Budget Vs Pro Sleeping mat review and why Thermarest sucks
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- Опубликовано: 6 фев 2025
- 15% off code for Flextail: WildCat15
ZERO PUMP: www.flextail.c...
SLEEPING PAD: www.flextail.c...
In this review I compare 3 sleeping mats - Exped 5R, Flextail 5R, and the Thermarest Neoair XLite. I was surprised by the results and how good the flextail mat is!
If you use the links above you will be helping me out as I get a very small commission from each purchase.
Let me know what you all think in the comments below - which mat would you recommend and why?
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15% off code for Flextail: WildCat15
ZERO PUMP: www.flextail.com/products/zero-pump
SLEEPING PAD: www.flextail.com/products/zero-mattress-r05-regular
I bought today the r05 and but I ordered the max pump 3 about a month ago and, it's AMAZING you will love it
Maybe flextail will be kind enough to send me one to try. Glad u like them! 👍
Really good reviews thank you. Im in the market for a winter pad and was draw to the Flextail for its R Valve and price. Ive search all over to find out what the material thickness is and got nowhere. Until a came across your review. Thanks you again and happy camping.
Apparently it's 20d ripstop nylon. If u want a cheap winter mat it's great. If ur able to spash the cash I'd get the exped or a sea to summit 👍
@Wild.cat.adventures Thank you, I'll have a look at the Exped and Sea to summit pads. But more than likely go with the flextail for the amount of times I'm able to get out.
Hello Cat. I have a OneTigris 5.3. It was very cost effective and works better (it seems to me) then my other air mattress, that cost over twice as much (names will not be mentioned, but they are yellow and you were holding ono in this vid.).
On another note, I have just watched most of you videos, and I am happy I found you. Thank you for sharing your adventures.
"It was a slug" is now one of my top 10 situational sayangs.
Haha not a slug In a mug! 🤢 Worst camping experience ever lol! Turns out quite a few agree with us about thermarest, each to their own I guess! Didn't kno one tigris do a mat, thanks for sharing 👍
got myself a therma rest neoair pad and was really impressed with the thickness of it. yet to use it camping yet because i have been feeling brave enough!
I hope u get on better with it than I did! 🤞
@@Wild.cat.adventures i got the topo lux pad and its wide but the r rating is 3.7! but its super wide and comfy. i dont think its the same one as yours! but your flexi tail would be better for 4 seasons
Hi Cat...what a great review! Im in the market for a new winter mattress..so Ill go with your recommendation. Thanks everso!
No worries at all at that price you won't be disappointed, it's super comfy and should be warm enough to see you through some pretty cold times!
11:16 Get yourself a large magnet and fit it to stick and sweep the area … should soon find the lost metal loop assuming it’s made from steel?
Don't have any large magnets unfortunately but nice idea 👍
Great review. I use the light tour 5.8r.
Seems to pack smaller.
Got from Ali express for £130ish, outdoor gear essentials now stock it too.
Several people have now mentioned light tour to me, never heard of them before, looks good tho!
@1972andyb yes it's like mini pocket sprung so comfy.
The insulation is absent in both outer baffles.
Yes although u don't really need it there 👍
I use a cheap Chinese mat that cost about £15. It has no quoted R value and it's quite narrow (around 550mm?) but it weighs very little(~500g), packs even smaller than the Thermarest and is warmer than my old closed cell mat. I've used it down to +5C and it's been fine, I'm fairly sure it will be OK to 0C but I might regret going sub-zero. I've been looking at the Flextail mummy-shaped mat for winter use but it's much bulkier and heavier and given I only camp in winter occasionally (usually in a bothy) I might just bring my closed cell mat along instead. But your review was interesting because we don't hear much about the Flextail mats.
Yh if you're only sleeping in bothys in winter then having a good r value is less important and good idea taking a closed cell to avoid punctures. Flextail is a new sleeping mat but very good 👍
That was really interesting, I always buy 4 season air mats but they always come at a premium. Im thinking of getting a flextail now for summer to cut down wear and tear on my current mat (Thermarest Xtherm...soz) after watching your video. I still loke a warm matress even in summer (yes I'm nesh). The new flextail pump with light looks nice, very nice 👍. Thanks for sharing and the info. Cheers, Paul 👍👍
Get it whilst it's on sale at Ali express - bargain, you won't be disappointed! Love the pumps from flextail and would love to get my hands on the new one too 😊
Nice film. 👍🏼 I’m a big fan of the Nemo Tensor mats, I have a summer one and a winter one. I recommend them.
Yh I've heard they're really good!
