Camping mat to fit on the bike.

[myvision]

I'm due to go on my first camping trip on the bike next weekend.
Is it possible to get a decent sleeping mat for around £50?
Can anyone recommend one to buy.
Thanks.
____________________
VFR800FI, YZF600R Thundercat and FZS 1000

[Nobby the Bastard]

There are millions out there for much less than that.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Ste]

Thermarest self inflating mats for the win.

Other brands are also available but the self inflating ones are approximately twenty five point three seven billion times better than the foam ones or inflatable ones.

[chickenstrip]

I've used Thermarests, Pacific Outdoor mats and others. But my favourite was the cheap ones you used to get in Millets for a very low price, where you individually inflate 6 mat-length 'cells'. Light, packed down small, easy to inflate to the firmness you want.
____________________
Chickenystripgeezer's Biking Life (Latest update 19/10/18) Belgium, France, Italy, Austria tour 2016 Picos de Europa, Pyrenees and French Alps tour 2017 Scotland Trip 1, now with BONUS FEATURE edit, 5/10/19, on page 2 Scotland Trip 2 Luxembourg, Black Forest, Switzerland, Vosges Trip 2017
THERE'S MILLIONS OF CHICKENSTRIPS OUT THERE!

[stinkwheel]

Decathalon have a good selection of different types, most of their gear I've had performs pretty well.

However to echo the above, I'm still using the therm-a-rest I got 21 years ago.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[ThunderGuts]

As above really, I have a Thermarest I bought about 15 years ago and it's had a LOT of use over the years. Always performed flawlessly.

Mrs Thunderguts has a cheaper Vango branded one - it's not as comfy and is bulkier when packed away, I suspect is less insulating too.

Foam ones have a massive advantage; they don't puncture and it's impossible to get cold spots (an inflatable one can "collapse" locally if you put pressure in one place, e.g. sleep on your side, although I've never knowingly had that problem myself). They are cheap, but they're also very bulky (and on a bike will act like a sail) and not particularly comfortable.

Not everyone necessarily has the money to invest in something like this up front, but if you can afford it and are likely to use it, it's worth splashing out on a good Thermarest.
____________________
TG.

[myvision]

Cheers i'll look at thermarest ones then.
____________________
VFR800FI, YZF600R Thundercat and FZS 1000

[trevor saxe-coburg-gotha]

thermarest are great but fuck me the one i got was really narrow - i must've thought small was best, and when camping off a bike it is - however, you can find yourself waking up in the night because you've rolled off it in your sleep and got really uncomfy, and the fourth time that happens is a bit shit
____________________
"Life is a sexually transmitted disease and the mortality rate is one hundred percent."

Mobylette Type 50 ---> Raleigh Grifter ---> Neval Minsk 125

[Nobby the Bastard]

I have a Vango Trek 3, cost £28 and it's small and light enough.

I do find adding some additional air by blowing in the valve does improve the comfort somewhat to allowing it to just self-inflate.
____________________
trevor saxe-coburg-gotha:"Remember this simple rule - scooters are for men who like to feel the breeze on their huge, flapping cunt lips."
Sprint ST 1050

[Ste]

[ThunderGuts]

[stinkwheel]

Mrs stinkwheel uses a thermarest under one of those minimalist tubular blow up mats. She's a real cold-arse and this apparently works very well.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[chickenstrip]

[stinkwheel]

If it's really cold/wet, you can put one of those mylar space blankets under the tent groundsheet. Prevents water strikethrough because they are properly waterproof, reflect heat back, fit in a pocket and cheap enough to be disposable.

Perfect if you pitch up on snow.
____________________
“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.”
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.

[ThunderGuts]

[slowasyoulike]

Thermarest are great, and at the time I got mine theirs seemed to be the only choice for that type of self-inflating mat. Nowadays there are any number of cheap copies which will do just as well for occasional use, e.g. I picked up a Gelert one for £20 about 10 years ago that's still going well.

If it's going to get well used, though, then I will say that Thermarest do honour their lifetime guarantee - one of ours delaminated so that a big air bubble formed between the foam and the outer skin. It had originally been bought for a year-long trip to New Zealand 20 years earlier and had seen plenty of use after that, but I received a new one about two weeks after sending the old one back for inspection

[MCN]

Thermarest is what I use.
But don't buy the fecking 1/2 body length. Your kneesshins and feet will not speak to you in the morning. Stupid bastirt things.
A good sleeping bag is worth having too. It late in the year for camping so you need a thick bag. Or sleep in clothes. I prefer a thick bag and go skidder less.
____________________
Disclaimer: The comments above may be predicted text and not necessarily the opinion of MCN.

[stinkwheel]

[Barnoe]

Just be aware that if your a side sleeper you will need at least 4" of thickness.
any less and you will wake with cold aching hips n ribs.

obviously I'm basing this assessment on me, and i weight roughly the same as an adult silverback with slightly less hair..... just

id recommend the "Trekology" mats you can find on Amazon.
they even have raised sides to stop you rolling off, which is always a bonus
____________________
You know you are old when you're told to slow down by your doctor and not the police.

[MCN]