TREKOLOGY UL80 SLEEPING PAD - FULL REVIEW | Proper Overnight Garden Camping Test 

Top review mate, really enjoy your reviews. These are great pads I think and good idea getting it out in the cold as it still seems to be up for debate. Interesting point about the thickness, I think it could do really well in the cold

I purchased the Treckology ul50, it's not as deep or curved, only cost me £25. and it's excellent. Absolutely love the brand. Thanks for the video.

I've made two adjustments to get the most out of this fantastic pad. First of all I bought 500g Kapok and shoved it into the mat. It's now mega insulated. Secondly, I extended the poles of my Dutch army bivvy by 25cm on each side (a bit tricky, since you want the extensions to go below the eyelets) so that I can have it inside the bivvy. Because of this setup, I can shove the poles about 10cm into the ground and the inflated pad stretches the bivvy out. As a result I have no need to peg the bivvy down. 👍🙂

I would consider myself a bit of an expert on this pad, I've been sleeping on it for over a year now, every night! Now granted I'm a side sleeper with shoulder and back issues, but even if you're a back sleeper I would still have concerns. Let's get the R-value out of the way, I'm in Hawaii so the R-value is perfect. Now let's get to the shape, it's fine if you want to feel like you're sleeping in a Valley with mountains on either side. I don't consider it a comfortable sleeping experience. Now on to the valve, keep it clean and free of any oils I use denatured alcohol or it will pop open and you'll be flat on the ground, this even happens at low amounts of inflation. Now on to the material construction and durability , it's stellar! I haven't had one puncture not one issue with durability! even on less-than-ideal ground conditions. So my conclusion is if you're a back sleeper & don't mind being Stuck in a narrow cold ditch? it's a good deal, But it's not the mat for me

Yourself & Paul Messner have convinced me to get one, did a sleep over in the garden last night and just need more than my Vango SIM to keep me comfortable.

Great mat had mine for since summer and never had a bad night's sleep on it. Also I had a leaking valve a couple weeks back and sent Trekology a email and within 2 days I had a replacement so there customer services is second to none.

Hi Ben, I have owned the UL80 for about 6 months now. I have used it about 15 times, generally with a reflective mat and a close cell foam mat under it. Good job I do take a close cell mat as with me, as the UL80 failed me on my first night on Dartmoor last week. The mat was losing about 50 percent of the air over a few hours, 75 percent if I was laying on it. Trekology customer service was great and sent me a new mat within two days. Let's hope I have more luck with the second one. ATB, Dave.

Nice little review there Ben, very thorough as always and nicely put together. Looks a comfy mat indeed 😊👍🏼

Great review and thanks very much for the help! Bought this mat a couple of months ago and excited to finally try it out this weekend!

Hi I have the same mat used with a foil like you did have used it down so far to 6d no prob and very comfortable 👍

That, sir, is what appears to be the platonic ideal of a perfectly toasted marshmallow.

It looks very comfortable thanks for the review

Spot on about being too thick for a Hooped Bivvy Ben, I struggled with my Dutch Army Hooped and my Mil-Tec non Hooped Bivvy.. makes it very tight indeed. But for a tent I love it, I've slept on it 15 times now, when staying at friends, wild camping etc. Glad you rate it. Lee

Thanks Ben great review. Also glad you got to camp out again. Makes me want to do a garden camp as well. I’m going to get this mat after your review. The one I’m currently using is heavier and thinner and is the highest priority item for an upgrade. Thanks again 👍🇬🇧😄

Great review Ben. I too, suffer from back problems so this mat would be perfect for my old bones. Thank you indeed. Go well.

Very nicely put together video and review as usual. The mat looks great for the price. I'm sure most would add a similar reflective mat for winter so I don't see the lack of insulation that much of an issue.

Great review Ben! I used mine the other day in temperatures of 0C +/- 1C, with a Zlite SOL pad underneath and it was noticeably cold. I had a 3 season bag plus a Thermolite Reactor Extreme liner in it. R Value is claimed to be around 2, if Trekology we're to produce the same pad but with a bona fide R Value of around 4, it would be a game changer

Lovely to see u r out and have a space to set up. Interesting mat. I have a trekology chair which is good quality. Looking to Dec Wildcamp when this is all over. ATB Graham

Hi Ben, great video as always - I have one of these mats and agree with al your comments, super comfy. I did my own winter test back in Feb where temps got down to low single figures, I was reaching for my winter exped mat within an hour as the cold was coming straight through. Still my “go to” mat for June-August but not outside of that - and for £40 it is a steal

Love the video definitely going to pick one up for myself.definitely looks very comfortable.

