Selecting the right roll matt
If you’ve got a camping trip organised and you’re deciding what equipment to take with you to sleep on, to help you decide we have listed a few options and what they offer. Not only will they provide added comfort to your night’s sleep, they will also insulate from the cold ground and prevent heat loss.
A camp bed is a lightweight aluminium folding bed with canvas or polyester in place of a mattress. The benefit of this type of bed is that you are off the ground and therefore it does not matter if the ground is rocky and uneven, you will prevent heat loss and also be above the level of most creepy crawlies! Things to consider are that camp beds are for a single person, so if you’re travelling with your partner you will find it very hard to snuggle up. They are also quite bulky to transport and are not practical if you are backpacking, they suit camping trips where you pile everything in a car and drive to your destinations.
An air bed or mattress is another option to sleep on. Air beds come in a range of sizes, with double bed size options available. This can be a space saver if you are camping with your partner as a double air mattress would take up less room than 2 single camp beds. Some say an air mattress provides greater comfort than a camping bed, but this is down to personal preference. The climate and weather that you will experience when camping need to be considered before choosing an air mattress as they are not suitable in cold weather. The air within the bed stays cold during the night and therefore reduces your body temperature. One risk to an air mattress is the leakage factor, one small puncture can ruin your camping experience. The air mattress is also more maintenance as you need to inflate it before use, either by mouth, foot or with an automatic pump, either way it is less convenient than unfolding your camp bed.
A third option is a roll mat. A roll mat can be self inflating or a piece of foam. A self inflating mat works by trapping and holding a layer of non-circulating air between your body and the cold ground. Your body heat warms this layer of dead air and it becomes an insulation barrier. There are various thicknesses and qualities of self inflating roll mats, you should chose the thickness you desire. If you are camping in cold environments, this option is a good pic as it will help keep you warm at night. These mats can also roll up to quite small and are lightweight and easy to transport, ideal for backpackers as it can easily be strapped to the rucksack.
Whichever bedding option you chose, make sure you shop around and take it for a test run before you use it camping.
Nigel Williams is a climbing and mountaineering expert who is currently researching Roll matts
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