A good sleeping mat for a bad back?

[meic]

There are big differences, and they matter. When I was young I just slept on the tent floor. Afterwards I slept on a closed cell mattress for insulation, and a bit of comfort. When I was in my fourties I could not do this anymore, because I just could not sleep and my back would hurt for days. I bought a 1.5 inch Thermarest, which was better, but not as good as I hoped. I then bought a 5 cm Thermarest self inflating, which was a bit better again, but also bulkier and heavier. A few years ago I bought a 7 cm Exped Downmat, which was way more comfortable, and insulated much better. The Synmat UL is as comfortable as the Downmat, but only about half the weight, and packs far more compactly. I have just been on a rough tour with some contemporaries, and everyone used an Exped insulated air mattress or a Neoair. For maximum comfort, there are also 9 cm Exped mattresses.
Willem

I can not tell if this is about mats for people with bad backs or just getting a comfortable night's sleep.

[pjclinch]

I have several foam mats and several including down sleeping bags
Down bags is a seperate argument.

Your sleeping bag and mat are all part of a system to help you get a night's sleep (preferably a good one), so separating them where they are inter-related doesn't make much sense.

Down doesn't insulate well where it is compressed, such as underneath the weight of a sleeper, so if there is little insulation from the mat (which there won't be if it's a thin one) then that's a very big potential cold spot. Which whatever the merits of it for soothing your aching back, won't necessarily help you get a good night's sleep.

And it also doesn't make much sense to decry heavy, bulky mats while failing to consider the total weight and bulk of the whole sleeping setup, so again the case that considering the bag and mat together is very good sense.

And again I note that something like a Synmat UL or NeoAir takes up less space than a thin foam mat, and isn't much heavier.

Pete.

[andymiller]

Asking the physio is a good start, but he/she may not know much about outdoor gear. My aging back also gives me trouble, and I have successfully moved to insulated air mattresses. I have an Exped Downmat 7 for colder weather and a lighter and more compact Exped Synmat UL for when nighttime temperatures stay a few degrees above freezing. I think you have to take the Synmat UL's stated temperature range of -4 with a pinch of salt. I also use an Exped inflatable pillow.
Willem

True - and I should really have qualified my advice with ask your physio about what type (ie basic foam, self-inflating or fully-inflating) and then there will be plenty of people with recommendations within those main types. Inflatable mats have lots of good things going for them but if the issue is that your back needs support, then maybe God's Own Orthopaedic Mattress (aka the ground) may be what you need.

[nmnm]

I agree that the bad back mat is probably just the same as our good mat suggestions but framing it for the bad back question:

1. Get one that is really light, so you don't make the back worse loading the bike onto a train or lifting it over a step.

2. Get one with insulation, to keep your back warmer, for minimum weight penalty (see previous point).

3. Get one with longways tubes, allowing better support from falling out, so your back muscles can truely switch off at night. Or get sideways tubes, allowing more micro adjustment of position maybe.

The mats suggested in the thread are all winners.

[Vaya]

Thanks for all the reply’s.

Not sure if my physio would know what to recommend, they have me just doing exercises morning and evening and if i'm sitting at a desk all day. Its mainly an issue in my lower back and it normally happens at night so I do not always get a good nights sleep.

Generally the exercises help, however I am still wary about going camping as the last thing that I want is to wake up in the middle of no-where un able to walk/cycle.

I remember once seeing a foam sleeping mat that 'folded' up instead of being 'rolled' up, there were trangular points either side which made the mat rather thick when unfolded but the folded together when not in use. I have no idea what it was, and I can find no resemblance of them on the internet. Does anyone have an idea based on my rather vague description?

[BeeKeeper]

An expensive option if it didn't work for you but you can get light weight camping beds: e.g. http://www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-Lu ... tAodQWEAoQ and they also do an even lighter version too.
But you would still need some sort of foam mat or ExPed type insulated pad unless you were going places very warm.
Whatever you get try it out at home first!

[willem jongman]

The folding foam thing was probbaly a RIdgerest. It is light but not very comfortable. I do believe your best best is an insulated air mattress such as from Exped. Putting it on the floor is not a problem.
Willem

[Vaya]

An expensive option if it didn't work for you but you can get light weight camping beds: e.g. http://www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-Lu ... tAodQWEAoQ and they also do an even lighter version too.
But you would still need some sort of foam mat or ExPed type insulated pad unless you were going places very warm.
Whatever you get try it out at home first!

Now that looks nice, may need a bigger tent for that though!

Found this on the link you provided, http://www.facewest.co.uk/Thermarest-Z-Lite-Sol.html - looks kind of like that mat I described above.

[iandriver]

I like the alpkit ones, I find I can alter the firmness with an extra blow on the self inflating type, which may be a help to you.

https://www.alpkit.com/sleeping-mats

[PT1029]

My back is usually OK. Sleeping when camping, no problem. Stooping/sitting without a chair often gives me back ache. May be worth ensuring you have something to sit on when, well, sitting about at the camp site. Sitting on the ground very quicly gives me back ache. Various camping stools available (separate thread somewhere on here). My partner secretely packed a cheap plastic stool, revealed it too far from home for me to return it, it makes a light seat, back ache minimal issue.
Might also see about the interior height of your tent - if you can sit up straight or not, and how high or low the entrances are.
These won't cure a bad back, but they might prevent aggravating it.

[al_yrpal]

. The Halfords £8.99 backpacker airbed wrapped top and bottom with a Poundland Space Blanket does me fine. The space blanket makes a big difference to insulation and warms it up on the cool nights we have had just lately. I also use a Poundland inflatable pillow. No expense spared You might try this setup as an inexpensive trial because some of the solutions suggested here cost a lot of money and if they don't work for you you will be out of pocket. As for phisyos they can't work wonders and a regular set of muscle exercises or Pilates is what they will eventually recommend.

Al

[Sweep]

Do you have a handy link for this Halfords thingie al?

Some questions:

Have you used it much?

If not, do you think it will last?

Have you used other mats and if so how does it compare to them?

Does it inflate and pack up OK?

I've always had the idea that there's a tendency to roll off inflatables during the night - any problems with yours?

This poundland spaceblanket- is this one of those silver thingies?

Please don't think I'm giving you the third degree (plus or minus ) - I'm genuinely interested.

I've also read a fair few reports in various forums of folks' expensive mats failing.

all the best

[feefee8]

This is the one I use and it's on offer from Cotswold - http://www.cotswoldoutdoor.com/mountain ... _colour=98

V comfortable and I've been having problems with sore back and hips on my normal actual bed. This one folds up into a camping chair using a thermarest thingy (which made me very happy!) I would sit it on plastic bag, pannier or something to prevent it getting wet or popped.

[chris3vic]

I have the aero from Alpkit. Rolls really small and is very comfy as far as camping mats go. Cheap too.

[DaleFTW]

I have the aero from Alpkit. Rolls really small and is very comfy as far as camping mats go. Cheap too.

http://daleftw.tumblr.com/post/57047038 ... ngs-on-kit