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Sleep mat - a necessary attribute of marchingequipment for spending the night in a tent. Of course, instead of a tourist rug you can use the usual air mattress, but on the mattress it is comfortable to sleep only in warm weather. At an air temperature below + 10 ° C on the mattress, you can freeze, as the air inside the mattress does not warm up. For hiking in cool weather, it is better to use self-inflating mats.

How to design a self-inflating mat

This mat has nothing to do with inflatablemattress, because inside it is not empty space, but a porous substance, similar to a sponge. This filler is called open-cell polyurethane. The peculiarity of the filler is that when the open rug has a valve open, the pores themselves begin to fill with air. Approximately 20-25 minutes, the mat is inflated, after which it is necessary to close the valve. There are single and double mats that can be used. They have a thickness of two and a half to seven centimeters. And weigh an average of 500 to 900 grams (the weight of one bed). On the heat-insulating properties, such mats exceed the usual isolon "foam" several times.

Rules for the operation of self-inflating mats

Despite the fact that the mats have a protective exteriorRubberized coating, they require careful operation. Also, you need to take a repair kit for the carpet (patches and glue) with you. It is not recommended to use self-inflating mats outside the tent. Do not put them on dry grass, branches and stones, as this may cause puncture of the protective coating. Do not leave the mat in the sun. If it heats up, the volume of air inside will increase, and the rug can disperse at the seams. Do not use the mat as an air mattress for swimming, it is best not to let it come into contact with water. If the valve is not closed properly and water gets inside, it will be difficult to dry the porous filler. If water gets inside, tightly twist the mat several times in a row, so you can squeeze water out of it. Then dry it on the street (not in the sun) or in a ventilated room for several days.

How to store a self-inflating mat

At home, it should be stored in a straightened form and withopen valve. It can be put on a cabinet, under a cabinet, between a wall and a cabinet, etc. If the rug is stored twisted into a roll and does not open the valve, but the porous filler will become less voluminous over time or even begin to separate.