Mountain Equipment Helium 3.8 Sleeping Mat (RRP: £65)
At an advertised 750g (mine came in at 782g) the Helium 3.8 certainly isn’t the lightest mat on the market. In fact it probably weighs twice as much as many ultralight mats, however I chose this for three other reasons: length, durability and comfort. I previously used a three quarter length mat, but found that this full length mat came in at the same weight. I’m very wary of thin airbeds, and really need to have some support for my hip, and this does the job perfectly.
Fully inflated mat
It’s misleadingly described as self-inflating; in reality you open the push/pull valve and it should, over time, equalise its internal pressure with the external pressure. In effect it will partially inflate and you can finish it off with a couple of large puffs before pushing the valve closed.
Push/pull valve
This gives a nice plump foam filled mattress to lie on, wider at the shoulder and tapered at the foot. It has a brushed upper surface which is meant to help retain the sleeping bag on the mat. I’ve found it works fairly well, and the whole mat certainly feels quite robust. My only concern with this mat is the valve, which sometimes feels a little loose. The mat has gone down overnight once, but this was possibly due to my not closing the valve properly, and so long as I ensure it is properly closed it has functioned as it should. When packed in it’s supplied transit bag it measures 27cm x 16cm, allowing it to be carried inside a rucksack or panniers if on a bike.
Mat in stuff sack
The Airdrie Rambler 