Sleeping pads for lightweight camping serve two
main functions. They keep you warm when temperatures drop by insulating
you from the cold ground and help you sleep better because you are comfortable
while sleeping on the ground. There are basically two types of
sleeping pads, ones that inflate and ones that are basically a dense foam rubber pad.
I
have owned and used both types depending on the continent.
Dense foam pads are very durable because there is
no danger of them leaking. They can be used to sit around a campfire or
lay on the beach.
They do not last forever as the salesperson may tell you. After a few
years of regular use the dense foam padding gets permanently compressed and
loses its effectiveness. They have to be replaced every few years of
continuous use.
The inflating pads are much warmer in cold
weather, pack smaller, and more comfortable to sleep on. The disadvantage
is that they can leak air from a puncture or the valves can wear out. When the air mattress can not hold air it is completely
worthless. For this reason it is necessary to also carry a repair kit.
Because self inflating mattresses are prone to punctures, it is important to be very
careful with them. They are for only inside the tent or on a ground cloth
when camping under the stars.
Things
that I look for when buying Sleeping Pads
- Non-sliding surface There
is a real problem when sleeping on any type of sleeping pad with sliding
off and becoming separated during the night. When this happens you
wake up cold or stiff from sleeping on the cold hard ground. Some
trekking camping pad makers claim to have solved this problem by
including a slightly tacky surface. This is something the cheap
pads often omit.
- 3/4 or full length This
is a big decision when you buy a foam rubber pad or air mattress.
This question is really about what you will put under your feet.
If you have something like a jacket to put under your feet then you may
want to go with the shorter sleeping pad. A jacket may work for
short trips in warm weather but for extended outings and cold weather
you will want the longer pad so there is room for your feet.
Accessories that I like
- Patch kit The
camping air mattress patch kit must include supplies to repair both the pad and
valve from leaking.
Big Agnes Insulated Air Core and Memory Foam Pads and camping Mattresses
- all sizes and shapes
I recommend the Air Core camping mattress pad. I
have used mine for years and can never go back to the thin self inflating
pads that roll up heavier and larger to carry.
from the vender: These insulated Big Agnes pads
are so light you'll never tire of carrying it, and so comfortable you may
need an alarm clock! PrimaLoft® insulation makes this three-season pad a
smart choice for added comfort and warmth on backpacking and camping trips.
Full-length 2.5 in. thick pad is waterproof and lightweight, and packs down
to the size of a Nalgene® water bottle. Tough 40-denier nylon fabric
protects against abrasion and punctures; Durable Water Repellent coating
sheds water and stains. I-beam construction allows air to flow freely
between chambers for constant support and comfort; prevents insulation from
shifting. Comfort range to 15°F. Stuff sack and repair kit included.
from the vender: With the same I-beam
construction as Big Agnes Air Core sleeping pads, this light, inflatable
pillow packs down small, yet provides big comfort. Place in the pillow
pocket of semi-rectangular Big Agnes bags or use as a stand-alone pillow.
Packed size is 2 x 7.5 in. Includes mesh stuff sack.
from the vender:
Backpacker April '08 declares, ''The Cyclone weighs less than a New York
bagel and packs smaller than a three-piece fly rod.''
* Convert your sleeping pad into a comfortable camp chair
with this incredibly light Big Agnes chair kit.
* Fits any 20 in. wide rectangular or mummy-shaped sleeping pad;
accommodates 60, 66, 72 or 78 in. pads
* Constructed of rugged Cordura® nylon with aluminum tent-pole stays *
Features side straps to adjust your sitting angle
* Comes with a 2 x 18 in. mesh stuff sack
Arizona
- General Information for Arizona
- Apache Indians
- Ghost Towns in Arizona
- The Lost Dutchman Mine
- Hiking, Backpacking, and Trekking in Arizona
- Biking in Arizona
- Prescott Arizona
Mexico
- General Information About Mexico
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- Mexican Archaeological Sites and Ruins
- Maps of Mexico and Mexican States
- Movies
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- Copper Canyon and the Tarahumara Indians
- Learning Spanish
- Miscellaneous
Central
America
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South America
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Southeast Asia / China - General Information
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Miscellaneous
- Birding
- Books We Read For Pleasure
- DVDs that We Carry
- How to Make Movies
- Herbs, Massage and the Natural Healing Arts
- RV Repair and Service
