Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Something to sleep on
Although sewn-in tent floors are waterproof these days,
they don't offer much insulation or comfort. Lie down on
one in a sleeping bag, and unless you're used to sleeping
on a hard floor, you'll soon feel uncomfortable. More
importantly, you will also lose a great deal of your body
heat during the night through conduction. What you sleep
on will definitely solve the insulation problem. What it
may not do is make you comfortable. It's more than
possible to get a great night's sleep in a tent, but how
lightweight an option you can tolerate depends on how
you feel about hard surfaces. There are four main options:
Closed-cell foam mat
These require no effort to use. Simply
lay them on the floor and lie down. They
offer excellent insulation.
This model is good for three
seasons, but you would
require something slightly
thicker in winter. The ridged
pattern on its surface is
surprisingly comfortable for
a mat which is just ¾ in
(2 cm) thick.
ridged surface
foam cells
Open-cell foam mat
These incorporate a foam mat enclosed in a
nylon sheath and sealed with a valve. You
open the valve and blow air
into the mat until it is inflated
and then close the valve. This
offers a great deal of comfort
for little weight. The valves are
prone to failure, but some
brands offer lifetime
warranties. Narrower and
shorter versions are available
for lightweight camping.
valve
nylon cover
