When we left we both had massive sleeping mats--big blue Thermarest XL Luxury-Map pads; so comfy, yet sooo undignified. Everyone would ask 'whats that thing?' and when we told them what the giant item topping off our pack was they would just laugh or raise a friendly eyebrow, 'thats huge!'. (Travelers, as you may know, have a fetish for tiny, lightweight things.)
Until recently I've held onto my Fat Little Mat, arguing for sleep quality and the importance of being rested on the road. Zach ditched his long ago in Louisiana and replaced it with a blow-up mat that rolls up to about the size of a coffee can. It takes me a little more time to make big decisions and just two days ago I finally did the same. The mat I just got is about 60% as comfortable as the one I had, but much smaller. It won't catch the wind, and it lightens the load by a pound or two so that's good. Its orange.
I can't deny that I was attached to the old blue bohemouth, I'm sad to send it away now. I personally thought the thing was microscopic until I saw everyone elses... It's true, at times I am A TOTAL SHEEP... so easily influenced by the scorn of others. But, I insist: I'm not giving up my boots. And I'm not giving up my laptop. And I'm not giving up my jeans. No amount of laughter will make me part with those....