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In addition to the advice above, try putting a thin fleece blanket inside your sleeping bag (or wrap it round you before you get in). 

I've read so much about SI mats that when lidl had 5cm ones for £12.99 I bought one, and was quite impressed so bought another two. My children have been sleeping on them (but they'll sleep anywhere) and I hadn't tried mine out until last weekend.

I didn't get on at all well with it, I could not get comfortable whatever way I turned and the next day I felt sore especially my hips. My spine won't let me lie flat on my back so I sleep on my side, but I suspect that SI mats are better for people who either sleep on their back or on their front.

They are very bulky, I can get three 73cm camping gaz airbeds into the same space as one rolled up SI mat.

On the plus side, I prefer them in the sleeping pod as I can stack them during the day leaving more room to walk about, get changed etc. Also you could stand on them to get changed, whereas with an airbed you're skirting around it. Most sleeping pods are totally filled by an airbed leaving nowhere to stand.

I swear by those silver space blankets, put it under the sleeping bag (not under the mat). They do rustle though, so it may be better to cut off a piece and glue it to your thermarest or airbed. Or try one of those silver things that go on car windscreens to keep the frost off - they arent quite as long as an airbed but will keep most of you warm.

 So which is smaller and lighter? I have an airbed for "normal" camping which I have no problem with (I seem to generate a lot of body heat) yet my other half  seriously complained about being cold when we went camping in the short term heatwave last week.

I am a newcomer to "backpacking" and need all the advice I can get!

 Steve

Quote: Originally posted by Magicman2 on 15/6/2010

I am a newcomer to "backpacking" and need all the advice I can get!

 Steve

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On the size issue - been doing some SIM research for a more compact version of our airbeds and really drawn a blank. I can fold and roll our Coleman Comfort Maxi airbeds many ways and in all cases a double and a single seems to compact into a smaller space than shorter and narrower SIMS. Our tiny Kampa Whirlwind pump has them up and again deflates them flat in less time than a SIM inflates or rolls too - so the SIM doesn't seem to cut pfaff there. I guess SIMs are lighter as used for backpacking and possibly more robust (those with a closed cell bottom layer)(although not had a problem here with airbeds), which may be a consideration when not using a car. OK a fleecy mattress liner also adds a little more bulk for warmth, but also acts as a sheet. We don't feel cold with  the airbed, fleecy mattress cover and good 3 season sleeping bag combination, although we don't camp in the winter (Nov-Mar)...