Therm-A-Rest MondoKing 3D Review

Amazon Rating

Brand – Therm-A-Rest
Price – £280 (XXL version)
Variety – Self Inflating Mat with Inflation sack
R-Value – 7.0
Weight – 2.38 KG
Thickness – 10.8cm (4.25”)
Inflated Size – H203cm W76.2cm D10.81cm
Packed Size – 9x 32”
Valves – Twinlock
Accessories – Stuff Sack

Pro's

Included stuff sack doubles as a pump
Effortless inflation and deflation
High level of comfort
Warm enough for all-season use

Cons

Large packed size
Expensive

Therm-A-Rest MondoKing - The Bottom Line

Comfort

I honestly don’t think you’ll be disappointed with the comfort of this mattress! Compared to standard inflatable sleeping pads or basic air mattresses, the MondoKing 3D elevates your camping experience to genuine luxury. The vertical sidewalls mean you can fully utilize the expansive 2M length and 76.2cm width. If you like to sprawl out like a starfish then you can do just that! While this may seem over the top for camping, the reassurance of not teetering on the edge of the mattress is really nice. I bought the XXL version which features the specifications above but you can get a large version if you don’t require such a big mattress and want to save some money and space! I’ll attach it down below as well so you can take a look.

Sleeping positions

Irrespective of your preferred sleeping position, adjusting the firmness of the MondoKing’s 10.8cm foam core is so simple with its separate one way valves. One for inflation and one for deflation which are conveniently labeled. Speaking from experience I recommend adding extra air before settling in for the night. It’s a lot easier to release air out of the release valve than have to get up and start inflating the mattress with the inflation sack. This way you can fine tune the air level for optimal comfort as needed without leaving your bed!

Crafted with StrataCore Foam, which is basically a thermal foam core ensconced between foam and air ridges, the MondoKing has a distinctive wave like texture which is designed to be easier to roll up than previous models. Its also much lighter than its predecessor but with that being said on paper it does have a lower R-Value. You can’t feel the ridges during sleep and the soft polyester cover provides a non-slip, breathable, and all round comfortable surface. While many mattresses we’ve tested offer comfort, the MondoKing undoubtedly stands out as one of the premier choices.

Warmth and R-Value

The MondoKing has an R-value (warmth) rating of 7 which is slightly lower than the previous model. R-value is the measurement of a products thermal resistance. Basically the higher the number the warmer the mattress. You can find out more about R-value in our how to choose the right sleeping mat article. Although 7 isn’t the highest R-Value mattress we’ve reviewed its certainly a warm cosy mattress. It’s recommended for winter camping to have a mattress with an R-value above 4.0. This means the Therm-A-Rest Mondoking is a solid four season mattress and will offer sufficient insulation all year round from the cold ground. Obviously your mattress is just one part of your sleeping system and what you wear to sleep as well as the R-Value of your sleeping bag plays a large part. For winter camping you could always use a Closed Cell Foam mat underneath your inflatable mattress to increase the total R-Value (warmth) of your bed.

Ease Of Use

The labeled valves positioned at each of the bottom two corners of the mattress are such a great feature and make getting the desired firmness so easy. They’re larger than the older two way valve, allowing for increased airflow resulting in quicker inflation and deflation compared to the old system.

The Therm-A-Rest MondoKing can still be inflated by mouth, but the stuff sack serves a dual purpose as an inflation sack! So, no more feeling like you’re going to pass out! The sack attaches securely to the valve, and with a light blow into the bag (or catching a breeze), followed by rolling up the sack to push air inside, inflating the mattress is easy! Although I can’t confirm Therm-a-Rest’s claim that this system is three times faster than the old one, it’s undoubtedly user friendly.

For initial inflation I allow the mattress to inflate while I set up the rest of my camp. I’d say it takes around 20 minutes to self inflate to its maximum level and then using only the pump sack, it takes approximately two and a half minutes to fully inflate. The deflation valve releases air from the mattress. Compressing the foam does require some effort to fit it into the storage sack. However, thanks to the one way deflation valve, air doesn’t re-enter, making it a simple process of rolling once to remove most of the air and then rolling again to pack everything tightly.

Portability And Durability

Even though the Therm-A-Rest MondoKing is lighter than the previous model, which is impressive considering its bigger, you wouldn’t want to be carrying it far. This mattress has a sole purpose of providing year round ultimate comfort and as it weighs 2.38KG its no good for anything but leisure camping.

Pack Size

Due to the MondoKing having such a thick foam core it does have a large pack size. Its not as big as some of the mattresses we’ve reviewed however, just bare in mind that it will take up a lot of space in the boot of your car especially if you’ve got a significant other that will also want one! Perhaps looking at one of our reviewed double mattresses would be better in these cases.

Durability

Although self inflating mats aren’t as durable as closed cell foam mats they are certainly much more reliable than standard air pads. Therm-A-Rest is one of the oldest, most trusted brands in the outdoor market and is known for producing high quality products so you can rest assured that you’ll be getting a premium product. (pun intended). Self inflating mats obviously have much higher R-Values and comfort levels to closed cell foam mats but that’s not to say you can’t put one under your inflatable mat to increase warmth and protection!

Conclusion

Despite being on the expensive side of self inflating mattresses I think if you can swing the cost you definitely wont be disappointed with the quality and comfort this mattress offers! Its one of our absolute favourite reviewed leisure camping mattresses due to its unbelievable comfort and clever twin valve design, making it so easy to use. no matter what your sleeping position, you’ll find this mattress comfortable. Its also a solid four season mattress, so provides year round comfort and I think this is an important consideration when making a purchase of this price as you know you’ll get your monies worth out of the mattress!

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