That bubble that formed in your green pad was in mine the very first time I opened and tried using my REI AirRail 1.5. It was my first ever sleeping pad purchase and first time I used it, so I stupidly assumed it was meant to have a giant bubble in the middle 🤦🏻♂️ The bubble was in the center, so when my center of mass laid on it, it flattened out and propped up your legs and torso. Seemed weird but intentional, so I didn’t do anything about it. Now seeing how others’ pads are… I realize how wrong mine was 😑
If you're inflating with your lungs, it's a good idea to inflate and deflate the pad a few times with a pump when you get home, to get most of the moisture out
@@lakorai2 tell that to nearly everyone who has thru hiked any of the big 3 in the US. I've never seen a pump used on trail by a thru and only a couple pump sacks
Good old foam mats...after years of air-mats I went back to foam about 7 years ago and I have never looked back. I use the German Army (Bundeswehr) Folding mat in the same way that yu showed and just bite-the-bullet and use a thick, petrol station purchased, foam mat under it in Winter (lowest temp this year was -29, just to give an idea of range). Love your work mate. P.S. exped mats suck (I have owned 7 that all failed inside warranty) but otherwise they make very good gear...I rock a bunch of their sleeping bags and love them.
Deflating: zig-zagfold it (not rolling) then sit on top, let the air escape, close the valve, roll it up until the remaining air is expanding towards the valve, open it, roll up the rest. Works with therm-a-rest and all the rest. The delaminating mats (t-a-r) I saw were mostly due to packing with a closed valve during elevation/temp changes ( flights !)
@@rmewhirter You should of contacted Exped. Their customer service, in the States at least, is suppose to be excellent and they'd often repair or replace pads out of warranty no questions asked. The worst response I could find was a 40% discount offered on the purchase of any new pad.
Thermarest: the non-reflective side has to face the backpack. If the reflective side faces your back it will reflect the heat and make your back warm and sweat
I'm so glad that the grey sleeping mat is recommended by you! I'm in the process of slowly acquiring gear and that is the mat I was planning on buying since my dog's nails won't poke through. What a relief! ✌
get two. the second one can be cut in half, one for you, put that under your torso to make sleeping so much more comfortable, one for your barking friend.
When I researched sleeping mats, I quickly stepped away from Exped as there were just too many people with delamination issues. Decided for sea to summit, where I didn’t find a single such report. Would suck if that happens in the wild, like it did for you :/ it will replace my Decathlon mat which is perfectly fine, especially considering the price. Just not that great of an R value and while not uncomfortable, there’s always room for improvement and I wanted to try something new this year :)
Oh really? The heart goes away when one edits a single typo out of the comment? Well. Whatever. The pump sack integrated into the seatosummit sleeping bag is just so great, that alone would not let me buy anything else (assuming the seatosummit also serves me right outside my living room).
The best way to deflate a mattress with a small valve is to open it - when you are still on it - before you get up. 😉 Also Exped should move into the ultra light body pillow market. Looks like they are halfway there.
Great vid, thx Chase can't wait to see how your next adventure goes! Loved how you got the scissors out! I combine an old-school CCF roll with a ultralight 3/4 self inflating mat on top. Very warm, comfy, cheap, lightweight and I use the CCF mat for stretching in the morning, laying out gear, lying next to the fire etc you can't beat it for a multi-use item
I'm sorry but the zlite was a nightmare for me in the Canadian rockies. Glad that it works for you. For me, I'll take the extra weight with the tensor insulated to have a better sleep and less hip pain.
My packframe is the Nemo Switchback Short. 10.5 oz. A bit heavy. And since I'm bringing an air pad anyway, a little redundant as well. Additive R-value though.
I personally love the SeaToSummit range. I've used the Ultralight, Ultralight Insulated, Comfort Light, and Comfort Plus. The only one i didn't like was the Ultralight, as it was too cold camping on rocks and at elevation, and there are better options for lightweight mats. SeaToSummit is the best at warm and comfort mats. I use the Ultralight Insulated and Comfort Plus alternatively in the warm and cold seasons now, but the Comfort Light was great as a solo all-year-rounder if on a budget.
With your thorough experience with these mats I have a question for you: What is your experience with noise on these mattresses - is the comfort plus and comfort light equally noisy or is one quieter than the other? Cheers and thanks
@@stephaniehansen2766 I do t find the noise an issue with them personally? I men I've slept next to people with noiser mats than mine. The outer material is always the same, so I doubt the different types changes much. I recommend getting one slightly shorter than you, might help avoiding some sliding at the feet end which could make more noise.