One thing you cannot knock Thermarest for is the customer service Cat But thats just as well because they are not the best and not without their flaws. I used to have a Thermarest self inflating for over 20 years which wasnt exactly self inflating but it did the job until i got older and technology developed and i started to appreciate a more comfy mat. I have had all the Thermarrests now and totally lost my confidence in them being the best because they are not. That Exped is a great mat and very comfy , reliable and warm and it might not be the smallest or lightest but when it comes to confidence/peace of mind and getting a goof nights sleep thats the one i would choose out of these 3. That flex tail appears to be great spec at a great price but that old adage of buy cheap buy twice springs to mind so , time will tell 🤔. Personally if i could only ever have one mat it would be the Nemo Tensor Extreme conditions because it ticks all my boxes in terms of Lightness, Comfort and weight but its expensive . If mats were only about Comfort and you put all other conciderations to one side then personally for me it would be the Big Agnes SL Rapide Insulated in size Long and wide, its amazing in terms of comfort , i havent had it long enough to comment on how warm it is but comfort wise its a clear winner for me because its pure Luxury ( Insert Monty Python Sketch 🤣)
Thanks I totally agree with u on thermarest totally over hyped and God knows how they keep winning best mat awards! Another vote for the Nemo eh? Interesting! I did consider the big Agnes but people said it sleeps colder than it's rating. They just bought out a new one actually wonder what people will say about it.
@@Wild.cat.adventures Its easy to win awards in the outdoor gear industry Cat as long as the judges have a vested interest. I hope my BA SL Rapide is the newer version 🙏 No matter what mat i use i always take one of the Wild Sky reflective sheets with me because they only cost 12 quid and they last a long time, unlike some of the others, I would definitely recommend one if you haven't got one because they are very light too. 👍
@@Olan... They were on my contenders list but people were saying the sleep colder than the stated 4.8 so I ruled them out, everyone says how comfy they are tho!
@@Wild.cat.adventures I will find out soon enough and let you know 👍
5:29 HaHa … loved this … what was his name? His wife was called Pammee. 😂😂… loved all that comedy, Harry Enfield, Fast Show …etc… do you remember Hayle and Pace ? 😂😂
Oh god I can't remember his name but yh hayle and pace was also a classic!
Great comparison Cat, as one of the big 3 (tent, sleeping bag and sleeping mat) it's an important choice, a comfortable night's sleep is very important, personally I will sacrifice weight and size for a good mat, my choice is the Sea to Summit Etherlight xt extreme, it's been nothing short of exceptional, the flextail mat offers excellent bang for buck 👍 agreed on the v2 pump lovevthat it's dual purpose. Catch you soon, atb Paul 🙏 🏕🏕🏕😁
Cheers Paul totally agree better to sacrifice weight for a good sleep! I did look at the sea to summit. Now tempted by the Nemo after lots of people have recommended but I don't exactly need another mat - I have 3 (4 actually) 🤣
😁hiya Cat.. Great reviews on all 3.. Never had a thermorest but not tempted either..
I've had the flextail R5 and it was Sooooo comfy, relatively quite , until it popped on me just before my month off and my Highland and dartmoor adventures. So I bought the big Agnes rapide SL 😁👍👍👍 it's a bit heavier than the flextail, but just as comfy and warmer . It's actually heavier than my X-mid solid 1p .. and like the flextail, it's a pig to get back into it's stuff sack so in the end I just fold it up flat squareish and just pop it in my rucksack on top of my sleeping bag.
But if on a budget, the flextail is excellant and customer service is brilliant.
The rapide SL has two separate valves too, so less chance of any air escaping.. 😁
Thermorests to noisey for me, but the weight would be nicer than my SL or the flextail 😁
Oh dear sorry to hear it popped, what happened? How did u get on with their customer service?
Hi Cat.. it had popped around the seal of the valve the last time i used it in the peaks, a week before i headed off to scotland and dartmoor. Flextail was great, offered a replaced but i wouldnt have received it in time so bought the big agnes from cottswold outdoors in town.. But i was very very impressed with my flextail R05 it was by far the comfiest pad i had ever used and was warm, the lowest temp i had it in was 4degs and didnt feel any cold coming up from the ground. The big agnes is dearer, by a long way but just as comfy and and warmer, not as wide as the flextail though.. The double valves on the big agnes for me is more reassuring than the single on the flextail but thats my experiance with mine.. @Wild.cat.adventures
@@hikermikem8 interesting you say it's warmer the r value is 4.8? Good to hear positive experience with their customer service as some people had commented about thermarest customer service being the biggest reason to go with them 👍
@Wild.cat.adventures yeah, the big agnes definatley feels a bit warmer than the flextail. I think it's because the flextail has no insulation in the side baffles.. Not much in it to be honest, both super comfy and the flextail R5 is wider 😁👍
Hi Cat, thanks for your reply. I can recommend Northumberland especially Rothbury and the Cheviots for wildcampung, there's some excellent you tubers up in the North East like Blot Outdoors, Emz, Andy Wardle and Lundy's wildczmp/ bushcraft. Keep up the good work.
