Hiking Mat Suggestion

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  tryagain on 19/07/2015 - 01:42

  +2

  If its actually for hiking the mountain designs one is almost a third lighter, might not seem like much now but I have known people ditching good items trying to lighten their pack. I have a couple of thermarests that would probably be close to 15 years old now so can vouch for their quality but would I pay over 3 times as much one, probably not.

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  Davo1111 on 19/07/2015 - 02:58

  +2

  Get a friend to buy a thermarest in the USA. They're 1/3rd of the price they should be here. You can get them cheaper at a number of smaller stores but still 50%-100% more.

  As for the 2 you chose, the kathmandu is 30% heavier, for the exact same dimensions. That's why you need to compare all the specs, not just cost.

  I am very happy with my thermarest prolite 2. It's full size and i'd rather carry the extra weight and have full support. However, a true hiker will go without, or will get XS and only support hips and back

  • 

    UglyPanda on 19/07/2015 - 23:11

    Thanks guys. I had not seen wildearth and that particular model before.
    So thinking of buying this one.
    http://www.wildearth.com.au/buy/thermarest-prolite-plus-regu…

    A little bit thicker for that extra comfort compared to the link that you shared.

    • 

      Davo1111 on 20/07/2015 - 02:03

      a bit thicker therefore higher R value rating. About 100g heavier than mine due to the extra thickness. I can't compare the two as i don't have both, but i'm pretty happy.

      Remember you leave them flat, valve open and out of the sunlight permanently when in storage. :)

      If you have a friend coming back from the US, get them to buy it on amazon and save yourself $80!

      • 

        UglyPanda on 20/07/2015 - 13:23

        Thanks Mate!!!

        Ozbargainers would laugh if I told them that my Mom returned from US 2days back and this time I said I don't need anything :(

        This storage thing is a bit annoying. But you can't help.

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  BuyoTheCat on 19/07/2015 - 10:17

  +1

  If you can get a good discount, thermal rest or exped.
  Otherwise the mountain design is pretty decent. I have 2. bought them at a discount for approximately $50 each

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  BuyoTheCat on 24/07/2015 - 10:10

  +1

  I have these 2
  http://www.mountaindesigns.com/store/equipment/sleeping-mats…
  http://www.mountaindesigns.com/store/equipment/sleeping-mats…

  They are good price at $50+

  The 2.5cm one is the one I use more often. it packs down slightly bigger than nalgene bottle
  the 3.8 cm does not fold, so it is hard to pack into a pack.

  I treat sleeping mat as an insulation rather than mattress.

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  MoneyPincher on 05/08/2015 - 10:08

  +1

  After buying too many different mats I got the Exped UL 7 M and have not looked back.
  It's not a self inflating but is easy to blow up and offers for me at least a good night rest where as I have had issues with other mats as I am a side sleeper.
  Also note it does a good job on insulation (I use a quite rather than a sleeping bag) but I have not used in for example Tasmanian highlands in winter.

  There are a few online AU stockist and I had no problems getting a good discount with a couple of polite emails.

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  tomorrows_angel on 10/08/2015 - 15:10

  +1

  I have a Thermarest trail pro (womens version). I can highly recommend it. It's heavier than the prolite (almost twice as heavy!) but I wanted the additional warmth it offered (being that I was often hiking in winter). Very durable and whilst I've only used it a couple of times hiking, I've also slept on friends' floors with it. I can't really comment on the kathmandu stuff, but generally I find the quality of their things to be pretty average. Thermarest are absolutely known as the best in the market and with good reason. I bought mine in the UK as with shipping it worked out cheaper than the states.