Name: Jennifer Joy
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Height: 5'4" (1.63 m)
Weight: 150 lb (68 kg)
Email address: jjoy AT io DOT com
Location: Austin, Texas
Date: February 28, 2004

Backpacking Background

I have been camping and hiking since I was a toddler, traveling with my parents across the Western United States. Much of my recent time in the outdoors has been spent in Texas and in the mountains of New Mexico, with some time spent in New England. I often camp and hike from a sea kayak as my vehicle. I used to be not very weight conscious, but I am actively working to move towards lightweight backpacking and plan to replace much of my gear in an effort to help an extreme tendency for tendonitis. My backpacking trips tend to be over a weekend or day hikes within a multi-day kayaking trip. Multi-week hiking is a long-term goal. I could be considered a beginner backpacker but an experienced camper.

Product Information

Manufacturer: Insul Mat
Year of manufacture: 2004
Website: www.pacoutdoor.com
Listed weight: 23 oz (650 g)
Weight as tested: 24.2 oz (686 g)
Each component:
Pad: 23 oz (652 g)
Stuff sack: 0.7 oz (20 g)
Patch kit: 0.6 oz (17 g)
Item number: 170MT-650
MSRP: $55.00 (US currency)
Warranty: Lifetime for defects in materials and workmanship

Material: 70-denier nylon bottom (black), 50-denier diamond ripstop nylon top (red)

Listed dimensions of pad: 20 x 72 x 2.5 in / 51 x 183 x 6.3 cm
(Note: All of my measured dimensions do not include a 3/8 in / 1 cm border seam on all sides)
Measured dimensions (uninflated): 28 x 73 x .06 in / 71 x 36 x .15 cm
Measured dimensions (inflated): 20 x 71.5 x 3.25 in / 51 x 182 x 8 cm

Listed dimensions of rolled pad: N/A
Measured dimensions of rolled pad: 5 x 11 in (13 x 28 cm)

Product Description

The Insul Mat Max-Thermo pad is a six chambered manually inflated air pad for sleeping. Its shape is mummy-style with a tapered head that flares to wide shoulders then gradual tapers to the foot (which is approximately 14 in / 36 cm wide.) It features a synthetic fill insulation inside of each tube. Inflation is through a brass valve with plastic cover.

As delivered:

The pad arrived packed simply in a small black nylon stuff sack with a corded drawstring and toggle. A small booklet was attached to the drawstring that describes:

the product in many languages
a short list of features (which is also where the flating/packing instructions are hidden)
warranty
company philosophy

The bottom of the stuff sack has a clever pocket that holds a patch kit. The patch kit includes:

"Mat - Fix A" glue
instructions
two patches (6 x 4 in / 15 x 10 cm) of each fabric

The pad features (from the booklet):

synthetic fiber filled tubes with three season insulation
weather-safe and impact-resistant brass valve
durable water-repellent (DWR) finish to resist stains and "wetting out"

The product was exactly as I expected from my prior research on the website. I wish the website had included the rolled size of the pad, as that is one of my key factors in product selection. In this case, it would have been to the manufacturer's advantage.

There are not very detailed instructions. To inflate it is recommended that you open the valve, manually inflate, and then close the valve. For most comfort and less slip the manufacturer recommends to not fill "to trampoline like firmness." To deflate, the valve is opened, the pad is rolled starting at the end away from the valve until the air is out (a repeated effort might be needed). Once deflated the pad is supposed to be folded, rolled, and stored in the stuff sack for more protection.

First use and impressions:

Pad details:
The most noticeable feature of the pad, besides its flat flounder-like profile, is the deep color of red. The diamond patterned ripstop nylon shimmers. The thicker feeling bottom material is a flat black nylon which seems dull and purposeful compared to the top.

The pad was easy to inflate. I tried it three times and it took between 22 - 24 breaths for me to inflate the pad as full as I could get it. The pad does not self-inflate at all. I could feel the insulation inside the tubes before inflation, but it was hard to tell how it was attached or what form it takes.

