Thanks Pete - I wasn’t able to test out an Exped yet due to no one stocking them in Canberra.
One thing that I didn’t rate about them was that they had a built in pillow… which sucked.
More info on it here:
I’ll wait till I get a couple more trips under my belt before I do a review but I don’t think the weight is a big issue because the visacha isn’t waterproof so you would need a liner to achieve that. If you wanted to go lightweight a cuben fibre dry bag or a basic silnylon stuff sack would probably end up lighter than the visacha with the same flexibility.
I’m a skinny dude but I’ve never had (or thought) arms dangling over the edges would be an issue, if its cold they are inside the sleeping bag right?
Yeah, built in pillows suck, jersey in the bag of the sleeping bag with something soft over the top is better imo.
Also, I’d go for comfort over weight/size to a point, i.e. 100grams is nothing if you get a good nights sleep.
There is so much choice out there it is confusing. I just keep reading reviews and opinions and just keep going around in circles.
pretty much everything mikdee says.
don’t overthink it (bit rich coming from me, I know), there’s a lot of good stuff to choose from, it’s unlikely you’ll fuck it up.
I wouldn’t skimp on the mat though, sleep is gooooooood.
Personally I’d go to shop that stocks thermarest and exped as these are the two brands that have good quality products and a range of prices/weights/thicknesses etc, pretty much all my mates have one or the other, try both, buy one.
Yeah thats the thing - Pretty sure no one stocks Exped + BigAgnes in Canberra
When are you coming to Melbourne?, me and rolly can take you to the Outdoors District on 7th.
how big a rush you in?
spooky CX?
drive to Sydney?
can post you mine?
Scrap that - Mont stock them. Thought Mont would only stock Mont stuff. I will head out at lunch and see whats what.
Vee and I are planning on doing an overnight hike soon - so I will need them before November. BUT - I am locking you guys in for hangouts at spooky - this was a mere trap that you guys fell for. Suckas.
Looks like you’re getting a thermarest then. (Or an exped, now that you’ve found them)
I don’t know exped but once I’ve had my first thermarest that was it, there was no turning back. Before that I’ve had cheapo French and Spanish versions but they all failed. I think that now we have probably 4 or 5 thermarests at home, for us and the kids, and we did lots of camping with them over the years. They sure can take a beating.
The fanciest one I have is the prolite plus (one of the thin/light ones): I find it comfy enough for me.
Got the Nemo, would recommend. Very light.
The only thing that I am not liking about the Thermarest stuff is the crinkly nature of it.
get an exped then.
I mean, I bought the same one as a guy from Lateline, so it must be good!
I have an exped and like it. Packs down small very easily, weighs nothing, is comfy.
Went out to Mont at lunch and had a lie down on the Exped Downmat UL 7 LW… again, so confusing with the choice. You have your ultralight ones that come with a little sack that you use to inflate (because of the down), then the other one… The Synmat which you have a hand pump built into the bag itself.
Very comfortable, but still the width thing I am in two minds about. Am I being a little b!tch with wanting the wide one because my arms hang over? I don’t know… probably. Maybe a new thread is needed “Is Ezy being a little bitch?”.
I wouldnt worry about the hanging arms thingy at all…never even thought about it until now to be honest. Its not like a bed, these mats are like 7cm away from the ground and even if your arms hang over during the night, you will not notice it. Your partner next to you might do depending on your tent size but thats a different matter all together. I use my mouth to put air into these things, takes 30sec and I give a fuck about the condensation in the mat. Buy whatever you lay comfortable on.
If you’re in a sleeping bag you’re arms aren’t going to be able hang over the edge either