I’ve been looking at this mat actually mate,great review...looks well comfy

It does look comfy and plenty long. The issue with most mats its the length for a lanky git like me. I have to get the XL versions. The thickness is a bit of an issue for bivvys like you said though. Especially if its insulating properties are pretty low. Great vid though Ben. 👍🏼👍🏼

Great review, I just got this pad as I am a warm sleeper so i'm gonna try it in winter with a reflector underneath. Im six foot and its super comfy.

Camping, my man, is ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL!

Hi mate no the thickness doesn’t compensate; it actually allows more air to cool between ground and the body. As you say, it is important to insulate between the ground sheet and where your skin starts . Ideally a couple of insulating layers on ground itself and a fleece or similar under the body.

Great review Ben - I am glad you liked the mat as I have just bought one. Will let you know how I get on with it once we get out of lockdown. I am going to use a reflective mat and a piece of anti slip matting to combat the slippiness problem.

Really helpful. Especially as I have back issues and am nervous about sleeping mats

I've used this in 0°c and felt fine.

I HAVE ONE OF THESE SLEEPING PADS. THE R RATING IS UNDER 2. SO WOULD NOT BE SUITABLE FOR COLD WEATHER. IT WILL NOT WORK IN COLDER CONDITIONS. THE 100MM THICKNESS WOULD CONTAIN COLD AIR WHICH IS AFFECTED BY THE ACTUAL AIR TEMPERATURE. YOU COULD COMBAT SOME OF THAT COLDNESS BY USING FOIL BLANKETS ABOVE AND BELOW THE PAD. ALSO A ROLL MAT MIGHT IMPROVE IT A BIT MORE. I HAVE HAD NO PROBLEMS WITH THE VALVE. ALL IN ALL A GOOD PAD FOE LATE SPRING SUMMER AND EARLY AUTUMN.

Nice video. I got the UL80 earlier this year and have used it couple of times. Really like it. I'm considering the UL50 for my bivvy as it is thinner.

That is one sweet sweet looking mat 😍 my mate actually brought that out sat night looked good

Nice review Ben. After a few sleepless, cold nights last winter, I decided to invest in a thermarest neoair and no regrets there. For me insulation is the most important thing. Cheers Jonathan

Good honest review. I have this mat and the same reflective mat as you. Just a thought but you might find you get better heat retention if you put the reflective mat on top of the sleep mat. The only other issue that may affect some but not others is that when I lay on my back my arms fall off the sides. Otherwise, I would say that this mat is great value for money. It can be inflated using an Exped Schnozzle pump sack as well.

Does look comfy, not convinced that you won’t lose a ton of heat through it in winter though. Great review mate. Hardy

Great review mate

Nice one Ben glad you got a garden to camp in this time not something that I'm planning on doing anyway it's a great mat but to think for snugpak ionosphere bivy bag but I found it very comfortable to sleep on in my tent atvb Jimmy 😎😎

Highly recommend it, in combination with army foam mat to prevent conduction.

Probably the best most comfortable mat out there for summer usage! Shame about the poor quality though I’ve had 2 now and both have deflation issues after a few usages!

I bought a different Trekology sleeping mat last year, it has about the same thickness and horizontal ridges but doesn't have the curved design so I found that I had real trouble staying on it in the night. The material felt particularly slippery when I was on top of it in my sleeping bag, there was just no friction to speak of so the raised sides of the UL80 would've been helpful. It's telling that they don't make that particular mat anymore.

Good way to make the best of the situation. Nice vid.

Thanks for the great review...relatively new sub and am enjoying your content...stay safe and well and have a great week....

Good video, glad to see you got out even if it was to a friend's garden. 5'8" you are compact Ben...probably a benefit in London where space is at a premium! 😉

that’s a good Sleeping mat Ben well worth the price for a decent nights sleep you looked very comfortable on it,nice little camp out enjoyed that,ps ,thanks for the sticker proudly on my car window,take care buddy,

What a wonderful day 😍, Nice video uploaded my friend, thanks for sharing. Stay safe and enjoy your day.

Great review. Thank you mate. :-)

Great review mate iv just purchased one the other day looking forward to trying it out for myself thanks for sharing atb Dafydd

Great mat but brave using it in the cold as no insulation. My goto summer mat except when bivvying as find its a bit tight for this due to thickness.

