Therm-a-Rest UltraLite Full Length Mat > Reviews > How did I live without one?

Author's product rating:   

Durability
Style
Comfort
Value for Money

Advantages:	Very comfortable, Lightweight, Small size when rolled up
Disadvantages:	Expensive

Recommend to potential buyers:

yes

Full review

As a keen walker/backpacker/camper I had, until a year ago, used the traditional foam rollmat to sleep on. This was very uncomfortable, but then whats the point of camping if your not going to rough it a bit?
However, I went out and bought a Thermorest Ultra-Lite mat through a recommendation by my friend and couldnt believe what I had been missing out on?

Sleeping on one of these is better than my shoddy matress at Uni.

First, you unroll your mat from its pouch, undo the air valve and it self inflates. Inside the mat there are fibres which when the mat is filled with air, hold it to the correct thickness (about 3/4 of an inch). If you like sleeping on a firm surface, or if u are short of time, you can pump it up a bit more with your mouth but otherwise it can just be left with the valve open and will inflate within 10 minutes. Then close the valve again.

Then all you have to do is get in your sleeping bag and enjoy! I couldnt believe the difference between this and a conventional rollmat. It is far far far more comfortable. Plus it doesnt rip (and if it does you can send it back to the manufacturer because it has a lifetime guarantee!) or get chunks taken out of it like a foam mat.

After your good nights sleep (I slept better than I had ever done in a tent when I first slept on this) you can put the ting away. Just open the valve and roll up the mat to get the air out. You may have to roll it up a couple of times to get all the air out - there is a knack but it soon becomes easy with practice! Then put it back in the pouch and put it in your rucksack!

A major advantage with an inflatable rollmat (especially this one which just 15cm x 15cm x 30cm) is that it is much smaller than a foam mat (and light aswell) so it fits easily into your bag with room for everything else aswell! Before I had this I attached my foam mat to the outside - which made getting through stone stiles a bit tricky! This problem is no more!

Another advantage is that the role-mat can be wiped clean of any spills - unlike a foam mat where anything which wasnt water would soak in and become manky!

The only major problem with this product is the price. I picked mine up for about 40 quid I think, but it was on special offer. So, compared to a foam mat which you can get for a fiver its pretty expensive. However, if you can afford one and are a backpacking enthusiast purchasing one is well worth it. Like me you will never look back!!