Flextail Tiny Sleeping Pad R05 AVS reviewed

The Flextail Tiny Sleeping Pad R05 AVS is a 7cm insulated air pad for camping through all four seasons, and it takes away the job most campers dread: blowing it up. A 33g rechargeable pump capsule clicks into the valve and fills the pad in 60 to 90 seconds, according to Flextail’s product page, then runs in reverse to pull the air back out when you pack up. Flextail says one charge covers up to ten pads.

Construction and sizes

Under a 20D nylon shell, vertical air tubes are lined with an aluminium-coated film and a polyester insulation layer, and that lining is where the warmth comes from. Flextail rates the Regular and Regular Large at an R-value of 5.6 and the Mummy at 6, measured to ASTM F3340, the test method for the thermal resistance of camping mattresses. The 7cm depth comes from Ultralight Outdoor Gear’s UK listing, as Flextail does not print it.

How it sleeps

Seven centimetres of air keeps hips and shoulders clear of the ground for most back and front sleepers, and side sleepers can let a little air out through the standard valve, which also takes an ordinary pump sack. It has none of the slow give of a foam self-inflating mattress: the feel is firmer and springier. At 65cm wide the Regular is a typical single-pad width, noticeably narrower than a 77cm car-camping mattress.

Who it suits

We recommend it to campers who want one pad for the car, the festival field and a walk-in pitch. The Regular rolls to 28 x 15.5cm and weighs under 800g, so it fits in a rucksack side pocket, and its warmth rating copes with frosty spring and autumn nights. If you only ever camp next to the car and want a thick foam mattress for two, a 10cm or 12cm self-inflating double will feel softer.

Terms

Flextail sells all three sizes at one price through its own web shop, with a 1-year warranty and a 7-day money-back guarantee. The box holds the pad, the pump capsule with a spare seal ring, a charging cable, a storage bag, a strap and two repair patches.