The old lady wants to go on a pack trip....

[BigCountry344]

My girlfriend has been wanting to go on a pack trip with me so we did a trial run on the living room with her sleeping on my klymit static v Luxe pad, Nemo sleeping bag, and a rei foam pillow. She has a previous back injury so that had me worried about what kind of sleep system she can handle but she still wanted to try my set up. We woke up the next morning and she was not comfortable at all but she still wants to go on a trip with me. So I’m looking at what could be the most comfortable sleep system to take in the backcountry. I will have one pack horse to carry gear so I was looking at the rei kingdom air mattress and sleeping system it comes with or maybe the rei camp dreamer double deluxe bed? I know that’s not made for packing and over the top but I would really like to take her and let her experience what we all do when in the backcountry. So long story short what kind of full sleep set up would you recommend or use with your significant other from tent, pad, bag, and pillow. I appreciate all the help I can get guys thanks.

 

[Legend]

Exped down pad the thicker the better. And yo need to have a backpacking pillow which mine is also an exped. In the old days I would sleep a 100 nights a year outside and this is the best pad for comfort i found.

 

[rayporter]

thermarest camprest and the klymit would be comfy. you might maybe try them on a cot but for me they work good on the ground.

 

[Apollo117]

You may want to look into using hammocks. Some people say it's more comfortable.

Hammock camping differs from sleeping on the ground in a tent. You have to be picky about camp site selection. The gear required to stay warm is a little different.

 

[Beendare]

A pack horse; then the Thermarest Camp rest gets my vote...its heavy but cushy.
Maybe even one of those UL cots if you really want her to like it- grin

...

 

[nrh6.7]

I bought a travel size my pillow for my last elk hunt and liked it so much I've been using it at home ever since. Hated paying $25 for $3 worth of material, but I think it weighs 10oz and is very comfortable. Rolls up pretty small.

 

[dutch_henry]

Is a cot an option? Will improve just about any mat, plus it's easier to roll out of for someone with a back injury.

 

[20DYNAMITE07]

Try a foam pad under the inflatable. You can then run the inflatable at a lower pressure which might be more comfy, and will still keep you off the ground.

 

[Dirtydan]

If going in with horses id consider a 6 man tipi with a couple light cots. You could run any decent pad and she'd be all smiles in the morning. If bugs are an issue add a nest, but if not make a ground tarp so she can lay out all her stuff and run a stove. Not much more romantic than popping popcorn on the stove while snuggling up in a hot tent.
If she doesn't like it after this, trade her in on a different model.

 

[tdot]

Hammocks can either be brutal on a bad back, or heaven. It just depends on the injury.

Cot with an Exped down mat is probably the most comfortable that I've ever slept on.

 

[rayporter]

as i stated my set up is a camprest with an inflatable over it. works very well. last week i tried a luxury lite cot.
for 3 nights. it may not work out with the cot. the cot was short for me [6'1']
i was comfortable with my thermast rest and neoair but i did not fit the cot. smaller frames may have no problems. as mentioned abouve you have to let air out to find the perfect comfort level. i blow the camprest up fairly tight and have the neoair very low pressure. as inbarelyupporting my wt.-but everyone is different.

my pard selpt in a hammock and could be out in 15 seconds and sleep all night. he would bounce out in the snow and pop into the tipi for breakfast as bright as could be.

i tried it twice. both times i took a lot of muscle relaxers and sleeping pills to o avail. never slept a wink and by 1 or so i was bask on the ground.