With dimensions of 190L x 85W x 10H cm it’s one of the larger single-sized self inflating mats on the market, but is still compact enough to fit on the Kings Stretcher for an elevated sleeping experience or inside their Swags. Adventure Kings is known for its affordable prices while providing exceptional value for money and their self-inflating mattress range is no different. Never have another camping trip spoiled by sleeping on a hard, damp, cold ground. If you want to ensure you'll get a good night's sleep when you are next away camping, you need a camping roll mat. With a sleeping mat under your sleeping bag, the ground will feel more even and create an additional layer of insulation between your body and the ground. Here at Decathlon, you'll find everything you need, from self-inflating camping mattresses to make you feel more at home to camping roll mats that will provide the warmth, comfort and firm support you need for a restful sleep. Our camping mats insulate and keep out the moisture and cold. At Camping Secrets we often like to highlight niche products we uncover which accomplish a task in a clever way, whilst maintaining quality and value. The 3rd generation IForrest Sleeping Pad accomplishes this task extremely successfully. Weighing only 2kg in large size (196 x 64 x 11cm) and 2.5kg in XXL (203 x 76 x 11cm), this is a surprisingly lightweight product which has greatly impressed us. It is more less than half the weight of the Vango Shangri-La for example. Personally I would plump for the XL if you find you have a choice of sizes – it just gives that extra bit of surface area for a nice sprawl when sleeping, and for not much extra weight.

Moving to the present day and there’s now an extremely wide variety of camping mats and camping mattresses on the market – some of them self inflate (the topic of this article) whereas others require pumping – either via a hand pump, pump bag (a simple way of filling a bag with dry air which can then be squeezed into the SIM via a valve) or electric pump. Camping Mat vs Camping Mattress We really love Outdoor Revolution – they make great quality items at the mid-to-top end of the camping spectrum. Yes they may be slightly more expensive than the Decathlon’s of this world, but we’ve never been let down by their tents or their general camping gear.The KingCamp is undoubtedly fabricated from decent materials – the two valves on the SIM are brass which is a nice touch and differentiates the Deluxe from other SIMs which rely on plastic. View Outwell self inflating mattresses before you buy at one of our many dealerships across the UK. It is a true 4-season sleeping pad with an R-Value of 6.8. This provides excellent insulation between you and the floor for effective winter-use. In reality (unless you are a heavy person over 15 stone) a 7.5cm option is acceptable, but we wouldn’t recommend going any lower than that if comfort is your main objective.

The Shangri-La is exceptionally easy to inflate and deflate, and this is one of its major strengths. The Cyclone ‘flip-valve’ as seen on the Comfort 10 Double is a joy to use. Simply flip it around to the correct airflow direction required. Inflation happens automatically, and deflation can be achieved in a couple of minutes by the old “roll and kneel” manoeuvre.When looking for the best self inflating camping mat, there are a few features to look out for. To find the most comfortable and best performing sleeping mat, you could choose one with the following: Unfold and use: Once the mattress is fully inflated, unfold it and place it on your camping tent or any other desired surface. Wait for the mattress to inflate: The mattress will begin to inflate on its own as air enters through the valve. The time it takes for the mattress to fully inflate can vary depending on the model, but it typically takes between 5 and 15 minutes. Deluxe comfort with extra length and lots of wiggle room. You need a 12.0cm or 10.0cm self inflating queen air mattress that’s wider and longer. Great for taller people or those who like space to move around. They come as singles in XL or XXL.

Simply unroll the mat, open the valve, and it automatically draws in air. Once inflated, we recommend blowing in some extra air. This will ensure it’s inflated to your desired firmness. Zempire has pioneered the success of inflatable tents and now they've made a killer self-inflating mattress. Inflation is simple and obviously doesn’t require a pump. Simply undo the valve and the air will gush in with full inflation after 5-10 minutes. At this point tighten up the valve and you are ready to climb on board. Inflated size for the Ultim is 200 x 136 x 8cm which is enough for most people under 6ft 6 inches in height. The Ultim In Use

The Shangri-La is for all intents and purposes a proper mattress when it’s fully inflated. It has vertical side walls to maximize the top-level surface area and this means that you don’t roll off in the night. With a waterproof PVC base and a soft material on top it’s designed to be both durable and comfortable. Fold the self inflating mat in half (most carry bags are half the width of the mat, if your bag is a third of the size, fold the mat into three, length ways) The belts aren’t the only things the kit includes. The bed comes fully equipped with a full mending kit, including a transparent adhesive paper and two fabric squares, in case an unfortunate accident occurs. R-value is suitable for the summer, but you’ll need to opt for better options if you’re planning a winter trip.