CAMPING
Sleeping
Thermarest NeoAir . I opted for a Thermarest setup . I ’ ve been using a Thermarest Prolite mat for years , but the NeoAir is about half the size and goes almost unnoticed in the panniers - I was genuinely surprised at its size . Unlike many other bulkier mats , it does not contain any foam inside ; it therefore takes a lot of blowing up . As you would expect from Thermarest , the materials and construction are high quality . Comfort is excellent , becoming very firm if you inflate it sufficiently , holding the air all night and providing impressive insulation . To assist inflation it , Thermarest produce a simple valve - the AirTap
Pump - which can be fitted to a bag ( a plastic bag or a stuff sack ) which is then used like a bellows to inflate the mat . It ’ s not a bad solution , but requires cutting into your stuff-sack or dry-bag .
One area I identified where I could reduce bulk was my sleeping system - the sleeping bag and mat . Once again , down makes a big difference to the size of your sleeping bag , and the new generation of lightweight inflatable mats are very small .
Thermarest HD Corus Quilt . I took a mid-weight down sleeping bag on my South American travels and more often than not slept with it unzipped and draped over me ; it was a far more comfortable way to sleep , especially in warm weather . I was therefore keen to try the Corus HD Quilt - designed to be used this way . I also assumed a quilt to be lighter and more compact than a sleeping bag providing a similar level of warmth .
This quilt is far more than a simple down blanket . It has an ample foot-box which prevents cold feet - either by slipping it over the end of your mat of simply by putting your feet into it . It also has baffles along the sides which seem to do a good job preventing a draft encroaching under the edges . The neck section it elasticated can can be closed with two small poppers to hold it in place around the neck like a conventional bag . Innovatively , Thermarest have also included small , snap-closure loops along the side of the quilt , used to attach it directly to a mattress or sheet ( see below ), further preventing the quilt from slipping off in the night . It is surprisingly wide , and I found I could move around a lot at night without parts of my body becoming exposed . The down is treated to make it hydrophobic - always a plus in the event of a spilt cup of tea in the tent . How hydrophobic it is , however , I don ’ t know - I ’ ll continue to take care to keep it dry as I would any down product .
Importantly for this type of trip - is this quilt a space saver ? I don ’ t think it is . If you compare it to a down sleeping bag with a similar temperature rating , the weight and size is about on par . However I think it is a much more versatile , never mind comfortable option , than a conventional sleeping bag for use in warm to moderate temperatures . Sleeping in merino leggings and a t-shirt , I was warm enough at temperatures of about 7-8 degrees Celius ; when it dropped to around 5C , I started feeling slight chill .
Overall , I liked this option ahead of a sleeping bag a lot . I ’ d choose it over a conventional sleeping bag if it will handle the temperatures . But the reality any ‘ big trip ’ is likely to span seasons and climates , and this option will not provide enough insulation for