About this deal
The quoted R-value of 3 looks a little ambitious, so I'm not certain this really is a 3 season mat, but should be fine for me if I use a 3 season sleeping bag in spring and autumn. The only thing we would say is that if you do really “feel” the cold then this mat might not be best for you. The iceshield also stood on test for its great quality – the outer fabric is tough yet comfortable and the mat keeps its shape once inflated and feels like it’ll withstand years of sleeping under the stars.
On the strength of our experience, this mat should be more than adequate for most mountain and cold weather use worldwide. You'd be unlikely to put that lab-based result to the test in UK use, but the real world performance of a mat will depend on numerous factors in any case, not least the quality of the sleeping bag it's paired with.The challenges you are taking on mean compromises will need to be made but the Airo 180 will help minimise your losses. The grooves that you can see on the outside do two things; 1 - they show the individual channels that the air flows through within the mat, 2 - Just like the RidgeRest these grooves trap air and warm or cool you much quicker.
We think it's most comfy when lying on your back, and we can't honestly say the side rails make a difference.
The idea is that they offer support in whatever orientation you sleep, while the ruffled 'side rails' are said to help keep you centred on the mat.
Yes it is only a 3 season mat but the fact it can still be comfortable to sleep on even in -20°C temperatures just says it all really. As far as I can tell, it is sold exclusively by Go Outdoors in the UK, which is where I purchased it in July/August 2016. You attach this to the valve, pull the bag out to its full extent, and then blow steadily into it (from a distance of 30cm to reduce the moisture in your breath).If you are after a good starter sleeping mat or are hiking on a budget then the Adventure Air Mat from Multimat is a contender. It's worth mentioning too that the insides of this mat crinkle and rustle audibly as you shift around, something that might annoy a light sleeper.