Sleeping mats will insulate you from the ground to keep you warmer and drier, and also provide a higher level of comfort from the rough ground you will be sleeping on.

Essential kit to every D of E person is a suitable sleeping mat, there are many available but the cheapest option are the foam roll mats, they are light, waterproof and when strapped onto the outside of you bag can also provide a dry seat while having your lunch, no need to put these in a dry bag as they don’t absorb the water to start with, a quick shake and they are pretty much dry. Roll mats are generally full length and can be cut down to 3/4 length to save a bit of bulk but they are so light it will give little weight benefit.

Having said that there are a number of alternative sleeping mats available (click here) that will be more compact and fit inside your rucksack. Although I don’t think any of them are lighter than the roll mat they can offer better insulation from the ground and will be warmer and more comfortable, these are the inflatable sleeping mats. Top end ones are light, warm and compact but are also quite expensive, cheaper ones will tend to be a bit more bulky and not quite as warm but I think slightly warmer and more comfortable than the roll  mat, you will need to decide on the comfort level required and weigh this up against the cost and weight of an inflatable mat.

I like to carry a pillow for comfort but best to keep this as small as possible. While inflatable pillow sound ideal they are not always as comfortable as they could be, I prefer a small, very compressible pillow and then bulk it out underneath my sleeping mat with spare clothes.