Sleeping Pad

hollowdweller said:
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!
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I gave up on Therm-a-Rest after using the Big Agnes pad. :thumbup:

I have 2 of them one is a short uninsulated 48" the other is a 60" insulated. mummy shaped.

They are 2 1/2" thick and rollup small enough to fit in your pack. Plus they are much lighter than Therm--Rests.
 
I'm with HD on this one. In all the years of hiking/camping, I haven't found a more enjoyable nights sleep than on a Big Agnes oversized pad. I have two, one for winter use and the other for 3 season use. The two models I have are the insulated air core and the insulated dual core pad. A little pricey but well worth it. They aren't true self inflating and do require some puffs of air from your lungs. However, at 2.5" thick and fairly lightweight, they are a great compromise. Tucked inside a Hennessy Hammock and you have yourself the perfect night's sleep imho.

kev
 
CanDo, you never mentioned specific needs, as you can see, two major thoughts/tips on this, light and good enough or car/heavier pads.

-Closed cell (like the foamy type) which are usually lighter and you carry/hike with you and are usually cheaper.
-Open Cell (the inflating kind) which are thicker, heavier and you usually don't carry on you, but have more comfort but can cost way more.

Of course you can find inexpensive ones of each, but they don't usually last long, your generally lucky if you get a full season out of them. of course their are exceptions but most cheapies tear easy or get a leak, they wear out too soon and never met the persons needs.

As for open cells, the ones that inflate, most of them claim to inflate themselves by opening up the valve, but I've found you need to help em along some, not a big deal (unless your a serious smoker!). They can be quite thick, I've seen some over 3" but are nice but you'll pay for them. They are weighty and many don't lug em around far.

Personally I'd stick to the name brands given, they last and give you some better sleep. 3/4" to 1" should be your minimum thickness, of course thicker is better but you pay for it, in weight and cash.

Many people use/have both types. I don't carry mine far and keep the closed cell on the bottom for better wear and comfort. If you watch you can catch a good sale on the one(s) you like the best. Good luck and good camping ;)
 
I have a shore back (too much of a curve down there where the back meets my butt I guess) so I sleep pretty bad anywhere but at home. That said I have found some confort while sleeping on a RidgeRest pad OVER an inflatable pad. But not the self inflating ones... I mean the ones with huge channels... like the ones you can see in the beach! It is pretty old and heavy but instead of plastic it is made of rubberized cloth so it is pretty tough. Don't ever try to use one of this alone in winter... you will be as cold as if you were sleeping in the ground with no pad. That is why I matted it with a RidgeRest.

I have a ThermaRest as well (the thickest one) but it doesn't insulate as much as the RidgeRest and the padding is not enough to give me a good nights sleep so I don't use it at all.

Before you buy anything think twice what are you going to do with it, where are you going to sleep at and in which conditions:

If you are going to sleep on the snow even once, buy a RidgeRest. ThermaRest pads are not warm enough because they have too much air inside. Besides that they are cold to the touch.

If you are going to be doing any kind of climbing, buy a Ridge Rest. They are ligther and if you rip it you can still use it. I don't mention winter climbing because that is the very same situation as the above: sleeping on snow.

If you are going to carry it ouside while hiking on thick forrest or out of the beaten path, bring a RidgeRest. You can easily puncture a Thermarest with a sharp branch.

If you are going to do short hikes where weight is not an issue, in warm weather and you don't have any kind of back problems, you may buy a Thermarest.

If you are goint to do car camping... forget about Thermarest and RidgeRest... get a comfy inflatable mattress and put a cheap foam pad over it.

I hope this helps,
Mikel
 
I love my REI Lite-Core 1.5. It's the same pad as the Thermarest Prolite 4, but cheaper.
 
ilbruche said:
They are 2 1/2" thick and rollup small enough to fit in your pack. Plus they are much lighter than Therm--Rests.
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I've never owned a Therm Rest but the wife has and she says she likes the Big Agnes better.

I do know after a really long hike over rocky ground the Big Agnes is pretty heavenly. I do find I am more reluctant to just throw it on the ground around the campfire compared to the Z Lite though.
 
To specify, I'll be using this for lightweight backpacking trips for the three seasons, I'll be inventive for winter. I'm going to go with the thermarest z-lite (similar to ridge rest) over the prolite because it's lighter, more durable, and cheaper. Comfort can be sacrificed. Thanks for all the input.
 
i love my big agnes, its the only inflatable I've ever owned that lasted more than a couple years without leaking.......
 
I use a 3/4 Z-rest for most things. Pack goes under my feet.

Winter would be a full-length self-inflating. I have three Thermarests and like them all, but I'd also check out the Big Agnes mummy shapes. Big Agnes is worth a look if you want to be more comfortable.

If you want something very compact, smallest would be Big Agnes air mattresses, followed by a 3/4 Thermarest ultralite.
 
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