LONG TERM REPORT – INSUL-MAT MAX THERMO SLEEPING PAD

BIOGRAPHY

Name: Seth Middleton

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Height: 6'0" (182 cm)

Weight: 180 lb (81 kg)

Email Address: SDMiddleton@yahoo.com

City, State, and Country: Louisville, Kentucky, U.S.A.

Date of Report: 6 Sept 2004

Date Product Received: 12 February 2004

Backpacking Background: My first backpacking trip was

probably when I was 12 or 13 years old and I've been hooked

ever since (for the past 14 years). I generally attempt to

keep my backpack fairly lightweight, but I'm not above

bringing the extra comfort amenities. I mostly take weekend

trips, with occasional longer trips. I've backpacked in

many of the Midwestern states and the Rockies, as well as

the Adirondacks and the Appalachians. I normally hike in

low altitude, hilly, woodland terrain. 

PRODUCT INFORMATION

Manufacturer: Insul Mat

Year of Manufacture: 2004

URL: http://www.pacoutdoor.com

Outer Material: 70D nylon bottom / light 50D diamond

ripstop top

Color: Black bottom / red top

Manufacturer's Weight:  23 oz (650 g)

Measured Weight (sleeping pad, stuff sack, repair kit): 25

oz (709 g)

   - Sleeping pad alone: 23.7 oz (672 g)

   - Stuff sack alone: 0.7 oz (20 g)

   - Repair kit alone: 0.6 oz (17 g)

Manufacturer's Stuff Size: N/A

Measured Stuff Size: 10.5 x 5.5 in (27 x 14 cm)

Manufacturer's dimensions: 20 x 72 x 2.5 in (51 x 183 x 6.3

cm)

My Measured Dimensions: 24 in (61 cm) at the widest point x

72 in (183 cm) long x 2.5 in (6.3 cm) high fully inflated

LONG TERM REPORT

I have not kept track of the exact number of nights I've

used the Max Thermo, but suffice it to say that I've used

it on many campouts in the past 6 months. Mostly, I've used

it on overnight backpacking trips. I've also used it on

several car camping trips and on a few multi-day

backpacking trips (none more than 3 nights). After using

the Max Thermo for the past 6 months, my one-sentence

bottom line is that it is a superb sleeping pad and I

expect to use it for years.

Since my last report, I've used the Max Thermo in warmer

weather, with night temperatures reaching up to

approximately 70 F (20 C). During these nights, the

sleeping pad was quite comfortable; it did not make me too

hot. I think that I most notably felt the insulating

properties of the Max Thermo in the colder weather, as

previously reported. One of the great things that I've

learned to appreciate more in the summer months has been

the small rolled up size of the Max Thermo. I generally

attempt to lighten my load in the summer, and it was great

to have a sleeping pad that is small enough to stuff into

my cooking pot (not that I did).

I tried the sleeping pad in my apartment pool and it worked

well as a flotation device. I could lay on it and float

around just fine in the water. It did not seem to soak up

any water. Although I have not seen it advertised as being

waterproof, it is made out of a slick nylon material - 

water just beads up and rolls off quite easily. In the past, 

after rainy campouts I've had to let my other sleeping pads 

air dry. However, with the Max Thermo, I can just shake the 

water off. Speaking of water, I've been unsure of whether or 

not condensation from my breath while inflating it would have 

a detrimental affect. At first, I stored it deflated and

rolled out under my bed. For the past few months, though,

I've just stored it rolled up in its stuff bag. My

conclusion is that the condensation from my breath has no

real affect (after 6 months anyway).

One of the mixed blessings of the Max Thermo is its shape.

Its mummy shape allows it to be folded and packed very

small. However, it is inconvenient when using it side by

side with another type of sleeping pad. My wife, when she's

not stealing my Max Thermo, uses a rectangular Therma-Rest.

When we both use a Therma-Rest, we can place them side by

side to make almost one big sleeping pad. The Max Thermo,

though, is a stand-alone sleeping pad; it is not conducive

for cuddling with that significant other. For this reason,

I would like to compare the Max Thermo with some of the

rectangular-shaped Insul-Mat sleeping pads and see if their

packed sizes are significantly different. That being said,

my wife and I like the Max Thermo so much that we plan on

buying a second one before autumn.

CONCLUSION

I love the Max Thermo. It is the most comfortable

single-person sleeping pad that I've ever slept on. The

biggest comfort benefit of the Max Thermo is the fact that

my hips don't dig into the ground when I lay on my side. It

also has the smallest pack size of any sleeping pad I've

ever used. It insulates well on cold nights, it doubles

terrifically as a water toy, and it is a cool color. I see

no signs of wear and tear on it after using it for 6 months

(granted, I have taken good care of it). I have not had to

use the patch kit, but it seems very simple: apply the

glue, apply the patch. Really, I have no complaints. The

only two things that have possible drawbacks are the fact

that I have to blow it up by mouth (which takes less than 1

minute) and the fact that its mummy shape makes it more

difficult to sleep close to my wife. Thank you very much to

POE and BackpackGearTest for letting me test the Max Thermo

- I think it is a great product and I will continue using

it as my primary sleeping pad, in all seasons.