On our wishlist was a self-inflating camping mat that would roll up fairly small, but be comfortable enough for long trips. Ideally, it wouldn’t have a shiny plastic-like surface for sleeping bags to slide off, and it would have valves we could trust. We narrowed our search down to Exped, Thermarest and Vango. We decided against mats by companies such as Outwell, Kampa, Robens and Gelert because they all tend to use the same sharp-edged valves inside the fabric. Over time, this can rub the fabric and eventually cause a leak. To be fair, that can be years down the line, but we wanted to see if there were better designs out there. The first thing you notice with the Exped mats is that they seem a cut-above many of the high street brands in the choice of materials and quality of manufacture. And you certainly pay for the difference! The Comfort range has single and double mats ranging in thickness from 5cm to 10cm, and including the mighty Mega mat, which is more of a guest-bed than a travelling mat.
The camping-size (though still generous) LW models have a Velcro strip along the side so that two mats can be joined together. They inflate themselves through a single flat valve (there’s a second valve for deflation) and have foam in strips inside to increase the comfort. It takes 24 hours to get the mat fully inflated the first time it comes out of its carry-bag and a bit of puff helps the process. A tip we’ve learnt over the years: if you’ve got the space, leave your self-inflating mat semi-inflated (you can fold it in half to take up less room) rather than keeping it scrunched up in its bag. Fantastically comfortable, warm and look great…but you have to pay the price! Exped also make a huge range of camping mats that have built-in pumps – not so convenient for quick setting up (or for use where you don’t have a stable surface to press on, such as in a car). The upside is that they’re much smaller and lighter, and, in the case of the Downmats, very well-insulated.
The Downmat we tried felt very well-made and the pump quite effective, once you get the knack (watch the entertaining videos on their website!). We liked it for comfort too. Thermarest invented the self-inflating mat, so they ought to know what they’re doing. The most comfortable in the range is the 7.6cm thick LuxuryMap camping mat, which comes in regular, large and extra-large sizes. The internal foam varies in thickness so that you get support where it’s needed without adding unnecessary bulk and weight. We tested the large, and liked the single valve with its nicely rounded inside – no sharp edges to wear through the fabric. Comfortable, lightweight, but a bit harder than the Exped. That might suit some sleepers. The Comfort camping mat range offers thicknesses of between 5cm and 10cm and there are single, double and a ‘Grande’ extra-wide single to choose from. The top material is fairly soft and slip-resistant and the self-inflation works with just one valve.
We weren’t so keen on the sharp edge of the valve inside the fabric, as this has a tendency to wear through the fabric over time. We tested the Comfort single 7.5cm. There’s also an Adventure DLX 7.5, which is a little more expensive and operates with two valves. Comfortable, though slightly more solid feeling than the Exped. The valves are still the sharp-edged type, but the fabric feels tougher and so more able to cope with the wear. And just out of interest…we also looked at the Duvalay memory foam mats with built-in duvet. Sadly, we weren’t convinced. We tried a 4cm three-season weight version (around £120) and found the cover a bit cheap and scratchy. Our main problem, though, was that we couldn’t see an advantage in building the duvet and foam into one product. In fact, we thought it just made it hard to get the cover on and off for washing. But, people do seem to love them, so we’ll accept that tent campers perhaps aren’t the market. They’re really intended to soften an uncomfortable bed, and for that you do need to opt for the more expensive, thicker mattresses.
Got a camping bed, mattress or mat that you love (or hate!)? FREE Shipping on orders over $35. Used & new (30) from $32.15 Coleman Self-Inflating Camp Pad with Attached PillowDetailsLE Headlamp LED, 4 Modes Headlight, Battery Powered Helmet Light for Camping, Running, Hiking and… FREE Shipping on orders over . Buy "Coleman Self-Inflating Camp Pad with Attached Pillow” from Amazon Warehouse Deals and save 31% off the $46.99 list price. 7.1 x 7.1 x 27.6 inches Pack compact nighttime comfort and support when you have a Coleman Self-Inflating Camp Pad with Attached Pillow. Just roll it out and open the free-flow valve-the pad will automatically inflate itself. You can count on the durable, weather-resistant nylon shell to hold up night after night and the tufted design to offer even more added comfort. When the fun is done, just open up the valve, push out the air as you roll it up, squeeze out what's left with the compression straps and throw it in the trunk with the rest of your gear.
27.6 x 7.1 x 7.1 inches ; Shipping Weight: 5.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies) Domestic Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. International Shipping: This item is not eligible for international shipping. Item model number: 2000016960 #7,739 in Sports & Outdoors (See Top 100 in Sports & Outdoors) in Sports & Outdoors > Outdoor Recreation > Camping & Hiking > Sleeping Bags & Camp Bedding > Sleeping Pads > Self-Inflating Pads 5 star54%4 star26%3 star10%2 star7%1 star3%See all verified purchase reviewsTop Customer ReviewsGreat pad for casual camper. Comfort at a good price point.The pad is nice but just beaware that you have to manually blow ...Just get itI love this pad, worth every penny!OK PadThe mat inflates nicely by itself and with a few extra breathsVery nice padding (will tame some pretty mean roots that might ...A good night's sleep! Learn more about Amazon Giveaway See and discover other items: coleman company