Tourist seats: varieties and tips for choosing

Going on a hiking trip or even just out of town for a picnic, we remember such a useful accessory as a tourist seat. The compact and practical seat can be made from different materials. Wouldn't it be superfluous to have a rug that is ideal for a hike? There are many options for a real tourist, you just need to choose the most suitable one.

A tourist rug, which is useful for every tourist on a hike, must be reliable, convenient and practical. Such an accessory also has the name karemat. It is very important that the rug is made of a durable material that will not absorb moisture and become very dirty. Since the mat is used to protect against hypothermia, then it must also have high thermal insulation properties.

A foam rug is the most common, sought-after and classic option. This travel accessory is lightweight, compact, reliable and practical.Separately, it is worth mentioning that such products are environmentally friendly, resistant even to sea water and various disinfectants. It's pretty easy to use. You just need to spread it on the ground and that's it. In addition, it can be used as wind protection during a hike.

If we talk about the shortcomings, then many note the low thermal insulation properties of such a product.

Another popular type is inflatable mat, which many tourists love for its compactness and reliability. This accessory has a soft texture and high thermal insulation. The inflatable rug can be the most different sizes. As for the shortcomings, this is the inconvenience of operation. Such a product should be inflated with a pump, which is not always convenient during a hike.

A more reliable and practical option, which is in great demand among lovers of tourist recreation, is self-inflating mat. Such a product, as a rule, has a high thermal insulation. Even in the event of a puncture, the mat will retain all its properties and qualities for a long time, since there is a special foam inside such a product. This option is very comfortable and convenient. The only downside is that it is heavy compared to other similar products.

As a rule, tourist rugs are made from various polyethylene foam. Such material is divided into several types, each of which has its own advantages and disadvantages.

• Ordinary polyethylene foam is the most affordable material. Its downside is its short life. Products made of such material quickly become unusable, have low thermal insulation. Often, these rugs can only be used a few times, after which they can be thrown away.

• Another type is penofol. This material has high thermal insulation. It is better to choose a combined product, which is made of penofol and other reliable material. Then the product will be more durable and practical.

• Isonol or, as it is also called, cross-linked polyethylene foam. Such material differs in reasonable price and high wear resistance. Products made from this material are lightweight, soft and practical. The only negative is the large size, which is not always convenient on a hike.

• Another popular and reliable material is ethylene vinyl acetate. This material is very resistant to temperature changes and does not lose its flexibility even in severe frost. Therefore, a rug made of such material is suitable not only for summer, but also for winter trips. Products from it can have a corrugated or smooth surface. As a rule, they are very overall, which is not always convenient.

• inflatable models often made of polyvinyl chloride or rubberized fabric. The first material is considered lighter and more inexpensive, while the second is more reliable and durable. Self-inflating models are usually made of polyester, which is durable and wear-resistant.The inner part of these mats is made of polyurethane foam, which is a durable porous material.

A few useful recommendations will be useful to every novice tourist and will help you choose a high-quality and practical product.

• It is best to choose a product with a corrugated, cellular surface, as it has high anti-slip properties. In addition, such a product accumulates moisture on the surface to a lesser extent, since all the condensate is collected in the cells.
• Inflatable models have different fillers, and it is important to pay attention to this when choosing. Down filler has softness, light weight and good heat-insulating properties. But such a filler can quickly deteriorate from moisture. Another option is microfiber, which has all of the above benefits. In addition, microfiber dries quickly and does not lose its properties even when wet.
• Thermal insulation qualities depend on the thickness of the product. The thicker the mat, the better. Choose options at least 5 cm, inflating at least 10 cm, and self-inflating at least 12 cm.
• Be sure to consider the maximum allowable weight that the selected product can withstand. The maximum load of such products averages 100-120 kg.

For information on what tourist seats look like and how to choose them correctly, see the following video.