We went into PSM Outdoors in Hay On Wye where we had a great service and had a look at what they had. I didn’t want to spend a lot on a mat which I only had to use for 2 days.

So I settled for the Trekmates Mummy camper lite, which weights in at 900g and is 183cm by 51cm and 2cm thick. The mat rolled up is pretty much the same size at the Exped I got and is around 500 or so grams lighter. And also it is smaller than me, but I have become used to that there aren’t many beds that suit me at 194cm (6’4″).

It was very easy to roll out and pump up not that I had to do much since it did the most of that by itself. Since it had been rolled up for a while I let it lay for around 20min before I blew some air into it. Rolling it up and packing it up was very easy, just one roll, not like the Exped where I have to roll it up a few times to make sure that all the air is out.

It does feel nice to the touch and the quality is tip top too, I’m sure that it would last a while.

Sleeping on it now that is a different matter, since I have become used to the bed that is the Exped Downmat. It is not warm, just about kept the cold and damp ground at bay when I used it in early April. I’m sure that the temperature don’t have to be much lower before you can really feel the cold ground. If the ground was harder and more rocky then I wouldn’t have slept at all, the soft grass helped a lot. The Exped DownMat was warm to the touch where the Trekmates was cold. The only reason why I managed to sleep on it was that I was knackered after a day of fully loaded hilly cycling and had my Alpkit SKyeHigh Down sleeping bag to keep me warm.

Plus sides : It is light, easy to roll out and pack up and cheap.
Minus sides : It is not wide, thick or warm enough for me.

Rating:

I’m sure that the Trekmates Mummy camper lite would do it for some, but it is not good enough for me since I have become very used to the Exped DownMat. I’m very happy with the idea dragging the extra weight around on tour because I know I will have a good night sleep after a long day in the saddle.

LINK: Trekmates mat, Mummy camper lite

Related posts:

1. Exped DownMat 7Pump DLX, if only the Princess (and the pea) had this. Description: (From their site) Exped DonwnMats: super comfortable, infinitely...
2. Alpkit SkyeHigh 800 Sleeping bag, a hug in a bag :) Description: (From their site) A serious sleeping bag choice...
3. What I have learned while cycle touring This is a little list in no particular order of...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Take lots of plastic bags : Like the ones your get from the supermarket. They just come in useful, they just do. To wrap up your wet closing, food and as a bin bag etc. you name it.

Take zip lock plastic bags : Sometime even the best panniers with let some water in. And you want to keep that mobile, GPS or MP3 player extra dry. Also good to keep bits and bobs in, like extra screws for your bicycle.

Get a groundsheet/footprint for the tent : But make sure that it is not bigger than the tent. Because if it rains it will get wet and that water will run into your tent.

Take a full outfit of dry, loose, non-cycling clothes : Something like boxers and a t-shirt. It is easier to get into than your lycra or wet clothing. To use when you need to use the facilities at night on the campsite. Like merino wool long sleeve and longs to sleep in on that extra cold night.

Take sandals : or flip flop / lose and easy shoes to get in. When you are getting in and out of your tent, or when you are just kicking back after a long days ride.

Baby wipes : Comes in handy for when you have “pressing matters”, clean up after you have had something to eat, they are even brilliant in removing muck and chain oil of your hands when you have done some fettling.

Exped Downmats & down sleeping bags : I’m so glad that I spend a few extra bobs on my Exped DownMats and my down sleeping bag. Yes they weigh a bit more and take a bit more extra space. But I know I have a warm, soft and cosy bed with me and I will have a great night sleep no matter how hard, stony the ground is or how cold the night is turning out to be.

Get a stove and some easy cook food. : We got a JetBoil Personal Cooking System and because you can then cook up some porridge, cup of tea or even some pasta when you are cold or just need a little boost.

Take multi vitamins : You never know when you can get some good food like fresh fruit and veggies. And since you are cycling all day long, the extra boost of vitamins will help you through the day.

Let your touring bike find its rhythm : Our Surly Long Haul Truckers are heavy even when unloaded, but it will get you there safe and sound. Let it find its rhythm and don’t try to sprint the hills it will just knacker you. You will still get there where you are going ok not as fast as your titanium road bike.

Zip ties and gaffa tape : There is a saying if you can’t fix it with zip ties and gaffa tape, you are not using enough. There will always be something or a time where you will need either so bring it because you will wish you had.

