Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Insul Mat Max-Thermo > Andy Mytys > Field Report

Insul Mat Max-Thermo Sleeping Pad

Field Report

Product Information:

Manufacturer: Insul Mat Item: Max-Thermo Sleeping Pad (http://www.pacoutdoor.com) Item Number: 170MT-650 Year of Manufacture: 2004 MSRP: $55.00 Listed Weight: 23 oz (650 g) Weight as Delivered: 23.9 oz (678 g), including:   . Insul Mat Max-Thermo Sleeping Pad, 22.6 oz (641 g)   . Stuff Sack, 0.7 oz (20 g)   . Patch Kit, 0.6 oz (17 g) Size: 20 x 72 x 2.5 inches (51 x 183 x 6.3 cm) [w] x [l] x [d] Measured Size: 21.7 x 71.7 x 3.5 inches (55 x 182 x 9 cm) [w] x [l] x [d], with a 0.3 inch (7.6 mm) seam around the mat's border Measured Size, Packed: 11 x 5.5 inch (28 x 14 cm) cylinder, with a 16.5 inch (42 cm) circumference R-Value: N/A Color: Red/Black Warranty: Lifetime warranty against defects in material and workmanship Manufactured In: China

The information in this Field Report of the Insuil Mat "Max-Thermo" Sleeping Pad is to be taken in addition to my Initial Report.

Product Description:

A full length, 3-season inflatable sleeping pad that uses synthetic fill insulation within its construction in order to reduce the effect of convective heat loss.

A Summary of My Experiences Thus Far:

• Inflating the pad - On average, I find that after a long day of hiking I can inflate the Insul Mat Max-Thermal Sleeping Pad in about 20 breaths. It takes me about 90-seconds to inflate the mattress, allowing for about three seconds of time for each puff of breath sent into the pad. The manufacturer recommends, "It is most comfortable... when the mat is not filled to trampoline like firmness." I'm not sure what this means, but I like a firm sleeping surface underneath me. I inflate the pad up until a point where I feel resistance when blowing air into the mattress, and then close the valve. With this amount of air inside the pad, I can place my thumb and index finger against the top and bottom of the pad and pinch them together. At the same time, lying on the pad results in a feeling of total support, with no sag whatsoever. I can also turn onto my side and not feel that I am touching the ground.
  
  
• Maneuvering the pad - Fully inflated to my liking, the Insul Mat is stiff and about as maneuverable as a surfboard. If I suddenly decide that I want the head of the mattress facing in the opposite direction, turning the mattress around may not be an easy task - depending on the size of the shelter, there may be too much air in the mattress to allow it to be folded in half. On one occasion, where I was sharing the space of a small tent with my wife, we decided it would be best to rotate our sleeping positions, and hence my mattress, to face the opposite side of the tent. I had to open the valve in order to allow enough air to escape so that I could fold the mattress in half. Only then could I move the pad into its new position, and then finish by blowing in the air that was lost during the process back into the pad. In terms of moving the pad while I'm lying on it, it is a simple enough task. Because the Insul Mat tapers at its foot and head, it feels very natural to place my feet and elbows onto the floor of the shelter, to either side of the pad. Once my feet and elbows are in position, I just lift my body off of the pad, grab the sides of the pad with my fingers, and adjust its position under my body.
  
  
• Lying on the pad - I find that it is very easy to remain on the pad during the course of the night. With a makeshift pillow of some sort under my head, such as spare clothing in a stuff-sack, I do not feel the six air chambers that run down the pad's length under my head. The chambers are not felt by any other part of my body either, even when I'm sleeping with my body pressed directly against the pad. Also, I have yet to feel any rocks or roots through the pad. In contrast, hard elements were felt through one-inch thick (25 mm) self-inflating pads tested over the same area - The Insul Mat clearly provides more comfort than other pads of similar weight.
  
  
• Tossing and turning throughout the night - I've yet to slide off to the side of the Insul Mat pad, even though I find myself frequently changing sleeping positions from back, to side, to stomach.
  
  
• Sleeping on an angle - When sleeping at an angle where my head was higher than my feet, I found myself sliding toward the low-end of the mattress. The pad itself did not move, even when the floor underneath was constructed of a slippery surface such as SilNylon. The result was that I awoke with my feet off the mattress, my sliding stopped either by the rear wall of my tent or due to my feet pressing against the floor of the shelter. Moving myself back into my preferred position on the pad was a simple task that required no real effort or strain.
  
  
• A comfortable night's rest? - The times where I found myself waking up at night while sleeping on the Insul Mat pad were all due to either drops in temperatures, requiring me to either crawl into my sleeping bag or to put a hat on my head, or to sudden urges to relieve mounting pressures within my bladder. Unlike my experiences with other pads, there were no instances where, for example, I shifted onto my side and awoke due to a root digging into my hip, or where I slept with my arms supporting my head and awoke with a "pricking" feeling in my fingers caused by a lack of blood circulating to them.
  
  
• Get up you lazy bum - The valve used to inflate the pad is easy to open, but tends to require two hands, with one hand holding its base and the other turning its cap. Unlike other, self-inflating mattresses that I've used, my wife can't simply reach over and twist my valve open when I'm being lazy and trying to sleep in a little.
  
  
• Packing it all away - I really like how easy the Insul Mat is to pack. First, I open the valve and lie on the pad, allowing my body weight to force out the majority of the air trapped within. Then, I fold the pad lengthwise into three sections, using the gaps between the six air chambers as guides. The result is a sandwich, where each layer is comprised of two air chambers. I then fold the pad over again three times, in the direction of the pad's valve. This second round of folding pushes more air out of the mattress. Next, I roll up the folded pad, which forces the remaining air out of the pad. Finally, I close the valve and drop the pad into its stuff-sack. There's no real force or compression involved in this system, and the stuff-sack is ample enough in size such that the pad can be effortlessly placed inside.
  
  

Personal Biographical Information:

Reviewer: Andrew Mytys Email: amytys (at) backpacker (dot) com Homepage: Andy's Lightweight Backpacking Site Location: Michigan Age: 33 Gender: Male Height: 6'1" (185 cm) Weight: 165 lb (75 kg)

     Backpacking Background:

I live in Michigan and have been hiking seriously for 15 years, although I've camped since I was 6 years old. I consider myself a lightweight hiker. I carry the lightest gear I can get my hands on which will provide a comfortable wilderness experience and adequately support the goals of my trip. Unless my goals are time/distance oriented, my pace is always slow. I rarely exceed 1.5 miles (2.4 km)/hour. I rest frequently, hike long days, and enjoy whatever nature throws my way.

Reviews > Sleep Gear > Pads and Air Mattresses > Insul Mat Max-Thermo > Andy Mytys > Field Report