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

[Shrek]

I bought the synmat ul 9 this year and I'm really pleased . 3.5" thick and 6r rated. I'm 6'4"and 260lbs +- and side sleep most of the time and it was very comfortable. The Downmat 9 is the same thickness but r8 and 13oz heavier in the long wide. The synmat ul 7 is only 2.5" thick and 3.1r .
The synmat ul 9 and snozzel bag together with the patch kit in its sack weighs 32.7 oz on my scale. I added the snozzel bag to keep moisture from building up in the pad from my breath and saving my flatlander self from passing out thrying to blow up the pad on the mountain. Well worth it imo.

 

[Vance in AK]

My BA Insulated AirCore in 25x78x3.5 arrived today. Haven't slept on it yet, but it sure feels good laying on the floor! I think it will be night & day difference between that & my old Thermarest ProLite 4.

 

[Tiger Rag]

Any Recommended Sources On The BA And Exped Pads?

 

[Ironman8]

I've compared the specs on a bunch of these wide pads, and I think I'm just going to go for the Klymit Static V. Hopefully the 23" is enough. I read a review comparing it and the NeoAir in the 25" wide version, and the guy said he couldn't tell a difference between the two width-wise. My only reservation is that it's not insulated...but I'm banking on my being a really hot sleeper and not needing it. I'll be testing it in the backyard (at the least) in January.

 

[JeremiahH]

Has anyone tried any of the Nemo pads? I'm reading some good things on them.

I have one night on an astro air, it's comfortable, get some squeak noises between pad and tent floor, it's not insulated and I got cold on a late season night in the low 30s. Seems very durable. I'm just gonna try throwing an emergency blanket under it in the late season before I switch to the insulated version.

 

[Vance in AK]

Any Recommended Sources On The BA And Exped Pads?

Cabela's had an on-line only sale on the BA Insulated Air-Core going on when I ordered mine last week...

 

[shootnrun]

My BA Insulated AirCore in 25x78x3.5 arrived today. Haven't slept on it yet, but it sure feels good laying on the floor! I think it will be night & day difference between that & my old Thermarest ProLite 4.

Are you qualified for Promotive? That is where I make my BA purchases. I just got my girlfriend a insulated Air Core for Christmas after she had a gew nights of rough sleeping with an old thermarest.

 

[lchavez]

I have a butler all season sleeping bag for car camping. It's heavy, it's huge, it's very comfortable.

I have used it in desert deer hunts and mountain elk hunts and have always been comfortable.

Last elk hunt dropped down to 07 degrees with 30 mph wind and I was toasty warm all night.

Bag has insulated layers, like sewn in blankets. The colder it is, the more layers you use. It also has a pocket for a sleeping pad.

This is also a very wide bag, perfect for big guys and side sleepers.

 

[tttoadman]

Any Recommended Sources On The BA And Exped Pads?

This may be old news, but REI was running the BA insulated on special for the last couple weeks.

 

[8Crow]

I think I got my downmat from Moontrail, think I paid somewhere around 180 for the 9LW which is probably just a so-so price. They have a bunch of stuff on sale right now plus free shipping. If you just type Exped in their search and then choose backpacking pads, you'll get a page with all of their pads on one screen so you can compare pretty easily.

 

[Tiger Rag]

I have one night on an astro air, it's comfortable, get some squeak noises between pad and tent floor, it's not insulated and I got cold on a late season night in the low 30s. Seems very durable. I'm just gonna try throwing an emergency blanket under it in the late season before I switch to the insulated version.

Ok good info, thanks. I was looking at the Nemo Cosmo Insulated XL. Seems similar to some of the other insulated air mattresses (BA & Exped) but with horizontal baffles like the Thermorest pads and integrated foot pump. They (Nemo online) have a deal going on the uninsulated version but with a pillow top $143 on the combo. I don't know if I'd want to haul that bulk. I think the best way would just be to try it. I could run it without the extra layer in warmer conditions.

I picked up locally the Nemo Tuo on sale the other night. It's decent but not as cushy as I'd like. The bigger version of this pad is comfortable (tester in store), but it is bulky and heavy. I decided to try a Thermorest Trail Pro. 2" thick self inflater around 2#. Initial impression is that it is pretty comfortable and reasonable on weight and less bulky than the Tuo Luxury. I may try to sleep on it tonight and see. I'll take it back if not up to what I want. I will order the Nemo combo if I'm not satisfied with this.

 

[Tiger Rag]

Cabela's had an on-line only sale on the BA Insulated Air-Core going on when I ordered mine last week...

Ok, I'm Cabela's Club guy so I'll check them out. I don't remember seeing the BA on their site previously. Thanks for the heads up!

 

[Tiger Rag]

This may be old news, but REI was running the BA insulated on special for the last couple weeks.

Cool, I'll check them for a sale too. I'm a share holder there too.