Finally went wild camping the other night, maiden voyage for the Robens Starlight 2. I had the thermalite pad and a cheap £25 air bed with the combined pillow, not great, cold night and found it warmer with the pad on top of the air bed, top tip from Erik Normark. So I've ordered the Trekology for the next trip plus a trekology pillow, looks like the best air bed you can buy at that price. I've got the Robens table you have there too, great for cooking and also somewhere to elevate the movie screen in the tent!

How did it go in colder conditions I’ve got this for Glastonbury festival as I’m packing light and don’t fancy taking an additional heat mat

Doesn't seem bad at all for £40. I was all set to buy the Alpkit Airo 120 for £30 .... But for a tenner more, a full length thicker mat seems a better option.

Great review. You quote the weight as 560g but Trekology say 750g on their website and on Amazon. I just ordered and received two of these and weigh 740g. Have they changed the design or material? Did you weigh your mat? I know some people have reported leaks so maybe they've beefed up the material a bit in which case I'd happily carry another 200g for extra reliability.

Great review, I am going to order 1 .

Slept in -15C conditions at the foot of loch nagar in peak winter on a half-deflated china mat with a couple shots of vodka in me, slept like a baby.

good review fella

Good info! Like the depth would it be OK for a side sleeper and save my hips lol thanks for that and tek care atb jon

Thanks for a great review as I'm thinking of buying this mattress. Off topic - you could totally pass as a George Michael look a like lol 👍

Enjoyed the video. Been put off these by many stories of them deflating. Out of interest where is your little table from?

Nice review! How is the mat after two years? Thinking of buying one, but I hear a lot of comments about them deflating!

Would this fit in my oex phoxx II or would it be too much of a tight squeeze with the 10” height? I’ve been looking to buy one for a couple of months

Thanks. I’ll get one . Cheers 🍻

Someone correct me if I'm wrong but I'm fairly certain that thickness will only help with conductive heat loss. Most of your body heat will be lost through radiative cooling which a thick pad won't help with. Your thermal mat underneath would cover that though and reflect the body heat back towards you, whilst protecting the underside of the UL80. A Mylar blanket would do much the same for heat loss but be noisy, less effective, but cheaper.

Hi Ben great video mate Wish you’d not mentioned 401 files channel now unsure if I’ll ever venture beyond my back garden...seriously a 50 year old Dad here...😬

Great review, I have the same mat, very comfortable, I noticed the table that looks good I'm after one, what is the name of it, great video,

Very helpful, and good timing for me as I'm looking for a decent mat after my cheapie literally let me down on a one-nighter a couple of weeks ago. I'm still familiarising myself with the gear out there and was beginning to think I'd end up with a pricey Thermarest. This Trekology seems like good value but now I've also watched your video on the Static V, and a few other reviews, I'm leaning towards something from the Klymit range. That tent looked neat but seems smaller than the specs, not long enough inside if you're a bit taller do you think? I have an Elixir 1, performed really well in wind and rain but I'd like something that packs even smaller and lighter if possible, without losing space and headroom. Matt

Looks a decent mat !

Did it take a lot of breaths ro fill it? Given it's so thick, I assume it needs a fair bit of air?

👍👍👍

No leaking issue with this mat ? Thanks

As most women will tell you, girth is definitely more important than length.

Used these for a couple of nights on the Dales Highway at the end of September. Incredibly comfortable, but not very insulating. I think the thickness means you have to think about order if you're also using additional mats/reflectors: 2nd night dropped to low single digits, so I put the same reflective layer you've got ABOVE the ul80 and it was a fair bit warmer and just as comfortable. The pad and Highlander reflector didn't slip about as much either.

How many kilos can it take?

"Does the thickness of the mat compensate for the insulation?" No. Any compensation would be included in the R value. I've been using 9" = 23cm thick PVC queen size mattresses for car camping for years. PVC is heat conductive, they absolutely suck for insulation, and I handle it by piling them with blankets, when it gets down around freezing.

It sounds noisey to sleep on. Is it?

You need a tent that isn't open all around the bottom. I can't imagine how much cold air goes thru. And you are inviting things like snakes to come right on in and cuddle up with you!

6:13 was this filmed on new year or in a warzone xD

Great pad, except useless in colder camping conditions. Seriously, ignore budget pads and buy a good insulated mat.

Too bad you need to blow instead of using it own bag like other kinds.....