SynMat Duo M

I don’t know what mats you’re talking about, as my appreciation comes for the Synmat Duo that only has baffles inside. I think the same of the Downmat. Agreed tho, they let me sleep like a little lamb in the backcountry. 😴

I floor slept with my Exped and a wool blanket, same results! My body evened out and woke up feeling much more refreshed.

cancel all these and get an Exped

We have a Tarptent Double Rainbow; there’s plenty of choice for 2 man tents, but fitting in an Exped Synmat Duo wide (130cm) was important to us. The double mat is great as no gaps, but each side inflates separately. We’ve had sleeping bags with left and right zips, but now use a double quilt. We also have the two person Dutchware Double Dutch hammock setup which we love - separate hammocks with a spreader bar but one bugnet so you are under the same canopy. This was actually our photo on the Dutchware insta page https://www.instagram.com/p/CZUpiG3sgOq/?igsh=MW1rMDh2Y3B2c2d1Zw==

The Thermarest self inflating is rubbish. Just some thin foam that helps to expand and suck air into the pad. But you still need to inflate it further. My exped mat is filled in a minute with the pump sack.

I second all of this. We got the standard duo and plan to get the middle size, bigger but not quite a queen, once our standard duo wears out enough. We also have a shared sleeping bag that we usually leave unzipped unless it’s very cold. The exped mat, whatever size you get, is so comfortable. I often sleep better than I do at home when we’re out camping. Only thing I’ll add is we have the Hest camp pillows, and if size isn’t an issue because you’re car camping, go bigger. We started with the small and ended up exchanging for the medium which is perfect. Also more comfortable than our home pillows. They pack down to half their size and have a great design that allows you to easily wash the covers if you don’t bring pillow covers. Happy camping!

If you get a Big Agnes it will squeak against the tent floor all night when you move. I use Exped. Not completely noiseless, but built differently than the Neo pads and not a Big Agnes. I have a discontinued Hyperlite, will replace it with an Ultra when it develops too many leaks just as I did the Synmat. I wish they still made the Hyperlite.

I have an Exped Synmat and it's quite comfortable. It's more "air mattress" than my Thermarest Prolite Plus but more comfortable. So much so I'm insisting my wife use my Synmat mattress instead of her existing Thermarest on our next trip. I can handle the lesser one (I hope). I think basically if you're spending some money it's always going to be more complicated than "air mattress". I think OP means a classic vinyl sack filled with air. They tend to have poor support, zero vapor management, and are cold (because air convection inside the mattress takes all your heat and moves it to the ground).