Light, packable, fairly priced and with some good eco credentials. The Alpkit Cloud Base is a reliable mat that offers decent performance on a budget.
This is a lightweight backpacking sleeping mat that, quite simply, gets the basics right. It offers a comfortable night’s sleep on the trail and comes at a pretty decent price too. It’s a great option for those who want a reliable and functional mat but without breaking the bank and, as such, we’ve deemed it worthy of inclusion in our Outdoor 100 Gear of the Year guide.
At a Glance
This weighs 420g and it packs up to a very small size – about the size of a rolled up rain jacket. Offering 5cm of thickness, it’s not the plushest of pads but I found it still does feel soft and comfortable. The R-value (1.4) is pretty low, so it’s only warm enough for camps in mild to warm conditions.
OM tester Jazz is pictured here demonstrating the Alpkit Cloud Base. Photos: Dave MacFarlane.
How I Tested It
My partner and I used this on a 4-day backpacking trip in North Wales. We also used it on our Outdoor 100 test trip. Our test period has, so far, been in early spring (with temps between 4 and 8 degrees) so not necessarily the conditions this is made for, but it was warm enough and our nights weren’t cold.
This is made up of a matrix of air pockets in two different sizes, with indents between them that create air pockets when you life on them. From what I gather, the mat relies purely on air as the insulating medium. Alpkit deserve credit for using recycled materials here, with 95% of the fabric deriving from post-consumer plastics.
Here is the Cloud Base sleeping mat being set up with the Alpkit Tarstar 2 tent.
Inflating and Deflating
It has one valve, which is no-return so air doesn’t escape when you’re between breaths. To deflate the mat, you just press down on the little trap door within the valve. I found that I couldn’t attach a Therm-a-rest pump sack to this, but Alpkit make their own one that can be purchased separately. I’d advise purchasing this as I think the inside of the mat will get mildewy quickly if you’re blowing it up by breath.
I’ve found I can inflate this in less than a minute. Deflation is also quick and easy, though you do need to ensure you have your finger in the valve otherwise air will get trapped.
Comfort
I found this to be more comfortable than it looks. I use the Therm-a-rest NeoAir Uberlite a lot and I’d say this is much comfier, even despite it being a fair bit thinner. I didn’t have any issues with my hipbone or knees touching the ground, nor did I have any issues with lumps and bumps under the mat. I didn’t find myself sliding off it much and it’s so low to the ground that you won’t be woken up when one of your limbs slips off it.
Its tapered shape makes it best suited to front and back sleepers, but I found it was fine for side sleeping too.
A very suitable option for backpacking.
Durability
This has a tough feel to it. I haven’t ever found myself worrying too much about it when using it in a tent – even with my sharp-clawed Border Terrier scurrying about. Like all air mats, I’d advise taking some care when using this on bare ground. I think sharp gravel and thorns etc will do some damage. Fortunately, it comes with a repair kit, so there is a solution if an accident does occur.
Verdict
I think the light weight and small packed size make this a great option for lightweight backpacking and bikepacking. It’s not quite as comfortable and convenient as, say, the Nermo Tensor All-Season or the Exped Ultra 5R but it costs quite a bit less, and that’s the main plus point here. The main downside is that it’s not a mat that can support chillier trips. Not by itself anyway, but there is always the option of pairing it with a lightweight open cell foam mat.
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