Sleeping Pad

C

CanDo

Joined
Mar 10, 2006
Messages
913
I'm looking for a sleeping pad. What do you use and how do you like it?

I'd like to keep the discussion open, but light weight and low cost would be nice.
 
I picked up a Coleman self-inflating pad at Wal Mart. Used it a few weeks ago. Love it. It has a pillow attached that you have to manually inflate. Cost was 30 bucks. Rolls up tight and is light weight.
Scott
 
I use a roll-up wally world special, with the egg crate type pattern. I'm not overwhelmingly happy about it, but it works and keeps me pretty warm. Plus it costs like $8 and I don't care if I get it dirty.
 
Grab a cheap roll-up closed cell pad. They'll give you good comfort, light-weight and the most insulation.

I have an expensive thermorest, but I take the closed-cell pad with me all the time instead.
 
For the longest time I just had one of the blue cheapie rollup ones.

That finally wore out but it was pretty great.

Then I got one of those foam Z Lite ones. I still have it and like it and it was relatively cheap.

HOWEVER, last year I bought a Big Agnes inflatable.:thumbup: More expensive. More compact but a bit heavier than the previous 2. BUT - In 20 plus years of backpacking I have NEVER slept better and been more refreshed in the AM. Remember. I'm 48 so I have my share of aches and pains and I was finding myself rolling from side to side. But the Big Agnes gives me sound sleep!
 
Thermarest hands down !

Cheap model - Ridgerest very light and comfortable but a bit bulky.

Regular Long - I've had mine for must be close to 20 years, it's super comfortable and compact, it was a factory second or "irregular" with slightly off colour, has functioned perfectly although I've found lately it doesn't fully self-inflate and requires half a dozen breaths to get it up to size. Great when paired up with a Ridgerest for winter camping. I think it is now called the "Trail" model.

Prolite - I bought one of these last fall and really like it so far, its about half the weight of my regular long and half the size packed, less than a foot long when packed.

They are a bit pricey but worth every penny! - a great investment.
 
Ive got a 3/4 Black wolf thermarest - big camping brand name down under - bought It for around thrity dollars at the disposals here.
 
Thanks guys. This seems like a pretty straightforward decision to make, but you never know, so your advice is appreciated. Sometime this week I'll try to check out a few thermarests and pick one up :)
 
I use a RidgeRest 3/4 pad that is made by Thermarest. Very inexpensive, lite weight, insulates and is comfortable. I've been using the same pad for half a dozen years now and it has held up well.

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I used a Z-rest now called z-lite for the 1200 miles I did on the PCT and went through 2 of them. They are comfortable and cheap and light. Ridge Rests are nice also. If you want something durable and light try a Link Rest it has puzzle piece edges so you can attach more than one together and works pretty well.

Another popular one is the one HD mentioned the Big Agnes, I have heard many positive things about those ones.

I think that light is a fairly subjective term so it can be hard to determine what your prefrences are but there are a bunch out there so hopefully someones suggestion will fit the bill.
 
I use a Therma Rest 3/4 length 3 season pad. It is a great little pad. You only need padding under your head and torso so carrying a pad with the extra length seems a waste to me.
 
I have two thermarest ultralight - full length I bought 8 years ago. They see action every year and not much complaint. Not as comfy as the full sized thermarest, but major weight savings and much better packability. One had to be rapaired due to a couple of punuctures. I used a bicycle tube repair kit and has stayed in good shape for the last 3 years. They are more expensive - but I think worth it!
 
For comfort, I haven't tried anything close to the Exped Downmat 9 deluxe - 26 inches wide, 78 long, and 3 inches thick.
 
If you're car camping, get a self-inflater. If you're backpacking, use a closed cell pad or a short thin self inflater. If you're young, any ol' closed cell pad will do. The Ridgerest is relatively comfortable, though. If you're older, a self-inflating mattress can feel like heaven.
 
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