Sleeping Mat a bit too big?

[Claret73]

I'm only beginning to look at BikePacking, so bear with me...(No Pun Intended)
I'm a regualr on Retrobike, but fancy doing some exploring now...I got digging through my Camping gear (which isn't much) & wondered what kind of Mat people are using that goes much! Smaller than my AlpKit one here...
http://s1033.photobucket.com/albums/a42 ... kePacking/

I have found a few posts for kit lists so will pay some attention to those as a starting point. Although don't wish to be consumed by gear like Technology can...

BTW Great Site!!
Thanks
Andy

[Dan_K]

Yeah that is a bit big and generally is what I use for car camping. Mats are a pretty personal thing. Ideally, you're looking for sub 500g and a small pack size.
Think Thermarest neoair, prolite, POE, or one of the smaller Alpkit ones. Stuart posted a link to Field and Trek where they had a karrimor Xlite air mat for £30 which is around 400g.

[Claret73]

Thanks! I'll take a look at the list you've mentioned & begin to study people's Kit list...first up though is a suitable Bike!! I'm working on that...

[Bearbonesnorm]

There's some good deals to be had on NeoAirs at the moment. Theoutdoorshop.com were about the cheapest I've seen. I'm liking my Exped Synmat UL at the moment, they're not cheap but I got mine from outdoorsgb who seemed cheaper than most.

The Xlite mat from F+T ^^^ is nice and light but be aware that it doesn't offer much in the way of insulation so might only be of use in summer.

[griffdowg]

The Xlite mat from F+T ^^^ is nice and light but be aware that it doesn't offer much in the way of insulation so might only be of use in summer.

Restlessnative used one over the WRT, said it weighed in around 350g but it also made a back support for his Alpkit gourdan (?) 20l pack. So at least it had 2 uses! folds down nice and flat/small.

G