ActiveOutdoorsCampingVango Aotrom Thermo Platinum review: your ticket to cosy camping in the coldThe Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum provides unbeatable warmth in a featherweight packageWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictThe Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is a lightweight and impressively warm mat, suitable for backpackers in cool conditions. Its compact size and easy inflation make it convenient, though availability outside the UK may pose a challenge. Overall, it offers a compelling balance of performance and affordability.Reasons to buy+Extra lightweight+Excellent weight-to-warmth ratio+Small pack size+4-season functionalityReasons to avoid-Limited international availabilityWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
ActiveOutdoorsCampingVango Aotrom Thermo Platinum review: your ticket to cosy camping in the coldThe Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum provides unbeatable warmth in a featherweight packageWhen you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictThe Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is a lightweight and impressively warm mat, suitable for backpackers in cool conditions. Its compact size and easy inflation make it convenient, though availability outside the UK may pose a challenge. Overall, it offers a compelling balance of performance and affordability.Reasons to buy+Extra lightweight+Excellent weight-to-warmth ratio+Small pack size+4-season functionalityReasons to avoid-Limited international availabilityWhy you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
The Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum provides unbeatable warmth in a featherweight package
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)T3 VerdictThe Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is a lightweight and impressively warm mat, suitable for backpackers in cool conditions. Its compact size and easy inflation make it convenient, though availability outside the UK may pose a challenge. Overall, it offers a compelling balance of performance and affordability.Reasons to buy+Extra lightweight+Excellent weight-to-warmth ratio+Small pack size+4-season functionalityReasons to avoid-Limited international availability
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
T3 VerdictThe Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is a lightweight and impressively warm mat, suitable for backpackers in cool conditions. Its compact size and easy inflation make it convenient, though availability outside the UK may pose a challenge. Overall, it offers a compelling balance of performance and affordability.Reasons to buy+Extra lightweight+Excellent weight-to-warmth ratio+Small pack size+4-season functionalityReasons to avoid-Limited international availability
T3 VerdictThe Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is a lightweight and impressively warm mat, suitable for backpackers in cool conditions. Its compact size and easy inflation make it convenient, though availability outside the UK may pose a challenge. Overall, it offers a compelling balance of performance and affordability.
T3 Verdict
The Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is a lightweight and impressively warm mat, suitable for backpackers in cool conditions. Its compact size and easy inflation make it convenient, though availability outside the UK may pose a challenge. Overall, it offers a compelling balance of performance and affordability.
Reasons to buy+Extra lightweight+Excellent weight-to-warmth ratio+Small pack size+4-season functionalityReasons to avoid-Limited international availability
Reasons to buy+Extra lightweight+Excellent weight-to-warmth ratio+Small pack size+4-season functionality
Extra lightweight
Excellent weight-to-warmth ratio
Small pack size
4-season functionality
Reasons to avoid-Limited international availability
Limited international availability
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Why you can trust T3Our expert reviewers spend hours testing and comparing products and services so you can choose the best for you.Find out more about how we test.
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and featuresPerformance and comfortVerdictAlso consider
Jump to category:Price and availabilitySpecificationsDesign and featuresPerformance and comfortVerdictAlso consider
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I’ve been sitting on this Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum review for quite a while because as much as I love camping, I couldn’t bring myself to brave the elements during the terrible winter we had.
(The 18 months to March 2024 ranks as the fourthwettest on record. Just terrible)
As soon as the skies cleared and the rain eased up a bit, though, I was itching to head out again to enjoy my well-deserved night under the stars. The temperature in February/March isn’t too warm, so I wanted to use acamping matandsleeping bagthat’s up for the challenge—hence why I opted for the Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum.
Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum review
Price and availability
Launched in 2023, the Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is available right now directly fromVangofor the recommended retail price of £110 (approx. $138/ AU$212). Orders over £50 are shipped for free in the UK. Vango does sell its goods internationally, but not directly, only via aninternational distribution network.
Specifications
Design and features
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
As mentioned above, the Aotrom Thermo Platinum is Vango’s warmest lightweight camping mat and offers an incredible weight-to-warmth ratio. It weighs only 610 grams yet has an R-value of 4.2.
To achieve such a high R-value, Vango used its ThermoFlex Lite fabric, which has an aluminium reflective coating to retain heat in the body. Furthermore, the air-filled Welded Channels help increase the surface area and are said to mould to the contours of the ground and your body for a more comfortable sleep.
The pack size is 9 x 5 inches. It is a bit stubbier than a water bottle but roughly the same height. It is definitely small and light enough to fit in your backpack, though. Once inflated, the Aotrom Thermo Platinum has the height and width of your standard camping mat, which fits most bodies, although not all.
Vango does offer anXL version(retailer link) of the mat, which is more rectangular than the slightly tapered standard version.
Finally, the Aotrom Thermo Platinum uses a TPU fabric lamination, which is lighter and is said to be more environmentally friendly than traditional PVC constructions.
Performance and comfort
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
The Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is child’s play to inflate, as you’d expect. Ideally, you don’t want to blow directly into the hole to avoid saliva and bacteria festering inside the mat, so you’d better pack a small pump or my new favourite camping toy, theZero Pump(retailer link).
The flush-fit TPU Airlock Valve allows for quick inflation, and the plug seems to do a fine job of keeping the mat inflated overnight. Deflation is equally as easy, which made folding away the mat super easy.
The Aotrom Thermo Platinum is thin but comfortable to sit on, and the ends don’t lift off the ground when you move around on it like thicker mats.
I’m a side sleeper and was initially concerned about the thickness, but I had a very pleasant night’s sleep with ground temperatures hovering around 3-4 degrees Celsius. I didn’t feel cold at all, and despite being as tall as the mat, I managed to stay on it for most of the night.
Verdict
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
(Image credit: Matt Kollat/T3)
It’s extremely hard, if not impossible, to find any flaws in the Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum. Sure, it isn’t the lightest or warmest camping mat, but it’s an incredibly enticing proposition for the price nevertheless.
It offers four-season performance, a small pack size, and easier inflation and deflation than other high-end mats. There is an extra-large version, too, if you’re a wriggler in a tent. Plus, cheaper versions are available if you do not need all that heat retention on your camping trips.
The only downside is the international availability—it might be a bit tricky to get one in the US/AU. However, if you’re in the UK and need a reliable and toasty lightweight sleeping mat, the Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum is for you.
Also consider
The only camping mats I can think of that have similar capabilities are theThermarest NeoAir XLite, which is just ridiculously light and warm, and theRab Ionosphere 5, which weighs a little bit less and is slightly warmer than the Aotrom Thermo Platinum. Both are more expensive than the Vango model, though.
Vango Aotrom Thermo Platinum: Price Comparison
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