Water and Food : When there is water fill up your bottles, you never how far there is to next tap. Food if you see a shop do your shopping, there could be miles to the next one or the next one is closed when you get there.

Don’t touch the walls : Even with a gap of over 20 years, the old saying do not touch the walls of your tent, comes though. Even when it does not rain and especially when it does rain, don’t touch the walls.

Be organised : Pack up your stuff and close your panniers all the time. Use it, put it back. Because you never know when you need to leave quickly, if you are wild/stealth camping. Or the weather changed over night and you end up with a river running through your tent. Make a system that suits you and stick to it, it makes it easier to find things especially in the day.

Use all the pegs and guy lines : Even on a beautiful and quite evening and days of wall to wall blue sky’s, tie your tent down. Because weather will do what weather does best, change! And suddenly you are out of your warm sleeping bag getting wet trying to keep your tent in one place because a massive thunder storm had just rolled in.

Related posts:

1. Cycle Touring Hot links : What I have learned Cycling in...
2. Blacks Octane 3 tent Description: (From their site) A Blacks Octane 3 technical...
3. Alpkit SkyeHigh 800 Sleeping bag, a hug in a bag :) Description: (From their site) A serious sleeping bag choice...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.

Description: (From their site) Exped DonwnMats: super comfortable, infinitely warmer and more compact than any other comparable mat of similar weight. Since down compresses so well, Downmats also packs very small. The integrated pump makes inflation easy.

As seen on the blog: Label : Exped DonwnMats

UPDATE : We have now use this on very hard rocky ground in Croatia. and even as a “float” when the campsite we stayed at and turned into a river. And what I can I say, these mats simply works we slept through and on anything didn’t even feel the water running under our tent.end update…

A friend of mine recommended me Exped DownMat 7Pump DLX, “it’s the bee’s knees mate”. Nearly 3 inches thick filled with down, can do down to -24c. And lighter, and smaller packed, than most other mats that are half as thick. Yes it is a bit expensive I think the price on the street is around £120, but it is worth it.

And we decided to give them a go, because the last time either of us when camping we were sleeping on the good old foam mats. Yes for one night they might do the job, but never really get a good old sleep, too hard or cold. And you do lose around a 3rd of your heat through the floor/ground you are laying on.

There is a few other versions of the mats, but we picked the DownMat 7Pump DLX, which is …

Size: 193x65x7 cm / 76x26x2.8“
Weight: 1140 g / 40.2 oz
Packsack: 19 g / 0.7 oz
Packed: 27×14 cm / 11×5“
Fill Weight: 220 g / 7.8 oz
Temperature: -24°C / -11°F

So still shorter than me but then again I’m used to nothing being long enough for me and I tend to sleep curled up anyway. It is nice and wide so there is a bit of room to spread out on. The main reason for getting these mats, is that after a long wet and cold day in the saddle, we know that we have a very warm and comfy bed to crawl into.

Pull it out of the bag, fold out and start pumping, with the pump that is build into the mat, so no more misplacing the valve or other bits. It takes around 5min (depending on how fast and fit you are :) ) to pump up.

The mats are well comfy, you do not feel the cold from below or anything might be laying under. I would put bed lining between you and the mat if you are using a duvet, that is not needed if you are in a sleeping bag.

Packing up is dead easy too, though the air is not that keen of getting out, so you need to do a bit of rolling and pressing before you can start to pack it up. You need to do it nice and tight or else you will have problems with getting it into the bag it pack up with.

We have now use it for 7 or so nights, on hard rocky ground and damp cold grass and did we sleep just fine, oh yes. This along with the Alpkit SkyeHigh 800 sleeping bags is the best sleep I ever have had while camping. I’m not what so ever worried about the terrain or the weather where I’m going to sleep while touring because with this I know I’m going to to get a good night sleep.

Rating:

The Princess would say what pea ? If she slept on a Exped DownMat :) Worth the money, space and weight big time.

Related posts:

1. A review of Trekmates mat, Mummy camper lite The only reason why I ended up trying out this,...
2. Alpkit SkyeHigh 800 Sleeping bag, a hug in a bag :) Description: (From their site) A serious sleeping bag choice...
3. Sleep in a bag … … or as they are also know sleeping bag. We...

Related posts brought to you by Yet Another Related Posts Plugin.