M-TAC camping mat 15 mm (180 x 60 cm)

M-TAC trekking mat 15 mm is a classic 180 x 60 cm roll-up polyethylene foam mat. It isn't inflatable, so it's not afraid of pine needles, stones or sharp branches, which is the main reason a foam trekking mat remains the standard in armies and on long hikes, where a failure at night is not acceptable.

Material and thickness

15 mm closed-cell foam
The mat is made of closed-cell polyethylene foam. Closed cells mean the material doesn't absorb water: placed on wet ground, the mat stays dry on top, and in the morning it only needs wiping off. The 15 mm thickness is a compromise between weight and insulation: this is the thinner version, for those who care most about mass.

Rolls up and secures with bands
The mat rolls into a roll and is secured with the two elastic bands that come in the kit. Rolled, it attaches to the bottom or top of a backpack and takes up no space inside the backpack. Unrolled, the mat flattens itself in a few seconds and doesn't need inflating.

Weighs 200 g and needs no upkeep
The whole mat weighs about 200 g. It needs no repair kit, no airtightness check and no drying from the inside: after use, wiping with a damp cloth is enough. It's a piece of kit you can leave in the car or garage for the whole season and use without preparation.

Who is the 15 mm mat for?

The mat suits summer and shoulder-season hikes, overnights under a tarp, training, outdoor exercise and as an extra layer under an inflatable mat. It's ideal when reliability and low weight matter more than softness.

If you sleep on cold ground in late autumn or winter, it's worth choosing the thicker 20 mm version or combining this mat with an inflatable one. The main difference is simple: the 15 mm version is lighter and smaller in volume, the 20 mm is warmer and softer.

Care and storage

A foam mat needs practically no care. When dirty, wash it with water and leave it to dry at room temperature. It's best stored unrolled or loosely rolled: a mat compressed for a long time under heavy things takes creases that worsen its contact with the ground.

The only thing foam really suffers from is heat. The mat must not be kept by a campfire, on heated stones or in a car interior in summer sun: the material shrinks and doesn't recover. If you follow this one rule, the mat serves for many seasons.