What kind of sleeping mat do you take with you on a canoe trek? A compact, lightweight mat that provides sufficient insulation for what you will be do...
What kind of sleeping mat do you take with you on a canoe trek? A compact, lightweight mat that provides sufficient insulation for what you will be doing with it is a good canoe mat. The more space you have in your canoe or kayak (or the more space and weight you want to invest on a good night's sleep), the easier it is to opt for more comfort. Especially if you are trekking with a Canadian canoe, you can take a lots of stuff and therefore also may choose for a lot of comfort. The lightest mats are around 50cm, if you want a bit more width, a mat is often around 65cm. Two person mats are also available. The standard length of a mat is around 180cm, but they come in lengths of over 2 metres. If a foam layer provides the insulation, the type of mat is a self-inflating mat. These self-inflatables are very stable. If the construction or a fibre layer provides the insulation, then it is an airbed. Airbeds are often more compact and lighter. Look here for all lightweight canoe mats or go directly to the self-inflating mats or airbeds. For paddlers who really go for luxury, also check out the comfort mats and especially the ones with stretch fabrics.