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Owner
review: Metzeler Thermo Mat
Review Date: 11th June, 2005
Personal Information:
- Name: Ralph Ditton
- Age: 53
- Gender: Male
- Height: 1.76 m
(5’ 9”)
- Weight: 79 kg (174 lb)
- Email:
rdassetts@optusnet.com.au
- City: Perth, Western
Australia
Backpacking Background:
I only took up backpacking seriously
some four years ago. I have been walking the Bibbulmun Track in
sections. My goal is to complete the 964 km (603 mi) and become an End
to End walker. So far I have completed approximately two-thirds of the
Track from North to South, and a quarter in the opposite direction.
I have evolved from carrying a
very heavyweight
load—approximately 28 kg, (62 lb) including food and
water—to being a midweight backpacker, averaging 18 kg (38
lb) at
the start of a trip. I am hoping to purchase gear that's lighter still.
My trips are usually between three to five days duration.
Product
information:
- Manufacturer: Metzeler
- Made in : Memmingen, Germany
- Year of
Manufacturer: 2002
- Year of Purchase: February,
2003
- Website: http://www.metzeler-schaum.de
- Model: Basic Thermo Mat
- Listed Dimensions: 180 cm x
50 cm x 3 cm (71" x 19" x 1")
- Listed Weight: 1 kg (2.2 lb)
- Manufacturers Insulation
Rating: 0,08 WK at a mat thickness of 3
cm (1")
- Foam: Low-density open
celled polyurethane
- Valve: Plastic easy-close
turning valve
- Fabric Cover: Air and
water-tight anti-slip Polyurethane (PU) coated PES fabric
- Colour: Olive Green
- MSRP: AU$110
My Measurements
- Measured Dimensions: 177.5
cm x 49.5 cm x 2.9 cm (70" x 19 1/2" x
1")
- Measured Weight: 1 kg
50 gm (2.31 lb)
- Flat Edge Seam on all four
sides: 2 cm (1")
Product
Description
The Metzeler Thermo Mat (hereinafter known as mat) is a full length,
self-inflating sleeping mattress, rectangular in shape, designed to
cushion a person under 180 cm (71") tall in comfort.
Field
Information
I have used my mat in my tent
and the shelters provided, in all
seasons whilst backpacking on the Bibbulmun Track in the South West of
Western Australia (WA). The major use has been in winter conditions and
rain is pretty well guaranteed on most days and nights. The South West
of Western Australia is characterized by a Mediterranean climate with
hot dry summers ranging from 16 C to 42 C (61 F to 108 F)
during
December to March and cool wet winters ranging from -3 C to 28 C (26 F
to 85.5 F) during June to August.
Terrain on the track is
undulating, ranging from 0 to 585 metres
elevation (0 to 1,920 ft).
Within this region I backpack
along old forestry roads, sandy
tracks, and purpose-built walking tracks.
I have used the mat on sleeping
platforms in the huts provided and in my tent. The ground is mainly
sandy loam with pea gravel embedded in it, and occasionally ironstone
or granite stones in the soil.
Features
Insulation
I contacted the manufacturer
for the insulation rating as I could
not find it in any of their publications.
They
advised me of the
rating, listed under Product Information.
I
always place a groundsheet
under the mat whether I am in my tent or on a sleeping platform, for
protection and to help keep the mat clean. I have
never felt any cold coming through the mat, but when my arms or legs
come off the mat during the night, I
can feel the cold ground, or sleeping platform, depending on
what
surface I am sleeping on, even through my Super-mini Sleeping Bag.
The
sudden change of
temperature on my body parts not on the mat resulted in a very rapid
movement to get those body parts back on the mat and away from the
cold.
The
foam core stores a large
amount of stationary air which means that the mattress is
warmer
to sleep on than sleeping on the ground, and I am a warm sleeper.
The
mat thickness of 3 cm (1") initially had me worried that the
mat would be insufficient to
cushion my hips and shoulders, as I predominately sleep on my side.
I
was debating with myself if
I should purchase a thicker mat, but I was off-put by the extra weight
a
thicker mat would entail.
My
decision to purchase the
mat with the 3 cm (1") thickness has been fully
justified
as my hips and shoulders are comfortably cushioned.
The
mat does not slide around
on top of my groundsheet during the night , possibly due to the
anti-slip property of the fabric.
Packing
the Mat
On a few occasions I have packed the mat inside my backpack and let
the mat partially inflate. This resulted in the mat pushing the sides
of
my backpack out and I then put gear inside the hollow created by the
mat.
I only do this when I am going on overnighters as I do not need a lot
of gear.
For longer trips, I wrap the mat in its stuff sack, inside the
groundsheet and place the
package inside the stuff sack, then strap it to the outside of my
backpack, leaving more room inside the backpack for other gear.
Only once did I completely deflate the mat and put it inside the
backpack, but it was not a complete success as the mat wanted to curl
up, making it awkward to pack the rest of the gear.
I roll the mat up at its full width as it is awkward to roll it up if I
fold the mat in half. The main problem is that if I fold the mat in
half, then it is very hard to deflate it properly.
