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Top Pros
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Reddit Reviews
It's a Qomotop, but I don't see them for sale anymore. Really, just look for any self-inflating pad, then look at reviews. The valve on mine looks like this one, which is a Forest Dawn on Amazon. Sea to Summit seems to have some good prices now. Mine is 4 inches thick. https://preview.redd.it/4yybdcuyugef1.jpeg?width=829&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=543cb29673b12eb77528047244ced74433ba6de5
I just bought a used Sea to Summit of Poshmark for $25. Had a small leak that was easy to fix. Just set it up in the house and seems really comfortable. Packs up small
I used a Therm-a-rest in 1994 and, more than 30 years later, I don't see any reason to choose something else. I stopped using those for backpacking trips in favor of ultralight inflatable sleeping pads (which you DO NOT inflate with an electronic pump) because they are so much lighter, but for something like drum corps where you are using it every day and you aren't carrying it in a pack up a mountain, it's Therm-a-rest (or similar self-inflating pad from many other brands, e.g. Sea to Summit) all the way. They are more comfortable than a close-cell foam pad, still lightweight, relatively durable, and you won't have to be screwing around with a pump when you just want to be sleeping after a 3 AM bus arrival.
We use fold up carton type mats as our base. Then in our tent we have Sea to Summit self-inflating bed rolls. Our kids have the same base and use Therm-o-rest self-inflating ground mats. We find as long as we stay on the self-inflating mats, we’re pretty comfortable. The ther-o-rests are almost 20 years old and still in great shape. We upgraded to Sea to Summit because they fold up so small for backpacking
Look for an insulated inflatable mat, or a self-inflating one. I love my Sea to Summit self inflating mat. If he’s car camping, a pie iron is a very versatile option for cooking over the campfire.
Start with a megamat duo that will fit you and your wife for family/cub camping. You can use it solo when kid gets to scouts BSA. I recently bought a sea to summit backpacking pad and a nemo foam pad to use (hypothetically while backpacking)but also while car camping solo because the megamat is ridiculous solo.
Im a side sleeper. I have the XLite. Often feels like the baffles lack structure at the sides so in the mornings I'm fidgeting around feeling like im rolling off the mat. Not used a Tensor although I have heard it offers much better support for side sleepers. Also, the Xlite suffers from mould spots on what seems the outside. For comfort though, from all the mats ive laid on, sea to summit are the most comfortable
Ended up getting a couple sea to summit mats on sale for $60.
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