8 best companies self-inflating mats

Lovers of multi-day trips are familiar with all the troubles and domestic problems that may accompany a pleasant pastime in nature. One of the most important tasks of tourist equipment is to ensure maximum comfort of the event, including taking care of a good and healthy sleep. After all, only a well-rested person will be able to continue the journey in good health and excellent mood.

Travel mats are an integral element of expeditions that involve spending the night in a tent. Its main function is to isolate the body from the cold that emanates from the earth’s surface, as well as smoothing out the natural irregularities of the relief. The design of rugs of open-porous materials, which are capable of self-filling with air, was first developed in the USA in the 70s of the last century. Since then, this particular device is considered the most popular type of litter used in sports tourism and recreation.

If for the first time you are faced with the problem of choosing equipment for a hike, before buying a convenient and functional self-inflating mat, you must consider some important factors:

• size - proceed from the individual characteristics of your figure, but consider the fact that more overall rugs always have more weight. This may adversely affect transportation;
• conditions of operation - depending on what time of year you plan to go on a trip, you need to choose a model with optimal thermal insulation values. Responsible manufacturers indicate on their products the permissible temperature parameters at which the mat can reliably protect you from chills and dampness;
• thickness and shape - on sale you can often find rectangular or tapering bedding, and the additional volume will create more comfortable conditions for rest;
• brand reputation - if you want to buy a high-quality and reliable product, you should look at the mats produced by American and European brands. Chinese products, which have flooded the departments of sports shops in abundance, do not guarantee a long service life, since they are made of the cheapest materials.

We present you an overview of the most famous Russian and foreign companies engaged in the production of the best self-inflating mats. In the distribution of places in the ranking, we took into account:

• brand assortment;
• demand for goods;
• expert opinions;
• reviews ordinary buyers, tourists.

The best foreign brands of self-inflating mats

By tradition, companies from the USA and Europe are considered the best developers of self-inflating bedding. The rugs of the brands of these countries are light, durable and functional models that, if you follow all the rules of operation, will faithfully and faithfully serve you for years. The main drawback, which draws the attention of most buyers, is the high price of products. However, if you plan to engage in tourism thoroughly, it is better to give preference to proven manufacturers with a worldwide reputation.

5 Alexika

Alexika Sport Group is an international company registered in Portland (USA) in 1995, which began, like many other companies, from a small community of enthusiasts of mountain climbing and hiking trips. Over time, the quality of the goods raised the company's reputation to the highest level, production expanded and, soon the brand became international, opening a European headquarters in Augsburg (Germany). And in 2000, tourist equipment under the brand Alexika appeared on the Russian market. The priority activity of the concern is the production of high-strength tourist tents, sleeping bags and carpets. In addition, Alexika Sport Group produces a lot of accessories for tourism, among which we should especially mention light and compact hand pumps for self-inflating mattresses, which help speed up the process of filling them with air in all weather conditions.

In their reviews, the buyers call their volume the main advantage of the rugs of this brand, thanks to which it becomes comfortable to sleep even on the most stony and uneven surface. Also, tourists highly appreciated the high-strength non-slip bottom covering material, which provides excellent adhesion to the ground, and a soft front side made of waterproof polyester and velor.

4 Sea to summit

The promising Australian brand Sea to Summit has gained world renown thanks to a huge range of its own devices for hiking and traveling. Camping equipment of this brand is truly universal. Due to the simplicity and reliability of the design, it is ideal for use by professionals, and for the rest of ordinary ordinary tourists. The creator and the main ideologist of the company is Tim Macartney-Snape, the participant of the single Everest ascent in 1990. Using innovative technologies and his own rich experience, Tim has ensured that the equipment of his brand has become the reference among connoisseurs of high-quality tourist expeditions.

Self-inflating Sea to Summit litter provides a superb balance of low weight and consistently high sense of comfort. Rugs are presented in two series - UltraLight (lightweight compact models designed for three-season use) and Comfort Light (the softest and warmest products recommended for use in camping and traveling by car). All products are distinguished by a minimalist design and the presence of original valves with two modes of inflation.

3 Tramp

Travel mats produced by the Tramp brand are most in demand among domestic buyers. Search for products of this brand occupies the first lines on the popular Russian-language web services, and sales statistics shows a constantly high level. For the first time, products of this brand appeared on the shelves of domestic stores in 2003, quickly winning the love of Russian tourists for the excellent balance of quality and democratic value. The company produces its own line of tents, backpacks, sleeping bags, travel clothes and shoes, as well as a large assortment of self-inflating mats that are durable and highly reliable. In addition to the main products, you can also purchase convenient accessories from Trump - for example, self-inflating pillows, which, together with bedding, will be able to make up a full-fledged sleeping place.

Tourists who tried out the equipment of this company in the field, noted the good thermal insulation of floor mats, their compactness, light weight and the ability to quickly take the necessary shape. Some models are provided with a repair kit, with which you can quickly "patch" a small damage to the surface of the product.

2 Exped

The Swiss brand Exped specializes in the production of high-tech goods for tourism and recreation, which can be classified as a premium class. This family-owned company was founded in 1997 by spouses who love to travel the world "savages" and therefore are well versed in all the intricacies of living outside civilization. Now Exped equipment is exported to more than 20 countries of the world, where it is in constant demand among supporters of outdoor recreation.

