Survival Lessons Tips for the survivalist, fisherman and hunter
If we are going to relax in nature for several hours, we will always find something to take with us as a simple bedding that can cover the ground on a small segment - a light second-hand blanket or a cape on a sofa, an old blanket and the like. Another thing is if you plan a multi-day trip for hunting, fishing, for a hike. A travel mat will become an indispensable part of the mandatory equipment.
There are many products in this category on sale, which complicates the choice. How to choose a tourist rug, and correctly, taking into account all the features of the further use of the sample - this will be the topic of the article, which will be a good guide to the shelves of specialized stores.
Those who do not fully understand the purpose of the tourist rug (in everyday life it is customary to call it "karemat"), it is worth recalling that it is multifunctional.
Firstly , it protects well from moisture. Even if the night is to be spent in a “sleeping bag”, then additional bedding should not be neglected. Condensation formed due to evaporation from the ground, possible flooding of the overnight stay (for example, during rain) - how long will the bottom of the sleeping bag remain dry in such conditions? Especially if it is not the most expensive and high quality.
Secondly , a correctly chosen tourist rug is a layer of thermal insulation that will not be superfluous even in summer, in a dry and warm season.
Thirdly , additional leveling of the ground will also not interfere with a person who is going to spend the night on the ground, since not everyone has the opportunity to take a tent with them. At least with a tourist rug, some discomfort will be partially leveled.
Fourthly , and this is important - some types of caremats are great for providing first aid; for example, as a splint applied for a fracture or severe dislocation.
It is important to know how to complete a first aid kit for a hike - read here .
Content
The main criteria for choosing a tourist rug
There is a certain set of purely “technical” indicators that you should pay attention to when buying. But the design, the cost is at the discretion of the tourist (fisherman, hunter).
Structure and type of material
Polymers are mainly used as raw materials. Some of them are foamed at one of the technological stages, although by different methods. Therefore, such materials (and they are most often used for the manufacture of tourist rugs) are classified into products with open and closed pores. What is the difference? If you do not deal with the details in detail, then briefly can be summarized as follows:
- materials with closed cells do not allow air and moisture to pass through. This is their big plus and at the same time a disadvantage in relation to tourist rugs. With the expectation of the tightness of the material, manufacturers do not protect it with any kind of sheath. Such mats, taking into account the peculiarities of the use of samples, will not serve the tourist for a long time. But from the point of view of thermal insulation, they are more effective;
- mats with open cells must have a protective layer. It also provides increased wear resistance of the product. But in terms of insulation, such karemats are somewhat inferior to “closed-cell” ones.
Listing the materials used in the production of tourist rugs is both long and pointless. If only because the market is constantly replenished with various new products. The author proposes to abstract somewhat from the subject of tourism and turn to the field of construction and repair.
When laying soft types of flooring (laminate, linoleum and a number of others), the so-called "substrate" is necessarily mounted. Its function is the same as that of a tourist rug - additional insulation and compensation for possible loads. For these purposes, sheets made of expanded polystyrene foam or polyurethane are used. Their effectiveness has been proven over many years of use.
You can't say the same for other materials. For example, PVC cracks or breaks at low temperatures, has more weight, which is important for a tourist. Disadvantages can be found in some analogues. Whatever cunning advertisers and sellers claim about the “new breakthrough”, from the author’s point of view, this is nothing more than another (plus those that Ostap Bender knew about) “honest way” to empty our wallets. It's no secret that, by definition, "new" a priori means "not time-tested."
Design features of the rug
The prices indicated below are for budget models, in Russian rubles.
Monolithic canvas
Such tourist rugs are called "foam" (according to the technology of obtaining the material). They are the cheapest, and therefore are in high demand. For spending the night, even in the open air, such models of karemats are quite suitable. Given their low weight and price, you can purchase not one, but two copies. The only thing to consider is that these rugs are afraid of high temperatures.
Price - from 152.
Folding rug
Such a product consists of several sheets of PPE (usually from 4 to 6) or PVC, packed in a sheath. Its top is fabric, the bottom is made of water-repellent material (mostly synthetics). The weight of such rugs does not exceed the mass of monolithic analogues, but in terms of practicality this cannot be said. The fabric gets wet quickly, therefore, taking this type of mat with you, you will have to additionally protect it from moisture. For example, put in a plastic bag.
Price - from 320.
Self-inflating rug
Samples are heavier (up to 0.9 kg). Modern models are more expensive, but they also have a mass less by 1.5 - 2 times. The device of this type of tourist rug is simple - shell + foam filler. The principle of operation is based on the ability of the cellular polymer (with open pores) to recover its shape (absorb air) after the tightening elements are loosened or removed.
It remains only to "inflate" the mat a little and close the valve. Here is the reliability of the latter among many users and causes complaints. Therefore, you have to take a repair kit with you on a hike. In the rest - some pluses. First of all - compactness and created comfort. In fact, such a chamberat is an analogue of the well-known sponge, and it can be packed in any way.
Price - from 1 780.
There are air mattresses on sale, even with insulation, which are often positioned by sellers as tourist rugs. For example, products under the brands Exped or NeoAir. With all the advantages of these products, they are hardly suitable for the role of a camera “for all occasions”. The main reason is the increased thermal conductivity of the samples. Consequently, the properties of the insulation are partially lost.
Such rugs are still rare, but before buying, you should evaluate the rationality of such an acquisition from all sides. For example, when spending the night in a tent - a good option for a tourist rug. But there is another disadvantage - the high price.
Mat weight (kg)
According to this parameter, all tourist rugs are very different. The minimum weight is about 0.2 (lightweight version), the maximum is 1.2. Although most karemats are characterized by a mass in the range of 0.35 - 0.45.
Mat dimensions (mm)
They are standard, so the choice is somewhat limited.
- Length - 1900±100.
- Width - 550±50.
- Thickness - from 7 to 10.
Which tourist rug to choose is up to you, the reader, and no one else. The author only wants to warn against rashly following the advice on using a rubberized air mattress instead of a karemat. Its significant weight for those who travel to nature by car is not a significant limitation. The point is different - even one night spent on such a product can turn into big problems in the lumbar region. Moreover, this manifests itself later, as an “echo”, and sometimes lasts for years. Therefore, it is definitely not an option for a tourist.
Hello, I am Alexander, the mastermind behind the blog.
In terms of career and free time, I connected my life with the forest. How else, when you live in Karelia! In this blog, I am responsible for the hunting, hiking and equipment sections. Welcome to my world!