 

[Tiger Rag]

I think I got my downmat from Moontrail, think I paid somewhere around 180 for the 9LW which is probably just a so-so price. They have a bunch of stuff on sale right now plus free shipping. If you just type Exped in their search and then choose backpacking pads, you'll get a page with all of their pads on one screen so you can compare pretty easily.

Sounds like a pretty decent price to me. I think I've been mostly seeing that pad for $229. I'll check them out for sure.

Ok, just checked 9LW Synmat $169, Downmat 9LW $208 with free shipping.

 

[sneek-ee]

I would get the downmat ul7 LW.
That's what I have. Awesome pad and doesn't weigh a ton. 26 oz. Better R value then the synmat. Weighs less than the downmat 9. I think I paid 160 when I found it.

 

[Tiger Rag]

I would get the downmat ul7 LW.
That's what I have. Awesome pad and doesn't weigh a ton. 26 oz. Better R value then the synmat. Weighs less than the downmat 9. I think I paid 160 when I found it.

Do you see any issues from the vertical lengthwise baffles as far as comfort goes? I'm 45 so my back isn't as happy as it was when I was younger. That's why I've migrated to the hammock from most outings when I can. Unfortunately, my 2014 fall hunt doesn't really a ton of hanging tree's in the area. I like that it is still 2.8" thick and a somewhat reasonable (in my book anyway) 2.4 lbs for the LW. Showing $174 on the aforementioned Moontrail site with free shipping.

Seems like folks seem to keep coming back to the Exped Downmat. The verticle baffles are what keep holding me off. Seems like of counter intuitive to me as horizontal baffle make sense in my mind anyway. Seems kind of like Kifaru on this site. Once you read the same suggestion enough and look into it, you can see how the experience by others with the same product makes sense. Sometimes I'm hardheaded though....lol. I sometimes want to try something different. I think I might be starting to see the light, but I may have to try the Nemo combo first...lol.

One of the other things that I fear is sleeping too hot. I'm a warm sleeper with a 20* down bag.

 

[Yeti]

Do you see any issues from the vertical lengthwise baffles as far as comfort goes? I'm 45 so my back isn't as happy as it was when I was younger. That's why I've migrated to the hammock from most outings when I can. Unfortunately, my 2014 fall hunt doesn't really a ton of hanging tree's in the area. I like that it is still 2.8" thick and a somewhat reasonable (in my book anyway) 2.4 lbs for the LW. Showing $174 on the aforementioned Moontrail site with free shipping.

Seems like folks seem to keep coming back to the Exped Downmat. The verticle baffles are what keep holding me off. Seems like of counter intuitive to me as horizontal baffle make sense in my mind anyway. Seems kind of like Kifaru on this site. Once you read the same suggestion enough and look into it, you can see how the experience by others with the same product makes sense. Sometimes I'm hardheaded though....lol. I sometimes want to try something different. I think I might be starting to see the light, but I may have to try the Nemo combo first...lol.

One of the other things that I fear is sleeping too hot. I'm a warm sleeper with a 20* down bag.

I used the Exped Down mat 9 and can say that I was very comfortable. The weight became an issue so I switched to the UL 7 huge difference I had the worst sleep ever I'm a side sleeper and could feel the ground between the baffles . This year went with the Big Agnes Q core SL and loved it!!

 

[Darren Best]

I have both the Neo Air All Season and the Downmat XP9 and don't really notice a difference in comfort between the two, but I do notice a difference in warmth, the XP9 is warmer, but this is down into the teens and lower before I notice it.

The trick to being comfortable on these air mattresses is not filling them too full. What I do is fill them just enough that when I lay on my side and sit up, my hip hits the ground through the pad. Fill them too full and you will be rolling off of them all night and you will be aching in the morning.

I am 47 and had a major back injury 20 years ago.

 

[Tiger Rag]

I have both the Neo Air All Season and the Downmat XP9 and don't really notice a difference in comfort between the two, but I do notice a difference in warmth, the XP9 is warmer, but this is down into the teens and lower before I notice it.

The trick to being comfortable on these air mattresses is not filling them too full. What I do is fill them just enough that when I lay on my side and sit up, my hip hits the ground through the pad. Fill them too full and you will be rolling off of them all night and you will be aching in the morning.

I am 47 and had a major back injury 20 years ago.

I do the same on other pads with filling it just enough so my hips don't touch when sleeping on my side. That way I can sink into it and be supported everywhere but very good point.

So I've ordered a Nemo Cosmo XL Insulated and an Exped Synmat 9 LW. I'll report my findings and preference. I'll return one of them. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

 

[Tiger Rag]

I do the same on other pads with filling it just enough so my hips don't touch when sleeping on my side. That way I can sink into it and be supported everywhere but very good point.

So I've ordered a Nemo Cosmo XL Insulated and an Exped Synmat 9 LW. I'll report my findings and preference. I'll return one of them. Thanks for all the suggestions everyone!

Ok, Exped Synmat 9 LW it is. Seemed more stable and a heavier duty fabric. Thanks for all the suggestions.