Karemat what is it? Choosing a good and reliable travel mat

What is a karemat

Inflatable mattress
The need for interlayer mats between the earth and the human body appeared long before the advent of tourists as a phenomenon of civilization. At first, wanderers or those who needed to spend the night in the open air used animal skins and rags as beds. Since the mid-19th century, with the advent of rubber, rubber mattresses began to be made. They were taken on scientific expeditions. Of course, at that time it was a breakthrough in equipment. But rubber is a heavy material, moreover, it is easy to puncture and, of course, such a mattress did not provide the thermal insulation that our contemporaries are accustomed to.

In the 60s of the last century, polyurethane foam appeared - a material with good hydro- and thermal insulation, and also lightweight. In 1967, the progenitor of what we commonly call “foam” came off the assembly line of the English company Karrimor. The British products immediately became popular, and in Russia, rugs created using this technology began to be called “karemats.”

So, what is a karemat? It is a collective image of a tourist rug, which no longer depends on the material of manufacture.

Choosing a sleeping mat for a hike

In order to choose the right mattress for yourself, you need to focus on four main selection criteria:

• thermal insulation features;
• rug weight;
• size;
• comfort.

The thermal insulation properties of karemats are usually expressed numerically, in the form of the so-called R-factor. The higher it is, the “warmer” the material of a particular rug is considered. Thus, a sleeping mat with an R-factor of 2 provides comfortable sleep at a temperature not lower than 0 degrees Celsius. For stable subzero temperatures, it is necessary to use mats with a higher R-factor (R-factor 5 - for temperatures up to -20 degrees, R-factor 9 - for temperatures up to -50 degrees).

Important parameters when choosing are the weight and size of the mattress. Obviously, you need to choose the lightest possible mat (mats weighing over 1 kg are used in special training trips). Much also depends on its size, in particular the safety of the tourist. An oversized mattress will be a clear hindrance in difficult areas or on steep mountain slopes.

For comfortable sleep and rest, it is important to assess the condition of the surface of the mat. It should be soft and not cause discomfort upon tactile contact with it.

It is worth noting that the quality of a product does not always depend on its cost. A mattress whose price is very high will not necessarily be of high quality and reliable. Today, the cost of such rugs varies greatly: from 200 to several thousand rubles. They can be purchased in specialized travel stores or ordered online.

So, according to reviews from many travelers, the most popular today is the so-called Izhevsk karemat. What kind of rug is this and what is its feature? It is of high quality; some tourists have been using it for ten years or more. At the same time, the cost of the Izhevsk karemat is quite acceptable.

The importance of a karemat on a hike

The importance of a camping rug cannot be overstated. Regardless of the time of year, the human body cools down overnight, and the thicker the layer between it and the ground, the less chance there is of freezing or frostbite of important organs.

You can just lie down and admire the mountains

In addition to helping to keep the sleeping bag warm, it also protects the sleeping bag from getting wet. There are several reasons for the appearance of water in a tent: cracks in the floor material, condensation from human breath that flows down from the ceiling and walls, problems with the tightness of the entrance that appear during rainstorms.

Polyurethane foam camping mats are widely used. It’s not scary to put it next to the fire for evening gatherings, or to use a fence to protect the fireplace from the wind, which will speed up cooking.

For extreme hikes, the presence of sleeping bags, and of considerable thickness, is a necessary condition, since not a single sleeping bag will protect you from hypothermia.

Kinds

There are several types of travel rugs. And since the ideal rug has not yet been created, each tourist himself determines what criteria are important to him: price, versatility, thermal insulation, comfort, weight, etc.

Foam

Among all the variations of a travel rug, foam is the most common. The standard size of such a product is 60 cm wide and 180 cm long. They are made from foamed polymers - a cheap and lightweight material with good protection from cold and moisture.

Polyurethane foam products for every taste and color

Advantages:

• Price. The average price for them is about 500 rubles. In stores you can also find very cheap ones that are suitable for a one-time trip. Thanks to the affordable price, you can buy a lot of foam for different purposes and seasons.
• Weight. The foam really weighs a little. For example, for a mat with a thickness of 8 mm, the weight will be slightly more than 400 grams.
• Wear resistance. On such layers you can sleep on sharp stones; they are not afraid of water, scorching sun, or frost. Under unfavorable conditions, their quality characteristics do not deteriorate. Even if there are holes and cracks, the foam will remain a good and warm rug. However, if on a hike you need to make your way through thickets, it is better to take care of your equipment and place the rolled foam in a case.
• Save time. The foam is easy to spread and roll into a roll. There are many situations on a hike when this property is important.

