Customer Reviews

AeroBed Extreme Light Self-Inflating Camp Mat

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I was looking for a good camping/backpacking mat as I am now too old to sleep on the cold, hard ground. My wife pointed this one out to me when she found it on Amazon. I was shopping more expensive brands, and was hesitant to try something so much cheaper. But I knew AeroBed made great air mattresses, and Amazon is good about taking things back, so I figured I didn't have anything to lose.

When the mat arrived, I was a bit skeptical. It was really thin. I unrolled it, opened the valve, and watched it self-inflate. After a minute or two I gave it a couple of puffs, and closed the valve. It was still pretty thin (maybe an inch or so thick) and I remained skeptical. How could this keep me (300+ pounds at the time) off the ground? I climbed on top of it and was amazed at how thick it felt. I couldn't feel the floor under it. And I took a little nap then and there.

So it worked in the comfort of my living room, but how would it work in the wild? I threw it in my backpack and headed for the hills. I set up camp in a blizzard. The ground was covered in cold, wet snow. This mattress was a great thermal barrier, and I slept warm as toast and very comfortable. I couldn't feel the hard frozen ground under me.

I moved camp several times that trip, and the AeroBed mat deflated and re-inflated quickly every time. It is incredibly light (less than 4 pounds) when deflated. It is rugged and well-made, and it comes with a stuff sack.

It is narrow (20 inches) but this hasn't been a problem, and I'm a big guy. And the small size helps when trying to fit everything into a backpack.

The price was less than half what I was expecting to spend.

There are few products I own that I am as completely happy with as I am with this mat. It has served me well on several camping trips, and I look forward to many more trips with it. I highly recommend it.