Ah, I have been looking at that Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated mat for a while with lustful eyes! It is just sooooo expensive 😑 It actually helps to see that you are going back to a foam mat; it makes me less inclined to shell out such a huge amount of money for the Sea to Summit...
I've found thermarest to be top notch with quality and not to mention the warranty is extremely solid. Their ridgerest closed cell foam has more longevity over the accordion style one. Also Im able roll up my tarp or tent inside if wet to offer protection as well as keeping it on the outside of the bag. you could also do the same with other gear you have or water which can keep it insulated as well. If you keep some food this way be sure to remove before sitting on it. Iolz
Had this weird problem with a lowlands sleeping bag in combination with my thermarest, it had some sort of coating that made it slippery like teflon. If my camping spot in the mountains was not perfectly level i would constantly slide downhill while trying to sleep...
Great video! - Or you could go with a Neo Air Uber Lite at 8 ounces for max comfort and it packs down to the size of a beer can. Quite pricey though. Thanks for sharing and Happy Trails
I had a NZ Macpac mattress delaminate one night, and it sounded like a rat scuttling around. I use the inflater bag with my Exped now and have no moisture problems.
I use a Thermarest NeoAir X-Lite and recently a NeoAir Uberlite. Hundreds of nights on the X-Lite and no issues. Now the Uberlite is my goto pad and so far so good. I have used a Z-Rest and though it insulated me from the cold ground, it was never comfortable which produced fitful sleep. The inflated pads are much more comfortable and I get better sleep.
You can deflate the pad pretty fast by sucking the remaining air out of it by the out valve. You’ll get it vacuum empty in a matter of seconds. I guess you had figured this one out, though
As far as the thinner pads go, I was always told to pack about 2-3 foot high pile of leaves under the tent or surface for the sake of comfort and added padding. It’s also wise to spray basically everything with bug spray if it’s that kind of weather.
Guessing you're on a budget but a few manufacturers make half inflatable pads like Nemo but I dont think they have much of a market abroad. All inflatable mats will eventually delaminate at the baffle seams so I wouldnt necessarily blame inflation by mouth. As much as I like Exped mats its also why I wont buy them anymore because, at least State side, Thermarest, Sea To Summit, and Nemo offer Lifetime warranties (and honor them) where Exped is 5 years. If I'm spending $175-$250US for a mat its nice to know I dont have to throw it in the garbage and eat the cost of another when a weld seam or valve fails. I have read that Exped does have excellent customer service though despite not competing in warranty on paper. Foam pads have their place in addition to a inflatable mat but not sure I'd trade it away these days. Its pretty close to basically sleeping on the ground comfort wise. Especially above the timberline where its mostly rock. There are a lot of good inflatable options in the 400-500g range. Personally I feel the toll of a poor nights rest long before a little extra weight.
Exped have a history of delamination, the same happened to me with another Exped which actually had the foam hand pump. Hopefully they have improved things by now but I am staying clear still.
Word on the trails (when I bought mine) was that the valves broke frequently as well. Although mine held up. I threw it in the trash just now. I probably could have recycled it in some way but I'm not that creative hahha
@@grnwlski Nemo and Thermarest offer very short torso length versions of their pads also. They simply call them short size. Quite a bit more than 30 euro though. A Thermarest Uberlite or Xlite are certainly ultralight though coming in at under 300grams with the pump sack. The thinnest i'd probably attempt would be an Xlite though. The Uberlite has literally no durability.
I recently spent a couple of exceedingly uncomfortable nights on a self deflating down filled mat whilst on a track clearing and maintenance exercise. Not very pleased and I'm about to seek and destroy the leak/s with thinned down silicone sealant.
Hello. Have been enjoying your posts greatly and you have some sound knowledge. I’ll be looking at your ways of fuelling the body which is of interest to me and how to lighten the load. Have been a chef for 29 years working in some fantastic places and started dehydrating my on foods. I have two kitchens as cook for my locals after lock down, a dehydrator so have been messing around with ideas of preparing healthy foods for the back packer. Let me know if you’ll be interested for some samples. Keep up the good and honest work 👍🏻
That thruhike sounds like the GR20 to me ;) Might run into you there, I'll try to do it in august. Good video, by the way. I have switched to a closed-cell mat as well (nemo switchback) but haven't tried it out yet.
Having an insulation pad against your back for summer hikes might get pretty hot and sweaty I’d think. I’ve got this pad as an extra foam pad for cold winter camping in combination with an inflatable 3 season mattress.
