M-TAC camping mat 20 mm (180 x 60 cm)

M-TAC trekking mat 20 mm is a 180 x 60 cm roll-up polyethylene foam mat, a thicker version of the popular 15 mm model. The extra 5 mm of foam noticeably improves thermal insulation, so this trekking mat suits overnights in late autumn, early spring and on snow, when the thinner version no longer protects from the cold from below.

Material and thickness

20 mm closed-cell foam
Closed-cell polyethylene foam doesn't absorb water, so the mat doesn't get soaked even when placed on damp ground or snow. The 20 mm thickness insulates from the cold rising from the ground: it's through the ground that most heat is lost at night, not through the air in the tent.

Textured surface
The surface is embossed, so the sleeping bag doesn't slide on the mat and the mat itself doesn't creep around on a smooth tent floor. The texture also cleans easily: dirt just needs brushing off by hand or rinsing with water.

Carried on a backpack
The rolled mat is secured with two elastic bands and attached to the bottom or side of a backpack, or under the top flap. Because the mat isn't afraid of moisture or abrasion, you can carry it on the outside without worry, and it's even better put in an M-TAC mat sleeve so it doesn't catch on branches.

Who is the 20 mm mat for?

The mat is for overnights in the cold season, duty in the field, hunting and anyone who chooses reliability over minimal weight. It's also used as a base layer under an inflatable mat: this combination gives the best insulation and protects the inflatable mat from punctures.

Compared with an inflatable mat, the foam version takes up more space, but it can never be punctured and needs no preparation: unroll it and lie down. Compared with the 15 mm version, this mat is 100 g heavier and about a quarter thicker, which is a direct gain in warmth and comfort.

Care and storage

The mat is washed with water and dried at room temperature. It's best stored unrolled or loosely rolled so the foam doesn't take permanent creases. The mat must not be left by a campfire, on heated stones or in a closed car in summer: polyethylene foam shrinks irreversibly from heat.

The elastic securing bands are worth checking before every hike. They're a cheap wearing part, and a broken band means the mat will unroll on the trail and snag on branches. A spare band in the backpack weighs a few grams.