"While in a military surplus store one day, I stumbled upon a sleeping mat made for the military. I bought one and found that it provided a good night's rest for a budget person. The mat is made of close cell form and moisture cannot penatrate the mat. It stays flexible in all climate coniditions.
The mat wiegh about a pound and is 73" X 23.25". The mat rolls up into 23.25" X 6.25" I found it packs nicely if you pack it a flap of a pack.Another freature is that it is Olive Drab and blends in nicely with the woods. Thats a big plus for people who use forest colors like me! The price of one
of these mats ranges from 5 dollars US to 15 Dollars US. I found mine at a surplus whorehouse and paid 3 for a used one but in excellent condition. If interested check out a military catalog like US Cavalry or Brigade Quartermasters. These two catalogs usually have these mats. A musty for a budget
person."
"I have used one of these pads the entire time I was an active duty Marine and don't see a real need to change yet. For someone my height, 6'4", this is a good pad as it is about the same length. I have used this pad in a wide variety of environments and it always seems to work fine even on snow. It is not very heavy yet is very durable."
"I agree with these gentlemen. I've deployed with Marines this summer as a journalist and the pad is also really handy if you use a sea bag. You just insert the pad and let it conform to the outside of the sea bag. That protects everything inside the bag as well as giving the bag some structure."
"I also served active duty U.S. Marines, and I still use my sleeping mat. It's held up for over 10 years.
It's light, and easy to roll to bungee/strap to pack."
"Having served in the Marines as well I'm a big time advocate of this mat. It's only downfall is, if your not using a thick sleeping bag it doesn't provide as much protection from rocks and hard ground. For the money though, you can't beat it."
"I really hope you aren't talking about the green foam sleeping pad. although it's light it is horrible to sleep on. you feel every little twig and rock. and as for protection against the cold it's all but useless. there is a reason some of the more well funded portions of the military have switched to using a thermarest."
"I have one and I think its great for the money! But I don't use it because my 25 dollar hammock, from the same surplus store I got the mat from, is way better! The G.I. Issue sleeping mat is great deal though!"
"I was also a marine, and this mat is so inferior compared to other mats. First few backpacking trip out of the corps I used it and just thought I would give a therma-rest a try and the comfort level is far superior. On my last backpacking trip to isle royale I had a pro-form 4, my friends had an inflatable and this mil surplus mat, by the end of the week they had both tried my mat and decided that the would be changing theirs, but the price is right."
"I've been a Marine for a little while now and used this mat a lot. Do not use this mat if you expect to be sleeping in the rain, snow, or on very rocky soil. Water will soak through the pad in a matter of minutes and you will feel even the smallest twig or rock that is underneath the mat. I would highly recommend forking over some more money and obtaining a good pad"