Even summer can be pretty cold, I am visiting summer music festivals and in some places, when you are not lucky, you can have even less than 10°C in the night and that's not fun when you expected summer weather and you don't have cloth for that. I started always carry some extra trousers and sweatshirt for sleeping even in summer. It's always like 30°C afternoon and 10°C in night in some weird regions.
the Exped mat is self inflating. That means it inflates itself. It took me like 30 seconds to top of my exped Megamat 10 so it can't possible have taken you 30 minutes unless you didn't let it inflate itself for a few minutes.
Yeah I'm aware of them. I was in decathlon yesterday looking at them. It made more sense for me to buy a thermarest because it's a known brand that most of my channel are aware of, that's pretty much the only reason.
Great tips ! I have the exact same pack and I thought of using a Z-lite as well, but one thing bothers me : what if it rains ? The mat would pretty much be soaked/wet in minutes and I don't know how I'd deal with that. Any thought on that matter ? :)
CCF pads are NOT worth it (imho). Uberlite is lighter, warmer, larger, more comfortable and MUCH more packable than your setup. Xlite (small) is MUCH warmer, more comfortable, just as light and MUCH more packable. All inflatable pads can also double as back support on the inside of the pad when folded correctly and with a little air still inside. Only when you get to ~3mm thick CCF pads do you really start saving weight, but then it takes a special person to deal with the cold and uncomfortableness.
Uberlite is a terrible long distance through-hike pad especially around a lot of rock or in conjunction with a bivy or anything that involves sleeping directly on the ground. 15D nylon is about as thin as it gets, even for dry bags, let alone a sleeping mat. It will tear/puncture, its just a matter of time. Plenty of reports of it too. You'd definitely want something with a more durable base like the Xtherm has. Foam pads on their own arent very comfortable but they are nice to have though. As he stated in the video you can just toss them down anywhere to relax without worrying about puncture damage. Folded up they make a good seat too.
@@natea1042 yeah you more or less spoke for me but yeah. I wanted a back plate and also I wanted a stretching mat. I sleep pretty well on the grass I don't need much!
@@natea1042 All gear (including Uberlite) has to be used thoughtfully: using a groundsheet to protect a CCF pad is just as foolish as using _any_ inflatable pad on rocks. Regarding durability, reference the latest video by *Darwin onthetrail* where he mentions no issues when thru hiking with his Uberlite. Also, I agree CCF is good for just tossing anywhere for stretching and resting, but a Zlite is the worst possible option for this. For the same weight, combine a short Uberlite with a GG thinlight and you can stretch *and* sleep _warm and comfortable_
I had the same thing happen to my Sea to Summit pillow. I only used it a few times and I went to inflate it once and it kept getting bigger till it looked like a football. Funny enough I thought it was still pretty comfortable. I have pretty broad shoulders and like thick pillows anyway, but it was annoying that my head would roll off of it too easy😂
🙋🏻♂️ when you’ve gotten most of the air out of the pad and you don’t want to slide your arm down it to remove the rest…. Suck the air out 😂 I know it’s a little weird but… it’s a habit I have when removing air from ziplock bags when storing things like nuts or other snacks for my son so they take up less room.. cheers
Hi Chase Great video.... I'm preparing for some new mountain hikes myself.... I was wondering if you stay warm, sleeping at 2000+ m using only a cell foam mat.... Why not go for a xlite at 360 grams size regular (or 230 gr at size small) Do you stay warm ? Rgrds from the lowlands (NL) Sjoerd
Most of climbers above 7000 m use foam mats because they are more reliable . It’s also important which sleeping bag you have and which clothes you wear on .
I'm buying a pop up camper this week and am planning a 14 day trip in mid to late November on the Canadian border. The camper comes with a heated mattress but I don't know how warm that will get and I am always cold. Should I buy one of those sleeping pads that are rated 4 or above and put it on top of the heated mattress or would that not be effective? Are these pads meant only for tent camping? Would the warmth from the heated mattress heat the camping pad all the way through so that I feel it in my sleeping bag? Temps are supposed to be in the 20's but I want to be prepared for worst case. Note that I am always cold.
Replace your mattress entirely with a Sea To Summit Comfort Deluxe; it's cheaper than every other 10cm boxed mat on the name-brand market + just as comfy (I have one, it' ssooooo plush), you'll be warm as toast & you can also take it tent-camping, later, if the fancy ever strikes.
Dude, why not a NeoAir? The Women's Xlite is only about an ounce more (~30g) than your "Camp Essential Light Mat," and has an R-value of 5.4. Good enough for everything but winter backpacking. And the Xtherm isn't even a ton more, especially in context of that 1050g (!!) pad.
