On an overnight hiking trip, or lengthy paddling trip, you have to be discerning about what to take. That’s because everything you choose to bring along, you have to carry – along undulating trails, across waterways, through rapids, and over portages. Food and essentials become the priority, leaving little room for little else.
Getting a good sleep, though, is paramount for undertaking and also enjoying the journey – especially for us middle-aged adventurers. Back in the day, we all made due with tiny little mattresses called ‘foamies’ less than two centimeters thick that provided next-to-no comfort. It didn’t matter much back then, but since things now ache after lying down on the ground for extended periods of time, it matters now.
The key is finding the most comfortable mattress possible, which also compresses to the smallest size. The good news is that today’s outdoor sleeping products are impressive, and there are plenty of choices.
Therm-a-Rest makes the incredibly compact NeoAir All Season SV, which at only .68 kg is light enough for hiking trips. Its 6.3 cm of thickness and high R-Value make it pretty cushy, too. It’s ‘Speed Valve’ system for inflation works quite well, too, although there is a bit of a learning curve for efficiency. Once inflated, the mattress is quiet and comfortable.
Sea to Summit’s Comfort Plus Insulated Mat has an interesting dual layer construction that distributes body weight over individual cells. Its Airstream Pump Sack allows you to fill it up with just a few breaths, and it too, turned out to be cozy. The only downside is that this mattress is fairly noisy, with ‘crackle and pops’ emanating with every toss and turn.
Whichever mattress is right for you… make it part of your over-40-comfort-pack along with tiny compressed pillows and mosquito nets… and your next anniversary camping trip is ON.
