I have a dilemma, which camping mat to buy for 11 nights under canvas at the IOM TT Races. I have a self inflating North Ridge but I would like more width and hopefully more comfort but I need to travel light on the plane. I am currently considering a Thermarest Camper in Large size which is 3" deep or a NeoAir Venture Large at 2" deep. I would appreciate all the help I can get and appreciate the Thermarest is a mattress which needs blowing up and not self inflating but it packs small. Thank you
I recently got a Vango 5cm double for £33 from Amazon. "Vango Adventure DLX Double Self Inflating Mat 5cm", it's great and you can fold it in to a 10cm single.
I actually got 2, one for me and one for my partner and daughter.
------------- April 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
June 2015 - Castle Camping, Staffordshire
July 2015 - Pillars of Hercules, Fife
August 2015 - Fforest Fields, Powys
If it wasn't for the width requirements I'd recommend something like my vaude norrsken. More comfy than a SIM, packs up smaller than a rucksack side pocket and is insulated.
It is also narrower than a sim so may not be suitable. It is also not self inflating but if you get the vaude pump pillow, it will pump it up in minutes.
------------- Hypercamp Alaska
Vango Force 10 mk3
Vango F10 Helium 1
Coleman Cobra Pro 3
Coleman Cobra 2
Naturehike Star River 2
Eureka! Solitaire
Dutch army goretex bivvy bag
if you have not been before you will see at the end of the TT that loads of campers abandon their gear.
They buy cheap tents and airbeds etc good enough to last the duration and thats it.
You can buy a complete outfit with all you need in one bag for less than you would pay for one night in a hotel.
Also consider (with agreement with the site owner) posting your gear in advance.
we went 3 yrs back, your main consideration should be actually getting ANY sleep! bikes arriving on site at 3am is not unusual, due to the ferry timings, they tended to arrive and park at the roadway towards the reception area with either the bikes still running or they would forget they didn't have their lids on and shouted to each other we stopped at the glen lough campsite just out of union mills, the site was nice enough, but got incredibly packed out, ques where long for the toilets nevermind the showers. tents where packed into ever last square inch, god forbid there was a fire in a tent, but great views towards douglas