ISO Best Lightweight Comfortable Sleeping Pad for the Backpack Hunter

[hunterbloxham]

I am in search of the best all-around lightweight sleeping pad for the backpack hunter. I am fine spending the money on good quality gear. I understand that durability and comfort sometimes take a backseat with lightweight gear. I don't want to spend $250+ on a pad just to have it pop on me on the first few trips out. Sometimes as a big buck hunter, you are kicking out an old deer bed, sleeping on rocky, brushy and steep terrain, or simply put, sleeping on less-than-ideal ground conditions.

I want something durable, comfortable, but lightweight. That's why I mentioned best "all-around". Weight savings is important, but in order for me to hunt hard, GOOD SLEEP is a priority. I'm not looking for the lightest pad on the market.

I'm 6'2" and 180lbs for reference. I am usually a side or back sleeper. I don't want something super noisy as I tend to toss and turn a little bit.

I own several pads including the Thermarest NeoAir X-Therm, Thermarest Trail Scout and the Klymit Static V Luxe Pad.

Recommendations???

 

[Idaboy]

Zen bivy flex air. Middle ground on weight, more quiet than some of the high R value pads. Pretty comfy

 

[justinspicher]

I have an exped that is massive. No chance of rolling off it. Its fantastic.

 

[TOLeary]

The NXT versions of Thermarest are a big upgrade noise wise and slight upgrade comfort wise from the previous versions if you already like yours. I really liked my NXT Xtherm but can’t beat sea to summit comfort for me though.

Neoloft looks like it’s worth trying for pure comfort as well - no experience with it though

 

[MT_Wyatt]

I laid down on a neoloft wide pad in our local gear shop. Unbelievable. The face fabric is a stretch woven type and the shape is a “U” to kinda center you. It’s certainly a lot heavier than my neo air nxt, which while comfy, is small.

 

[diamond10x]

Check out Big Agnes. The Rapide would probably be what you’re looking for.

 

[Seeknelk]

I highly recommend the Thermarest NXT in the rectangle, wide variety. Very high r value, noise is lower than previous versions by quite a bit as mentioned above and comfort is great for me even tho I'm a recovering fat kid.
I have a sea to summit Xtreme something or other and it's even more comfy but quite a bit heavier and bulky.
Thermarest quality control is very good also.
Id never get a 20", tapered pad again. Feels like I'm trying to balance all night as a side sleeper.

 

[Winterlover]

I am in search of the best all-around lightweight sleeping pad for the backpack hunter. I am fine spending the money on good quality gear. I understand that durability and comfort sometimes take a backseat with lightweight gear. I don't want to spend $250+ on a pad just to have it pop on me on the first few trips out. Sometimes as a big buck hunter, you are kicking out an old deer bed, sleeping on rocky, brushy and steep terrain, or simply put, sleeping on less-than-ideal ground conditions.

I want something durable, comfortable, but lightweight. That's why I mentioned best "all-around". Weight savings is important, but in order for me to hunt hard, GOOD SLEEP is a priority. I'm not looking for the lightest pad on the market.

I'm 6'2" and 180lbs for reference. I am usually a side or back sleeper. I don't want something super noisy as I tend to toss and turn a little bit.

I own several pads including the Thermarest NeoAir X-Therm, Thermarest Trail Scout and the Klymit Static V Luxe Pad.

Recommendations???

My current favorite is the Big Agnes Campmeister. It’s warm, R7, reasonably light and compact, and amazingly comfortable. I used mine for a month this past year and slept well, and I am a very picky sleeper. Highly recommended!

 

[Hussar]

4/5 sleeping pads in our group this year were Big Agnes pads. 3/4 of those BA pads were the Rapide SL insluated pad. Everyone on them loved them. One of my friends has spent the last 3 years trying all the major sleeping pads (Nemo, Sea to Summit, Exped), and never had a good night of sleep in the backcountry until he tried the Rapide.

I have the BA Zoom UL pad. It's fine for early season stuff, but sleeps colder than it's rated R-Value in my opinion. It's still comfortable but I would probably get something similar to the Rapide if I had to do things over.