Don't have an answer for you other than that I just don't need an inflatable mat for this trip. I'll definitely consider it for other trips down the line tho
@@ChaseMountains Oh yeah don't get me wrong, the RidgeRest is a great closed-cell foam pad. I have an SOLite myself and still keep it as a lender for my friends. I just like to remind people that there are a few gems amongst the ultralight industry standards out there-it's not all overpriced and uncomfortable crap lol. The Xlite is sold out right now anyway, and it is admittedly a lot more than something like a RidgeRest Zlite, but you can sometimes find them used in good condition on r/ulgeartrade for as low as $80-$100. And for the weight-warmth-comfort ratio, I would wager it is worth it. Versatile enough to use year round.
If anybody living in Europe is looking for the exact same Sea To Summit mat... I have 2 Large ones I am looking to sell. They are as good as new, with complete repair kit and the sleeve.
So funny, did the same with my Z-Lite like 2 months ago. And got inspired by your gr11 gear breakdown with the back support, so I made the 8 segments of the mat my back support. I also swapped the paracord from the front of the pack to the back, to make that possible. Funny seeing you do the same thing with the mat afterwards :D Already did my first little thruhike with it and it worked out really well as backsupport as well as for comfortable sleeping. What trip have you planned for summer? PS: I actually cut it about 8cm narrower as well, so that it's not to long on the back when carrying the backpack. works out fine for me :)
Ahhh... This is great! Yeah I may just do that! I was thinking about how I could cut the corners without it weakening the structure but that's a better option. Glad to know my idea will work!
Exped sucks. I had 4 expensive matts, extremes, all of them lost shape. Can't hold air. Same quality wth their tents. Just stay away. Overpriced and shit quality
That bubble that formed in your green pad was in mine the very first time I opened and tried using my REI AirRail 1.5.
It was my first ever sleeping pad purchase and first time I used it, so I stupidly assumed it was meant to have a giant bubble in the middle 🤦🏻♂️
The bubble was in the center, so when my center of mass laid on it, it flattened out and propped up your legs and torso. Seemed weird but intentional, so I didn’t do anything about it. Now seeing how others’ pads are… I realize how wrong mine was 😑
😂
If you're inflating with your lungs, it's a good idea to inflate and deflate the pad a few times with a pump when you get home, to get most of the moisture out
That's a solid tip thanks for your contribution 😉
NEVER use your mouth. Get a pump sack or a Flextail Gear or Micro Novelty battery air pump.
@@lakorai2 tell that to nearly everyone who has thru hiked any of the big 3 in the US. I've never seen a pump used on trail by a thru and only a couple pump sacks
Common sense. Put your T-shirt over the hole and blow. No need for the bags or worries. I don’t know why that isn’t the first thought.
There’s a tiny, lightweight rechargeable pump available it’s amazing!
The delaminated mattress is actually perfect.. i sleep on my back with my legs elevated normally. Flip it around and its ideal.
Good old foam mats...after years of air-mats I went back to foam about 7 years ago and I have never looked back. I use the German Army (Bundeswehr) Folding mat in the same way that yu showed and just bite-the-bullet and use a thick, petrol station purchased, foam mat under it in Winter (lowest temp this year was -29, just to give an idea of range). Love your work mate.
P.S. exped mats suck (I have owned 7 that all failed inside warranty) but otherwise they make very good gear...I rock a bunch of their sleeping bags and love them.
Yeah their sleeping bags are mint. I had a tent if theirs too but that was torn to pieces in a storm hahha
Deflating: zig-zagfold it (not rolling) then sit on top, let the air escape, close the valve, roll it up until the remaining air is expanding towards the valve, open it, roll up the rest. Works with therm-a-rest and all the rest. The delaminating mats (t-a-r) I saw were mostly due to packing with a closed valve during elevation/temp changes ( flights !)
I love my thermarest z-lite! Can't wait to see your other gear videos
its thermalite z-rest :-)
I also had an exped down mat de laminate on me. I had left it in the sun a bit too long. I was drying it out and left it out a bit too long.
My Exped had an internal hand pump...purchased in 2011, delaminated 2019. Only inflated with the pump--I understand your disappointment, Chase.
@@rmewhirter You should of contacted Exped. Their customer service, in the States at least, is suppose to be excellent and they'd often repair or replace pads out of warranty no questions asked. The worst response I could find was a 40% discount offered on the purchase of any new pad.
Thermarest: the non-reflective side has to face the backpack. If the reflective side faces your back it will reflect the heat and make your back warm and sweat
Ohh thankyou! That's a hot 🔥 tip
I'm so glad that the grey sleeping mat is recommended by you! I'm in the process of slowly acquiring gear and that is the mat I was planning on buying since my dog's nails won't poke through. What a relief! ✌
The Z lite is totally sufficient for hiking. I have been using the z lite and similar mats for 20 years
get two. the second one can be cut in half, one for you, put that under your torso to make sleeping so much more comfortable, one for your barking friend.
