Comparison Pinguin Matrix 38 vs Exped SIM Comfort 5 LW

Thermal conductivity resistance R-Value is only relevant in cases where the mat will be used in the cold season. Thermal conductivity is indicated by the R-Value coefficient, from 1 to 9. A travel mat with a thermal conductivity coefficient of 1 will allow the user to feel comfortable on the mat at an ambient temperature of at least 9 °C. If the R-Value coefficient reaches 9, then the travel mat can be safely used at an ambient temperature of -45 °C. The level of thermal conductivity is directly related to the density and thickness of the filler. If the filler is porous, that is, it contains many air-filled cells, then the travel mat will insulate the user well from the cold floor. Regarding thickness, winter rugs usually have a thickness of at least 10-12 mm.

The weight of a tourist rug depends both on the materials of manufacture and on the geometric parameters, type (inflatable or self-inflating) and the purpose of the model. It can increase due to the presence of an additional thermal insulating layer based on aluminium foil, etc. Note that this parameter is of priority when transporting on oneself (on foot, especially in difficult conditions) — for such cases, models with a minimum weight are best suited. In situations of tourism in transport, or going out into nature, the convenience of the product will play a greater role than its weight.

The number of valves for inflating and releasing air provided in the design of an inflatable or self-inflating product (see "Type").

— 1. One valve used for both inflating and deflating the mat. The advantages of this option are simplicity and low cost. On the other hand, the throughput of valves is in most cases low; this is not a serious disadvantage when filling the mat with air, but can greatly slow down the folding.

— 2. The features of this option depend on the number of seats (see above) for which a certain model of the rug is designed. So, in single equipment each valve has its own specialization. One is designed to inflate and is often designed to prevent air from escaping even when the plug is open; the other, which is responsible for the release of air, has a high throughput and allows you to quickly blow off and roll up the product. However such models cost more than similar single-valve ones. And double mats usually consist of two separate halves, each of which provides its own universal valve; in terms of inflation / deflation, they are no different from the single-valve models described above.

- 4. Four valves can be installed in two-seat models: each separate half of these mats has an inlet and outlet valve, similar to single-seat two-valve products (see above).

A material used as a covering for the top of a rug.

— Polyethylene. Foamed polyethylene is a traditional material for mats (see "Type"), however, for a number of reasons, it is practically not found in self-inflating mats.

— Polyester. Synthetic material, characterized by good strength, resistance to moisture and adverse effects, including temperature fluctuations and ultraviolet radiation. Due to this, it is very popular in models of all purposes (see above).

— Nylon. Classic nylon is considered a fairly simple material, inferior to polyester, but the situation is reversed in tourist rugs: they use specific varieties of this material, which are highly durable and reliable and suitable even for expeditionary use. However such a coating is quite expensive, and therefore it is mainly used in expeditionary models.

— Polyamide. Polyamides are a whole family of synthetic fabrics, including nylon as described above. Actually, this term can mean both nylon and some similar materials. They are mainly used in tracking models (see "Purpose").

- Fleece. Synthetic material based on polyester microfibre. It is pleasant to the touch and provides good thermal insulation, but for a number of reasons it is found mainly in picnic products (see "Type") and is practically not used in other types of tourist rugs.

The material that plays the role of the internal hardware of the rug. Note that this parameter can be specified both for self-inflating products and for traditional mats (see "Type") and even for inflatable mats — in them, the internal volume can be supplemented with filler to improve thermal insulation.

— Polyurethane foam. A material that is extremely popular among self-inflating mats, but also found in karemats. It is distinguished by strength, durability, resistance to temperature extremes, as well as good thermal insulation properties. Polyurethane foam filler can have different densities; the higher it is, the better the mat is suitable for extreme conditions, but the more expensive it is and the more it weighs (the latter is especially noticeable in self-inflating models).

— Synthetics. Usually, polyester-based filler is called synthetic. One of the main advantages of this material is resistance to moisture, which includes the ability to retain most of the thermal insulation properties when wet, as well as a high drying rate. On the other hand, the initial level of thermal insulation of synthetics is somewhat lower than that of polyurethane foam, and it does not tolerate long-term storage when rolled up. This material is found only in inflatable and self-inflating models.

— Polyethylene foam. A material found mainly among mats, but occasionally used in self-inflating mats. Note that in karemats, polyethylene foam usually plays the ro...le of not only the core, but also at least one of the surfaces (upper and/or lower); but for self-inflating products, shells are made from other materials. If we talk about practical properties, then this material has good thermal insulation properties, is resistant to moisture, and is inexpensive. On the other hand, polyethylene foam is sensitive to UV radiation, and in general it wears out faster and loses elasticity than the same polyester foam.

— Fluff. Natural down (duck or goose) is mainly used in high-end expedition equipment (see "Purpose"). The main advantage of such a filler is its excellent thermal insulation performance. On the other hand, such a rug should be protected from moisture as much as possible — in the wet state, all its advantages are lost, and the filler dries for a long time. Another disadvantage is that fluff can cause allergies; therefore, for people prone to allergic reactions, before a serious trip, it's ok to check such a rug in advance.

According to the density of the filler, a general conclusion can be drawn about the strength, weight and level of thermal insulation of the tourist rug. With an increase in the density of the filler, the resistance of the tourist rug to mechanical wear increases, but at the same time, the mass of the product increases. Also, rugs with a denser filler have worse thermal insulation — this is due to the structure of the filler itself, because the lower its density, the more air-filled cells that limit heat loss. To simplify: high density — higher strength, but worse heat retention; low density — lower strength, but better heat retention. In general, the density directly depends on the type of filler. So, for foamed polyethylene and ethylene vinyl acetate, it can be 25-70 kg / m³, but the density of polyurethane foam is usually 12-40 kg / m³.

Minor repair kit, originally supplied with the mat. This option is found exclusively among inflatable and self-inflating models: even a slight damage to the shell can completely render such a rug unusable. In such cases, a repair kit allows you to correct the situation: such a kit includes at least patches (with special glue or self-adhesive ones), and sometimes additional tools. Note that repair kits are usually designed for minor damage — cuts and punctures up to 10 – 15 cm in size; however, more serious "accidents" do not happen so often.

The dimensions of the rug in the unfolded position. This parameter allows you to evaluate how much the area of the product will be enough for your purposes, and whether it will fit in the intended location — for example, in a tent.

Each individual size has its own specifics. So, choosing a classic rug (see "Type") in length depends on the height of the user, in width — taking into account the physique ( wide tourist rugs will be a burden for the average person, and narrow ones will be uncomfortable for large people). Among the seats, the situation is simpler, they all have approximately the same size, sufficient for their intended use. The thickness, usually, characterizes the softness of the product: the larger it is, the better the mat smooths out irregularities and the more pleasant it is to lie on it (ceteris paribus, of course). On the other hand, for a thick rug it is more difficult to achieve compactness when folded, so an increase in thickness affects either the dimensions of the product during transportation or the price.

Dimensions of the rug when folded. This parameter determines how much space the product will take up during transportation. Note that in this case, “perfect” sizes are usually indicated, corresponding to the most dense packaging according to all the rules; actual dimensions may be slightly larger, depending on the quality of folding.