Which vibrating plate?

[BIGEYE]

After many years of looking at an eyesore of a path in my back garden, i have decided to lay a new path. I have dug out the area and put sleepers as edging. The soil is very clay and sticky. I am going to level this out as best as I can, then put weed control matting down.
Next will be Type 1 and compacted to about 75mm, before finishing off with decorative aggregate and/or stepping stones type thingy.
As the path will only have light use (people walking and moving petrol lawnmower about) , my questions are:
Do I need to compact the soil with a vibrating plate before laying the Type 1?
As the path is quite narrow (960mm), which vibrating plate would best fit my needs. Looking at hiring from HSS -
http://www.hss.com/g/47428/Vibrating-Plate-Wacker-Plate.html

 

[themiddleagedun]

Just compact the hardcore. The wacker wouldn't travel on sticky clay anyway.
Any type of vibrating plate would do. Get the smallest & cheapest

 

[noseall]

As above. It's no good trying to vibrate anything with water present as all it will do is cause liquefaction whereby the water will rise to the top and the wacker will cease to move.

Hire anything with a Honda engine.

I am going to level this out as best as I can, then put weed control matting down.

Weed barrier will be pointless in this location. In fact I'm of the opinion it is pointless in ANY location.

 

[BIGEYE]

Thanks guys, and noted about the weed control matting.