804g / R4.2

What we liked: Easy to inflate, very supportive comfort, good value
What we don’t like: Bulky

Overview

The Pursuit Plus is a modestly thick yet highly comfortable self-inflating mat with a versatile R-value. Before ultra-compact air chamber mats became common, foam-core self-inflating mats were the standard. The Pursuit revisits that category with Delta Core, which removes foam longitudinally to reduce weight and size.

Ease of use 

Inflatable mats don’t get any easier to use than this. With the mat rolled out and the valve opened, the foam expands to suck in air. It takes 90 seconds to fill to about 70 per cent and then a few breaths to top it up. Air can be bled from the Xpel Valve for fine tuning, or the valve can be popped open for full inflation/deflation. It is quick to pack and fits easily into its side-entry stuff sack. 

Weight and packed size

The Pursuit Plus stands out among competing self-inflating mats for its reasonable weight, size and insulation. Compared with its air chamber cousins, however, it’s bulky when packed and its weight is at the upper end for a three-season-plus mat.  

Shape and comfort

After many years of lying on air chamber mats, this mat was pleasantly different. Unlike the somewhat ‘hollow’ feel of an air chamber mat, the perforated core creates a sandwich of air and foam that distributed my weight in a more modulated mattress-like feel. It was also quieter than an air chamber mat.

Two sizes are available in both tapered and rectangular shape. We tested the 56cm wide, 7.5cm thick regular contour (tapered) model and found it roomy. 

Insulation 

A rating of R4.2 puts this mat in the three-season plus category. It’s suitable for year-around use, but not for winter extremes.

Value

Within its class, the Pursuit Plus is great value for its specifications. 

Why buy the Pursuit Plus?

While this mat doesn’t have the compact appeal of an air chamber mat, it makes up for its larger dimensions with a high degree of comfort and ease of use.

We recommend for: Year-round trampers wanting an affordable and very comfortable mat.