As brief as the instructions are, they were helpful in getting all the air back out of the mat. My first attempt, before reading the directions, was less than successful as I tried squishing out air and folding all at once. The second try, I rolled the mat as instructed. There was still some air left, so I have incorporated the added step of squishing the final rolled up tube, which seemed to remove all the air satisfactorily and kept me from having to unroll and reroll the mat a second time. I rolled the mat back into its original packed dimensions (which appears to have been folded in half lengthwise, then in thirds, then rolled across the width). The product still had a strong memory of how it had been folded, I could even tell which direction the fold was in. Another time I folded the mat in half and then rolled it lengthwise and that was also successful in producing a small bundle.

A squishy product involving air that goes back into its original stuff sack with out any extra effort is a first for me!

First test:

Location: House
Temperature: 64 F / 18F
Description: Slept on a low pile carpet in my sleeping bag with camp pillow
Goal: Initial product exploration

I like to try a product in a controlled environment with bailout options before going out and finding that I need an adjustment I cannot make in the field. I found that the instruction booklet was correct, I favored the pad slightly underinflated. This was more comfortable. I don't know about slippage as I still slipped some downward but not off the side, and it will be interesting to see what happens on less even ground.

The pad is really narrow. I fit fine on it lengthwise, being far shorter than its length. My arms just fit along side my body for the width. My wider than normal mummy bag draped over the edges a little bit, yet after a night of use I did not fall off to the side or feel confined. Sleeping on my back, stomach and sides seemed comfortable and well-supported. It will be interesting to see how my opinion might change after multiple uses and in less ideal conditions. I did notice that moving along the top of the pad, as if to crawl out of the tent, is a bouncy experience. I needed to move with more care with this pad than others that I have used.

Field Test Plan

Locations for Test:

1. Texas in the Winter/Spring/Summer
Description: Weekend backpacking/hiking in varied terrain near sea level. I estimate 8-10 trips and I plan to have an additional 1 or 2 kayak-based camping trips as well. There will be hiking in the woods and on the beach and camping during two-day cycling events.
Weather: Seasonal variation. From nighttime highs in the low 40s (5 C) at the beginning of the test period to highs at the end of the test period going in to the hot range (90 F / 32 C). In the middle I expect a lot of nice weather.
Style: Backpacking, sand, roots, rocks, dirt, etc. Silnylon tent.
Goal: Durability, functionality, long-term use.

Considerations for Test:

Fit/Comfort:

What is it like to sleep on rounded tubes?
Does the added insulation work for warmth, and will it remain in place?
Measure, as well as possible, the subjective experience of good sleep and comfort, especially side sleeping with all the pointy body bits needing extra support.
Will uneven ground, rocks and roots (within reason) be a problem?

Sleeping pad:

Will my sleeping bag slip off it to the side or bottom?
If my tent is on a slope will the pad move across the slippery silnylon tent floor?
How quickly does it inflate?
It is hard to operate the valve?
Is it easy to inflate manually via the valve?
Will having to always manually inflate be difficult?
Will the non-rectangular shape prove a problem in a smallish tent for 2 and how well will a thinner mat and this thick mat coexist in a tent together?
If something spills on it, is it hard to clean?
How well does the DWR finish work?

Stowage/Durability:

How small can I compact it after multiple uses?
What size is when compacted and why isn't this on the web site?
How durable is the outer material, do I need to worry about it if it is lashed to the outside of the pack or tossed in a gear pile?
Should it puncture, how hard is it to repair?
Will the pad hold up after many uses?

The bottom line is that "low bulk, simplicity and max thickness" are compelling features in a pad, so how well does it measure up to this and are there any drawbacks?

Summary of initial likes:

Small packing and light-weight
Repacks into original size easily
Beautiful red color

Summary of concerns:

Best storage method for extending product life is unknown

A final note:

Thank you to BackpackGearTest and Insul Mat for the opportunity to test the Max-Thermo.

Read more reviews of Pacific Outdoor Equipment gear
Read more gear reviews by Jennifer Joy

Initial Report