Last Updated on July 9, 2023
When it comes to sleeping outdoors, there is no shortage of options. There are air mattresses, which are usually pretty comfortable but can develop leaks. There are travel hammocks, which are also usually pretty comfortable but often require trees to hang them from. There are even camping cots, which are durable and comfortable but also large and heavy.
But what if you need something slim and minimal? Well, that’s where a sleeping mat comes in. And Aldi sells one.
The Adventuridge Self-Inflating Sleeping Mat retailed for $19.99 in 2018. This is about $5 more than the mat cost in 2017, although it is still one of the cheapest sleeping mats you’ll find out there. It also pairs well with the Adventuridge Self-Inflating Pillow, although it’s not a requirement.
In 2018, it came in three colors: blue, black, and green. As you can see, we got the green one.
The mat measures 74 inches (6 feet) long, 26 inches wide, and 2 inches high when fully inflated. The exterior is 100% polyester vinyl laminate, and according to the packaging it is coated both in PVC (to make it water resistant) and, in part, with silicone (to make it non-slip). The interior is a polyurethane (PU) foam core. The mat has a listed weight maximum of 240 pounds, and it comes backed by a 2-year warranty.
The mat comes in a glossy paper stock sleeve. Be gentle opening it, as the instructions are on the inside of the sleeve. Inflating the mat involves unscrewing the cap (don’t remove it, though), and giving the mat some time to self-inflate. The instructions point out that it could take up to 15 minutes when it’s being unrolled after an extended period of time, and during first use the instructions suggest giving the mat 6-7 hours to let the foam core expand completely.
The mat, with a 6-year-old for perspective. (Click to enlarge.)
We took the camping mat out for a few days at a state park, and we were pleasantly surprised. Despite only being a few inches thick, it provides decent padding and has a good firmness to it. I slept about as well on it as I do on a typical airbed. My wife also slept well on hers, although she said she benefitted from putting a pillow under her knees to help with back support.
A few tips. One, we recommend giving it a little time to self-inflate before capping. Two, for additional padding, a sleeping bag above or foam padding below works well, but we slept with fitted sheets and blankets and were fine. Finally, although we like the non-slip silicone strips on the top of the mat, sometimes bits of dirt or leaves can collect on them, so be mindful of that.
The Verdict:
If you’re in the market for a self-inflating mat, this is certainly worth a look. It’s light, compact, functional, and adequately comfortable. We don’t know yet about longevity, but it is backed by a 2-year warranty.
I bought this mat and it ripped where the elastic is sewn in. When I contacted the company, they told me they don’t have a warranty. I said that it says on the package it has a two year warranty, and they just repeated themselves. 😔
The self-inflating mat most definitely has a warranty. (We even have a link to the warranty card in our post.) I suggest you contact Aldi directly: https://www.aldi.us/contact/
2018 Bought one to replace my $240 branded one and have been very surprised how good this one is I got the $29 one with pillow .Even comes with a clever roller system making storage easy.Compared to the $240 one it wins hands down on Value and innovation.
Do you know the R-value of the 2018 sleeping pad? We bought one for our son for scouting trips and want to know how warm it is compared to more expensive ones.
There isn’t any R-value listed on the pad itself, and I don’t remember there being any listed on the packaging. Not the same, but I can tell you from personal experience that I took it out in the cold this fall, sleeping in a Coleman 40 degree sleeping bag atop the Adventuridge mat in rainy 45 degree nighttime weather, and I didn’t have any issues with the cold underneath me.
Bought a mat with pillow at Aldi and would like to buy another 1 or 2.
How do I go about this?
Where do I Look?
These products are only in Aldi stores for a limited time, but they often return each year for a short while during camping season. Keep an eye on the weekly ads this spring, and good luck!
My valve is leaking air. Any help on fixing it?
Well after 45 years of camping if you travel by motor find a caravan breakers yard (uk) and buy a foam mattress the old inflammable ones are softer than the fire resistant types , just like being in bed at home and the ground can be as hard/ rough as anything, ZZZZZZZZZZ