Equipment for a good rest in the high mountains: mountain mats

You're thinking of going out into the countryside and spending a night sleeping in the mountains. You've got everything ready: boots, sleeping bag, tent, food, etc. But what about the mountain mat? Getting a good night's rest on a long route is essential.

First of all, if you are going camping, remember that the law forbids free camping except in very few cases - in certain circumstances. bivouacking is allowed in mountain areasbut you have to take into account the particular casuistry of the site. Once you have all the permits or rented a space in a campsite, the next step to take into account is the environment. For example, for windy areas, you should look for a good anchoring system to avoid a scare in the middle of the night; or, in areas where there is a high probability of rain, make sure the tent is waterproof.

The sleeping bag is also very important when spending a night in the countryside. But, as with the tent, you must take into account the environmental conditions you will encounter. We have already mentioned that free camping is forbidden, but current legislation does allow bivouacking for long hikes, and that is when you should have a good sleeping bag.

However, something that we tend to pay less attention to is the camping mats. And we often settle for a simple insulator without asking ourselves if there are better alternatives. And there are.

Camping mats

In the market we will find several options to choose a good one. camping mat. There are three main types: inflatable, EVA foam and self-inflatable.

• InflatablesThe system is simple as you only need to use your lungs to fill the mat. The problem? If it gets punctured, you'll end up sleeping on the floor, or if you inflate it too much, which can be a problem because of its hardness.
• Self-inflatablesThey are very comfortable to use and take up little space. They have a system that allows them to fill up to 70 % of their capacity after being deployed. This makes our work much easier. But they are not as comfortable as inflatable ones and not as durable as foam ones.
• EVA foamare perhaps the most common, due to their ease of use and durability. As a general rule, and depending on their thickness, they offer a certain degree of comfort by absorbing the unevenness of the ground. But, above all, they offer a high capacity to insulate from the humidity of the ground.

Important characteristics for a inflatable mat

-Weight and sizeThe longer the route, the more important this aspect becomes. A camping mat that is too heavy is a burden on your journey. When buying camping equipment, remember that there are three fundamental factors: insulating capacity, comfort and price. Reducing weight will necessarily affect one of these three factors. Consider which is the least important to you and you will be able to reduce the weight of your camping mat.

- Sleeping position: everyone sleeps differently, and you should take this into account when choosing your mat.. For example, if you sleep on your side all the pressure of your body is spread over a smaller space than an inflatable mat can compress, so getting one with foam can ensure greater durability of the camping equipment and, above all, will save you from a scare during the night.

- Comfort: the surface of the mat should be taken into account when it comes to comfort. For example, if the mat has large grooves, this can cause pain due to creases in the bag. But above all, the thickness should be taken into account. In stony areas, for example, if the mat is not as thick as it should be, you will feel the imperfections of the terrain. Maybe not at first, but after a whole night, you may suffer the consequences in the morning.

- Insulating capacity: this is one of the fundamental factors of mats. Sleeping on the floor means accepting the conditions it has, not only hardness, but also humidity and cold. But our body also loses heat while we sleep. The air inside an inflatable mattress can help to keep the wind chill down.This air receives our own heat through transmission.

- R-value: one factor to consider when buying an inflatable mat is the R-value. This refers to the ability to resist heat loss. The higher the number, the less heat it loses. However, this is very difficult to regulate as it would require perfect and equal conditions at every time and place. And those who go out in the field know that this is rarely the case.

Although you will ultimately have to find the one that best suits your needs, tastes and price range, taking these factors into account can help you find the perfect mat for you.