Inflate/Deflate
I inflate my mat by turning
the black plastic easy-close turning
valve cap anti-clockwise. This opens the valve and air is drawn into
the mat.
Full inflation can take anywhere between two to four minutes, depending
on how tight I had rolled the mat up the last time I used it.
When the mat has ceased to draw more air into it, I place my mouth over
the cap and blow twice into the mat to firm up the mat, then turn the
cap clockwise to seal the air inside the mat.
Whilst turning the cap, I place my tongue on the end of the cap to seal
the vents to prevent air escaping.
The end of the cap has five vents with a solid centre and in the centre
is stamped Foam Tex.
The circumference of the cap is ridged like the caps on toothpaste and
ointments, to assist in turning the cap by letting my fingers obtain a
grip.
Metzeler states that their valves are very durable and can stand a lot
of punishment.
This is a claim I do not want to test as I could think of nothing worse
than being at a bush campsite with a broken valve
To deflate my mat, I turn the cap anti-clockwise and this opens the
valve. I then commence to roll the mat up and with each half turn of
the roll, I place both knees on the mat to squeeze out the air and I do
this until the mat is completely rolled up
At this stage I then turn the cap clockwise to seal off the valve, thus
preventing air from entering.
Cleaning
To clean my mat I use a damp cloth, as recommended by the manufacturer,
to remove any dirt from the fabric.
The mat does have a stain patch which I cannot remove which was caused
by a medical product I was using on myself.
To date, there is no sign of fraying along the seams or any worn
patches where the mat contacts the ground, nor any sign of separation
of the fabric from the foam.
Storage
At home, I store the mat
under my bed in an unrolled state with
the valve open so that any latent moisture from my breath can dry out.
The manufacturer states that the foam is treated with an "Anti Mould
Treatment" before the mats are manufactured and Metzeler states in
their literature that it is ok to assist inflation by giving the mat a
few puffs by mouth.
Repairs
The mat was supposed to have
a repair kit as part of the
purchase, however mine was missing. I brought this to the attention of
the store where I purchased the mat, after reading the accompanying
product information wrap-around when I got home, and they
obtained a repair kit for
me without any trouble.
Fortunately I have not had to use the repair kit yet, nor do I relish
the idea of trying to locate a tiny puncture in my mat out in the bush.
The repair kit is very basic with three circular olive/green PU patches
with a 40 mm (1 1/2") diameter and a tube of glue that is 35 mm 1 1/4")
long and 11 mm (1/2") wide.
The weight is less than 1 g (0.04 oz). My scales did not
register a reading.
Metzeler states that it has a world-wide guarantee which means that my
local dealer
should help me with a repair or a replacement if need be.
However, there is no further information to be gleaned from their web
site, so it is unclear if it is a lifetime guarantee or just for
manufacturers defects.
Stuff
Sack
The mat was also supposed to
come with a stuff sack according to
the fine print in the advertising material which I discovered when I
got home and read up on the mat.
I contacted my local dealer who referred me to the Australian Agent. To
the Agent's credit, they mailed a stuff sack to me at their expense.
The stuff sack is green in colour and made out of nylon. It has a
drawcord with a spring- loaded toggle at the open end. The other end is
sealed.
The dimensions of the stuff sack are:
- Length: 630 mm (25")
- Circumference: 470 mm (18
1/2")
- Weight: 25 g (1 oz)
When the mat is rolled up correctly with as much air as possible out of
it, then it fits in and out of the stuff sack very easily. In fact it
is a bit loose in the stuff sack. That is where the draw cord is
helpful in closing off the end and keeping the mat inside the stuff
sack.
I always use the stuff sack when backpacking as it gives the mat one
more
layer of protection when wrapped inside my groundsheet.
Points
to Consider
Manufacturers
list of things
to avoid
- avoid exposure to direct
sunlight over long periods
- do not inflate using
compressed-air devices
- do
not place mat on stones, branches or similar pointed or sharp objects
- avoid contact with suntan
oil, insect repellent and chemicals
How
I nearly
killed my self-inflating mat without really trying in four easy lessons
The
incidents listed below have been done by me, but fortunately through
either good luck or a very tough mat, the mat has survived with only a
stain.
- Left the mat inflated
with the valve closed inside a tent on a very hot day. The
mat did not burst or delaminate ie.separation of the fabric from the
foam
- Spilt oils, creams and fuel
on the mat
- Put a hot cup on the mat.The
mat's fabric was not damaged or delaminated at the
spot where the cup rested
- Sat on the mat near a
campfire. The mat did not over-pressurize , burst or
delaminate
Needless to say, my warranty would have been null and void and I have
learnt what not to do with my mat.
Likes
- Very comfortable
- Easy to inflate/deflate
- Keeps my body warm
- Tough
Dislikes
Would
I purchase another one
I would not purchase the same
model as the company now has a range of lighter mats.
In due course I will be purchasing a full-length mat that packs smaller
and is lighter.
Read more reviews of Metzeler gear
Read more gear reviews by Ralph Ditton
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