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Mattresses - my experience

In my opinion it is a bit odd to see backpackers dressed in the best of clothes and wearing heavy backpacking boots but having only a "yoga-mattress" to sleep on. When we sum up the conditions we have in the backcountry of Iceland in backpacking season: The silence only interrupted by a bird, every now and then (o.k. there might be a snoring companion in the next tent...) It is light outside through the night, even sunshine. Add obstacles on the ground pushing through a thin mattress. The result might be a restless night and the best of clothes and the sturdiest of boots can not make that up to the backpacker. 

Generally speaking: an ultralight inflatable mattress is a must when backpacking in Iceland. The weight of the things that you carry for days really matters. The lighter, the better. An inflatable mattress takes up less space in the backpack - one should not depend on tying the mattress to the backpack as an unprotected mattress will become wet on a typical backpacking tour in Iceland. A damp/wet mattress does not go well with a down-sleeping bag. Not at all. 

A decent inflatable mattress combines two qualities: good insulation and "erasure" of smaller objects on the ground like pebbles etc. Unfortunately, punctures or leaks are to be expected and consequently a repair kit should always be packed with the inflatable mattress. I will not recommend any specific brand/make: I use cheap makes: "Multimat" of ca. 420 gr. or "Naturehike" of ca. 350 gr. Sleeping on frozen ground/snow on Thermarest of ca. 800 gr. I also have a foam mattress "Jungleleopard" which weights just around 300 grams and I can use in summertime on lower grounds - IF I am certain about smooth surface on the camping ground.

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