Sleeping pads: inflatable or not?

Z

ziptrickhead

Joined
Sep 1, 2004
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I've been thinking about getting a sleeping pad. The foam ones I seem are cheap enough, but they seem kind of on the thin side (3/8"). The inflating ones go up to 2.5" to 3.5" and would probably pack much less since it would be thin when the air is let out.

One question is, how durable are the inflatable sleeping pads? I'm worried about maybe seams leaking or maybe them getting punctured when on the ground.

Is 3/8" really enough for a foam sleeping pad? To me that kind of seems like its really thing and probably wouldn't offer too much insulation.

In terms of durability, I've been looking at Therm-a-rest sleeping pads as well as some of the REI offerings.

Therm-a-rest also makes a thicker foam sleeping pad. A bit pricier than the cheaper, thinner ones, but it's also 3/4" thick. Plus, it's still over half the price of the inflating ones. If weight and pack size aren't an issue, would this be my best bet?

I've also noticed that there's something called an "R-value". What is it? An insulation value? It seems like the higher that number is the better.
 
If you have an inflatable pad and are not really super careful it WILL get leaks.

I got 1 year out of my Big Agnes. I'm on my second. My wife has 2 years on hers she's more careful. I think she got 3 years out of her thermarest before it went west.

I've used the blue foam ones and the Z lite. They are better than bare ground and way more durable than any sort of inflatable.

If you are young and have no aches and pains I'd buy the thinner but durable ones. However me with shoulder problems and occasional back pain I have NEVER got such good sleep backpacking as I have since I have been using the inflatable pads and if I had to buy one ever season I would;):o
 
Inflatable all the way for me. I've gotten many years of use out of mine, but I am pretty careful with them.
 
hollowdweller said:
If you are young and have no aches and pains I'd buy the thinner but durable ones. However me with shoulder problems and occasional back pain I have NEVER got such good sleep backpacking as I have since I have been using the inflatable pads and if I had to buy one ever season I would;):o
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DITTO, I have tried to sleep on the thin, hard closed cell pads and tossed and turned, arms going to sleep and my shoulder hurting like a tooth ache.

Then I bought a thermarest and most nights I sleep like a baby. The one I am using now is 2 yrs old, has been patched once and had the valve replaced once and is still going strong. Like HD if I had to buy a new one every year I would. Chris
 
hollowdweller said:
If you are young and have no aches and pains I'd buy the thinner but durable ones.
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LOL! :D

I was going to say the same thing! I guess I am getting old cause I am now using an insulated Big Agnes inflatable.

Keep in mind, a closed foam pad will definately be more durable, versatile, and warmer ~ it just wont be quite as comfortable as an inflatable.
 
I also read some of the reviews and some people said that the air pads don't really protect from things like sharp rocks, that you can still feel the sharpness through the pad. Meanwhile, the foams ones kind of mold around it, rounding the sharp stuff out. Is that true? I've always figured that if the air pad was thick enough and filled with enough air that you wouldn't be able to feel anything thats on the ground.

Poor college student so yea, I can't really afford a new sleeping pad every year. I'm thinking I'll prob go with a z lite or ridgerest as the foam ones seem more durable and they're thicker by a lot but only maybe 10-20 dollars more than the thin blue foam pads.
 
ziptrickhead said:
Poor college student so yea, I can't really afford a new sleeping pad every year. I'm thinking I'll prob go with a z lite or ridgerest as the foam ones seem more durable and they're thicker by a lot but only maybe 10-20 dollars more than the thin blue foam pads.
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College!!?? Bah, you can sleep on the bare ground with an old cotton blanket to cover you up. ;)

Us old guys need our comfort.
 
My problem is I want to lay around the fire on it. I've thought about just biting the bullet and bringing along my Z lite which is only 15 oz anyway to lay on around the fire. You can buy 3' tyvek I have also considered just bringing 6' of that to lay around the fire on.

Once off the trail I like to lay on my side and watch the fire, cook, drink, etc with no weight on my feet, spine or legs.:thumbup:;)
 
The army issues therm a rest pads now and surplus ones can be found very reasonable on EPRAY. It may need patching but on the cheap it might be a good way to test out a quality pad.

I can't tell any difference in the closed cell foam pads, the thicker ones are just as uncomfortable as the thinner ones, to a point. They do insulate very well and I use one when I sleep on a cot for that reason. Chris
 
How old are you?

From ~14 or 15 until 22, I used a thin, closed cell foam pad. From ~22 to 39, I used an inflatable pad. Now I'm using both.

How durable are inflatables? I got 17 years out of mine, with a couple small patches along the way (and that's with very frequent use).

The thinnest ones have generally been thick enough for me, both in terms of warmth and padding.
 
Been using for the last 4 years the cheap blue one and very happy with it. The only reason i got was to trotect my sleeping bag. But must say it feels warmer on cold nights. Till then i never used anything under my sleeping bag just lay an old bed sheet down to keep everything clean and went to sleep. If you are not sleeping good is cause you didnt walk far enought and long enought to get tired lol.. I thought im getting older (yacks) at the age of 42.

