Finding the right sleeping system -sleeping bag and sleeping mattress- is never easy. The choice is wide and it is nearly impossible to find what you want or need as your requirements change during the year.

As an outdoor enthusiast I used to get the smallest and lightest equipment, but the comfort was not always there although the cost was!

As off-road enthusiasts we have the luxury of having a vehicle to transport the kit bag. That gives you the opportunity to trade some of the bulk for more comfort. But, as I discovered with some of the latest range, that you can find a pretty neat combination of equipment.

For this review, the requirements were set as:

• 3 seasons synthetic sleeping bags, as we were not going to sleep ouside, on top of a mountain during the deep winter and down-filled bags in wet UK weather are not a good idea in general.
• A brand that is known for making solid and functional equipment
• A comfortable mattress but not as big as a full inflatable bed
• The kit will mostly be transported by car and could be used in "expedition", competition or simple family holiday.

After a couple weeks of research the Mammut system was chosen;

Mammut is a very well known Swiss brand that acquired the Norwegian sleeping bag maker Ajungilak in 2001. Bost brands are very well respected in the outdoor business especially in mountain sports.

The Kompakt 3-season is the typical outdoor sleeping bag. There is nothing really fancy to report, and that what makes it a good sleeping bag. The money is spent on the material and construction which is what you want at the end of the day. One of its "added value" aspects is its compressible size which makes it very easy to store and carry.

In use I found it very warm in relation to it's bulk. Usually you need a big/thick bag for heat retention, not with this one. I bought a Kompakt Super over 10 years ago, and it was the same story. That old bag is still good and I expect this new one to last as long.

The Kira 3-season is a woman's sleeping bag. In term of core construction it is very similar to the Kompakt, the only main difference is the cut that is women-specific.

It features a very interesting jacket baffle (or collar) which provides additional warmth when required by sealing the bag around your neck and shoulder. It also gives you the ability to let your arms out of the bag without compromising heat retention. Like the KompaKt, a small zipped pocket is there to keep your secret belongings.

The D-Lux Pump Mat was really a great revelation. When folded it was about the same size as my other self inflatable mat, but when fully done, the experience was far superior with a thickness reaching 7.5cm.

The idea of the "Pump" is that only the embbeded cushion has the self inflatable foam, and by compressing it, the air travels to the main part of the mat. In reality, it is a lot quicker to inflate the mat with your own breath (it does not take more than 3-5min) and top it up with the Pump system.

I have used it in 4 different trips, on a number of surface (stony field, kitchen tiles, soft and thick grass) and in all occasions the sleeping experience was very similar; firm and very comfortable, and no back or neck pain to report in the morning.

This mat is not cheap, but being well contrustructed and with a minimun of care, it should last you a good number of years. The added comfort makes it a worthwhile investment.

In conclusion, should you need a sleeping mat and bag that you can take everywhere with you without thinking "will it be all right?", I trully suggest you put these ones in your short-list.