Mat slippage

Related to slippage: when a pitch is not flat, which is usually, what tricks do people use to avoid slide?

I carried the @tom palma foil/foam mat intending to use it for warmth boost but ended up rolling it up and wedging it under the lower side of my mat to get the lie flatter. I also stuck my spare socks, warm hat and anything else at intervals along the edge. All these items are lightweight, therefore pathetically non- existent as wedges.

Any other tips? Or better, tips to get a flatter pitch. Perhaps my intuitive geometry is bad. I try to pitch diagonally across the angle of a slope with head highest, but in reality I always slide sideways.

It's not always possible, or pleasant to lie down first to test, if it's a bit wet or mucky.

Walking it with baby footsteps gives you a good idea of levels - especially if you've developed your spidey/ yogi sense of weight balance in your feet.

Depends on how you sleep too, most side sleepers have a favoured side - if I have to be on a slope Id rather have legs and arms on the down-hill side.

Doesn't totally prevent the 'falling off a cliff' dreams altogether, but it can help a bit.

In extremis I have used my pack under the long mat edge, to give a more cradle like effect, or at head end.

Twos up, we often sleep head to toe..
Legs uphill helps prevent restless legs for him apparently.

Usually scoping for a 'perfect pitch' anything up to an hour before stopping in unknown terrain.

It's reassuring to have a default banked to return to, if what lies ahead is unsuitable.
Although, its rarely necessary to have to retrace that far.

I reckon we should get points for finding this pitch though.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnnrRtFlwOB/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=pulhobbk6imv

In the mist, in an endless sea of boulders at the end of a looong day.

Any smaller and it would have been a case of rolling up in the fly sheet as an impromptu bivvi.
 

tom

Thru Hiker
It's not always possible, or pleasant to lie down first to test, if it's a bit wet or mucky.

Walking it with baby footsteps gives you a good idea of levels - especially if you've developed your spidey/ yogi sense of weight balance in your feet.

Depends on how you sleep too, most side sleepers have a favoured side - if I have to be on a slope Id rather have legs and arms on the down-hill side.

Doesn't totally prevent the 'falling off a cliff' dreams altogether, but it can help a bit.

In extremis I have used my pack under the long mat edge, to give a more cradle like effect, or at head end.

Twos up, we often sleep head to toe..
Legs uphill helps prevent restless legs for him apparently.

Usually scoping for a 'perfect pitch' anything up to an hour before stopping in unknown terrain.

It's reassuring to have a default banked to return to, if what lies ahead is unsuitable.
Although, its rarely necessary to have to retrace that far.

I reckon we should get points for finding this pitch though.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BnnrRtFlwOB/?utm_source=ig_share_sheet&igshid=pulhobbk6imv

In the mist, in an endless sea of boulders at the end of a looong day.

Any smaller and it would have been a case of rolling up in the fly sheet as an impromptu bivvi.

Isn't it interesting how those most unexpected pitches leave the most lasting memories ... ? :D:)
20140618_185322_2.jpg
 

tom

Thru Hiker
@Fair Weather Camper i love that picture! I remember it from the summer. All that, and flat too!

@tom that’s incredible. How fortunate that you were carrying a rainbow or whatever it is.

As I recall, I was a little desperate to sleep somewhere with fading light after being held up waiting for a flood surge to subside on the GR20. But did it feel good to squeeze in there ... and no mat slipping :whistling:
Anyway, finished my tea and I still got a way to go to the coast at Shoreham so I'm signing off now :) Happy Easter everbody
 

Shewie

Chief Slackpacker
Staff member
I use whatever is available to help with uneven pitches, I find if I can get my hips fairly level that’s usually enough.
Folded sit pad, waterproofs, water bladder and food bag quite often get used.
 

Taz38

Thru Hiker
Strangely the 'cheap' hi-gear self inflating mat from G.O. has proper silicon anti slip dots on it, seems a comfy little mat as well. I don't understand why mats that cost a small fortune don't have this. The anti-slip on my exped is pants and the thermarest non existent.
 
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Strangely the 'cheap' hi-gear self inflating mat from G.O. has proper silicon anti slip dots on it, seems a comfy little mat as well. I don't understand why mats that cost a small fortune don't have this. The anti-Zionist on my exped is pants and the thermarest non existent.

That's a typo yes @Taz38 :o o:
Or controversial house guests?? ;)

I'm wondering if having silicon on the mat itself would make it harder to fix in case of puncture.

I put stripes of silicone width ways across my Tt Moment floor.

Thought it might be overkill, given that my neoair mat pretty much fills the floor space.

But it's never done that annoying migrating
up the side of the inner, then pushing against the fly manouvre, on a slope, so maybe those few extra grammes of gloop are worth it ??
 

