Inflateable mat - puncture problems? Extra mat?

[elioelio]

I was thinking of buying a Thermarest Xlite or Synmat UL 7 as I really like a good night sleep. I will be taking this on a 3-4 month cycle tour so need to make the right choice.
But the cons of the puncturing worry me! Especially as they're expensive. I wondered if it was worth taking an extra mat - a cheap lighweight yoga-type mat to put under the inflatable one to stop any sharp things on the ground from puncturing it. An extra 180g or so, but worth it?
Wondered if anyone had tried this?
Thanks

[hufty]

I do exactly this with a synmat ul and a cheap closed cell foam camping mat. The mat protects the tent groundsheet, and is quick to deploy for breaks and siestas.

[andrew_s]

You can get puncture kits for thermarests:
http://www.ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/ ... r-kit-p225

Alternatively, you could use something a bit more general purpose, such as Tenacious Tape.

[shane]

Depending where your 3-4 month trip is I'd consider not taking in inflatable at all. If in Europe or the US then a replacement is easy to get when it fails (puncture or one of the other several issues they have...) Further from home then you're kind of stuck when it fails.

Exped offer to replace mats that fail without much fuss if its within the warranty time but don't seem too interested in sending replacement mats half way around the world.

Luckily my next couple of trips will be in Europe so I'm back to comfy sleeping again now


Exped mat failure by shanecycles.com, on Flickr

[gloomyandy]

Exped mats come with a repair kit. This year I have a chair kit for mine, which will offer some extra protection for it. Will be interesting to see how I get on. I really like the chair kit though as it means I can sit and read which will make long stints in a small tent much more manageable!

[hufty]

Taking both is comfort tempered with pessimism, or maybe it's the other way round. You get a good night's sleep for most if not all of your trip, as inflatables don't tend to fail as often as you might think, but you have a reserve with you if you can't repair the inflatable in the field. As IMO the foam mat has the other benefits of siesta mat and groundsheet protector it is always a candidate for inclusion, depending on where I'm going and so on as Shane has pointed out.

[al_yrpal]

Buy a Halfords backpacker airbed. They are less than a tenner and the pump is built in. They weigh about 850g. They come with a repair kit too. Exped mats are great for winter but the Halford cheapie ticks all my boxes for Spring summer and autumn use.

Al

[mercalia]

well a cheap alternative is a tent rug? can be got for a tenner and thick enough and usually pack well and dont weigh much. Groundsheets in most tents these days pathetic so need one any way.

eg


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Picnic-Camping-Tent-Travel-Waterproof-Rug-Blanket-Mat-Pet-Dog-Car-Seat-Cover-/380846029088?pt=UK_SportingGoods_Camping_Accessories&hash=item58ac313920


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Foldable-Waterproof-Blanket-Outdoor-Beach-Camping-Travel-Picnic-Rug-Mat-2x1-5m/141150552103?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20868%26meid%3D5525466049184914152%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9264%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D380846029088&rt=nc

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Waterproof-Back-Travel-Camping-Festival-Picnic-Blanket-Rug-Pet-Seat-Cover/261153183120?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20868%26meid%3D5525466049184914152%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9264%26rk%3D0%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D380846029088&rt=nc


http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/EXTRA-LARGE-WATERPROOF-PICNIC-RUG-TRAVEL-PET-CAMPING-BLANKET-RED-BLUE-COLOURS/221388854268?_trksid=p2047675.c100005.m1851&_trkparms=aid%3D222003%26algo%3DSIC.FIT%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20868%26meid%3D5525466049184914152%26pid%3D100005%26prg%3D9264%26rk%3D2%26rkt%3D6%26sd%3D380846029088&rt=nc





I have one of these ( not same supplier ) and good

[irc]

After inflatable mat failure in rural USA (300 miles from bike shop without diverting well off route) I have returned to closed cell mats for subsequent tours. I use the z folding version. Deploys and packs in seconds and after the first few nights I find it perfectly comfortable.

Of course inflatable mats are more comfortable but only when working.

[fluffybunnyuk]

I carry various repairkits for different things including the mat. Some is duplicated but thats always handy. To avoid puncture I lay out thick plastic under the tent,sweep debris away, and only unpack inflatable stuff in the tent, never outside.

[foxyrider]

It looks to me that you are looking for problems. If the groundsheet on your tent is not up to scratch - its as much your fault for buying it as the man. for making it. If you think you need extra padding underneath to prevent punctures use a footprint or get a tent with better floor.

In over forty years of camping I've never had an air mattress punctured by anything under the tent - attention to stone/thorn etc removal before pitching will greatly reduce that possibility.

[andrew_s]

Exped mat failure by shanecycles.com, on Flickr

The same sort of thing can happen with self-inflating mats too - google "thermarest delamination".
You can reduce the risk by not leaving fully inflated mats in a tent that's got the sun on it (which is what I'd done when my Prolite delaminated, whilst spending the day in Briancon looking for a new pair of forks for my mate's bike). Leaving the valve open on self-inflating mats will be sufficient, but downmats, neoairs and the like should be actively deflated.

[hufty]

In over forty years of camping I've never had an air mattress punctured by anything under the tent - attention to stone/thorn etc removal before pitching will greatly reduce that possibility.

Go on then, what light weight inflatable air mattress were you using for camping in 1974, what was the groundsheet of your light weight tent made of?

"Convention? What's that then?"

[foxyrider]

Go on then, what light weight inflatable air mattress were you using for camping in 1974, what was the groundsheet of your light weight tent made of?

never said they were lightweight back then and i've no idea what brand they were but often placed directly on the ground as we didn't have the luxury of sewn in groundsheets.