Aye love Andy and Chris (blot) channels they're a good laugh them pair! I've got a couple pinned up rithkey already, been meaning to go there a while, just a heck of a drive!
@Wild.cat.adventures I only got into wildcamp/ stealthcamp videos by looking for coverage of Sunderland vs Newcastle FA Cup match, Blot's stealth camp outside Sunderland's football ground was crazy and I'm a Newcastle fan. After watching Blot's video I have seen loads of wildcamp/ stealthcamp channels.
@@1969delft next step 8s to get out wild camping then?
@Wild.cat.adventures I'd love to but I have been seriously ill and slowly recovering. I cannot do strenuous hill climbing at moment and if I need emergency care whilst out in the wilds.
I also lost the pump handle twice I thought it was just me 😂. I love my light tour R 5.8 but it has punctured twice..... painful nights!
Oh no! How did it puncture?
@Wild.cat.adventures hi, just seen your reply! I blew it up on the grass and then pulled it into the tent, it was my 1st time in a 1 man tent so didn't realise I had to do it the other way around with the pad in the tent and me outside! Next time I was sleeping in my car so I reckon a splinter from garden cuttings that had been in the car... user error not the pads fault!
Great review Cat , and I for one absolutely agree with ya on Thermarest 👏👏👏 , l last bought the first of their new at the time ' Neoair ' mats , and it was flimsy and easily punctured , and as some said , the noise was like sleeping all night on a big bag of crisps/ potato chips . I don't care what anyone or those marketing victims think or say . I still have a Thermarest camping cot with the clip on thermal sheet which is actually ok , but their mats are as comfortable as light cozy slippers , but sadly last as long as a pair of slippers up hills and mountains. Best regards Cat , and see ya soon .
Thanks yh I know what u mean about the bag of crisps 😂
"last as long as a pair of slippers up a mountain" lmao 🤣
Hi cat I have the trekology ul80 and I sleep really well on that but for winter might go for the flextail for size being wider and the r value .love the attempt at Brummy accent
I am a brummy born n bred lol! Yh the flextail will quickly become your go to mat over the ul80 👍
@@Wild.cat.adventures I knew I'd seen you a couple of months ago or longer i was walking in brum and stared at you and thought I know here but couldn't think where from gutted I'd have said hello
@@paulevans-u2o not been in brum since about Feb time I think, went shopping with my sis 👍
@@Wild.cat.adventures yes you was with someone I'm surprised you don't remember me cos I was staring sorry about that
@@paulevans-u2o haha I didn't notice 🤣
Haven tent matress is my favourite
Not heard of that one will check it out 👍
Great video but can Aliexpress be trusted, is it genuine flextail mat?
I would assume so but who knows!
@@Wild.cat.adventuresI'll let you know 👍
All air pads are great until they fail - I have used both expeds (synmat,downmatt) and thermorests (xlite, xtherm) in some of the most remote places in the world always with a thermorest closed cell traditional type matt underneath (also to prevent hyperthermia in event of failure). After having 3 expeds fail on various trips, and the company not give a damn about failures all around the 2 year mark, i would never use another. I would highlight one aspect, you say 20D is a thick material, its really not, even on the xlite thermorest that has lasted you years its 30D, and on the xtherm which is what i use for 4 season + its a 70D base.
I have never had a Thermorest matt fail, apart from mistakes with crampons etc. I am highly skeptical of the quality of the flextail from your review, not just for the thin material but also the edging seems (an issue with expeds). It may be £60 but if it fails on say a 3 week trip, and no longer in your 20s, your in for an uncomfortable trip. I would also add that having seen issues with an expedition partner with a thermorest they really do have the best aftercare of any of the manufactures, its for that reason alone, i would not waste money on a cheaper matt, that will not last the same time, is not as durable or safe and will when it fails not have the customer service of thermorest.
Lastly if you want a really robust/comfortable UK 3 season matt, check out the NeoAir topo Lux, its 50D top and bottom and 10cm deep, R value 3.7 and also substancially cheaper than the xlite or xtherm alternatives, and well its rediculously comfy, i've used one for the last year or two to reduce wear when xlite or xtherm is not needed be it weight/warmth. There is a reason why professional's use thermorest as well as the weekend camper, its not because its a price/brand thing, just years of solid performance.
