I currently use a OEX self inflating sleeping mat and it's ok but a bit big and bulky.
Any recommendations for reasonably priced alternatives?
I see Alpkit have a Numo currently on sale at £35. Anyone have one and is they any good?

Remember that not all air mats are equal. Many (inc the Numo) have no insulation, so while light and often appearing cheap in comparison, they're generally only any good for the warmer months*. Unlike a sleeping bag, you can't buy a mat that's 'too warm', so it might pay to invest a bit more and buy something suited to year round use?

I'm a fan of Exped mats - the Synmat Lite can be had for a reasonable price with a little searching. It'll cost more than a Numo but could be worth it depending on what you're wanting to do.





*I appreciate that someone will be along shortly to tell me they've slept on theirs at -10 wearing only a string vest and a lace thong and were sweating ... but I believe, that's more to do with the thong.

Gaynor's outdoors have a syn mat 7 for £78 or a down mat 5 lite for 48 p more ,the down mat is what I bought but it was at £60 worth keeping a eye on the prices ,they seem to change every month, tried the string vest and thong thing but it took away from the comfort of my mankini

I found lace chafes my starfish. Also makes it tricky to put on the other shoe and keep it on.

Greetz

S.

I found lace chafes my starfish.

I think you might have it on back to front.

Scattamah wrote:I found lace chafes my starfish. Also makes it tricky to put on the other shoe and keep it on.

Greetz

S.

That's why I use the mankini it just keeps everything in place , if only I could get a chamy pad on that small piece at the back

Shoe lace is directional now? Where have I been?

Greetz

S.

Scattamah wrote:Shoe lace is directional now? Where have I been?

Greetz

S.

This is what happens when you live in small English boarder towns

I like my Numo. Very comfy. In the colder months i stick a very cheap insulated (silver backed) blanket/matt on it. It weighs very little but helps insulate.

Apologies for the hijack,

Quite keen to get some ideas on compact packed sleep mats at the budget end of the scale?

Ta

Quite keen to get some ideas on compact packed sleep mats at the budget end of the scale?

If it's non-insulated, then the Numo is worth looking at and the Robens Vapour too. If budget's a real issue then how about a Multimat camper air bed for eleven quid?

https://www.blacks.co.uk/activities/104 ... r-bed.html

Cor, that is cheap!

Thanks for that,very interesting

Bearbonesnorm wrote:

Quite keen to get some ideas on compact packed sleep mats at the budget end of the scale?

If it's non-insulated, then the Numo is worth looking at and the Robens Vapour too. If budget's a real issue then how about a Multimat camper air bed for eleven quid?

https://www.blacks.co.uk/activities/104 ... r-bed.html

Picked one up yesterday and thanks to a poorly child I was relegated to the spare bed, so i thought i'd try it out. Managed to stay inflated enough for 6 hours to support me, but it had definitely lost some air. I was expecting as much for £11 though. Packs down fairly small and the weight is ok for what it is. Very narrow, too narrow for my arms to rest on it by my sides but wide enough to sleep on my side. I'll be interested to see how well it holds up over time.

Thanks Norm

Most air mats will lose some air over night - it's not that they're leaking but that the air inside becomes denser which reduces pressure and gives the impression that it's gone down. That does tend to be when they're in contact with the cold ground though ... is your spare room especially chilly?

Truth be told I snuck downstairs to the lounge and yes, that does get a little chillier than upstairs thanks to the catflap!

I also discovered that my sleeping bag isn't as warm as I thought it was. So I think a fleece liner might be in order too

I used to pump air mats up good and hard thinking that's how they were meant to be until someone advised me they are much more comfortable if you squish into them a bit rather than balance on top. So I now inflate them to a point where they are still a bit squishy [technical term] rather than fully-inflated-hard. Seem to last longer that way too