When I researched sleeping mats, I quickly stepped away from Exped as there were just too many people with delamination issues. Decided for sea to summit, where I didn’t find a single such report. Would suck if that happens in the wild, like it did for you :/ it will replace my Decathlon mat which is perfectly fine, especially considering the price. Just not that great of an R value and while not uncomfortable, there’s always room for improvement and I wanted to try something new this year :)
Oh really? The heart goes away when one edits a single typo out of the comment? Well. Whatever. The pump sack integrated into the seatosummit sleeping bag is just so great, that alone would not let me buy anything else (assuming the seatosummit also serves me right outside my living room).
The best way to deflate a mattress with a small valve is to open it - when you are still on it - before you get up. 😉 Also Exped should move into the ultra light body pillow market. Looks like they are halfway there.
Hahaha I considered trying to make my own
Great vid, thx Chase can't wait to see how your next adventure goes! Loved how you got the scissors out!
I combine an old-school CCF roll with a ultralight 3/4 self inflating mat on top. Very warm, comfy, cheap, lightweight and I use the CCF mat for stretching in the morning, laying out gear, lying next to the fire etc you can't beat it for a multi-use item
Sounds like an ideal scenario if you don't mind a little extra weight!
I'm sorry but the zlite was a nightmare for me in the Canadian rockies. Glad that it works for you. For me, I'll take the extra weight with the tensor insulated to have a better sleep and less hip pain.
Expeds had that delamination issue during that time period that that have apparently fixed since then.
My packframe is the Nemo Switchback Short. 10.5 oz. A bit heavy. And since I'm bringing an air pad anyway, a little redundant as well. Additive R-value though.
I personally love the SeaToSummit range. I've used the Ultralight, Ultralight Insulated, Comfort Light, and Comfort Plus. The only one i didn't like was the Ultralight, as it was too cold camping on rocks and at elevation, and there are better options for lightweight mats. SeaToSummit is the best at warm and comfort mats. I use the Ultralight Insulated and Comfort Plus alternatively in the warm and cold seasons now, but the Comfort Light was great as a solo all-year-rounder if on a budget.
With your thorough experience with these mats I have a question for you: What is your experience with noise on these mattresses - is the comfort plus and comfort light equally noisy or is one quieter than the other? Cheers and thanks
@@stephaniehansen2766 I do t find the noise an issue with them personally? I men I've slept next to people with noiser mats than mine. The outer material is always the same, so I doubt the different types changes much. I recommend getting one slightly shorter than you, might help avoiding some sliding at the feet end which could make more noise.
Ah, I have been looking at that Sea to Summit Comfort Plus Insulated mat for a while with lustful eyes! It is just sooooo expensive 😑 It actually helps to see that you are going back to a foam mat; it makes me less inclined to shell out such a huge amount of money for the Sea to Summit...
Depends what you need it for - the StS gives you much more insulation, so is much more suited to colder weather.
I've found thermarest to be top notch with quality and not to mention the warranty is extremely solid. Their ridgerest closed cell foam has more longevity over the accordion style one. Also Im able roll up my tarp or tent inside if wet to offer protection as well as keeping it on the outside of the bag. you could also do the same with other gear you have or water which can keep it insulated as well. If you keep some food this way be sure to remove before sitting on it. Iolz
Chase, you can buy that kind of matress by Decathlon, R value = 2.1, 370g and... 12€. And don't worry is you cut it Bad! 😄
Thanks for your vidéos.
Interesting.... Yeah the thermarest was a bit of an impulse our base I should have looked into the decathlon one
Had this weird problem with a lowlands sleeping bag in combination with my thermarest, it had some sort of coating that made it slippery like teflon. If my camping spot in the mountains was not perfectly level i would constantly slide downhill while trying to sleep...
Try putting strips or dots of silicone on your mat to give you grip. The sealant is easily thinned down with low odour turps so it can be painted on.
@@allanwood3562 that's genius
Great video!
- Or you could go with a Neo Air Uber Lite at 8 ounces for max comfort and it packs down to the size of a beer can. Quite pricey though.
Thanks for sharing and Happy Trails
Anton Chigurh maybe uncomfortable to you, but 1,000’s of hikers have used this pad to make it the most sold pad for the last 10 years.
Anton Chigurh Haha.
I had a NZ Macpac mattress delaminate one night, and it sounded like a rat scuttling around. I use the inflater bag with my Exped now and have no moisture problems.
Super helpful videos, Chase. Thank you!!