Flaws:

• Thermal insulation. Even the thickest foam is not suitable for extreme cold. You can, of course, take two thick foams, but then both the weight and volume of the equipment will increase significantly.
• Volume. Despite the fact that rolled foams take up a decent amount of volume, tourists continue to love them. If the volume of the backpack does not allow you to place the mat inside, it is hung outside. Some tourists prefer not to roll it up, but to fold it. To do this, you need to cut through one layer of foam at the folds, after which it will be easy to fold it like an accordion and place it in a backpack.
• Comfort. The thicker the foam, the more comfortable it is to lie on it. However, for those who are accustomed to sleeping on soft surfaces, the ascetic, smooth and hard surface of the foam may seem too uncomfortable.

Self-inflating

Self-inflating mats are indispensable for polar and particularly extreme hikes. From a structural point of view, they are a sandwich, where a material with high thermal and waterproofing characteristics is used on top and bottom. And inside there is a special porous material. When folded, the air is squeezed out of the pores, so the equipment can be compactly folded into any backpack. When the valve opens, air begins to fill the pores, increasing the volume of the mat.

You can lie down and relax absolutely anywhere

According to some reports, such mats can be inflated independently. However, if this is not stated in the product specification, it is better not to do this: a hernia of the internal material or a rupture of the external material may occur. And the most unpleasant thing is that it is no longer possible to return goods with such defects to the store.

Advantages:

• Size range. There are rugs for any height and thickness of a person - you can choose the perfect one for everyone.
• Thermal insulation. High thermal insulation performance (R-Value from 4), which is why climbers love them.
• Easy to carry. When folded, the equipment takes up little space.

Flaws:

• Weight. Depends on the models. There are both heavy and ultra-light products.
• Requires careful handling: do not keep it near a fire, do not smoke near it, keep it away from sharp objects, sticks and stones.
• It takes time to inflate and deflate the mat .
• Additional equipment is required (and this is extra weight): pump, repair kit.
• Price. The average cost of a self-inflating mattress is about 6,000 rubles. Which is disproportionately higher than the usual almost indestructible foam.

Inflatable

The question of whether to buy or not to buy an inflatable mattress is difficult to answer unequivocally - it has many advantages and disadvantages. Many have encountered air mattresses, inside of which air circulates throughout the thickness of the mattress, creating inconvenience for the person lying on it. The tourist option does not have this problem. There are many compartments created inside it that impede air convection.

This tourist is overly happy

Products in the mid-price category usually do not have a high temperature regulation value, so they are not suitable for extreme sports, but they have proven themselves to be excellent among travelers on bicycles, due to their low weight and compactness. To understand whether an inflatable structure or a regular tourist foam is better, let’s consider the advantages and disadvantages of air mattresses.

Advantages:

• low weight and volume;
• comfort similar to a soft bed at home.

Flaws:

• the cost for a quality product starts from 4,000 rubles.
• Difficulty in inflating and deflating. It is necessary to inflate exclusively with a pump so that moisture does not get inside.
• require careful operation. May be damaged by pumping or external influences (sharp stones, fire sparks, cigarette ash).

Folding

This type of backing is suitable in cases where there are no special requirements for the weight of equipment, for example, if you are traveling by car.

An example of a folding mattress when folded - it is very compact

This type of mattress is also called a folding bed. The mattress is unfolded and secured on special crossbars.

Advantages:

• a person sleeps at a distance from the ground, so there is no risk of getting very cold,
• such a sleeping place is very reminiscent of a home bed in terms of comfort,
• The products belong to the elite segment and, accordingly, have a high quality of design and the materials from which they are made.

The disadvantages include the high price, significant weight and volume when packaged.

L Read more about inflatable mattresses in the article: Self-inflating mattresses for a tent, or sleeping comfortably while camping

How to choose a travel mat

When choosing a mattress, carefully study the specifications for the product. I'll tell you what really matters in hiking conditions.