Clare

Thru Hiker
I’m now convinced by the simplicity of the @tom thin foam sheet method, gloop free and transferable mat to mat and tent to tent (highly material now that I’ve joined the ranks of people with more tents than sense since joining this site). The palma thin foam mat is silvered one side which is slippery and defeats the non slip objective (whilst succeeding in its heat boost objective). I now see that Tom used Velcro to attach it to the mat but I don’t fancy sticking Velcro to my mat so will try the elastic retainer method.
 
I’m now convinced by the simplicity of the @tom thin foam sheet method, gloop free and transferable mat to mat and tent to tent (highly material now that I’ve joined the ranks of people with more tents than sense since joining this site). The palma thin foam mat is silvered one side which is slippery and defeats the non slip objective (whilst succeeding in its heat boost objective). I now see that Tom used Velcro to attach it to the mat but I don’t fancy sticking Velcro to my mat so will try the elastic retainer method.

I'm planning on same, but to make a comfy top sheet for my mat, for when using quilt, or undone s/b.

With corner retainers, and one (or maybe two? ) midway loops.

Could double up as sarong / towel / evening out wear - if done with the right sort of fabric.

Can compare fiendish plans afore long :)
 

WilliamC

Thru Hiker
IF you're buying from Zpacks so are already paying the postage, stick on loops stick well to both CCF and inflatable maps and form a good way of joining them together.
@paul makes some stick on mitten hooks attached to hybrid cuben - perhaps we could persuade him to make some attached to plain cuben and matching stick on loops?
 

tom

Thru Hiker
@Clare - I just cut tabs from a roll of stick-on velcro - 4 for a 112cm sleepmat. The glue is not that strong and they do come off my STS sleepmats (accidentally too) so its not permanent .... :)
 

EM - paul

Thru Hiker
IF you're buying from Zpacks so are already paying the postage, stick on loops stick well to both CCF and inflatable maps and form a good way of joining them together.
@paul makes some stick on mitten hooks attached to hybrid cuben - perhaps we could persuade him to make some attached to plain cuben and matching stick on loops?
Inflatable map sounds proper cool. Multi use

Although I don't do custom these days plain cuben stick on patches with whatever you want sewn to it isn't a problem. My widest tape is around 8 inches so lots of scope for super huge or smaller. But I'm on holibobs until friday.
 

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WilliamC

Thru Hiker
Inflatable map sounds proper cool. Multi use
Inflatable map, who said map :whistling:
But I'm on holibobs until friday.
I noticed when I tried to place an order yesterday.
Although I don't do custom these days plain cuben stick on patches with whatever you want sewn to it isn't a problem. My widest tape is around 8 inches so lots of scope for super huge or smaller.
Expect a pm tomorrow.
 

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Halfords £2! I bought one last week £6!
after @Shewie was convinced by the noise, that I'd sneakily crossed over from Exped to Thermarest due to the noise.... I've successfully peeled the silver backing off.

It works great as a bit of extra insulation, but more importantly, stops mat slippage .

Full roll weighs 158g 6mm thick.

I trimmed mine down to neck to just past knee length and have 72g.
It Folds well and makes a decent pack stiffener.
I'll re-purpose the elastic as a chest and possibly a sternum strap like my TB44 has. IMG_20190917_170525.jpg IMG_20190917_170456.jpg
At this weight, I'll double up as a stand alone pad for 2/ 3 season fastpacking treks.
 

marko

Day Walker
using neoAir xlite. Applied silnet diluted 1:1 with thinner. Strips about 1/2 inch wide and 8 inch long, staggered grid. About 10 strips on a 2person duplex like tent. Doesn't slip anymore. Also after about 8 days out no dust or debris sticking to it
 

EM-Chiseller

Thru Hiker
Seam grip.... Wow.
I've been using exped repair glue to patch a dozen holes in a klymit I was gifted. It was going well with quick cure times... Sadly not enough glue to do each repair three coats.
Dashed out and bought a tube of seam grip... Dang that stuff is hard to work with. Very messy and slow cure time.
Upshot is.. It set differently to the proper air pad sealant...
Sticks like the proverbial. I've wiped the tube and brush along several areas and it's going to prevent any slippage.
(deflated mats don't slip :D)
Hopefully the klymit that looks like it's been used on top of a blackthorn hedge... Will stay up long enough to snatch an hour or two of kip.
Definately liking the klymit and will be tempted to get a new full length inertia at some point.
Now I'm tempted to put some seam grip stripes on my exped :smuggrin:
 

Robert P

Thru Hiker
I recently added some strategically located silnet spots to my Neoair Uberlite to reduce slippage. However, they seem to be detaching and I found an assortment on the floor of the tent inner.
Is this something specific to the Uberlite? - I've not noticed it on my old standard Neoair.
 
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