It appears you can nearly double the R-rating of hiking mats or other gear by filling them with eg CO2 which is cheap and readily available instead of eg air or nitrogen. I can see how this can easily be done eg with closed cell foams, but for an inflatable mat you would either need to carry a (heavy) canister or have some way of re-compressing the CO2 into an acceptably small enough space. Still, an interesting idea.
The Ultralight Hiker
Ultralight hiking, backpacking, bushwalking, deer hunting, canoeing, pack rafting, tips, trails, adventures, gear, reviews...Over 1600 posts & 70 years' experience.