What to Look for in a Quality Sleeping Mat
The sleeping mat you choose comes very close to making or breaking your outdoor adventure. A bad night’s sleep can leave you less focused on your mountain climb the next day ahead and a comfortable sleep means you will be more energized as you hike a fresh trail.
When shopping for a sleeping mat there are plenty of things that you can look for to ensure that you are buying the one that is perfect for you.
What Size Is It?
A good mat is one that is light and compact enough for you to carry as you travel on foot You will have to see how much rooms it takes after you have neatly folded it, and then you have to see how much it weighs.
Is it Self Inflating?
Self-inflating mats are amazing at creating a wonderful combination of support and comfort. The mat makes use of air pressure to inflate and have a soft fabric surface. It also has the added bonus of being super portable allowing for easy packing.
Is It Firm or Super Soft?
Either is great and depends entirely on what you prefer. Firm sleeping mats offer great support while softer ones feel like you are sleeping on a cloud. Mats with multi-function valves are great at adjusting the pressure of a mat till it is just the right balance of soft and firm for you.
Is It Warm?
The fabric quality of a sleeping mat does not always mean it denotes to the warmth of it as well. Some of the best sleeping bags do not have enough insulation. With these, you are left there to have the temperature of the ground suck your body heat in very little time after you have gone to sleep. It is even possible that you may not be able to sleep at all.
The R-value is a word that you may hear a lot in gear stores, but what does it mean? The R-value has to do with the insulating quality of a mat. The higher this value the higher the insulation. The R-value has been around for a myriad of years and was once the only way manufacturers would label their mats instead of testing it out for other factors.
How About Delta Coring?
Delta coring is an innovative new process which focuses on restructuring the traditional sleeping mat. The process removes a quarter or more of the foam from your mats in order to cut down on the weight you carry. But the great thing about it is that it does all of this without compromising on insulation or comfort by precisely positioning foam structures where it is required.
Is It Durable?
If you are looking for a mat that you want to last through many outdoor trips you may have to check the foam quality of the mat. Bulky foam mats are known to be far more durable than inflatable ones. Long-distance hikers prefer these sleeping mats for their bomb proof reliability. However, these do not have optimal heat retention properties in extremely cold environments so adventurers sometimes use dual layer their mats to bar themselves from the cold ground.
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