UKC

Ancient karimat finally bitten the dust any advice what to replace it with? Looking for student cheap and for a 6'2 guy.

In reply to ACollins:

Army surplus or cadets have foam mats remarkably similar to older Karrimats (not in stunningly vivid colours though), reasonable price from many local outdoor or surplus shops. Bulkier than thermarest, but of course no risk of punctures.

In reply to nightclimber:

Ok thanks army surplus might well be worth a look. Does anyone have some
experience of thermarest to say if they're much better?

In reply to ACollins:

https://www.alpkit.com/featured/sleeping-mats

In reply to Mountain Llama:

Do not skimp on your sleeping mat. Buy luxury and enjoy a better sle

In reply to Mountain Llama:

Do not skimp on your sleeping mat. Buy luxury and enjoy a better sleep

In reply to ACollins:

I have never had a problem with thermarests and find them so very comfortable. One developed a leak after 20 years so I think it has done well. I do use them on alpine routes, often with gravelly ledges etc. As long as you are cautious.
There are other manufacturers out there but I have no experience with them

In reply to ACollins:

Thermarest ridgerest is the best mat I've ever used.

In reply to ACollins:
Get down to Lidl's on Thursday.

http://www.lidl.co.uk/en/our-offers-2491.htm?id=551&ar=1

In reply to ACollins:

Thanks for all the advice everyone. I'll head down to lidl Thursday see what they've got.

In reply to ACollins:
I strongly advise not bothering with the lidl inflating mats. I bought something similar and it was rubbish.

I do still have an army surplus one which has survived 15 years of mud and abuse. I eventually treated myself to a thermarest which is nice but not essential.

I bought a teeny one that packs down small and use clothes for my feet. If I'm car camping I take the foam mat as well to put under it. If I'm bivvying I take a smaller karrimat type to protect the thermarest and bivvy bag. Having got a teeny thermarest it fits in my bivvy bag which is good as I tend to move in my sleep.

Alpkit ones look good but I haven't tried them. Search UKC for reviews.

The lidl sleeping bag liners may be OK, I haven't seen them to check.

If you want a thermorest there seem to be a few on the ususal auction site.

In reply to marsbar:

Go outdoors do a 5cm one for £25, cheapest self inflating is a tenner

In reply to ACollins:

these are very good for the price:
https://www.aldi.co.uk/en/specialbuys/thur-21-may/product-detail/ps/p/self-...

In reply to ACollins:

Prob about the same as the Lidl's jobbie. Lidl's do seem to improve and update their products every now and again. I reckon either of these are worth a punt for the money. Definitely fitting the 'student cheap' brief.