 

[Brad@Argali]

I am in search of the best all-around lightweight sleeping pad for the backpack hunter. I am fine spending the money on good quality gear. I understand that durability and comfort sometimes take a backseat with lightweight gear. I don't want to spend $250+ on a pad just to have it pop on me on the first few trips out. Sometimes as a big buck hunter, you are kicking out an old deer bed, sleeping on rocky, brushy and steep terrain, or simply put, sleeping on less-than-ideal ground conditions.

I want something durable, comfortable, but lightweight. That's why I mentioned best "all-around". Weight savings is important, but in order for me to hunt hard, GOOD SLEEP is a priority. I'm not looking for the lightest pad on the market.

I'm 6'2" and 180lbs for reference. I am usually a side or back sleeper. I don't want something super noisy as I tend to toss and turn a little bit.

I own several pads including the Thermarest NeoAir X-Therm, Thermarest Trail Scout and the Klymit Static V Luxe Pad.

Recommendations???

Big fan of Exped pads after trying to figure this same riddle out a few years ago. I own 5 exped pads at different R values and am super happy after about 5 years on them. I’m sure there are other good ones but I like the vertical baffles and their inflate/deflate valves wayyy better than anything thermarest has come up with.

 

[mtnbound]

I am in search of the best all-around lightweight sleeping pad for the backpack hunter. I am fine spending the money on good quality gear. I understand that durability and comfort sometimes take a backseat with lightweight gear. I don't want to spend $250+ on a pad just to have it pop on me on the first few trips out. Sometimes as a big buck hunter, you are kicking out an old deer bed, sleeping on rocky, brushy and steep terrain, or simply put, sleeping on less-than-ideal ground conditions.

I want something durable, comfortable, but lightweight. That's why I mentioned best "all-around". Weight savings is important, but in order for me to hunt hard, GOOD SLEEP is a priority. I'm not looking for the lightest pad on the market.

I'm 6'2" and 180lbs for reference. I am usually a side or back sleeper. I don't want something super noisy as I tend to toss and turn a little bit.

I own several pads including the Thermarest NeoAir X-Therm, Thermarest Trail Scout and the Klymit Static V Luxe Pad.

Recommendations???

Nemo Tensor line. I have the Extreme and the All season. Happy with both just depends on the temps as far as which one I pack.

 

[hunterbloxham]

Big fan of Exped pads after trying to figure this same riddle out a few years ago. I own 5 exped pads at different R values and am super happy after about 5 years on them. I’m sure there are other good ones but I like the vertical baffles and their inflate/deflate valves wayyy better than anything thermarest has come up with.

Do you have one that you prefer over others? I grew up in SE Idaho and believe we have a very similar style of hunting. I know there's a lot that goes into this question, looking for something with at least an R-value of 2-3. I'm a side sleeper and occasionally toss and turn so I don't want something so narrow that I'm fighting staying on top of it either.

I have a Thermarest NeoAir X-therm and I believe the R-Value is 6.7, so I have a later season pad already but I'm not opposed to swapping it out altogether if I find something better.

Your input is greatly appreciated.

 

[Idahodmax]

I’ve also gone down this rabbit hole and ended up with the neoloft. I’m super sensitive to weight but this one of the few pieces of gear that I’ll sacrifice some weight and space for. It’s durable too.

 

[camelcluch]

I’m a fan of Exped. Warm and comfy. Maybe not the lightest but I can actually fall asleep on them.

 

[il_cop]

Ran the nemo tensor extreme this season- from September to November. Having had 4+ pads in the last 8+ years, this one stays. It's the one.

 

[sandhillhunter]

Big fan of Exped pads after trying to figure this same riddle out a few years ago. I own 5 exped pads at different R values and am super happy after about 5 years on them. I’m sure there are other good ones but I like the vertical baffles and their inflate/deflate valves wayyy better than anything thermarest has come up with.

Same here.

I really like the Schnozzle pump bag because I can use it as a water resistant stuff sack in my pack when it’s wet out.

I have a 2014 Synmat UL7 that finally gave up the ghost (the seam opened along the side). I don’t have the original receipt but Exped offered 50% off a replacement anyways.

I’ll replace it with an Ultra 3R when they are back in stock.

Also have a Megamat I use for truck camping and at home when we have company with kids.

I have the warmer Downmat 7 but I don’t use it much because it’s heavier and the regular width and I prefer the wide mat.


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