The latest developments of the company have allowed to improve the traditional technology of tourist carpets and mattresses so much that it became as comfortable to relax on them as at home, on your favorite couch. This was facilitated by the use of a new type of down and synthetics filler, due to which the boundaries of the temperature range for the use of products were significantly expanded. Some changes have also taken place in the self-inflating models - Exped has developed a new valve design, providing the bedding with flat, durable Flat Valve devices. They are very difficult to damage, and therefore the equipment will serve you much longer than their counterparts from other companies. The range of the brand consists of rugs of different sizes, thickness, configuration and weight. Warranty for most models - at least 5 years.

1 Therm-a-rest

The company was formed in 1971, when three friends who are interested in mountaineering and hiking, decided to improve their equipment, making the mattress for outdoor recreation more ergonomic, compact and light. As a result, a completely new technology was developed - the use of polyurethane with cells not isolated from each other as a filler. This made a real revolution in the manufacture of products for outdoor activities, and marked the beginning of the production of self-inflating mats around the world. Therm-A-Rest products have repeatedly won the most prestigious awards in their category, including the “gold medal” from the reputable magazine Backpacker for the design of comfortable bedding for sleeping. The quality of the rugs is so high that it was recognized at the state level - the brand's products are included in the mandatory set of equipment for a US Army soldier.

The most popular among buyers today are the lines of self-inflating litter Prolite (the lightest and most compact) and EvoLite (a hybrid design with foam and air ducts). According to customer reviews, Therm-A-Rest mats can without hesitation be called the best in all performance and quality characteristics.

The best Russian brands of self-inflating mats

Russian trademarks for the production of tourist equipment are not as extensive as their foreign competitors. Despite this, some brands in a very short time were able to gain the trust of customers, and have earned a reputation as reliable manufacturers of high-quality travel goods. An important advantage is the ability of domestic developers to adapt their products to the natural conditions of our country, which makes their products as comfortable as possible for trips to their native land.

3 Navigator

The Russian company “Shturman”, created in 2016 in Tver, is the youngest of all participating in our review. Under this trademark, goods for auto expeditions and tourism are manufactured - hermetic bags, hiking utensils, protective clothing, self-inflating mats and pillows. The developers claim that before launching the product into mass production, all models are tested in field conditions in order to completely eliminate possible inconveniences for future use.

The company produces a series of compact single rugs (model “Shturman ShT-SK-PO25Z”) with an ergonomic design that fully meets the anatomy of the human body, double bedding of increased dimensions (model “Shturman ShT-SK-ZD100S”) and modules that can be combined with friend with velcro (model "Navigator SHT-SK-ZO50S").The top of most products is made of soft but durable woven micro-suede - an artificial material that provides good grip, retains heat well and is pleasant to the touch. The bottom is equipped with a special anti-slip coating. All TM "Shturman" floor mats have an increased level of protection against mechanical damage, quickly take on the desired shape and can be complemented by self-inflating cushions of the same manufacturer. This is a light and compact equipment that can greatly enhance the pleasure of your stay in nature.

2 Helios

The domestic brand Helios belongs to the Tonar group of companies, which is the largest producer of goods for hunting, fishing and tourism in the Siberian region. This modern, fast-growing enterprise has its own production base of more than 20,000 square meters. m, and sells its products not only in the domestic market, but also in countries near and far abroad. Tourist equipment of this brand participated in many Russian and international competitions, where they necessarily won honorary awards and first places.

The self-inflating rugs of Helios differ in the reliability, a practicality, and, of course, more available cost, than import analogs. The price range for this position is in the range of 2,500 to 4,000 rubles, which allows anyone to buy them who go on a multi-day hike or just for a picnic. Due to the compactness of the litter and its low weight, it is convenient to take the product with you on a bicycle or motorcycle tour. All models are equipped with a water-repellent coating with anti-slip rubber points. Rugs are available in a packing case, with a repair kit and complete with ties.

1 Greenell

The birthplace of the brand is Ireland - one of the few countries on our globe, where nature has retained its purity and pristine freshness. For more than 10 years, Greenell has been manufacturing low-cost and high-quality tents, rugs and various camping furniture for camping. Some time ago, the brand became part of the Russian company Nova Tour, after which its products became even more popular with our customers. In 2016, Greenell released a line of goods for tourists under the slogan "Made in Russia and for Russia", all positions of which are made in the Russian Federation, taking into account the geographical environment of our country, and exclusively from domestic materials.

Particularly popular brand brought the production of self-inflating mats increased size. Besides the fact that all models already have more standard dimensions, they can also be connected to each other. The result is the largest possible coverage for a comfortable family holiday in nature. The thickness of the litter is a record 10 cm, while the weight of each product does not exceed 4 kg. For convenience of transportation, a special bag (included in the price) made of waterproof fabric and equipped with sturdy handles is sold with a rug. This is one of the best companies of our rating, in which the traditional European quality and all the advantages of “home” production are optimally combined.

Who is the best manufacturer of self-inflating mats?
We vote!

Therm-a-rest

Exped

Tramp

Sea to summit

Alexika

Greenell

Helios

Navigator

Total voted: 34

Vote results