	8.79	Summer	Best Value Summer
NEMO	Switchback	2	Regular	14.5	20	72	$50	2.21	4.00	4.41	Summer
Exped	FlexMat Plus	2.2	XS	12.5	20.5	51	$45	2.82	4.89	6.26	Summer
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Uberlite	2.3	Small	6	20	47	$155	6.13	1.48	3.96	Summer	Best Summer
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Uberlite	2.3	Regular	8.8	20	72	$195	4.18	1.18	2.14	Summer
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Uberlite	2.3	Large	12	25	77	$225	3.07	1.02	1.36	Summer
Therm-a-rest	ProLite	2.4	Short	12	20	47	$85	3.20	2.82	3.76	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	ProLite	2.4	Regular	18	20	72	$95	2.13	2.53	2.25	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	ProLite	2.4	Long	24	25	77	$115	1.60	2.09	1.39	3 Season
Sea to Summit	Ultralight Insulated	3.1	Regular	21	25	78	$160	2.36	1.94	1.48	3 Season
Kammok	Insulated Pongo Pad	3.1	Regular	24.3	26	74	$159	2.04	1.95	1.28	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	Trail Scout	3.1	Regular	30	25	77	$70	1.65	4.43	2.36	3 Season
REI	Flash 3 season	3.2	Regular	16	20	72	$75	3.20	4.27	4.27	3 Season	Best 3 Season and Best Value 3 Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Q Core SLX	3.2	Petite	17	20	66	$130	3.01	2.46	2.32	3 Season
Sea to Summit	Ether Light XT Insulated	3.2	Regular	17.3	21.5	72	$142	2.96	2.25	2.08	3 Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Q Core SLX	3.2	Regular	18	20	72	$150	2.84	2.13	1.90	3 Season
REI	Flash 3 season	3.2	Large	21	25	78	$90	2.44	3.56	2.71	3 Season
Sea to Summit	Ether Light XT Insulated	3.2	Large	22	25	78	$157	2.33	2.04	1.48	3 Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Q Core SLX	3.2	Regular Wide	22	25	72	$190	2.33	1.68	1.22	3 Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Q Core SLX	3.2	Long Wide	24	25	78	$200	2.13	1.60	1.07	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	Trail Lite	3.2	Regular	26	20	72	$80	1.97	4.00	2.46	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	ProLite Plus	3.2	Regular	31	25	77	$125	1.65	2.56	1.32	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	Trail Lite	3.2	Large	37	25	77	$100	1.38	3.20	1.38	3 Season
REI	Stratus Insulated	3.3	Regular	21	20	72	$80	2.51	4.13	3.14	3 Season
REI	AirRail Plus	3.3	Regular	25	25	72	$70	2.11	4.71	3.02	3 Season
REI	Stratus Insulated	3.3	Long Wide	29	25	78	$100	1.82	3.30	1.82	3 Season
NEMO	Flyer	3.3	Regular	30	25	76	$140	1.76	2.36	1.26	3 Season
NEMO	Tensor Insulated	3.5	Regular Wide	19	25	72	$175	2.95	2.00	1.68	3 Season
Paria	Recharge UL	3.5	Regular	20	20	72	$75	2.80	4.67	3.73	3 Season	Honorable Mention Best 3 Season and Best Value 3 Season
Sea to Summit	Comfort Light Insulated	3.7	Regular	21.9	21.5	72	$180	2.70	2.06	1.50	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Topo Luxe	3.7	Regular	23	20	72	$145	2.57	2.55	1.78	3 Season
Sea to Summit	Comfort Light Insulated	3.7	Large	26.6	25	79	$200	2.23	1.85	1.11	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Topo Luxe	3.7	Regular Wide	28	25	72	$165	2.11	2.24	1.28	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Topo Luxe	3.7	Large	30	25	77	$185	1.97	2.00	1.07	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Topo Luxe	3.7	XLarge	36	30	77	$205	1.64	1.80	0.80	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	Prolite Apex	3.8	Regular	22	20	72	$120	2.76	3.17	2.30	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	Prolite Apex	3.8	Regular Wide	28	25	72	$130	2.17	2.92	1.67	3 Season
Therm-a-rest	Prolite Apex	3.8	Large	30	25	77	$140	2.03	2.71	1.45	3 Season
Mountain Equipment	Aerostat Synthetic 7.0	4	Regular	18.7	21.25	72.8	$150	3.42	2.67	2.28	3+ Season
Mountain Equipment	Aerostat Synthetic 7.0	4	Long	22.4	23.6	78.75	$155	2.86	2.58	1.84	3+ Season
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Xlite	4.2	Small	8	20	47	$145	8.40	2.90	5.79	3+ Season
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Xlite	4.2	Regular	12	20	72	$145	5.60	2.90	3.86	3+ Season	Best 3+ Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Q Core Deluxe	4.3	Regular	25	20	72	$160	2.75	2.69	1.72	3+ Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Q Core Deluxe	4.3	Regular Wide	31	25	72	$200	2.22	2.15	1.11	3+ Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Q Core Deluxe	4.3	Long Wide	34	25	78	$210	2.02	2.05	0.96	3+ Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Q Core Deluxe	4.3	XL Wide	41	30	78	$240	1.68	1.79	0.70	3+ Season
Klymit	Insulated V Ultralite SL	4.4	Regular	16	20	72	$120	4.40	3.67	3.67	3+ Season	Honorable Mention Best 3+ Season
Therm-a-rest	Trail Pro	4.4	Regular	29	20	72	$120	2.43	3.67	2.02	3+ Season
Therm-a-rest	Trail Pro	4.4	Regular Wide	37	25	72	$140	1.90	3.14	1.36	3+ Season
Therm-a-rest	Trail Pro	4.4	Large	39	25	77	$150	1.81	2.93	1.20	3+ Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Air Core Ultra	4.5	Regular	18	20	72	$100	4.00	4.50	4.00	3+ Season	Honorable Mention Best Value 3+ Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Air Core Ultra	4.5	Petite	20	20	66	$90	3.60	5.00	4.00	3+ Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Air Core Ultra	4.5	Regular Wide	28	25	72	$120	2.57	3.75	2.14	3+ Season
Big Agnes	Insulated Air Core Ultra	4.5	Long Wide	31	25	78	$130	2.32	3.46	1.79	3+ Season
Paria	Recharge XL	4.7	Regular	26	23	76	$85	2.89	5.53	3.40	3+ Season	Best Value 3+ Season
Mountain Equipment	Aerostat Down 7.0	5	Regular	20.4	21.25	72.8	$205	3.92	2.44	1.91	Winter
Mountain Equipment	Aerostat Down 7.0	5	Long	24.3	23.6	78.75	$215	3.29	2.33	1.53	Winter
Sea to Summit	Comfort Plus Insulated	5	Regular	25.5	21.5	72	$140	3.14	3.57	2.24	Winter
REI	Groundbreaker	5	Regular	45	25	72	$60	1.78	8.33	2.96	Winter	Best Value Winter
REI	Trailbreak	5.1	Regular	40	20	72	$70	2.04	7.29	2.91	Winter	Honorable Mention Best Value Winter
REI	Trailbreak	5.1	Long	43	20	78	$80	1.90	6.38	2.37	Winter
Mountain Summit Gear	Self Inflating 2.5 Camp Pad	5.7	Large	72	26	76	$70	1.27	8.14	1.81	Winter
Mountain Summit Gear	Self Inflating 3.5 Camp Pad	6	Extra Large	88	26	76	$90	1.09	6.67	1.21	Winter
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Xtherm	6.9	Small	11	20	47	$145	10.04	4.76	6.92	Winter
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Xtherm	6.9	Regular	15	20	72	$185	7.36	3.73	3.98	Winter	Best Winter
Therm-a-rest	NeoAir Xtherm	6.9	Large	20	25	77	$225	5.52	3.07	2.45	Winter
Therm-a-rest	MondoKing 3D	7	Large	70	25	77	$210	1.60	3.33	0.76	Winter
Therm-a-rest	MondoKing 3D	7	XX Large	88	30	80	$230	1.27	3.04	0.55	Winter
Exped	DownMat UL Winter	7.1	Regular	22.2	20.5	72	$229	5.12	3.10	2.23	Winter	Honorable Mention Best Winter
REI	Camp Bed	7.6	Regular	58	25	72	$100	2.10	7.60	2.10	Winter
REI	Camp Bed	7.6	XL	84	30	78	$120	1.45	6.33	1.21	Winter
Exped	DownMat XP 9 with pump	7.8	Regular	31.2	20.5	72	$230	4.00	3.39	1.74	Winter
Exped	MegaMat Max 15	10.6	Regular	122	30.3	77.6	$300	1.39	3.53	0.46	Winter

