The Great Outdoors – August 2019

78 The Great OutdoorsAugust 2019

Nemo

Switchback Regular

£50 434g

durability, weight, cost

very bulky

Type: closed-cell foam
Materials: dual-density axiotomic
foam/metallised refl ective fi lm
Dimensions: 183x51cm
Thickness: 2.3cm
Rating: -7 ° C
ultralightoutdoorgear.co.uk/nemo-m29

For a closed-cell foam mat the Switchback is
quite comfortable, though it doesn’t compare
with an airbed. It is softer than standard

Mountain Equipment

Aerostat Synthetic 7.0

£130 624g (regular)

comfort, warmth, cost

not that light

Type: insulated airbed
Materials: 30D ripstop nylon shell,
160g /m^2 PolarLoft insulation
Dimensions: 185x54cm
Thickness: 7cm
Rating: R-value 4, -25°C
mountain-equipment.co.uk

Mountain Equipment’s Aerostat mat is
a comfortable mat suitable for year-round

Big Agnes

Insulated AXL
Air Mummy

£180 322g

ultralight, warmth, comfort

expensive

Type : insulated airbed
Materials: ripstop nylon/ TPU lamination shell,
PrimaLoft Silver/heat-refl ective fi lm inner
Dimensions: 183x51cm
Thickness: 9. 5/ 8 cm
Rating: -9°C
bigagnes.com

This mat is amazingly warm for the weight.
Most uninsulated airbeds weigh more.

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closed-cell foam as it consists of a network of

soft nodes rather than a fl at surface. These

make up a series of panels that fold together

to reduce packed size, though the mat is still

very bulky.

The Switchback has a temperature rating

of -7°C, rather less than the -70°C of the

other closed-cell foam mat reviewed, the

Multimat Superlite 8. I guess this is because

the Switchback isn’t a solid piece of foam,

though it does have a metallised fi lm on

one side to refl ect back body heat. I reckon

it should be fi ne for all but the coldest UK

winter nights. It could be combined with an

airbed for greater warmth and comfort.

The Switchback weighs more than the

Superlite 8 but it is comfi er. As a standalone

closed- cell foam mat it’s a good choice.

The shell is made from very light nylon and

the mat tapers more than most. Big Agnes

say a new internal construction minimises

weight too. The mat packs down really small.

With multiple air cells the mat is

comfortable to sleep on. The cells on the

edge are larger, which helps keep you

centred on the mat. It does depress under

elbow pressure, like most airbeds.

There’s no pump but it doesn’t take long to

blow up the mat by mouth.

The AXL Air mat is very expensive,

and requires a bit more care than heavier

mats, but if you want maximum warmth

for the least weight plus the comfort of an

airbed it can’t be beaten. Big Agnes describe

it as a three-season mat but it should cope

with all but the coldest British winter nights.

For those it could be combined with a

closed-cell foam mat and the two would

still weigh less than many four-season

insulated airbeds.

use at a good price. It’s not as light as

some equivalent mats but it does cost

considerably less.

With vertical tubes and a rectangular

shape the Aerostat is quite simple in design.

It comes with an unusual long narrow pump

named, unsurprisingly, the Windsock. This

holds plenty of air and is quite easy to use.

It’s attached to a stuffsack.

The Aerostat is comfortable, especially

when not blown up hard. Pressure from

elbows and hips does depress it almost to

the ground but lying on the mat is fi ne, even

on your side.

If weight isn’t critical and you want a mat

for year-round use at a reasonable price the

Aerostat is well worth considering.

Gear comparative review

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