Once used, it becomes addictive with "+13cm" magic power. Therm-a-Rest "RW" size sleeping pads were unexpectedly comfortable

Just a 13cm change makes you feel so comfortable.

Among the most important items for sleeping in a tent, along with sleeping bags, the sleeping bags is the sleeping pads (mattress) that you place under the sleeping bag. A mattress not only relieves unevenness on uneven ground, but also blocks out cold air from the ground and maximizes the heat retention effect of your sleeping bag, making it an essential gear for a good night's sleep in the mountains. Choosing the perfect mat for you is essential for a safe and comfortable climb.

This site has spoken several times in the past through practical comparisons and reviews of popular models , but when considering sleeping pads, I'm sure the part that many people are worried about is clearly, such as "insulation" and "thickness," which directly affects sleeping comfort.

However, when considering comfort, there is another important point that is often overlooked, although it is actually important. This time, I the Neo Air , a lightweight mattress for mountaineering and alpine use of Therm-a-Rest , with other sizes, and share my experience of reminiscing about how "the width of the mat" was important for a good night's sleep.

This is what happened to a trekking mattress that is just about the shoulder width.

Most of the mattresses (regular sizes) that have been sold for mountain climbing and climbing up to now are about 20 inches wide (approximately 50-55 cm). The regular Thermarest model is 51cm wide.

When you think about why it is this width, it is of course better to have a wider range in terms of comfort, but it is also true that when using it for severe outdoor activities, it is best to make your luggage as compact and light as possible. As a result of these two conflicting needs, the width of the 20-inch width has been reduced as much as possible to the extent that it is not below the shoulder width of a typical man.

When you lie down on your back, your arms aren't falling on the ground?

I, who is 176cm tall and about 45cm wide, lie on my back on a regular size mattress, looks like the one shown in the photo above. Although there is a bit of room around the armpits, the shoulders and waist are just barely there, so if you don't pay much attention, your arms will quickly spill onto the ground. If you have your arms inside your sleeping bag, your arms won't fall off and you'll never be able to sleep, but that doesn't mean you'll feel comfortable when you're floating in the air. That's how small the size is, taking into consideration portability in the mountains.

However, in this case, the area that suddenly protrudes from the mat will directly touch the cold ground, and unlike a mat, the ground will not be warmed by body temperature, so your body temperature will be taken away from it. It may be a bit of a concern in the warm season, but in the cold season, even if you put your arms in your sleeping bag, you can feel the cold, which can be a problem that cannot be ignored. The photo below shows a temperature measurement using a smartphone thermographic app with a mattress placed on the ground at dawn, just after placing your body on top of the mattress and only your arms on the ground. On the mat, the air warmed by your own heat will shut out the cold air from the ground, but the cold ground will directly steal the body's heat.

When sleeping on your side, isn't it difficult for your knees and toes toes to pop out?

Also, for side sleepers who usually sleep sideways, a mattress that is just about the shoulders doesn't have enough room. In fact, when you lie on your side at this size, most people probably end up with their knees and elbows protruding outside the mat (photo below). Although it is not so small that you can never sleep, personally, I find it difficult to place the arms and elbows that are protruding, and the reality is that you can only sleep comfortably on your side in a position that you barely get after several trial and errors.

Isn't it difficult to turn over and hit?

Of course, it's difficult to roll over in bed with a narrow mattress. You need to shift your body little by little, taking care to avoid falling down as much as possible.

What is the "wide model" added to Therm-a-Rest?

If it were an old mountaineer or a strict alpinist who had strong patience, it might have been enough if his shoulders were still there. However, with these days when values ​​are diversified and there are many hikers and campers with a variety of abilities and goals, it is natural that you can hear people saying that there is no need to cut this down, and that there is a better option that places a little more emphasis on comfort.

, "RW (regular wide)" was born . Specifically, this model was added Neo Air Uber Light , Neo Air X Light , Neo Air X Thermo Max, and Trail Pro . These are the same vertical width as the regular size, but the width is 13 cm wider and 64 cm (photo below. From the left, S size, R size, RW size, and L size).

What has changed and how much has it been in the wide model?

To be honest, the difference in comfort is only slightly different, as the width is only 13cm wider. And he was a high-ranking comment.

