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Thermarest can rightly claim that they started a minor revolution in backpacking comfort, before 1972 there was the 'closed cell foam mat' to sleep on that provided insulation but little comfort. Since 1972 we've had self-inflating mats and then ultralight airbeds from Thermarest and other companies that have transformed the quality of sleeping outdoors. Since moving into sleeping bags in 1997 The …

With improved warmth and comfort, the NeoAir XLite NXT solidifies the legacy of its predecessor as the finest ultralight air sleeping pad for year-round backcountry adventures. By refining the way our cutting-edge construction technique, the Triangular Core MatrixTM, integrates with the warmth radiating ThermaCaptureTM technology. The XLite NXT delivers maximum comfort and support at a minimal wei …

When preparing for a hiking or backpacking trip, selecting the right sleeping mat is crucial for ensuring comfort and warmth during the night. We’ll delve into the different types of sleeping mats available and the importance of R-value. Our aim is to equip you with the necessary knowledge to make an informed decision when choosing the right sleeping pad for your next adventure. leeping …

In this post we look at the Big Agnes sleeping mats that we stock and tell you a bit about them. Big Agnes's sleeping mats start at around 400 grams, they tend not to make extremely lightweight pads, preferring to focus on comfort and high insulation value, their pads are light for the job that they do. Designed for ultralight backcountry adventures, the Zoom UL Insulated eliminates the …

The key factors to take into consideration when choosing a sleeping mat are the pack size, weight, your budget and most importantly what time of year you will be using it which, determines the level of insulation you need. Comfort in an outdoor sense is partly dictated by being able to iron out the lumps and bumps in the ground with the mat, but insulation is king and if you’re cold you won’t slee …

In this post we've drawn together the range of 'How To' videos from Thermarest, some are particular to their own products but others apply more generally.

In this post we tell you all about Sea to Summit. We were the first company in the UK to recognise the quality of products made by this company and for many years we were the only ones selling Sea to Summit sleeping bags.

In this post we tell you all about about the company Nemo Equipment, we were the first in the UK to sell their products and the relationship is as good as ever.

What is an R-value?The R-value is a measure used to rate how well your sleeping mat will stop heat loss. Thermal resistance is the measurement that indicates a materials ability to insulate - there are a number of different ways to express this but, as they all measure the same factor, they are all related. The starting point is the R-value.In the past, some brands quoted the R-value in SI units, …

Knowledgebase Page - Choosing a Thermarest Sleeping mat Which Thermarest mattress is for you?Thermarest offers a great choice of mats from self-inflating to closed-cell foam. Choosing your camping mat is entirely dependent on how, when and where you plan to camp. Knowing how you camp is the first step in choosing your mattress. Thermarest breaks down their mattresses into three categories to make …

How to choose an Exped MatWith so many Exped mats to choose from we've written this summary page to help you make sense of the range. In addition, for Spring 2017 Exped have renamed and re-packaged most of their mats so will also indicate the old name where this is applicable. The new versions also come with an inflation device such as the Schnozzel Pumpbag and the Fast+Lite series mats have a new …

Which Exped Downmat?If you are considering a downmat at all it is probably because you need a warm mat for use in cold weather and for sleeping on snow or frozen ground. There are other forms of insulation in mats but down remains the best warmth to weight ratio of any insulator. Down loses insulation value when it gets wet, so Downmats should not be inflated using the mouth, rather they come with …