I have been testing the Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum XL Inflatable Mat with the Vango Cobra 600 Down sleeping bag. There are some interesting features included in the design of the Aotrom Thermo Platinum Inflatable Mat.
What Vango says about the Aotrom Thermo Platinum Inflatable Mat: It has an Exkin Platinum base fabric. Exkin Platinum is a lightweight, non-woven fabric that features a metalised layer that more efficiently reflects heat back to your body to retain more warmth. The insulation is DuPont that also helps to retain heat for longer .
The Air Filled Welded Channels, found only on the Aotrom range, mould to the contours of your body for a more comfortable sleep whether you’re a back or side sleeper.
There is a “non XL” version, which is a more tapered shape and therefore a little lighter. But the length, widest point and depth are the same in the XL and non XL versions.
Features include:
Four season
Length and width: 185cm x 55cm
Depth inflated: 5cm
Weight: 685g (non XL version is 810g)
Packed size: 23cm x 13cm
Fabric: ThermoFlex Lite 20D Nylon Ripstop
R-value: 4.2
Flush Fit TPU Airlock Valve
Air-filled welded channels
Exkin Platinum and DuPont insulation
Thin metalised layer
Tapered “non XL” version, too
Price: Vango £130. Smaller size: £97.50 on Amazon and £94.95 for XL size on Amazon
My thoughts: Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum Inflatable Mat
Sleeping mats have become increasingly comfortable thanks to greater depth and air-fill. I was recalling the other day my first inflatable mat many years that was only about 1.5cm thick and was very plain. It was a step up from a foam camping mat and felt luxurious back then, but these days the inflatable mats are much more comfortable.
They also have improving R-values. R-value tells you how well your sleeping mat resists heat loss. The higher R-value, the better the sleeping pad is in terms of keeping you warm by blocking your body heat from being eliminated into the ground. An R-value of 4.2 is good.
To achieve the R-value, Vango has designed in a ThermoFlex Lite fabric, which has an aluminium reflective coating, to further retain heat created by your body.
The sleeping mat also has air-filled welded channels increase the surface area of the mat, moulding to the contours your body for more comfort. I found the mat to be very comfy an d it feels like it hugs your body.
All this comes in a fairly compact packed size and also relatively lightweight overall. The XL is 685g, while the tapered design is 610g. I would rate this as nicely lightweight for a comfortable, 5cm depth inflatable mat.
I felt warm and cosy on the mat and inside the Vango 600 Cobra. I didn’t feel the rough ground underneath and I felt my body was warmed. The mat doesn’t make too much noise when you move about.
The one feature I was surprised about is the way it’s inflated. Most inflatable sleeping mats these days come with an inflating sack, usually built into the stuff sack. Instead, the Vango mat requires the user to blow air straight into the valve, or else you need an extra pump. You could pack a small pump, such as the Zero Pump, but, personally, I’d rather not add weight to my pack.
The valve is more secure than it looks and the mat stays firm and inflated. However, when you need to deflate the mat it’s a little trickier. You have to hold open the value manually to allow the air to escape. I am not sure why this mat doesn’t have a two-way value like many other sleeping mats. This is really the only down side of the mat.
I think the price of the mat is reasonable compared to other brands and the XL is cheaper than the non XL version on Amazon. It just depends if you feel you need the width all the way to your feet and if you want to carry an extra 75g. Personally, I’d go for the tapered Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum XL Inflatable Camping Mat.