Best sleeping pad for comfort - willing to trade weight for comfort

[Tiger Rag]

I'm a hammock guy but going this coming fall on a trip where hanging trees may be limited. My old pads are fairly basic. Looking to upgrade, so I'm open to suggestions. Tent camped with my son this past weekend and my back isn't particularly happy (reason I went to a hammock to start with). I can double up a couple of my other pads, but would rather just have one if I can help it. I just shaved a few pounds getting a new tent so if I add some ounces back for a pad to be comfortable, I'm ok with that. Thanks in advance, Matt

 

[Eagle]

Exped Downmat

 

[colonel00]

I would suggest an inflatable pad as well. Just depends on what conditions you will be camping in. Exped, Big Agnes and Thermarest NeoAirs will all fit the bill. Also, are you a side sleeper and what kind of bag will you have.

 

[Hunt'nFish]

How much do you weight? Light guys can get away with thinner pads than bigger guys.
IMO, one of the biggest gripes/issues with pad/bag selection is sliding off the pad during the night. Like most guys I move around in the night, and I hated wakeing up after sliding off my pad.

To solve this I went to a bivy/pad/blanket combo for summer scouting temps and added another colder rated Big Agnes bag/pad combo (bag w/ pad slot in bottom) for later season.
Both pads are insulated Big Agnes pads 3-4" thick. I'm a purty big guy and sleep like a baby on the 4". Both pads are sized to match the bivey or bag, and I don't slide off any more.

But if your just throwing a bag on a pad, try brushing some Aqua-Seal on the top side of the air chambers. A little 3" strip about 1" wide every foot or so should increase friction between your bag and the pad enough to help prevent sliding off. A little trick I learned from my fellow WA Roksliders during a group hike this past summer.
Hope this helps,
Hunt'nFish

 

[fillthefreezer]

q core long wide

 

[pyroducksx3]

Q-core. I have both the q-core and the synmat ul7. I use the 7 more because of weight and I have the bag to inflate it but the q-core is definitely more comfy.

 

[NoWiser]

Exped Downmat 9. It isn't the lightest, but man is it warm and comfy. I sleep better on it than on my own bed! I've often thought about looking for a different pad for warmer weather to save weight, but I think I'm going to try to find every other way to save weight before I give up this thing! One of my all time favorite purchases.

 

[8Crow]

Exped Downmat 9. It isn't the lightest, but man is it warm and comfy. I sleep better on it than on my own bed! I've often thought about looking for a different pad for warmer weather to save weight, but I think I'm going to try to find every other way to save weight before I give up this thing! One of my all time favorite purchases.

Ditto!

 

[Tiger Rag]

Ok, a little more info. I'm 6'3" and about 230 but I'll be down 220 - 215 before I go. Trip is in Montana mid-Sept. I've got a 20* down bag. I've read some guys doubling up pads. That seems reasonably comfortable with my Thermarest Trail Scout Long and Klymit Static V. I was only sleeping on the Thermarest the other night. Stacked with the Thermarest on top on test it didn't seem too bad. The two pads are 3.3 lbs together on my scale. Big Agnes Fly Creek UL2 I just bought is 2.9 on my scale and my 20* long down bag is 2.6 lbs. That puts my entire sleep system (tent, SB, 2 pads) at 8.8 lbs by my calculations which is pretty equivalent to my Hammock set up of Hammock, UQ, SB, & tarp of 8.65 lbs.

What that tells me is I could potentially save some weight by going to one pad. Again, weight isn't my first consideration with the pad. Comfort is. Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[tttoadman]

I have neck problems and the thicker inflatables make all the difference. You can deflate the pad to sink in a little bit lower to level out your head and neck. I have the BA insulated air core. I think it is a pretty good value for the around $100. I also have my cute little inflatable pillow. We all have our weak spots that causes us to sacrifice weight and pack space. Sleep system is definitely mine.

 

[Backpack Hunter]

Big Agnes Q Core SL has been nice for me this year, the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core has stood the test of time. Exped Synmat UL7 has been pretty comfy too.
If you have problems sliding off of the pad just put some silicone smears/dots/lines on it.

