Trekology Sleeping Mats and Pillows: UL80, UL140, Aluft 2.0 and Deluxe Compared

Introduction

Trekology has built a following around inflatable sleep gear that packs down small and stays affordable, and the current range splits neatly into two mats and two pillows. The UL80 is the lighter mat, the UL140 is the larger mat with an integrated pillow and a built-in pump, and the Aluft 2.0 and Aluft Deluxe are two pillow designs that strap onto a mat so they stay put overnight.

This roundup covers all four pieces, what each one does well, and where the trade-offs sit.

What Matters in a Lightweight Sleep System

Four things decide whether an inflatable sleep setup works on a trip: packed weight and volume, comfort through a full night, how the valves behave, and how the pieces connect to each other.

Valve design deserves more attention than it usually gets. A click valve that stays sealed until you press the release button makes inflation quicker and stops air escaping while you are still filling the pad. Insulation matters just as much, because a mat that is comfortable in summer can leave you cold on cooler ground, and plenty of campers double up with a second thin pad to raise the effective insulation underneath them.

Attachment is the last piece of the puzzle. A pillow that slides off the mat at 3am is worse than no pillow at all, which is why straps and popper fastenings have become a standard feature on the better inflatable pillows.

Packed size is the compromise that ties all of this together. A thicker mat with more insulation and a built-in pump will always take up more room in a pack than a slim one, so the right choice depends on whether you are counting grams or counting comfort.

Trekology UL80 Sleeping Mat: The Lightweight Baseline

The UL80 is the mat that anchors this lineup. It is the lighter and more compact of the two mats, and it is also the one that repacks most easily: the fabric rolls down and slides back into its stuff sack without much of a fight.

It pairs with most pump sacks, which means the pad can be filled without blowing into the valve. That detail matters for long-term care, because moisture from your breath is what turns the inside of an inflatable pad stale over time. Comfort has not been an issue in use, and it has supported full nights of sleep. On colder trips it has been doubled up with a second thin pad to add insulation underneath, which is a common approach for a mat of this type.

Trekology Aluft 2.0 Pillow: The Pillow That Converts Skeptics

The Aluft 2.0 is the pillow that tends to change minds about inflatable pillows. It inflates quickly through a click valve that holds air until the button is pressed, so nothing escapes while you are filling it. The inflated size is generous enough that your head stays on it rather than sliding off the edge, and the surface is soft against the skin.

The detail that makes it work with a mat is the strap and popper arrangement. It wraps around the mat and holds the pillow in place, so it cannot drift away during the night. Once attached, it stays where you put it.

The practical benefit shows up at packing time. A pillow that genuinely works means fewer spare clothes carried purely to build a headrest, which trims both weight and volume from the pack.

Trekology Aluft Deluxe Pillow: Softer Fabric, Less Tidy Layout

The Aluft Deluxe takes a different approach to the surface. Where the standard pillow has a fabric finish over an inflatable body, the Deluxe has a soft stretch fabric face that feels closer to a running top, and it inflates in roughly four breaths through the same click valve. It also has a popper strap for attaching to a mat.

The trade-off is the layout. The stuff sack is sewn onto the casing and the pump sits inside it, so both end up underneath your head. The Deluxe is the softer of the two pillows, but the standard model is the tidier design overall.

Trekology UL140 Sleeping Mat: Built-In Pillow and Pump

The UL140 is the larger mat in the range and the one aimed at campers who would rather not carry a separate pillow. It has an inflatable pillow section at the head end and a foam pad that doubles as an inflator. The instructions call for opening the front valve, keeping the rear valve closed, and pressing the pump with your hands or feet until the pad reaches the firmness you want.

Trekology is still testing the mat and is estimating an R-value between 4.5 and 5, so treat that figure as provisional until it is confirmed. The mat weighs 1.8 kg, a fair step up from the UL80, and it packs noticeably larger. A repair patch is included for small punctures, and the price sits at about $49.99. Reports of mats losing air overnight exist among other users of the range, though this unit has held pressure well so far.

Deflating follows a set routine: open the valve, roll the mat toward it, fold the mat in on itself with the valve facing outward, and strap it. Getting it back into the bag is the awkward part. The built-in pump adds bulk that cannot be compressed away, so the packed mat is chunkier than the UL80 and the included bag is a tight fit.

Packing and Care Notes

Inflating any pad or pillow by mouth should be a last resort. Moisture from your breath stays inside the shell and encourages mould, which is why a pump sack is the better habit. Most pump sacks fit the UL80, and the UL140 has its own built-in inflator, so neither mat needs to be filled by mouth.

Keep the valves clean and close them fully before storage. When the UL140 is packed away, roll it toward the valve so trapped air is pushed out rather than folded back inside, and keep the repair patch with the mat for small punctures.

Buying Advice

If weight and pack volume come first, the UL80 is the sensible starting point. It is the easiest of the two mats to compress and repack, it works with a pump sack, and it pairs naturally with either pillow. Adding the Aluft 2.0 to it creates a light sleep setup where the pillow stays attached to the mat all night.

If you want one item to cover both insulation and pillow duty, the UL140 is the more complete option, provided you accept the 1.8 kg weight, the larger packed size, and an R-value that is still being confirmed. Campers who mostly drive to a pitch or carry gear short distances will feel those compromises far less than backpackers will.

The Aluft Deluxe makes sense for anyone who values a softer fabric surface and does not mind the sewn-on sack and pump sitting under the head. The Aluft 2.0 remains the better thought-out design of the two pillows and the safer pick if you only buy one.

Conclusion

These four pieces cover the two ends of the same idea. The UL80 and Aluft 2.0 combination stays light, packs small, and keeps the pillow exactly where you left it. The UL140 and Aluft Deluxe lean toward comfort, with a mat that includes its own pillow and pump and a pillow with a softer fabric face. Match the choice to how you travel, and either direction delivers a sleep setup that is easy to live with on the trail.