Mikey P
01-08-2009, 13:13
I wanted to show you a 'different' type of sleep system that is lightweight, good (so far...) for summer use, not that expensive, and useful for 'hot' sleepers like me.
The combnation is a Thermarest air mattress, the Thermarest Tech Blanket and Thermarest Fitted Sheet.
Although I use it with a Thermarest Guide Light mattress, basically, this can be used with any air mattress that has similar dimensions.
http://i29.tinypic.com/16advso.jpg
The Tech Blanket stuffs into its own pocket and the sheet into a small cloth bag. Both weight next to nothing and don't take up a lot of space.
The fitted sheet slides onto the Thermarest and has a small reinforced hole for the mouthpiece. The elastic straps on the bottom pull the sheet taught and also stop it from moving around then you lie on it - they are slightly 'sticky'.
http://i27.tinypic.com/ok4hhx.jpg
There are a number of poppers around 3 sides of the sheet and, on one side, the poppers are on black tabs. This allows you to link two Thermarests together using the fitted sheets.
http://i26.tinypic.com/2a6qd5u.jpg
The Tech Blanket is then clipped onto the poppers and a drawstring at the bottom cinches it closed around the feet.
http://i26.tinypic.com/28lb9c1.jpg
To get in/out, you can either un-pop one side and then do it up again, or just slide in from the top.
I like this system as there is much more room to spread your legs out than in a sleeping bag - indeed you could undo one side completely and leave it open. So, if you sleep on your side (like me) this is less restrictive.
It is also fantastic in warm weather as it is so easy to vent. You could unclip any side you want (bottom, left, right), depending on how you want to sleep.
I tested it out in my tent the other night. It was 14-15 deg C outside and I was fine (I sleep pretty warm). If I had felt cold, I'd have either put some clothes on or got into my stretchy Meraklon bag liner which adds another season of warmth.
The system could be used in a hammock, either by partially deflating the mattress so it conforms better to the hammock shape, or just by using an underblanket and then useing the tech blanket as a quilt.
This is not a cold weather system! You'd be daft to use it as such.
It is also a small, lightweight pack up for when you spend a night at a mate's house, or if you're travelling.
A versatile little system. Works for me!
Got mine from Rutland Cycles: £30.99 for Tech Blanket and £13.49 for fitted sheet.
The combnation is a Thermarest air mattress, the Thermarest Tech Blanket and Thermarest Fitted Sheet.
Although I use it with a Thermarest Guide Light mattress, basically, this can be used with any air mattress that has similar dimensions.
http://i29.tinypic.com/16advso.jpg
The Tech Blanket stuffs into its own pocket and the sheet into a small cloth bag. Both weight next to nothing and don't take up a lot of space.
The fitted sheet slides onto the Thermarest and has a small reinforced hole for the mouthpiece. The elastic straps on the bottom pull the sheet taught and also stop it from moving around then you lie on it - they are slightly 'sticky'.
http://i27.tinypic.com/ok4hhx.jpg
There are a number of poppers around 3 sides of the sheet and, on one side, the poppers are on black tabs. This allows you to link two Thermarests together using the fitted sheets.
http://i26.tinypic.com/2a6qd5u.jpg
The Tech Blanket is then clipped onto the poppers and a drawstring at the bottom cinches it closed around the feet.
http://i26.tinypic.com/28lb9c1.jpg
To get in/out, you can either un-pop one side and then do it up again, or just slide in from the top.
I like this system as there is much more room to spread your legs out than in a sleeping bag - indeed you could undo one side completely and leave it open. So, if you sleep on your side (like me) this is less restrictive.
It is also fantastic in warm weather as it is so easy to vent. You could unclip any side you want (bottom, left, right), depending on how you want to sleep.
I tested it out in my tent the other night. It was 14-15 deg C outside and I was fine (I sleep pretty warm). If I had felt cold, I'd have either put some clothes on or got into my stretchy Meraklon bag liner which adds another season of warmth.
The system could be used in a hammock, either by partially deflating the mattress so it conforms better to the hammock shape, or just by using an underblanket and then useing the tech blanket as a quilt.
This is not a cold weather system! You'd be daft to use it as such.
It is also a small, lightweight pack up for when you spend a night at a mate's house, or if you're travelling.
A versatile little system. Works for me!
Got mine from Rutland Cycles: £30.99 for Tech Blanket and £13.49 for fitted sheet.