So the babble of words above is my findings of testing this Berghaus sleeping mat, here are some key features of the manufacturers blurb; The Shangri-La is for all intents and purposes a proper mattress when it’s fully inflated. It has vertical side walls to maximize the top-level surface area and this means that you don’t roll off in the night. Whether you are going hiking, camping or on long epic expedition, a good nights sleep can make all the difference between a great trip and a terrible one. We all know that getting in some quality Zzzzs refreshes the mind and the body and sets us up for an awesome day out on the trail. At Camping Secrets we often like to highlight niche products we uncover which accomplish a task in a clever way, whilst maintaining quality and value. The 3rd generation IForrest Sleeping Pad accomplishes this task extremely successfully.

I am looking to upgrade my sleep system to be able to continue my trail running and wild camping adventures into the winter. It is a big investment for me so I really need to get it right first time. Mat – has anyone here used the Peak Pro and had the chance to compare it with a mat with an official R value. I am hoping to keep it but as I am looking to switch to a quilt it will become a more important part of my system. What I do not want to do is get a more expensive mat and find out that it is no better. The Decathlon Quechua Ultima is a comfortable mattress at a pretty reasonable price point. It’s not the cheapest double and it’s not the most expensive. Would we like a little more cushioning, say 10cm total? Well actually we didn’t really miss those extra 2cm, and the great insulation really made a difference on a cold autumn night. We slept very well, with none of the ‘sleeping bad sliding’ you get on some smoother SIMs. For real additional comfort to the Ultim you need to be looking at a 15cm SIM such as the Outdoor Revolution Skyfall or similar. I sleep on my side and often find that I wake up with sore shoulders when camping out, the Static V2 is a perfect sleeping pad for side sleepers and I found it very comfortable to sleep on, unlike the X Frame.So it it comfortable? We can give this a resounding thumbs up – it is by far the comfiest double SIM we’ve tested for the money, and while it may seem expensive, this is up there with the best air mattresses but without the stress of punctures or requiring pumps.

In terms of dimensions and operation, the Dreamcatcher is pretty standard in most areas. However, the inflated size is a little restricted compared to the more expensive Vango and Berghaus options – the length is 195cm (just under 6ft5) and so we would recommend either of those two over the Outwell if you’re lanky like me.

Warmth - Clearly, keeping warm is not just about the right sleeping mat it is also about the right sleeping bag and clothing. We always try to ensure we have the right gear at the right time, no point me being in a rubbish bag and blaming my coldness on the sleeping mat. I can confidently say that te Berghaus Peak Pro mat kept me adequately insulated from the floor There’s no denying that the SIM was comfortable for my wife though who is a much more svelte 11 stone. OK, 10.5 stone – she’s watching me type! In use, the comfort is very good indeed, and provides just enough support for up to around 15 stone in weight. If more support is needed then air can be blown into the top valve – this makes the top surface more taut, but less comfortable.

The Shangri-La is exceptionally easy to inflate and deflate, and this is one of its major strengths. The Cyclone ‘flip-valve’ as seen on the Comfort 10 Double is a joy to use. Simply flip it around to the correct airflow direction required. Inflation happens automatically, and deflation can be achieved in a couple of minutes by the old “roll and kneel” manoeuvre. We think the Shangri-La makes sense in single format but is just too bulky as a double. Of course, your mileage may vary on that choice. There’s no doubt that it is an absolute comfort monster in terms of the luxury it offers. This is also reflected in the price of course, and in terms of price per square metre it is one of the highest reviewed. This ultralight Thermarest inflatable mattress is, as far as self-inflating sleeping pads go, the smallest sleeping pad on the market. Unrivaled in terms of convenience, the Pro Lite comes in a range of three sizes (short, long, and regular) and each size is a different price meaning you can save some money if you need a small sleeping pad.The KingCamp Deluxe Double SIM comes in two great covers a delicious electric blue or a gorgeous grey/anthracite mix. It uses a novel ‘wave-like’ top surface layer to provide a tactile 150D surface to lie on and hold your sleeping bag in position. In reality (unless you are a heavy person over 15 stone) a 7.5cm option is acceptable, but we wouldn’t recommend going any lower than that if comfort is your main objective.

However a low R-Value (<2) could mean you end up getting cold in the night. Inflatable air mattresses which are essentially big air balloons which you sleep on have notoriously low R-values and are no good at all for sleeping on in winter or autumn. The NeoAir Xtherm ditches the mainstream rectangular shape for a contoured build. This makes it overall more weight-effective, without compromising comfort and it’s a seriously comfortable, seriously lightweight sleeping pad – as an all rounder, the Xtherm is hard to beat, but it ain’t cheap and there are some better value options out there.Since the R Value of the Comfort Plus SI is around 4, mild winter adventures are now a possibility. That said, keep your expectations realistic. This is not an extreme cold weather sleeping pad. The comfort of the MondoKing is exceptionally good. I lay down on it for a few minutes to ‘test it out’ and found myself dropping off surprisingly rapidly – that wasn’t the plan, but it’s testament to the cushioning on offer. Thermarest use a ‘Stratacore’ construction to achieve this which combines a continuous layer of thermal foam with alternating ridges of air and foam. It works very well. Let’s start with some definitions. At Camping Secrets, we generally distinguish between a Camping Mat and a Camping Mattress as follows: