I am unabashadely a fan of Thermarest-type self-inflating matresses.

The design is pretty simple (good!) and perhaps the main area of improvement can come from better materials.
Thus I have given a few neurons & synapeses over to thinking about new materials.

OUTER SHELL> Would coated Cuben fabric be lighter but just as durable? Or some other light miracle fabric like Spectra?

FOAM CORE> Thermarest has already gone to a lighter foam core material in the last few years. Is Aerogel compressable enough, durable enough and resilient enough to be used in the entire mattress? Is this material suitable to use for the entire core? I don't think so but don't know enough about its properties.

Any other thoughts on a lighter, warmer, more comfortable self-inflating mattress?

Eric