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12 Aug 2013
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If I go down the camping line. I take an old metal frame army camping bed. Packs small give's you a good night sleep. And your off the ground. Warm climate and you can get away with a fleece bag liner as a sleeping bag. Both easy to pack. That way you have done away with a ground mat, some kind of insulation from the ground and a sleeping bag. All take room.
John933
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To buy petrol in Europe. Pull up at station. Wait. Get out a 20 Euro note, then ask someone to fill up the bike. Give person money. Ride away. Simple.
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12 Aug 2013
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Veteran HUBBer
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Join Date: Apr 2006
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For Paulnomad
Ah! Le gizmo!
Dead simple. It's a spare tyre valve I had for my old r1200gs pushed through half of one of those tarp eyelet replacement kits then 'bottom bit' sanded down. 
Works a treat . Not the fastest filler on the block but it uses kit I already carry. You just have to hold it against the 'in' open valve bit on the mat.
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12 Aug 2013
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Join Date: Mar 2004
Location: Saltspring Island,Canada/Poole,UK
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Hey Ted,
the Exped 9 takes about 3-4 minutes to inflate, bout the same to deflate and roll away, the 7 being a bit thinner is a bit quicker. Best nights kip I've had in a tent - I used to use a Thermarest Prolite, then a NeoAir, now the Exped, I wont be going back to Thermarest anytime soon.
The Thermarest NeoAir is the loudest sleeping pad I've ever used - If I am turning over it wakes my buddies up in their tents! - but its also the most compact and lightweight pad around.
The warranty is slightly different for the Exped models, the 7's get a 2 year warranty, the 9's, being a tad thicker material (and a bit heavier) get a 5 year warranty.
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12 Aug 2013
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Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Wirral, England.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand
For Paulnomad
Ah! Le gizmo!
Dead simple. It's a spare tyre valve I had for my old r1200gs pushed through half of one of those tarp eyelet replacement kits then 'bottom bit' sanded down.
Works a treat . Not the fastest filler on the block but it uses kit I already carry. You just have to hold it against the 'in' open valve bit on the mat. |
I think you're online persona should be 'Inspector Gadget'
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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12 Aug 2013
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Veteran HUBBer
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Couldn't 'bear' it !! 
but hey, it works and costs peanuts and weighs but a few grams.
Walter should like this!
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12 Aug 2013
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Contributing Member
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I've just bought the NeoAir Camper by Thermarest in XL.
That should be one comfy matress. It's going to be a big pack though. Still, It should be worth it. It cost me £100 delivered.
I was tempted by the Exped but they are a fair bit more cash and I really hate things which take time excessive time to set up or pack up.
Setting up and breaking down camp EVERY DAY for months can get really tiring and anything that adds to that routine will grate on my nerves.
I like to be able to pack up my whole kit in 20 minutes. Pretty much while my water is boiling for my brew 
I'll be testing it out at Hagsbank and the Zen Cider Rally
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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14 Aug 2013
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Join Date: Nov 2006
Location: On a RTW ride - currently Asia
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I am a bit of a gear head and experimenter, haved owned an Exped Downmat 7 DLX, a Therm-a-rest Prolite 4, various older T.A.R.s, the original Neoair L, a Neoair All Season L, and now finally the Neoair Xtherm L.
It has an R-value of 5.7 which is equal to the Downmat 7, is thick enough so that you can sleep on your side without touching the ground, and it manages to do so while weighing only 570 grams in the generous L version and being about half packed size. Unlike the original Neoair I don't find it to be significantly louder than the Downmat either.
I use the clever Instaflator system to blow it up in about a minute with no effort, adds 50 grams of weight with minimal size.
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14 Aug 2013
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Join Date: Jul 2008
Location: North East Texas
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Bertrand
+1 on the Exped Synmat
No more pumping  by hand (unless you really want to!)
I use my Cyclepump which I already have and a this wee gizmo |
Excellent Idea!
I will have a modified valve stem next trip.
I bought a 12 volt inflation device but it takes too much room for minimalist packing!
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27 Sep 2013
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Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Riverside California
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Quote:
Originally Posted by BryceB
One of the Big Agnes Air Core matresses? They aren't self inflating butbdo pack smaller than thermorests.
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+1
The big aggie air core is ten times better than any thermarest on the market. It also comes with its own patch kit. 5 years of ownership, it has never let me down and I get a great sleep.
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28 Sep 2013
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Well..
I bought the Thermarest Neoair camper XL..
Holey moley. I've been missing out all these years. Forget all this prolite crap.
I seriously sleep better in my tent than at home now. XL sleeping mat is where it 'IS AT'
And, it packs down to about 1l. Which is the same as my Large Pro-lite !! Go figure as the yanks say...
My only gripe is that it's not self inflating. I recorded that it takes about 20 good breaths to get it nice and full though. Hardly an effort.
So I recommend the Neo Air camper. Fantastic mattress for about £100
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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28 Sep 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
Well..
I bought the Thermarest Neoair camper XL..
Holey moley. I've been missing out all these years. Forget all this prolite crap.
I seriously sleep better in my tent than at home now. XL sleeping mat is where it 'IS AT'
And, it packs down to about 1l. Which is the same as my Large Pro-lite !! Go figure as the yanks say...
My only gripe is that it's not self inflating. I recorded that it takes about 20 good breaths to get it nice and full though. Hardly an effort.
So I recommend the Neo Air camper. Fantastic mattress for about £100
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How is it in the cold? I'm used to a Downmat 9 DLX (or whatever the long and wide 9cm one is called), but it doesn't pack down to 1L as yours. Does it keep you warm when it's freezing?
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28 Sep 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by TwoUpFront
How is it in the cold? I'm used to a Downmat 9 DLX (or whatever the long and wide 9cm one is called), but it doesn't pack down to 1L as yours. Does it keep you warm when it's freezing?
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I haven't tested it in the freezing cold but whole body is off the ground and well supported. It won't be as warm as a down lined mattress but that's what underwear is for
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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28 Sep 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
I haven't tested it in the freezing cold but whole body is off the ground and well supported. It won't be as warm as a down lined mattress but that's what underwear is for |
Ok, I will wait till I can try one out. Thanks
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28 Sep 2013
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I don't think you'd be disappointed. XL mats are my new thing. They make such a difference to a good night sleep. You can roll about etc, not wake up on a stone or with stiff joints. Expeds are way too much faff for me with all that pumping etc.
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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.
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28 Sep 2013
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Quote:
Originally Posted by *Touring Ted*
I don't think you'd be disappointed. XL mats are my new thing. They make such a difference to a good night sleep. You can roll about etc, not wake up on a stone or with stiff joints. Expeds are way too much faff for me with all that pumping etc.
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I have a bag and adaptor, so instead of jumping up and down on the, what, 200cl, pump, I can do it quickly. And 9cm is very thick. In fact, I too sleep better on it than I do at home. However, it is overkill in the temperature department for what I do, but it's thick.
It's just that although it packs small for its temperature rating, I would like something that packs smaller, even if it isn't much use in -38 degrees centigrade (!!). I often sleep out in just under freezing, on the coast (windy and moist), so a reasonable amount of insulation is needed.
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