I use a Thermarest NeoAir X-Lite and recently a NeoAir Uberlite. Hundreds of nights on the X-Lite and no issues. Now the Uberlite is my goto pad and so far so good. I have used a Z-Rest and though it insulated me from the cold ground, it was never comfortable which produced fitful sleep. The inflated pads are much more comfortable and I get better sleep.
You can deflate the pad pretty fast by sucking the remaining air out of it by the out valve. You’ll get it vacuum empty in a matter of seconds.
I guess you had figured this one out, though
I actually had not figured that out. Done!
Big Agnes Rapide SL Insulated is all I love and take everywhere
As far as the thinner pads go, I was always told to pack about 2-3 foot high pile of leaves under the tent or surface for the sake of comfort and added padding. It’s also wise to spray basically everything with bug spray if it’s that kind of weather.
I think you are mistaken. That hump is a built in pillow!
But seriously that would've sucked hard halfway up a mountain. Smh!
I realize Im kinda randomly asking but do anyone know of a good website to stream new series online?
@Finnley Kaiden I would suggest flixzone. You can find it by googling :)
@Colin Ashton yup, been watching on Flixzone for months myself :)
@Colin Ashton Thank you, I signed up and it seems like they got a lot of movies there :) I appreciate it!!
@Finnley Kaiden glad I could help :D
Guessing you're on a budget but a few manufacturers make half inflatable pads like Nemo but I dont think they have much of a market abroad. All inflatable mats will eventually delaminate at the baffle seams so I wouldnt necessarily blame inflation by mouth. As much as I like Exped mats its also why I wont buy them anymore because, at least State side, Thermarest, Sea To Summit, and Nemo offer Lifetime warranties (and honor them) where Exped is 5 years. If I'm spending $175-$250US for a mat its nice to know I dont have to throw it in the garbage and eat the cost of another when a weld seam or valve fails. I have read that Exped does have excellent customer service though despite not competing in warranty on paper.
Foam pads have their place in addition to a inflatable mat but not sure I'd trade it away these days. Its pretty close to basically sleeping on the ground comfort wise. Especially above the timberline where its mostly rock. There are a lot of good inflatable options in the 400-500g range. Personally I feel the toll of a poor nights rest long before a little extra weight.
Exped FlexMat Plus No Hassles with Air Leaks perfectly comfortable
I had the same problem with my exped 9lw downmat. I wasn't blowing it up by mouth, either. Very unsatisfied.
Any matress should have a float-score :-D
I agree. R value and F value
Exped have a history of delamination, the same happened to me with another Exped which actually had the foam hand pump.
Hopefully they have improved things by now but I am staying clear still.
Word on the trails (when I bought mine) was that the valves broke frequently as well. Although mine held up. I threw it in the trash just now. I probably could have recycled it in some way but I'm not that creative hahha
great video chase, as usual :) looking forward to following along your summer thru hike!
Me too! Although the days are closing in and I do not feel ready hahaha
Perhaps you should try the torso size mat from decathlon, for 30€ it's a way better solution !
Good video tho 👍
Yeah I looked for one but they werent in stock!
Do you have a link to this mat?
@@ChaseMountains if you agree I can send you one from France, it will be my way to sponsor you 😅
@@grnwlski Nemo and Thermarest offer very short torso length versions of their pads also. They simply call them short size. Quite a bit more than 30 euro though. A Thermarest Uberlite or Xlite are certainly ultralight though coming in at under 300grams with the pump sack. The thinnest i'd probably attempt would be an Xlite though. The Uberlite has literally no durability.
I recently spent a couple of exceedingly uncomfortable nights on a self deflating down filled mat whilst on a track clearing and maintenance exercise.
Not very pleased and I'm about to seek and destroy the leak/s with thinned down silicone sealant.
I find that a pre-roll works pretty good with some sleep pads
Hello. Have been enjoying your posts greatly and you have some sound knowledge. I’ll be looking at your ways of fuelling the body which is of interest to me and how to lighten the load. Have been a chef for 29 years working in some fantastic places and started dehydrating my on foods. I have two kitchens as cook for my locals after lock down, a dehydrator so have been messing around with ideas of preparing healthy foods for the back packer. Let me know if you’ll be interested for some samples. Keep up the good and honest work 👍🏻
Yeees. Always down for some samples. There needs to be more dehydrated food on the market for sure
That thruhike sounds like the GR20 to me ;)
Might run into you there, I'll try to do it in august.
Good video, by the way. I have switched to a closed-cell mat as well (nemo switchback) but haven't tried it out yet.
Ooooh. Solid guess...we'll see!
I have the comfort plus XT in large rectangular - super comfy but it’s a heavy one though.
Comfort comes at a price eh?
@@ChaseMountains Sure does!