 

[Tasky]

Most of your heat is lost to the ground throughout the night, a sleeping pad that insulates you will keep you much warmer than even the best of sleeping bags.

I've heard people say this a lot.
In 35 years of camping and fighting in some pretty harsh conditions, I've yet to find any truth in it from my own experience, or any substantiation in the science behind the assertions.

Most of the training I've had asserts that 65-90% of body heat is lost through radiation, which is why we use (decent) sleeping bags in the first place.
Convection is the next biggest point of heat loss, especially when combined with evaporation, but is easily countered by wearing clothes and using a shelter (a windproof bivy bag is usually sufficient).
Conduction can be a factor, but depends on the ground. Dry foliage is actually a very good insulator, for example.

 

[Scotty321]

I've only done "real" camping a couple times (with more experienced campers).

The longest I was camping was in Voyaguers National Park on a 2 1/2 week canoe trip. I didn't know better, but was completely comfortable on a foam pad (plain, not with the cutouts and shapes)... of course I was younger then. It was during the summer so it wasn't cold.

I tried to get away without using a sleeping pad when car camping at the Grand Canyon. I think the night got down to around 50 degrees, and I had a nice warm sleeping bag that I almost froze in because of the ground convection. I should have paid $10 for a foam pad... this was in the summer, too.

I recently read a lot of reviews and picked up a Sea to Summit Ultralight insulated air sleeping pad. I bought it as a do-it-all, but primarily for sleeping in a house I was working on with no furniture, and I didn't trust the Wmt air beds to work for long from reading the reviews. I wanted to also have a small portable air mattress for traveling and emergencies (I also keep a folding camping chair in my trunk).

I've only tested the air pad to make sure I understood the setup. It was a little more plush than a foam mattress. I got the XL, but if I got a second, it would probably be the L. The I think the XL is DC'ed anyway. I'm 6' 205 lbs. I haven't tested it out on cold ground, but if I wasn't as concerned with space, I'd probably just go back to a quality foam pad. I also purchased a blow up pillow (fits inside the air pad's case), but don't remember if it was the same brand or not... it's in my emergency bag now and I don't feel like taking it out.

 

[MikeWill07]

A great mat is the Sea To Summit Air Sprung Comfort Plus Mat Regular. It has two independent inflatable layers. The bottom layer keeps out the cold, and the top layer provides comfort for your back.