Improving mat insulation for winter

tom

tom

Thru Hiker
Best stuff I've found yet is a soft approx 2mm poly sheet with silvered mylar on one side and a kind of ripstop pattern:
IMG_20180913_072005~01.jpg
Cut to fit the size and shape of my shortend STS mats (110cm), it weighs 35gr. I've used it extensively since January as a sit mat on everything - ice, snow, sharp gravel, rocks, spiky vegetation without any visible damages so far - actually pretty much looks like new still. It attaches with velcro to my mats and makes the uninsulated (yellow) STS feel warmer than my insulated (red) STS on its own (as well as protecting the STS and a small weight saving from the insulted STS). Slept happily on frosty grounds with the combi of uninsulated STS and this poly sheet.
Bought several in a household goods shop in La Palma (I hadn't expect them to last long...) and they came rolled in 120x60cm and 200×60cm sizes.
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
Doesn't look quite the same @Clare - I'll check when I'm back in London if I still have a paper sleeve they came in. Might be a name or brand there...
 
Teepee

Teepee

Thru Hiker
@ZenTrekker That's the same material as the picnic blankets linked to earlier in the thread as Picnic blankets. I've used it for years as primary sleep insulation, it's very effective.
 
ZenTrekker

ZenTrekker

Section Hiker
Teepee said:
@ZenTrekker That's the same material as the picnic blankets linked to earlier in the thread as Picnic blankets. I've used it for years as primary sleep insulation, it's very effective.
Click to expand...

I thought it probably was. I posted the details of the Grand Canyon mat because it had a quoted R Value
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
I've had various silver foiled mats over the years (highlander, car windscreen, direct imports from china, etc) including one from the 'bay thats almost as light as the la palma furniture mats (but much more bulky). The la palma mats look and feel quite delicate and substantially different compared to the others (which differ mainly in weight and bulk). In spite of the delicate appearance, none of the previous stuff I had would have survived what I subjected the la palma to this season. Be great if anyone finds a source besides this chinese shop in Tarzacorte...
 
WilliamC

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
Teepee said:
@ZenTrekker That's the same material as the picnic blankets linked to earlier in the thread as Picnic blankets. I've used it for years as primary sleep insulation, it's very effective.
Click to expand...
Except the picnic blankets are silvered on both sides, aren't they?
I like the way that they will hold a fold so that through repeated folding you can create your own "Z-lite" effect.
 
Clare

Clare

Thru Hiker
@tom I'll look for it in Sardinia next month... and send out urgent message for group buy directly from the hardware store. In your first picture it looks kind of like Tyvek on the white side, rather than polycro or mylar... is that right?
 
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
IMG_20180918_163838~01.jpg
Pretty sure its mylar on one side (robust + pierce resistance) the other side is soft and velvety - a bit like the antistatic stuff they wrap electronics in (see pic). The edges have not frayed at all and the layers haven't come apart either. You can crumble it up, roll it, fold it - always straightens out
 
Teepee

Teepee

Thru Hiker
WilliamC said:
Except the picnic blankets are silvered on both sides, aren't they?
I like the way that they will hold a fold so that through repeated folding you can create your own "Z-lite" effect.
Click to expand...

None that I've seen or own are double sided, and I'm on about number 25 now. I wouldn't like a double sided TBH....the foam does a good job of stopping them slipping.

Yep, sam as you. I fold them into 3rds, then 3rds again and they fit in the back panel of my packs really well.

@tom I've searched a few times and come up blank. The foam does look identical to the ones I use, but the foil pattern is different.
 
WilliamC

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
Teepee said:
None that I've seen or own are double sided, and I'm on about number 25 now. I wouldn't like a double sided TBH....the foam does a good job of stopping them slipping.
Click to expand...
Well, that's intriguing. I bought one through a link you shared and it is definitely double sided. We haven't had a problem with it slipping but we've mainly used it on top of an inflatable.
 
Teepee

Teepee

Thru Hiker
I'm now intrigued too. :) Are they holding up to use OK? That second layer should help with preventing the small tears they get.
 
WilliamC

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
Teepee said:
I'm now intrigued too. :) Are they holding up to use OK? That second layer should help with preventing the small tears they get.
Click to expand...
It's holding up well. It's had a small tear in one of the aluminium films, which I taped, but nothing else.
I'll have to order another to a) see if it's single or double sided, b) compare if it turns out to be single sided.
 
FOX160

FOX160

Thru Hiker
tom

tom

Thru Hiker
Nevis

Nevis

Thru Hiker
WilliamC said:
This appears to be the one I bought. It was definitely from a link on here and I'm pretty sure from Teepee.
Click to expand...
That’s the stuff i got from the same link, its very bulky and it doesn’t pack very small is the only problem. Just ordered some of the stuff that Paul at treadlite sells, not sure how good it is though.
 
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