Can anyone explain to me the use of having a 3/4 length sleeping mat, as sold by thermarest. Wouldn't part of you hang off the end?

Pete, you're right part of you does hang off the end. However, your core is kept insulated and only the end of your legs hang off the end. I dont recomend a 3/4 length mat for really cold temps but for general use its no great loss. And, if you think about it if you curl up into the fetal position when you sleep you get more body on the mat.

Johno

I supose
thanks

Well, since the late '60s I've always understood the concept to be saving weight and bulk by using clothing, jackets, packframes or whatever to keep your feet up off the ground. In warmer weather you might be able to do without, but it's still more comfortable to have some padding. You usually end up using something like that for a pillow on the other end, anyway. Full-length pads mostly get used in the winter, when, if things get bad, you might want to wear everything available.

Most types of pads come in both lengths, but some foam pads are cheap enough that you just buy the one length and cut it to whatever you need/want. The inflatable pads can't offer that option, so they have to offer multiple lengths.

I find it worthwhile to carry one cotton stuffsack to use as a pillow- much more comfortable against the face than nylon, and it slides around less. A friend uses a large fleece bag, and if it gets really cold he shoves his feet inside it, inside the bag- but it's bulky.

I use one and it's surprisingly comfortable. The pad provides enough padding for the body, and I don't really need padding for my lower legs.

As others have said, it won't provide as much insulation as a full-length pad would, so if that's an issue I'd either use a full-length pad or improvise something. but for summer camping, it's a way to cut down on the amount of weight you're carrying. It may not seem like a lot, but it's based on the principle that you can only carry so much weight. If my sleeping pad weighs an ounce less, that's an ounce more I can carry of something else.

Unless you are camped on snow or frozen ground, all you need is enough of a pad to cover from your head and shoulders to your butt. You will typically have enough spare clothing or other soft items to place something under your legs. I usually carry a cut down foam pad - my current favorite is a partial Z-rest. Very soft and warm for the weight.

I agree pretty much with Johno's comments. I have used a 3/4 mat in about -10 degrees C on snow, but I had an 'alpine' rucsac that has a padded back and a huge snow-lock that I stick my feet in - job done.

Just as an alternative, I tend to use a 3/4 WIDE mat rather than the 3/4 length one.

I find that if I want to be compact then it isn't the diameter of the rolled kipmat that bothers me as you can usually get this down pretty small anyway (I use a Brit Army Issue Kipmat which is about 10mm thick). I found that when on top/bottom of a bergen (the usual place to carry a mat) it would stick out either side when the side pouches weren't being used. I have cut it down from to about 45cm and I don't find I roll off it at all.

My sleeping system tends to consist of a Gore-tex Bivi bag with diaganal zip with the roll mat inside and then my bergen at the head end to keep the bag off my face and then a sleeping bag (usually Snugpak Softie 12) inside the bag. This has worked quite well and keeps all my kit pretty dry. By having the rollmat in the bag it does leave the bivi bag open to ripping by stones or anything but this hasn't happened yet and I tend to clear the ground well anyway. It also stops me rolling off the mat quite well as the sides are kept taught by the triangle created by having a British PLCE Bergen at the head end.

Just a 'different' view on the cut-down thing.

Rich

this is the exact layout that I am aiming for at the moment. I always use a PLCE bergen (exept on short trips), and I am saving for a snugpak, a bivi and a thermarest sleeping mat (possibly). Do you use the british army gore-tex bivi?

The Bag I use is not a British Army one but is similar but in my opinion a better one as it comes up over your head and zips up diaganally (and velcro) across the front rather than at your neck with the drawcord. I think Soldier of Fortune had them a couple of years back but they were £180 I think then but I haven't seen them since and I presume they would have gone down in price by now. I didn't pay that though - I bought mine second-hand from a mate.

On short trips I tend to use the side pouches of the bergen or the patrol pack I have (Soldier 2000 Assault pack is what it is described as in all the magazines and catalogues but I had mine in 99 so that isn't write then!!

Bye for now,
Richard