Thanks for the detailed comment, appreciate the effort! I just don't find thermarest comfortable and will never buy another I'm afraid, I always have a bad night sleep. I don't like the horizontal baffle system and I don't trust their R value rating at all having compared it side by side with the exped. The topo luxe might be slightly more comfortable but I won't be wasting my money on another one. Doesn't matter what their customer service is like, it won't help me at 2am when I can't sleep 😂 only time will tell whether the exped will fail but it's done well so far 🤷🏻♀️
Thermarest , the baffles go the wrong way.
Really like exped (synmat winter HL) even at minus 27c in Sweden this winter and comes in at sub 500g.
I've come to realise the mummy shaped pads are not for me but otherwise tots agree with you. Thermarest can 0121
The thermarest has no side rails to hold you on the pad. Although I put my pad and sleeping bag both inside a bivvi bag which keeps it all together.
@@thewoodlandschoolltd3999 yh I can imagine that being a bit better but I just feel like I'm balancing on the thermarest, it's too narrow, I'm a side sleeper, it just doesn't work for me
Good video Cat.
Cheers Mark always good to see u in the comments 👍
Well that was interesting. And after sleeping by ya this weekend and hearing you moan about your thermarest I see what you mean.
I do love my £15 Temu mat 🤣🤣💯
Haha I hate that mat 🤣🤣🤣
Controversial subject. 😂
Yours is the older model Xlite, the newer one is greatly improved. Wonder if Flextail give the same guarantee as the Thermarest ?Saying that though they all suck compared to the Nemo Tensor extreme conditions. Lol
No idea but at 65 quid I could buy 3 for the same price 😂
It was the newer one when I bought it ie quieter. Not sure if they improved it again since?
@@Wild.cat.adventures but what if all three go pop? Buy cheap buy thrice? lol
Thermarest ihas a lifetime guarantee, probably why they are expensive.
My Flextail zero pump broke a day after they sent it to me, luckily it was free. Not sure I trust the workmanship on their products.
@@HardyTempestsWildCampsandWalks their customer service is no good to me at 2am when I can't sleep tho and I don't think their guarantee extends to a good night's sleep, I'd have got my money back a long time ago 🤣 Ps I dropped my flextail x2 pump from ceiling height onto a concrete floor by accident this weekend. Light carried on working, no cracks, no damage at all - my phone would've been in pieces!
So are you vouching for the Flextail sleep pads longevity based on little use and dropping your x2? Say what you want about Thermarest but they do have some experience in sleeping mats…… enough to give a lifetime guarantee.
Iam just waiting for my new light tour 7.5 r-rating to arrive. I have about 5 other sleep mats, but just because I am to tight to buy the thermarest neoair xtherm nxt. I could have baught it and had plenty of money left with all the money I have spent on sleep mats... thermarest have that lifetime guarantee... so I have made bad choices and faulty economics... Take care out there. Ps. If i did get the zero pump and take it out instead I would have to take a tent light out , which would probably be heavier than my pump with built in light.
If you're looking for a super warm mat maybe look at the sea to summit xt. As I said in the review I hate my thermarest mat but everyone is different. If u sleep on back/front not too bad, but it's not the one for side sleepers. Not heard of light tour, will take a look 👍
@@Wild.cat.adventures i have a summer mat, an autumn mat , a winter mat, all the rest are me just being a twat... I don't need anymore mats , I don't need any more tents but I keep buying those too... Iam ok for the rest of my kit , don't keep buying stoves , or sleeping bags , or waterproofs. Mind you I do seem to be collecting a few pairs of boots. I want a pair like yours.
@@littlegrandadoutdoors love my barefoots like wearing a waterproof pair of slippers. That said I don't recommend them for the whw 🤣
after reading the video title the divorce papers are in the post!
Haha oh no! 🤣🤣
@@Wild.cat.adventures loooooooool
U r right about thermarest light but shite!
Haha least someone agrees with me 🤣
Use a magnet
@@mikealwill7013 for what pls?
@ metal loop? for the orange pump lost @10:48 perhaps a magnet would help find it.
A1
Thanks 👍
You tube swinger
Not quite sure what u mean by that?
Exped is shit,I think nemo is the future. I own the xtherm and deciding to upgrade to the nemo extreme, life time garenteed. Flex tail will probably fail after a good few uses. By cheap buy twice ohh yeeaahh
@@Camp-N-Wilddragon I dropped my flextail pump from ceiling height onto concrete, no damage, no cracks, still works a1. I'd say that's pretty good build quality!