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Camping Mattress - An Important Part of Your Sleeping System
Waking up in the morning at camp and realizing that you have a bad back is not a pleasant experience. For people who have never slept on anything other than their bed, they may have a hard time getting any sleep at all. You can harden your body by sleeping on the floor at home before the trip or you can use a camping mattress.
When buying camping mats, the first thing you need to find out is what size you want it to be and this obviously depends on your height. Carrying an over-sized mat means more weight to carry and carrying one that is too small won't do much good. Choose the type of camping mattress that suits the kind of activity you're doing, whether car camping, camping at music festivals and so on. Weight is not an issue for car camping so you can choose a pad that is as comfortable as you want.
Sometimes you need to balance between weight and comfort especially when you are backpacking. The weight however can be well worth it if it helps you sleep well at night. It's important that you get good sleep if you are backpacking because you need the energy for the following morning.
To keep you warm at night, a camping mattress provides a layer of insulation against the cold ground. Assuming that a camping mat is used, sleeping bag manufacturers determines the temperature rating. You can use some types of pads as a frame for your backpack.
There are two types of camping mats:
Foam Mattresses
Foam pads are the lightest (and cheapest) option. They can be as light as four ounces and usually not more than twelve. They're not known for comfort but has the best warmth-to-weight ratio. The best about it is it's puncture-free. You still have to check the sleeping area for sharp objects but you can rest assured that you won't lose the cushioning and insulation in the middle of sleep.
Air Mattress
This is for those who need something much more than thin foam pads. It is very comfortable compared to foam mats but may not be suitable for backpacking because of its weight. The biggest disadvantage of this type of pad is that there's a risk of it being punctured so it's important to keep a repair kit handy.
Using Ground Sheets
A ground sheet is commonly used to keep dirt and moisture away from your sleeping bag and pad. To reduce the risk of punctures, use a highly durable ground sheet and make sure the area is clear of sharp objects. If you want to be as light as possible, you can skip the ground sheet and use a poncho instead.
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