Insul Mat
Max-Lite
Women’s Edition
Field Report

Biography

Name:	Ashlee Gunter
Age:	27
Gender:	Female
Height:	5’ 1” (1.52 m)
Weight:	110 lb (50 kg)
Email Address:	n8trlvr76(at)yahoo(dot)com
City, State:	Baton Rouge (Denham Springs), LA
Date:	February 25, 2004

Backpacking Background

I have been backpacking and hiking in one form or another most of my life.  Actually, I was car camping before I was born.  While I was growing up, my father was a Boy Scout Leader.  He would load my sister and me up with packs, just like the guys, and take us along with him on their trips.  As I’ve grown, I’ve had the opportunity to hike and backpack in South Florida, Utah and Idaho, and now presently Louisiana and Mississippi.  I’ve hiked terrain from high desert to swamp.  I do not really have much experience or desire for winter mountaineering. I spent the majority of the past four years either pregnant or caring for a young child.  As a result, I have been limited to primarily day hiking for the past few years.  My son is now 3 and I have the opportunity to backpack again. It is really fun getting back into it and I wonder how I was satisfied with just day hiking the past few years.  Because of a busy life, my trips are still limited mostly to day or weekend trips.  My son joins us on most of our trips.  As a result of this, lightweight compact gear is essential for us, although I would not classify myself as strictly lightweight.  

Product Information

Manufacturer:	Pacific Outdoor Equipment
Website:	www.pacoutdoor.com
Model Year:	2004
Listed Weight:	26 oz (737g)
Actual Weight:	24 oz (680 g)
MSRP:	$54
Sleeping Pad Size:	Petite

 
Test Locations

I tested the Insul Mat Max-Lite in the Kisatchie National Forest in Northern Louisiana.  This area has varied terrain with hills and sandstone rock.  While I was there, it was pretty muddy from recent rainfall, but it does not have the wetness of the marshes and swamps typical to Louisiana. The Kisatchie National Forest varies in elevation from around 200 - 400+ ft (61 - 122+ m) above sea level. This is unusual as most of Louisiana is at or even below sea level. The temperatures ranged from around 55 F (12.78 C) during the day to below 30 F (-1.10 C) at night. Humidity and condensation was prevalent.

Product Information

The Max-Lite is a women's specific, self inflating, sleeping pad. According to Pacific Outdoors’ website, the sleeping pad is filled with Die Cut Matrix foam under the body, high R-Value Basix foam under the feet and body supporting Dot foam under the hips.  In addition it is covered with Griptec, proprietary non-slip shell fabric, 150D air-textured poly that is supposed to keep the pad and sleeping bag in place.

Field Information

I store the Insul Mat Max-Lite unrolled when I am not using it.  To pack it, I folded it in half and rolled it as the instructions stated.  I then placed it in the stuff sack and packed it in my pack just above the sleeping bag compartment.  When I set up camp, I unrolled the Insul Mat Max-Lite, opened the valve and put it inside my tent.  When I went back 15 minutes later, the sleeping pad was not inflated. I have inflated it a few times at home as the instructions mentioned, but it still seems to be slow to inflate.  I blew into the valve and the pad inflated quickly.

While testing the Insul Mat Max-Lite, I slept in a tent and used my 20 F (-6.66 C) poly fill sleeping bag.  I put this on top of the sleeping pad and climbed in.  Less than five minutes later, my three year old decided to join me in my sleeping bag instead of his.  Even with him lying down with me, the Max-Lite was comfortable and supportive.  The temperature was in the above freezing and I felt warm.  Through the night, the temperature dropped below freezing.  I was surprised to wake and find I was cold.  I could feel cold coming up from underneath me. While the Max-Lite felt great, it did not insulate the way I had hoped it would.  Additionally, I move around a lot in my sleep so I was interested in whether I would slip off the sleeping pad or not.  I did seem to slip a little, but I did not wake up sleeping on the floor of the tent next to the pad as I have when I have slept on air mattresses.

Testing Strategy:

I plan to use this sleeping pad on a series of weekend backpacking trips in the National Forests and other areas of Mississippi and Louisiana. I also plan to do a longer trip in North Louisiana in the spring. I plan to use this sleeping pad for any car camping trips as well.  I will be sleeping in a tent and my 20 F (-6.66 C) sleeping bag.  Later in the test period when it warms a little, I will probably be sleeping in my bag liner as opposed to a full bag.  The terrain will be mostly flat with minimal variations in elevation at times.  I will continue to test the comfort of this sleeping pad, along with its insulating qualities. 

Things I Like:

*  Compact and lightweight
*  Comfortable and supportive

Things I Don’t Like:

*  Does not insulate well below freezing
*  Slips when rolling up if folded in half
*  Slow to inflate