Most good insulated air mats cost well over $200. The Mountain Designs Airlite 5.5 is a lot cheaper and still has the things that matter: PrimaLoft insulation inside, a diamond baffle pattern and a pump sack in the box. I paid $100 for it at Anaconda.
It’s 5.5 cm thick, weighs 600 g and packs down to 28 × 11 cm, so this is a mat for the backpack as much as for the car.
What’s in the box
An insulated air mat from Mountain Designs, the regular size: 185 × 55 cm and 5.5 cm thick when inflated, with a tapered shape that’s narrower at the feet to save weight. Inside is PrimaLoft Black Insulation Eco, a synthetic fill that keeps the cold of the ground away. The outside is 40D micro ripstop nylon with a TPU coating, and the seams are heat-welded. In the box are a pump sack, a stuff sack and a small repair kit.
What we like
- PrimaLoft fill for warmth, not weight
- Diamond baffles suit side sleepers
- Packs down to 28 × 11 cm
- Pump sack: no blowing by mouth
- Ripstop nylon, heat-welded seams
- Good value at $100
What we don’t
- Slow to squeeze out all the air
- Needs care on sharp ground
- Bottoms out when you sit on it
Quick Specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Brand | Mountain Designs |
| Model | EMD19007 |
| Material | 40D ripstop nylonTPU coatingPrimaLoft fill |
| Colour | Yellow |
| Weight | 600 g |
| Size inflated | 185 × 55 cm |
| Thickness | 5.5 cm |
| Packed size | 28 × 11 cm |
| R-value | 3.3 |
| Shape | Tapered |
| Valve | High-flow valve |
| Included | Pump sackStuff sackRepair kit |
Comfort and warmth
What makes this mat comfortable is the diamond baffle pattern. The air chambers spread your weight evenly over the whole mat instead of letting it sag in one spot, so it’s friendly for all sleeping positions, side sleeping included. At 5.5 cm it’s thick enough to keep your hip and shoulder off the ground when you lie on your side.
The PrimaLoft fill gives it a good warmth-to-weight ratio. An air mat without insulation lets the cold ground pull heat out of you all night; the fill stops much of that without making the mat heavier or bulkier. Its R-value is 3.3, which covers most nights of the year in Australia. On a frosty winter night, I’d add a foam mat underneath.
The one weak spot is sitting on it. When you sit upright or kneel, all your weight goes into one small area, and you bottom out against the floor. For lying down it’s fine; just don’t plan on using it as a seat.
Inflating and packing up
The pump sack is the best part of the setup. You fit it onto the valve, catch some air in the sack and squeeze it into the mat. It’s fast, and you don’t have to blow into the mat by mouth, which also keeps moisture from your breath out of the mat. The high-flow valve has a flip cap, and it lets air in quickly and out quickly.
Packing up takes a bit more effort. Open the valve, roll the mat from the far end and press as you go. Squeezing out the last of the air, so the mat fits back in its stuff sack, takes a little extra time. Once it’s rolled tight, the tapered shape helps it pack down to about 28 × 11 cm.
Weight, size and durability
At 600 g, it’s light enough for hiking and small enough to fit in a backpack, and in the car it takes up next to no room. The stuff sack lists the regular size, thickness and weight on the outside.
The ripstop nylon and heat-welded seams handle normal wear well. Like every air mat, though, it doesn’t like sharp objects: sticks, stones and prickles can puncture it. Clear the ground before you lay it out, or put a ground sheet underneath. If it does get a hole, the repair kit has patches to fix it on the spot.
Vs other hiking mats
The Airlite 5.5 is one of four mats we’ve tested that are light enough to carry in. The NEMO Tensor is lighter and thicker but costs nearly four times as much, the Trekology UL80 is cheaper and thicker but has about half the R-value, and the Sea to Summit Camp Mat SI is a thin self-inflating mat that’s warmer but heavier. The Airlite sits in the middle: the second-warmest of the four, for $100.
This one Airlite 5.5 |  NEMO Tensor |  Camp Mat SI |  Trekology UL80 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Type | Air pad | Air pad | Self-inflating | Air pad |
| Thickness | 5.5 cm | 8.9 cm | 3.8 cm | 10 cm |
| R-value | 3.3 | 2.8 | 4.2 | 1.6 |
| Weight | 600 g | 369 g | 780 g | 568 g |
| Price | $100 | $370 | $140 | $74 |
| Our score | 8.8 | 9.2 | 9.4 | 8.7 |
Conclusion: Mountain Designs Airlite 5.5 Insulated Air MatConclusion
The Mountain Designs Airlite 5.5 is a light, comfortable insulated air mat for $100. The PrimaLoft fill keeps the cold away, the diamond baffles suit side sleepers, the pump sack makes setting up quick, and it packs down to 28 × 11 cm. Packing it down takes some squeezing, it needs care on sharp ground and it’s not a seat, but for hikers and travellers who want warmth without paying for a premium brand, it’s good value.
A 600 g insulated air mat with PrimaLoft fill, diamond baffles and a pump sack, for $100.
It packs down to 28 × 11 cm and suits side sleepers. Packing it down takes some squeezing, and like any air mat it needs care on sharp ground. A good pick for hikers and travellers who want warmth without the premium price.
- Hikers
- Backpackers
- Travellers
Yes. I paid $100, which is a lot less than the premium insulated mats, and you still get PrimaLoft insulation, a pump sack, a repair kit and a mat that packs down small.
