Self inflating mats

[happyhorse]

I'm looking at the Vango Adventure SIMs and trying to decide between the 5cm or 7.5cm versions. Does the extra 2.5cm make a lot of difference or will I be perfectly comfy on the thinner one? My main concern from looking at various reviews is how big the thicker one might be when deflated.

There are also lots of comments about them being difficult to deflate. Is it easier to have two singles instead of a double?

We have both - we have a 7.5 cm one, ordered another, and got sent a 5cm one by mistake. I found the 5cm one perfectly comfortable, so we didn't bother sending it back & just got them to refund the difference. Its also a bit lighter. I've only slept on it for one camping trip, but it seems absolutely fine.

We've got two singles, so can't comment on how hard the double is to deflate. The singles are fine - but of course they are quite big & heavy compared to a backpacking style SIM. But then they're much more comfy of course too! I would say the 5cm one is definitely noticeably lighter.

(We really bought them for use at home as sleepover mats, but took them last weekend as we were car camping.)

I have a 7.5cm Outwell mat - it IS really comfy, but I only have DD's 2.5cm to compare it too (that - well, if I weighed four stone and went straight up and down I'd probably find it perfectly comfy too). 7.5cm one is a fairly big beast when rolled up. Are you sharing with a DP/DH or DC? I think a double would be okay to roll up if you had another adult to help, but not just with a child. My single one requires a lot of brute force and just plain kneeling on it, I don't think I could do a double by myself or with just DD to help.

I have a double SIM, but generally take 2 singles as the double makes a big package and it is much easier to pack 2 thin rolls in spaces in the car than the big wodge of the double.

Also, the double is hard work to deflate and roll - my least favourite job of camping, I think.

It's just me and 4yo DS who camp (DH won't set foot in a tent) so it looks like singles would be the way to go. We always take the car so weight/size isn't too much of an issue, I just don't want something that takes an age to deflate and fold up.

At the moment we have airbeds with built in pumps, so they take a little bit of time and effort to pump up but are a doddle to deflate.

It's all the SIM-lust that goes on on here that's made me want them.

I much prefer a SIM to an airbed. They aren't really that bad to roll up, I do it twice - a quick roll to get loads of air out, then I shut the valves again and start again, rolling tighter, and opening the valves once much of the air is pushed to the top.

We have the vango 7.5 double and love it - but again, I have nothing to compare it to except an airbed.

We have a Vango 7.5cm double SIM. I can't compare it with a 5cm I am afraid as before that we had two Fat Airics, so also 7-odd cm. It is comfortable to sleep on but it is a total pain to deflate and roll up (I did always do it on my own so it is possible but not ideal) and takes up a lot of space in the car. So much so that in the end we gave up and bought a mahoosive 180cm INTEX airbed which goes up quickly with our car inflator and collapses down in seconds because you open a larger valve to let the air out. Then it really doesn't take up a lot of packing space.

However, back to SIMs, as the deflated size is an issue for you, I would recommend you maybe consider two single SIMS and gaffer tape them together, because they are easier to pack away and also packing two smaller (albeit still quite large) packages gives more options than one large one. I would say from memory our Vango is a good foot and a half if not more in diameter when rolled but perhaps I just wasn't very good at getting the air out.

I have two 5 cm HiGear sims for the children and have had no problem deflating them at all. They are really comfortable and I just open the valve, roll em up then close the valve. Job done!!