 

[wapitibob]

I'm 6'3. 230 and have a downmat 9 and am buying another one for the wife.

 

[Darren Best]

Exped Downmat XP9

 

[8Crow]

I am 6' 5", 210 lbs and about 4 years ago I took an 18 ft spill out of a deer stand. The Big Man must have decided it wasn't my time just yet because all I ended up with was compression fractures in a few vertebrae. My back will still bother me today if I stoop over for too long or sleep on a hard, cr#$%^ mattress. I have an REI Stratus that will get the job done in the summer, but the Exped Downmat 9LW is what allows me to camp in the colder months. I use it slightly less inflated than most folks probably would for my back, but the thing is so thick and well-insulated that even deflated a little for the sake of my back, I've slept like a baby in single digits with that and my Marmot Couloir bag.

The first cold weather pad I tried was the Thermarest NeoAir XTherm. The concept is terrific...packs super small, even the largest size weighs only a pound and to top it off they're made in the US. Testing it in my back yard, I aired it up, then let it sit in the cold (15-20 deg) for an hour or so before I topped it off with more air and went to sleep. I woke up early in the morning sore and with cold spots on my shoulder and hip where I was laying on my side. But I don't have that issue with the Exped--I think mostly because it's a full inch thicker than the XTherm.

That reminds me of something else my brother in law got me looking at...Exped makes a chair kit just like the Thermarest chair kits. You put your pad in a little sleeve, fasten a couple buckles and just like that you've got a -38F rated lounger in your tent. My brother in law had one of the Thermarest chair kits and it actually worked fine on my Exped...couldn't believe how comfortable that was. I'll be sucking it up for the extra 20 oz or whatever it is the next time I go out and I'll be relaxing like a king while I chow down on my Mountainhouse. And to top it off, it has a pillow pocket. I'm a side sleeper and I haven't found anything more comfortable than a big, fat air pillow, but sitting out loose they slide around. Not anymore!

Our wives think we're roughing it!

 

[shootnrun]

I have a Q core SL. with the extra thickness I am able to under-flate it a bit and sleep very comfy as a side/stomach sleeper. I also find it to be rather warm. Combined with my EE 20* quilt I dropped a significant amount of weight off my sleep system.

 

[rodney482]

Luxurylite cot

 

[Tiger Rag]

Luxurylite cot

Tell me more please. I've always wondered about them. I sleep great on a full size cot when camping in enclosed trailers. Weight is surprising at 2lbs 2oz.

As far as the Exped Downmat, sounds like a great pad, especially in winter conditions. Anyone have experience with the Synmat? I'm a warm sleeper and Montana in Mid Sept can range quite warm to pretty chilly. I'm thinking a little less R value might be better for me.

 

[rodney482]

They are a quality cot!
Easy to assemble
packs easy
rated to like 300#

If temps are cooler I suggest an insulated pad used in conjunction with the cot.

Tell me more please. I've always wondered about them. I sleep great on a full size cot when camping in enclosed trailers. Weight is surprising at 2lbs 2oz.

As far as the Exped Downmat, sounds like a great pad, especially in winter conditions. Anyone have experience with the Synmat? I'm a warm sleeper and Montana in Mid Sept can range quite warm to pretty chilly. I'm thinking a little less R value might be better for me.

 

[Vance in AK]

This thread has my attention too. Fot the last 10ish years I have been a ThermaRest Pro-lite 4. It's never let me down, but I'm looking for a little more padding without sacrificing too much on weight...
Big Agnes Insulated Air Core looks like it might be a good choice...

 

[Tiger Rag]

They are a quality cot!
Easy to assemble
packs easy
rated to like 300#

If temps are cooler I suggest an insulated pad used in conjunction with the cot.

How Is The Comfort? Seems Like In Warmer Weather That It Would Ventilate Nicely, But Cooler When Temps Drop.....Not Unlike A Hammock. Cot With A Simple Lightweight Foam Pad For Insulation Might Not Be A Bad Combo.