The title of this post sounds like an episode from Ben 10 (if you don't know who he is you are very lucky so don't ruin it by asking). In my continued research about sleeping mats, I was recommended to buy Therm-a-Rests. Therm-a-Rests are self-inflating sleeping mats like the Airics I have been pondering (see previous posts here and here).

In case you don't know, self-inflating mats have an airtight outer layer that is filled with a foam honeycomb. The outer layer has a valve to allow air in and out. When packed the foam squashes, so the mat rolls up relatively small. When you unroll the mat and release the valve the foam expands and air is sucked in. It takes a few minutes for them to inflate but they don't require a pump (you can top them up with an extra bit of air using a pump if you want). Once inflated you close the valve trapping the air inside the mat. You then have an airfilled foam cushion. This gives a very comfortable sleeping mat, with the foam giving insulation as well. There is none of the 'all at sea' feeling that you get on a standard airbed but they are more comfortable and pack smaller than a foam roll mat.

There are a few makes, but the cheaper ones don't get very good reviews. Therm-a-Rests are the top of line make, with mats costing from £60 to well over £100. All the Therm-a-Rest mats come with a lifetime warranty. Airics are made by a compnay called Alpkit who also sell them online. They are cheaper, costing up to around £45. Both makes have various different product lines aimed at different types of campers from lightweight thin models for backpackers to heavier thicker ones for 'car camping'. We fall into this latter category.

So the mats we're interested in are the BaseCamp (pictured top right) and LuxuryCamp (pictured left) from Therm-a-Rest and the Fat Airics (pictured bottom right).

I have used the large Therm-a-Rest as a comparison as it's the closest to the Fat Airics. They also make a regular which is shorter and narrower  (51cm X 183cm) and and exra large which is wider (76cm X 196cm) they are the same thickness as the large.

The improtant values in the comparison I think are the price and the thickness. I can't see how thicker does not equate to more comfortable and warmer. The Fat Airics are the thickest,  the LuxuryCamps are 10mm thinner and the the BaseCamps are 23mm thinner (that's 50% thinner). From a price point of view, you can get 2 of the Fat Arics for less than the price of a single LuxuryCamp (although their may be better offers available).

The Therm-a-Rests get glowing reviews and the lifetime warranty is re-assuring but the price is a big hit for someone like us who're just starting out and still not sure how much camping they will do when it actually comes down to it. 

The Airics getting glowing reviews too. They don't have a lifetime warranty and they may wear out after a few seasons, time will tell. As the Fat Airics are thicker and cheaper it's a no-brainer.

Just have to either convince B that lime will do or wait for the chilli ones to come back in stock.