Vango have upgraded their California mattress for 2022 and now have two thicknesses on offer. This 5cm deep model is aimed at campervan and motorhome owners looking to add some additional padding to their rock and roll bed or pop-top sleeping area. However this mat is also an excellent small double sleep mat for campers looking to save space in their tent.
This mat is 180cm long and 100cm wide making it the same width as two standard sleep mats placed together. This of course is also similar in dimension to most pop-tops and so why it’s so named! Ideal for use as a sleep mat in new and old VW California vans as well as Mazda Bongo and other popular makes and models. The mat could also be used to add additional padding and comfort to rock and roll beds or drop seats in vans. We also love the fact in can be used as a general camping mat for couples looking for additional comfort whilst still saving space with their camping kit and tent configuration.
Twin Twist Valves With One Way System
The POP5 sports two twist valves which give you the option of unscrewing just the top section to reveal a one way valve or unscrewing the bottom section to create an open section into the mat. The first option makes it really easy to add additional air to the mat as it doesn’t allow your mat to deflate whilst topping it up. For initial quick inflation and much easier deflation unscrew the bottom section. This allows large amounts of air to escape and stops it being trapped when you try to roll the mat up.
New 3D Construction
New for 2022 is the flat wall construction which is a great improvement over the sealed edges this mat used to have. Now designed in the same style as the Shangri-La range, the vertical side walls provide the maximum amount of sleeping space and stop any movement in your van from the thinner edges giving way which could happen in the older models. Even with the additional material used this mat packs down to the same compact size of just 52 x 22cm.
Fabrics & Insulation Rating
The mat is constructed from 75 denier polyester which has been brushed to give a softer feel to it. Ideal if you have slipped off your pillow in the night and have some face to face contact! The fabric also has the added benefit of feeling warm to the touch. The new rounded corners give it a stylish modern feel and ensure that it won’t get caught in the corner of the pop-top when lowered. The Pop 5 has an R-value of 5.7 and a TOG rating of 10 which offers a significant amount of insulation however this is only really important if used on the ground rather than a motorhome.
Fast Pack Carry Bag
The addition of the fastpack carry bag makes it much easier and quicker to pack away when you need to store it. Included in the bag are a set of webbing compression straps which simply clip around the rolled up mat and are then tensioned to stop it unravelling. You then slide the rolled up into the oversized bag which then has more sewn in compression straps with buckle closures enabling you to pull them tight and so shrink the mat down to a more compact size. The integrated carry straps also make it easy to carry it to your camper or on to the campsite. This mat is also 140 grams lighter than the older version at just 2.8kg.