It's only 13cm, but 13cm. Surprisingly changing comfort

First, try sleeping on your back to see the difference.

The photo above compares all the sizes currently in the lineup at NeoAir Uberlight With the two on the left (size S and sizes R), your arms fall outside when you try to relax, while with the second RW size , your entire body is on the mat even when you relax your arms.

Comparing simple numbers may not be a big difference, but if the difference is not possible with this 13cm difference between whether your arms fit on the mat or not when you relax, the difference cannot be ignored. Unlike the regular size, which inevitably makes you notice the "cliffs" that spread out on both sides, the RW size , and gives you a surprising sense of comfort and security.

*By the way, the L size on the left the RW size time, but the vertical length is 196 cm, which is a size for large people, so there are unnecessary excesses on the feet.

It can be easily snug even on the side and easily tossed over. Side sleepers are also smiling

So how about sleeping on your side (photo below).

As I pointed out earlier on the two models on the left (S size and R size), part of the body is either just close or slightly protruding, but with the second RW model the entire body fits on the mat without having to be particularly conscious of trying to fit it. When I turned over, I only had to shift my body once, so I turned over more smoothly than I expected. Whether you sleep on your back or on your side, a wide size will significantly improve the stress you feel while sleeping.

The size is large enough to fit easily in a single person tent even when it expands

After writing this far, it's all good to have to make it into an RW size! You may think so. If that's the case, they're going to be this size from the beginning, so of course it's not all that good. From here on, we will check out the concerns that you may have with the wider size.

The first thing to think about is that the wider width will not fit in the tent. If it doesn't fit in the tent I use all the time, it's impossible to take it on a hike. However, to put it simply, there is no major concern.

For single-person tents sold by many manufacturers, the width of the inner tent is approximately 100 cm, and at the very least, it is around 70 cm. For this reason, there may be some variation in space, but as long as it is used in a single-person tent, it is unlikely that it will be difficult to fit in.

On the other hand, some care is required for two-person tents. Most models have a typical two-person tent living space of around 130 cm, and in this case, RW sizes can be arranged in the same orientation, so this is no problem. However, there are some models with a reduced capacity and width of around 120 cm or less, and in this case, there are cases where it is not possible to arrange RW size In such cases, try to adjust the way you lay it out, such as changing the direction of your head.

What about the weight and storage size?

Another concern that is probably the most concerning is weight. For reference, we compared the weight and storage size of the entire NeoAir Uberlight lineup using the photo below.

Compared to the R size, the RW size weighs about 60 grams, and the length of the storage size is approximately 4 cm larger. It is undeniable that there will be a slight increase in the amount, but even if it grows larger as shown in the photo above, it is not that big of a plastic bottle compared to a plastic bottle, and it can change dramatically depending on how it is folded, so it does not seem to be too much of a concern. Rather, considering that when trying to choose a wider size up until now, there have been only L sizes and square models, it can be said that while improving comfort, the burden is significantly reduced.

For reference, if you're using the Neo Air X Light, check out the photos to compare the R and RW sizes.

Summary: You'll be addicted to the unforgettable comfort. If you don't try to cut the weight seriously, the wide model is definitely recommended.

I was honestly surprised that a little widening of the width would improve this much more comfort. Until now, I used to think, "This is what mountain climbing is like," and I had stopped thinking about it because I had become used to the regular size (around 20 inches) width, but once I tasted it, I often start to think that I was satisfied with such a small mat.

Of course, the wide size will certainly fade away the "lightweight and compactness," which had previously been a major advantage of air mattress, and in that sense it is not recommended for people who want to go as light as possible or relatively small as possible.

On the other hand, this is highly recommended for beginners who are not yet used to staying in a tent, those who are somewhat confident in their physical strength and can use their benefits to a more comfortable tent life, or those who don't need to cut down on their luggage. If you've been using regular sizes up until now, be sure to give it a try and be surprised at the difference in sleeping comfort.

The fact that we can choose from a variety of sizes depending on the season, purpose and purpose is definitely a step forward for us users. It's not that which one is the best, but it's always one of the great things about climbing mountains, thinking about the balance between weight reduction and comfort, pursuing your own preferences and thinking about the best packing for each of them.