Having an insulation pad against your back for summer hikes might get pretty hot and sweaty I’d think. I’ve got this pad as an extra foam pad for cold winter camping in combination with an inflatable 3 season mattress.
Even summer can be pretty cold, I am visiting summer music festivals and in some places, when you are not lucky, you can have even less than 10°C in the night and that's not fun when you expected summer weather and you don't have cloth for that. I started always carry some extra trousers and sweatshirt for sleeping even in summer. It's always like 30°C afternoon and 10°C in night in some weird regions.
I would worry about getting a sweaty back carrying the zfold like that Chase!
Good advice but someone already beat you to it. You gotta be quick. My viewers are GEAR NEEERDS
This guy is legit. Very good channel.
brilliant video thanks chase
the Exped mat is self inflating. That means it inflates itself. It took me like 30 seconds to top of my exped Megamat 10 so it can't possible have taken you 30 minutes unless you didn't let it inflate itself for a few minutes.
To be fair Exped will replace your defective mat under warranty. They had an issue with manufacturing that caused the beams to seperate.
AHH really? Coulda told me that before I cut it in half 😂 just kidding. I'm sure my warranty was waaaay out of date. Bought it in 2012
what made you choose the thermarest option rather than the equivalent cheaper decathlon model ? Did you know it existed ?
Yeah I'm aware of them. I was in decathlon yesterday looking at them. It made more sense for me to buy a thermarest because it's a known brand that most of my channel are aware of, that's pretty much the only reason.
@@ChaseMountains bro...
Great tips ! I have the exact same pack and I thought of using a Z-lite as well, but one thing bothers me : what if it rains ? The mat would pretty much be soaked/wet in minutes and I don't know how I'd deal with that. Any thought on that matter ? :)
It is a closed cell foam so it will not soak any water.
CCF pads are NOT worth it (imho).
Uberlite is lighter, warmer, larger, more comfortable and MUCH more packable than your setup.
Xlite (small) is MUCH warmer, more comfortable, just as light and MUCH more packable.
All inflatable pads can also double as back support on the inside of the pad when folded correctly and with a little air still inside.
Only when you get to ~3mm thick CCF pads do you really start saving weight, but then it takes a special person to deal with the cold and uncomfortableness.
Uberlite is a terrible long distance through-hike pad especially around a lot of rock or in conjunction with a bivy or anything that involves sleeping directly on the ground. 15D nylon is about as thin as it gets, even for dry bags, let alone a sleeping mat. It will tear/puncture, its just a matter of time. Plenty of reports of it too. You'd definitely want something with a more durable base like the Xtherm has.
Foam pads on their own arent very comfortable but they are nice to have though. As he stated in the video you can just toss them down anywhere to relax without worrying about puncture damage. Folded up they make a good seat too.
Foam: not comfortable, not warm, not compact, not light ∴ not a good option...unless you are doing yoga
@@natea1042 yeah you more or less spoke for me but yeah. I wanted a back plate and also I wanted a stretching mat. I sleep pretty well on the grass I don't need much!
@@natea1042 All gear (including Uberlite) has to be used thoughtfully: using a groundsheet to protect a CCF pad is just as foolish as using _any_ inflatable pad on rocks. Regarding durability, reference the latest video by *Darwin onthetrail* where he mentions no issues when thru hiking with his Uberlite.
Also, I agree CCF is good for just tossing anywhere for stretching and resting, but a Zlite is the worst possible option for this. For the same weight, combine a short Uberlite with a GG thinlight and you can stretch *and* sleep _warm and comfortable_
I had the same thing happen to my Sea to Summit pillow. I only used it a few times and I went to inflate it once and it kept getting bigger till it looked like a football. Funny enough I thought it was still pretty comfortable. I have pretty broad shoulders and like thick pillows anyway, but it was annoying that my head would roll off of it too easy😂
Trim the ccf pad down, oh just heard you had that planned anyway! Perfect pad for long distance summer hikes
Haha yeah I'm all over it!
how comfortable can you feel sleeping in the sea to summit on summer?
Upps big mistake .... Thermarest: non-reflective side has to face your back (the reflective side has to face the backpack)....
Good advice but someone beat ya too it 😂
Hey Thanks Love it big guy
Thanks for stopping by 👊🏼stay classy
great review, thank you!
Big Agnes Rapide SL, so good I sleep on it @home :-)
What do you think about the Big Agnes air core ultra insulated? Have you ever seen anybody using it?
Nope. I got no experience with that
🙋🏻♂️ when you’ve gotten most of the air out of the pad and you don’t want to slide your arm down it to remove the rest…. Suck the air out 😂 I know it’s a little weird but… it’s a habit I have when removing air from ziplock bags when storing things like nuts or other snacks for my son so they take up less room.. cheers
Deflation: the reason I returned the thermarest uberlite. And maneuvering in a tent makes it doubly difficult. Settled on a Sea to Summit.
