Owner Review Mountain Pro 3.8 Small
Date: November 12th, 2006* Reviewer Information
Name: Andrew Preece
Age: 45
Gender: Male
Height: 1.76 m (5’ 9”)
Weight: 87 kg (191 lb)
Email: a1preece at iinet.net.au
City: Perth, Western Australia
* Backpacking Background
I have done a lot of hiking over the years but only now carry a tent and all the
gear for overnight stays of 1 to 2 nights.
I normally carry approximately 17 kg (35 lb) which includes food and water,
My trips are usually between one to three days duration mainly over weekends. I
hike all seasons with winter temperatures ranging from 4 C (39 F) to 18 C (64 F) with
heavy rain at times to summer with the temperature ranging from 20 C (68 F) to 35 C (95 F)
and very dry. |
The full mat.
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*Product Information
Manufacturer: Mountain Designs
Manufacturer's URL:
www.mountaindesigns.com.au
Year of manufacturer: 2006
Year of Purchase: April 2006
Model: Mountain Pro 3.8 small
Dimensions: as stated by manufacturer
* Length: 120 cm (47")
* Width: 54 cm (21")
* Thickness: 3.5 cm (1.5")
*Weight: 480 g (16 oz )
*Manufacturers Insulation Rating: 0.08 WK at a mat
thickness of 3 cm (1 1/8")
*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: Red
MSRP: AU $129.95 |
The Valve.
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*Description
This Mountain Designs Mountain Mat is a 2/3 length,
self-inflating sleeping mattress and is oval in shape. The mat is designed to be
wider at the shoulders and narrower at the legs, with body-mapped die-cut zones
to reduce pack size and weight. The inner foam is cut so as to give most comfort
under the hips and less at the head to reduce weight and yet supply padding
and insulation where most needed.
The underside of the Mat is coated with urethane dots which are spread over the
whole of the under side to prevent slippage on most surfaces.
*My Measurements
* Length: 116 cm (45")
* Width: 51 cm (20")
* Thickness: 3.5 cm (1 3/8")
*Weight: 410 g (14 oz )
Packed
for travel
Length: 27 cm (10")
Circumference: 44 cm (17 1/2")
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The
body-mapped die-cut zones.
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*Review
After borrowing different mats from a friend,
some full length and some 3/4 it was time to get my own. I did a lot of research
into what I wanted in a mat and wanting to keep my pack size and weight to a
minimum I decided on a thin 3/4 length mat. I choose this mat because the weight
seemed very light and the shape of this design looked to be just what I was
looking for.
The mat came wrapped in a plastic cover with details of the size and weight on
it, also a diagram showing how the mat was to be placed under my body. The
diagram shows the top end of the mat placed under the head area but I always
place the mat further down my body with my head resting on what ever I have at
hand. The mat comes with a stuff sack, a
hook-and-loop strap and
a repair kit in case of a
hole in the fabric.
The mat has special die cut foam inside the fabric, which is cut in such a way
that at the head or shoulders the cut away sections are much larger and do away
with more weight and yet still keep that part of the body comfortable and
insulated. The hip end of the matt is cut with a different pattern and with less
material taken away from the inner foam so as to afford maximum cushioning and
warmth on those cold nights.
The mat has a simple valve at the head end to allow air in or out of it. I would
normally allow the mat to self inflate inside my tent while I tend to other
things then once I am to go to sleep I would inflate the mat with a few blows
from my mouth into the valve as if it were a balloon just to make it a little
firmer, this is a personal thing and I had to try different pressures
to find what was the most comfortable for me. At my last camping trip I found I had
put too much air into the mat and felt uncomfortable for most of the night.
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The
urethane dots.
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This mat has a sealed edge that runs around the perimeter
of it and protrudes out 1.2 cm (1/2") from the edge of the inner foam. This edge
looks to be heat sealed and shows no sign of leaking so far. The under-side of
the mat has been covered with urethane dots spread over the whole surface to
prevent slippage on tents or ground sheets and I have found that it works very
well on my tent and with a plastic sheet I use as a ground sheet.
I spent one night in a site chosen in the dark which turned out to be on a
forward facing slope, during the night I never felt like I was slipping toward
the front of the tent but awoke to find I was in the same place that I had
bedded down for the night.
The top side of the mat has a slight plastic feel to it but a it is a lot better
than some others I have felt and never feels cold to the touch. The only time I
do feel cold is when my arm comes off the mat during the night and touches the
ground.
When I pack up in the morning I release the valve to let the air out and fold
the mat in half length ways, then with the valve still loose I roll the mat up
from the foot end toward the head. Once I reach that end and before letting
go of the mat, I close the valve to stop any air from getting back in. I then
unroll the mat and roll it again from the foot end but once a little pressure
has built inside the mat I release the valve and continue to roll to the end.
Then using the hook and loop strap provided with the mat I secure it so as not to
become unrolled, and place it in the stuff sack provided. For me a good rule of
thumb is, if I cannot get it back into the stuff sack easily then I did
not roll it tight enough the first time and will redo it.
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The seam.
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*Test conditions
I picked up my mat early in winter and my first
nights sleep in Perth on this mat was just on a ground sheet under a tarp and
was about 5 C (41 F) that night. I have since used it right up through winter
until summer this year and have used it in overnight temperatures ranging
from 5 C (41 F) to 15 C (59 F).
*Conclusion
Pro
Very light, very small packed size, very warm, has
Velcro strap and repair kit.
Con
Cannot think of one at this stage.
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The mat rolled up along
side a can to illustrate the size.
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