Sasha
 
The thermorest I have is the ultralight model that works well for me. It is pretty light and provides some comfort but not as comfortable as the regular thick bag. Perhaps more important than its weight is the volume taken up is much smaller than the full width pads.

I had one sprang a leak which I patched up. It is less effective when it leaks, but at least the integrated foam offers some protection even when deflated. A small bicycle tube repair kit comes in handy as a piece of gear to deal with this.

Regarding comfort, I've slept on both full thickness 3/4 length thermarests and my ultralight, full length thermarest. I really prefer the full length, thinner pad to the 3/4 length full thickness pad. I'm not sure why, but I get a much better sleep with the full length.

Also like Evolute says, you can get a smaller thermrest and then pair it up with a foam pad for versatility at a cost savings. Then you only need to lug the foam pad when necessary. Also with the two pads, you can lend one to some mooch who doesn't have their own gear. Be sure to lend them the foam one and not the thermarest.
 
i just bought my first sleeping pad...i had the option to go for an inflatable or a closed cell foam model.

i think mine is around 3/4" thick.

it is light, but can't really be packed small. i tied it to teh top of my pack.

i decided to get the closed cell model because i'm largely looking for insulation from the ground, where i have had the largest troubles sleeping outdoors. i have always woken up cold when sleeping straight on the ground, and bough beds aren't always an option or are otherwise inconvenient.

i wanted the closed cell model because i have read that inflatables will just trap cold air in them, and suck heat away from you just like the ground (in cold weather). since i do a decent amount of winter camping, and i was only picking one pad for 4 season use, i went for the one that would insulate me from the ground more than provide comfort.

i did fine last weekend, no issues to speak of. i thought it was quite nice.
 
The foam sleeping pads can be used for other things, such as a makeshift splint. Other than being multipurpose and cheaper to purchase, I cannot compare an inflatable to non-inflatable pad; I've never used an inflatable.
 
OK, I really am not tracking here, you can buy a closed cell pad for a couple of dollars. I just checked you can buy an Army surplus thermarest, for 9.95 plus 8 bucks shipping. Buy one of each and see how you like it and how you sleep, then you can make your own decision. Chris
 
This is another good thread about bedding issues outdoors. One of the things to consider is how often you're going to actually use it backpacking vs say, car camping. Volume/packability really only comes into play when you have to shove the thing into a pack. This is where the Thermarest idea originated, when the bulk of solid foam pads took up too much pack volume. Solid foam pads are great for young, tough hides, and for tossing into the car, loaning out,etc. Thermarests on the other hand can be more packable due to their ability to regain volume once expanded, yet not take up as much space for equal dimension solid pads. They do need one to pay attention to where they are placed for sleeping as punctures can and do occur. A real challenge is finding the thickness you prefer in a Thermarest then inflating it to that comfort level. Used ones are good values if they are in good shape. Foam pads can compress over a season's use also, so they are not without their issues either. Nothing sucks after a long hard slog than a hardened foam pad that's seen it's day IME.
 
Get a Hammock! Thats what I use and I am 40 with a bad back. I sleep on my stomach and side but when Im out in the wild, I can usually handle a night or two on my back and side. Just try a Hammock and eliminate the ground all together.
 
1Tracker said:
This is another good thread about bedding issues outdoors. One of the things to consider is how often you're going to actually use it backpacking vs say, car camping. Volume/packability really only comes into play when you have to shove the thing into a pack. This is where the Thermarest idea originated, when the bulk of solid foam pads took up too much pack volume. Solid foam pads are great for young, tough hides, and for tossing into the car, loaning out,etc. Thermarests on the other hand can be more packable due to their ability to regain volume once expanded, yet not take up as much space for equal dimension solid pads. They do need one to pay attention to where they are placed for sleeping as punctures can and do occur. A real challenge is finding the thickness you prefer in a Thermarest then inflating it to that comfort level. Used ones are good values if they are in good shape. Foam pads can compress over a season's use also, so they are not without their issues either. Nothing sucks after a long hard slog than a hardened foam pad that's seen it's day IME.
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When I am car camping I use a large heavy tent and a king size inflatable mattress:thumbup:

It's better than my bed at home!:D
 
I plan on getting a hammock too. I just want to have different options. For me, its less about comfort and more about insulation. I spent most of my youth (although I guess some of you can argue that im STILL in my youth) sleeping on a wooden board. I bought one of those foam mattresses and while it feels great to sink into at first, I always wake up with an aching back. I don't think I'll have issues sleeping on the ground so long as there aren't too many sharp rocks poking me. Still, I figure after a hard day of hiking and setting up camp, I'll probably be so tired I just knock out as soon as I lay down.

I won't be car camping at all. Most likely drive to a place and then hike out and find a suitable camp site. Still, the pad will get tied to the outside of my pack so as long as its not super heavy (which from I see, foam pads aren't that heavy), the pack size isn't too much of an issue. I most likely won't be doing super long backpacking trips (the longest would probably be 5 or so days), generally going weekend trips.

Also, siguy, what brand pad did you get? That sounds exactly like what I'm looking for in a sleeping pad.
 
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