How to choose a camping mat

Sleeping bag and mat in any campaign - is, in fact, a bed tourist. And the camp-bed, as usual, "home" should be as comfortable and convenient.

 A friend of mine was sleeping during travel is not in the travel rug and on the material of the reflectors for the car. Enjoy this were not enough, because his back after the next night, she remembered every pebble. Therefore, if you do not want a few years to grab sciatica, then Take seriously the choice of travel rug. What you should know when choosing camping mat
It is important to understand what pad you need. Travel mats are of two types: inflated and foam. We do not consider home-made rugs, which can be produced even from a spruce forest: here the main role to play your imagination and ingenuity. If you still want to make sure you had a real camping mat, then read on.
Inflated mats - a mat that you want to deceive, either individually or through a special apparatus. Often inflate them a breeze: simply open the valve and the air itself will be typed into the mat. Blow off the mat just as easy: the valve opens and as you twist the pad in a small roll, the air itself out of the rug. They are very lightweight and compact, which facilitates weight of a backpack and pack other things. Their thickness is on average from 2.5 to 5 cm, but developed and larger pads for larger people.
Foam mats in the nation have different names: foam, mats, rugs easy. For their manufacture using foam or polyurethane foam, and they come in different designs. The most common - mats, curled into a roll. Such mats can easily fasten to a backpack with side ties or put inside a backpack in a twisted state, if the other things you have not so much. There are still folding mats, consisting of small plates of foam that are more compact and occupy less space inside the backpack.
Foam mats have become very popular among the people due to the comparative strength and cheapness. Choosing such mats, pay attention to their thickness. Thickness mats are of two types: single and double layer. If you are traveling during the warmer days and not sleep on the frozen ground, then you are quite suitable single-layer pad. If in your plans - accommodation at low temperatures, then store a two-layer mat (or multigrade). Usually you can distinguish them by color: two-layer has two layers, painted in different colors and one layer are the same color. All season floor mats, respectively, more voluminous in size, but more durable and reliable. Seasonal mats are designed for warm weather, they are softer, but not very durable. Sometimes they make the seals, but even this does not prevent them to be more susceptible to strain and injury.
So it is better to take all-season mat, consisting of two layers. Such a mat will serve you faithfully for several years, of course, if you do not always travel in the pine groves and falling on sharp stones, which will scratch and damage the surface of the rug.
Foam mats are used by tourists for different purposes: as a mattress and bedding for a seat on the grass and even as a windscreen for a gas burner. Thanks to the moisture resistance and frost "scum" to stay in shape for a long time. On such a pad, you can safely put a hot dish, heavy objects, and have no fear about his safety. However, be careful, being near the fire. And foam, and even more inflatable mats easily burnt sparks.
Almost all carpets are made of some parameters: from about 180 to 195 cm in length and from 50 to 65 cm in width. These pads are designed for high rather big men. Therefore, if you're a fragile girl of medium height, you can look for a female version of the rug that appeared on the market. They are slightly smaller in size and length and width. Or, as practiced by experienced tourists can trim pad on its dimensions and size. So you will save space in your backpack, and also from the remaining pieces of carpet can be a wonderful sidushku for sitting on the ground or wet trees. I hope you realize that you can only cut the rug, or polyurethane penopolietilenovy. Because if you truncate the inflatable pad, then any benefit you no longer will bring tourists and friends will long remember you this incident. Now commercially available mats, for instance, have narrowed to the legs. So, choose a rug to your preference regarding the size.
But do not forget that tourism "bed" is another addition to the rug and a sleeping bag, but they are usually made the same size. Therefore, if you will cut the rug, your sleeping bag may be suffering from damp, which will become more accessible. But this only applies to conditions of high humidity, when part of a sleeping bag will not on the mat, and on the floor of the tent. Otherwise, this method only saves space in your backpack or on it.
To secure the mat can be purchased for him a special case that will prevent scratches and damage. Usually such cases either supplied to the mats, or purchased separately.
If you are traveling at different times of year, it acquires two carpet: foam and inflatable. Sometimes at low temperatures a rug is small, and sleep will be cold. If Experienced travelers use two mats laid on each other.
Weigh the pros and cons, consider all options rug (size, type, seasonality) and in advance for travel rug in the store! Now I think you will have no difficulty to choose a mat and thereby ensure a comfortable outdoor recreation.