Variety of karemats

Weight

A rug has not yet been invented that would be perfect on all sides. Therefore, you always have to sacrifice something. Often, for modern travelers, the desire to reduce the weight of their load is the most important.

Among the known species, foams have the least weight. But even here, the thicker the foam, the greater its weight.

Thickness

Thickness is inextricably linked with thermal insulation and comfortable sleep. The higher it is, the warmer it is to sleep on the substrate. No matter what manufacturers say when advertising their products, experience proves that a thin mattress, regardless of the material, will lose in warmth to a thicker one.

Comparison of the thickness of a self-inflating mat and a foam mat

Foams are found in widths from 2 to 18 mm. The thinnest one is designed for summer and short hikes. Thick, respectively, for the harshest winter conditions.

In general, if finances allow, it is better to have a separate rug for each season. This will allow you not to carry heavy and bulky “winter” mattresses with you in the summer, but to select equipment strictly according to weather conditions. From the recommendations, I can say that in cold winter it makes sense to take 2 foams. Moreover, to save weight, one of them can be cut to a length from the neck to the knees. Self-inflating models are also good for winter (their thickness reaches 5 cm).

Compact (folded)

A big plus of inflatable mattresses is their folded size.
Most of the space when folded is occupied by “foam”. If it does not fit in the backpack, then it is rolled up and secured outside the backpack. On this point, inflatable mattresses compare favorably, where there are models with a volume of 1 liter.

LFor information on how to compactly pack equipment into a backpack, see here: Tips for packing a backpack for a hike: what you must include and what you can ignore

Reliability

Since we take only the essentials on a hike, we hope that all this equipment will serve us faithfully along the way. Since the mattress is one of the irreplaceable and important elements of equipment, you should choose according to this criterion.

It is reliability that makes ordinary foam so popular. Any tourist knows that it is difficult to deform or tear. Even if there is a puncture, the foam will generally not lose its functions, which, for example, cannot be said about inflatable models. Despite the availability of repair kits, repairing air and self-inflating mattresses requires skill that beginners do not have. You don’t have to repair the foam or just cover the hole with tape.

Waterproofing and thermal insulation

All modern rugs are waterproof. Problems with water getting into the sleeping area can only arise if the integrity of the mattress material is damaged.

Classic karemats folded

The task of any karemet, regardless of the type, is to prevent the tourist’s tired body from cooling down. There is a well-established but incorrect opinion that a rug saves you from cold from the surface, ground, floor, etc. However, according to the law of thermodynamics, the process occurs differently. It is our body that shares its heat with the surfaces in contact until their temperatures are equal. This means that the task of the rug is to prevent or complicate the passage of heat from a person to the outside.

In the specification for the mattresses, the thermal insulation is indicated by the R-Value characteristic. R-Value depending on seasonality:

• up to 2 for summer, late spring and early autumn;
• 2-3 is suitable for 4 seasons, but in winter it can be cold to sleep on (depending on the person’s habits and the temperature in winter);
• 3.5 is 4-season material;
• more than 5 for extreme winter temperatures.

Comfort

The comfort of inflatable mattresses is much higher than that of ordinary ones.
Far from civilization, the word “comfort” begins to take on a different meaning. A pair of dry socks and quickly prepared boiling water in chilly weather can already make us happy. What can we say about the sacred - about sleep. Therefore, comfort is another point by which you should choose a mattress.

If you like soft beds, then buy thick foam or a self-inflating mat; through them you will not feel the unevenness of the surface.

What methods of transporting a travel rug are there?

There are no questions with accordion-shaped rugs - they are simply folded and placed in a backpack. Resourceful tourists have figured out how to transport a rolled mattress. It is simply rolled up and placed inside the backpack so that a frame is formed. However, with such installation, up to 10% of the useful volume is lost.

Other tourists, in order to keep the interior of their backpack intact, prefer to attach the mat to the outside (back or side). However, in this case, the mat can be very quickly damaged by branches, rock ledges, or lost altogether.

After returning from a hike, the tourist sleeping mat must be dried unrolled for 24 hours. Over time, such a rug loses its thermal insulation properties, so it needs to be changed periodically. How often this needs to be done depends on how intensively the tourist goes hiking.