Wise choice I reckon
Hi Chase
Great video....
I'm preparing for some new mountain hikes myself....
I was wondering if you stay warm, sleeping at 2000+ m using only a cell foam mat....
Why not go for a xlite at 360 grams size regular (or 230 gr at size small)
Do you stay warm ?
Rgrds from the lowlands (NL)
Sjoerd
Most of climbers above 7000 m use foam mats because they are more reliable . It’s also important which sleeping bag you have and which clothes you wear on .
More great stuff 👍
Cheers mate
I'm buying a pop up camper this week and am planning a 14 day trip in mid to late November on the Canadian border. The camper comes with a heated mattress but I don't know how warm that will get and I am always cold. Should I buy one of those sleeping pads that are rated 4 or above and put it on top of the heated mattress or would that not be effective? Are these pads meant only for tent camping? Would the warmth from the heated mattress heat the camping pad all the way through so that I feel it in my sleeping bag? Temps are supposed to be in the 20's but I want to be prepared for worst case. Note that I am always cold.
Replace your mattress entirely with a Sea To Summit Comfort Deluxe; it's cheaper than every other 10cm boxed mat on the name-brand market + just as comfy (I have one, it' ssooooo plush), you'll be warm as toast & you can also take it tent-camping, later, if the fancy ever strikes.
*I would honestly choose this over modifying even a _heated_ mattress, it's that warm.
Dude, why not a NeoAir? The Women's Xlite is only about an ounce more (~30g) than your "Camp Essential Light Mat," and has an R-value of 5.4. Good enough for everything but winter backpacking. And the Xtherm isn't even a ton more, especially in context of that 1050g (!!) pad.
Don't have an answer for you other than that I just don't need an inflatable mat for this trip. I'll definitely consider it for other trips down the line tho
@@ChaseMountains Oh yeah don't get me wrong, the RidgeRest is a great closed-cell foam pad. I have an SOLite myself and still keep it as a lender for my friends. I just like to remind people that there are a few gems amongst the ultralight industry standards out there-it's not all overpriced and uncomfortable crap lol.
The Xlite is sold out right now anyway, and it is admittedly a lot more than something like a RidgeRest Zlite, but you can sometimes find them used in good condition on r/ulgeartrade for as low as $80-$100. And for the weight-warmth-comfort ratio, I would wager it is worth it. Versatile enough to use year round.
If anybody living in Europe is looking for the exact same Sea To Summit mat... I have 2 Large ones I am looking to sell. They are as good as new, with complete repair kit and the sleeve.
What did you change to
@@jeffccr3620 Not sure yet but something with a lower R value and a smaller size. The Large one is great but I don't need that much space
I like the Savotta Finnish mat. Built to survive the apocalypse, and still light. It's not air inflated though.
I have the Savotta mat too. It is very robust. I love that.
Cheers from Aosta Valley dude!
Oh. Must be nice!
So funny, did the same with my Z-Lite like 2 months ago. And got inspired by your gr11 gear breakdown with the back support, so I made the 8 segments of the mat my back support. I also swapped the paracord from the front of the pack to the back, to make that possible.
Funny seeing you do the same thing with the mat afterwards :D
Already did my first little thruhike with it and it worked out really well as backsupport as well as for comfortable sleeping.
What trip have you planned for summer?
PS: I actually cut it about 8cm narrower as well, so that it's not to long on the back when carrying the backpack. works out fine for me :)
Ahhh... This is great! Yeah I may just do that! I was thinking about how I could cut the corners without it weakening the structure but that's a better option. Glad to know my idea will work!
Can’t wait! 👍
Likewise. Your videos are 👌and the website! I love it!
@@ChaseMountains Thanks for the share! Much appreciated! 🙏
haha i love the pregnant exped mat xD
Me: buys first mat
Chase, the next day: here are the best and worst!
Me: o-oh no...
Hahahaha 🤣. So what did you buy?
@@ChaseMountains Not a good one, apparently! Just did some research and found some people are saying it's a scam 😭
Same here! 😩 I am trying out my mat this weekend. From Outdoor Vitals.
Ooh thats why the exped pad is so cheap
👍👍
Exped sucks. I had 4 expensive matts, extremes, all of them lost shape. Can't hold air. Same quality wth their tents. Just stay away. Overpriced and shit quality
Read my Name Psychotronic Harrassement OPERATEURS
Howdy! What’s the back pack name? @chasemountains
Liteway Elementum! from Ukraine :)