Klymit sleeping mats

[foxyrider]

Anyone used these? I'm considering the Inertia Xlite.

[Tangled Metal]

A friend got one and reckoned it was an.improvement on the thermarest SIM she had before. Two points, I've heard it's only any good for someone who sleeps on their back and tends not to move around a lot. Second if you're someone who uses a quilt to save weight then you'll end up with uninsulated gaps underneath you.

I'm a quilt user and someone who moves from side to back to side sleeping many times in the night. Not for me but it is a lighter option for some though and if it suits your style of sleeping then it's a good choice.

[Aushiker]

You might find this thread at Backpacking Light worth a read for some users views etc. Looks interesting I must say but I do question as Tangled Metal notes how it goes for side sleepers.

[Tangled Metal]

I must be honest here. The side sleeping comment is solely based on a few comments I've seen online in forums and reviews (customers and online retailers comments IIRC). My friend was positive about them but I have no idea if she's a side sleeper or not.

I only reported what my online reads about these types of mats found. I suggest you wait for actual users to come along. Especially since one of my setups is a golite quilt which means I'd need a different mat for using with the quilt. I'd rather get one mat for all uses. Well one expensive mat. I also use a cut down CCF as rucksack back padding and kipmat for my 4.5kg couple of nights setup for walking in the lakes. Dual use is a good thing for that use.

My next mat purchase will be synmat or downmat so I'm a different type of user these days.

[Aushiker]

Personally I would be considering the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite small over the Klymit Inertia X Lite. The NeoAir weighs in at 230 grams versues the Intertia X Lite at 173 g so for that extra 57 grams you get this:



compared to this:



The NeoAir is also 2.3 cm thicker.

[Tangled Metal]

Long before the klymit mat came out there were ultralighters in the US who cut down CCF mats into similar shapes. I heard of one guy who cut pads just big enough to match shoulders and hips then joined them by string. One guy even did something similar but tied the pads to the body part. All to cut down the heavy (130g) full CCF mat.

The klymit is basically the same principle made a bit more user friendly and professionally. If it suits you it'll work well, if not then perhaps the neo air option mentioned above is better. Although crisp packet springs to mind looking at the picture.

[foxyrider]

Personally I would be considering the Thermarest NeoAir Xlite small over the Klymit Inertia X Lite. The NeoAir weighs in at 230 grams versues the Intertia X Lite at 173 g so for that extra 57 grams you get this:



compared to this:



The NeoAir is also 2.3 cm thicker.

I actually already have the Neoair Xlite - i'm looking at an extra mat

[JackRabbitSlims]

what sort of sleeping mat is recommended for "side sleepers"??

what characteristics should be sought after in the product and what should be avoided please?

I'm a side sleeper most of the time and hadn't considered choosing a sleeping mat to compliment my sleeping style /technique.

[pjclinch]

what sort of sleeping mat is recommended for "side sleepers"??

what characteristics should be sought after in the product and what should be avoided please?

I'm a side sleeper most of the time and hadn't considered choosing a sleeping mat to compliment my sleeping style /technique.

If (as I do) you sleep on your side a fair bit there's less surface area of body in contact with the mat, so that means more pressure which in turn means thinner mats can more easily bottom-out. This will be both colder and harder. With self-inflators I find a clear comfort difference between my old Thermarest Standard Long and a thinner Ultralite, and it's down to a hip being on the ground rather than suspended by the mat. These days I tend to use a Neo Air which is very light, very compact when stored and very comfy. The downsides are they're expensive and you need to blow them up, which takes quite a bit of puff and isn't what you want at the end of a cold, hard, wet day (IIRC you can get pumps if that's a downer though).

So in short, thicker tends to be better. Air beds and mattresses that don't self-inflate tend to be thickest, so those are good, but if you have a test-lie before you buy then that's a good idea whatever flavour it is. Your bodyweight will have an effect, as will whether you lie in the recovery position or right on your side, and if you run the mat at higher pressures can also affect whether you bottom out but possibly at the expense of other comfort. Try a few in a shop and see.

Pete.

[JackRabbitSlims]

Thanks for the reply Pete.

Thermarest seems to get the nod on here ahead of Exped and the others.....is that a fair comment?

[JackRabbitSlims]

also, which "Neo Air" are you using please.

Bloody Expensive down here in NZ

[Heltor Chasca]

also, which "Neo Air" are you using please.

Bloody Expensive down here in NZ

I've recently bought a Thermarest Neo air trekking. Rolls down to about the size of a beer can. Warm and comfy. Blowing it up could be an issue for some. If avocado green is your thing then this is your mat [emoji6]

[JackRabbitSlims]

also, which "Neo Air" are you using please.

Bloody Expensive down here in NZ

I've recently bought a Thermarest Neo air trekking. Rolls down to about the size of a beer can. Warm and comfy. Blowing it up could be an issue for some. If avocado green is your thing then this is your mat

Thanks for the reply.

The online shop I use for my gear / kit describes them as Pistachio / Grey in colour

[Tangled Metal]

Well we're planning on.getting exped synmats for the extra thickness. They are heavier than a lot of the neo range of mats but I'd prefer that weight/bulk over the more crinkley neo face fabrics. I'm not just a side sleeper but a wriggler who moves around a bit. I've heard neos are quite noisy if you move around.

The other benefit is the higher R value (metric or iso version for comparison reasons which IIRC the US imperial version is about 5.6x greater due to the units not being equivalent). I believe the synmat 7 for example is a lot warmer than equivalent priced neo air products. There's an argument a warmer mat allows for a lighter and lower rated sleeping bag but I'm not sure about that. Rather be snug and warm than trying to push the limits.

[Aushiker]

Bloody Expensive down here in NZ

Ouch .... I would be looking on eBay/UK/US suppliers. Even with postage you should be able to do a lot better than that. I have seen them here in Australia at around $280 IIRC. Still expensive but.