Bad back, sleeping pads


Pitre

Pitre

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South Louisiana
So a few years ago, I had to stop tent camping and switch to a hammock.
The reason being, when I would wake up from a night of sleeping on the ground with a sleeping pad, I would be almost crippled with back pain. For years I would use one of those accordion style closed cell mats. Then I switched to a Klymit inflatable pad, but it didn’t help.
Has anyone had a similar problem and found a sleeping pad that helped?
I enjoy my hammock set up, and I wake up pain free. However, there are times when I go motorcycle camping that a tent would be easier.
Thanks,
Clint
 
I'm in the same boat, with low back issues.
I sleep in a bridge hammock at home even.

Last night I slept on a cot in my hot tent and it has a nice mattress on it. I still woke up a little sore/stiff this morning.

I bought a Wiggys pad earlier this winter, but it about the same, and way to bulky for motorcycle camping. But I intend it to be my Jeep camping mattress. I like it for a throw down and go to sleep, but I don't think I could do a week long trip on it.

I can do about one night without my hammock, then I get cranky....lol

I have a Tensor Alpine inflatable but haven't expermented enough with multiple nights yet, but suspect it helps me if I can adjust the firmness some. To soft is worse than too firm for me. I take the Alpine on overnight canoe trips if I think a hammock will be a problem.

I guess none of that really helps you, but just some thoughts on what kinda works for me.
 
I don’t know anything about motorcycle camping. If you have enough room to pack it though perhaps look into a backpacking cot?
 
crazy how the world turns, I am wanting to get into hammock sleeping. I told my wife that as soon as it gets warmer, I am going to be sleeping in a hammock outside. It is getting to 31 tonight so I think I will wait till tomorrow. I have a 4-6 in memory pad that she tried out that didn't work so that will be my bottom layer!
 
I’m getting to the point that even sleeping on an air mattress is hurting my back and I’m almost afraid to try a hammock again. This weekend I stayed in a lean to shelter with plywood bunk beds and stacked 2 of the mattresses on top of each other and by night 2 my hips and back wouldn’t let me sleep. I would love to find something that would make my back better while at camp.
 
Using just a closed cell foam pad may be asking for trouble. Personally, I would never sleep on just that. They make a good sit pad though.
Thermarest trail scout plus a Thermarest closed cell is as thin as I go for sleeping on the ground in warmer weather. I have slept just on a trail scout plenty on a wood frame plywood bed.
I think the methods we regularly use may make issues with the things we 'sometimes' use.
Jmo.
 
Last edited:
Luchtaine said:
I don’t know anything about motorcycle camping. If you have enough room to pack it though perhaps look into a backpacking cot?
Click to expand...
Thanks for the reply. The moto camping I do is off of a dirtbike. Lots of people think that since you have a motorcycle to carry all the weight, you could bring anything you want. But the truth is you still want to be as light as possible and keep the heavier weight low. Otherwise, the bike gets all squirrely, and top heavy.
I’ve also learned that I can’t sleep on a cot. Last time I slept on a cot, I had to roll off of it and it took a good half hour til I could stand up straight. Kind of a bummer. Hate to see when I get old 🤣
 
J. Pierce said:
I'm in the same boat, with low back issues.
I sleep in a bridge hammock at home even.

Last night I slept on a cot in my hot tent and it has a nice mattress on it. I still woke up a little sore/stiff this morning.

I bought a Wiggys pad earlier this winter, but it about the same, and way to bulky for motorcycle camping. But I intend it to be my Jeep camping mattress. I like it for a throw down and go to sleep, but I don't think I could do a week long trip on it.

I can do about one night without my hammock, then I get cranky....lol

I have a Tensor Alpine inflatable but haven't expermented enough with multiple nights yet, but suspect it helps me if I can adjust the firmness some. To soft is worse than too firm for me. I take the Alpine on overnight canoe trips if I think a hammock will be a problem.

I guess none of that really helps you, but just some thoughts on what kinda works for me.
Click to expand...
Luckily I don’t have to sleep in a hammock at home yet. I bought a new mattress a couple years ago and it helped me a ton. Sleeping in a hammock is about the best sleep i get though. I appreciate your input. I’m just hoping to get some ideas before I blindly start spending money on a bunch of options that won’t work.
 
hughglass said:
crazy how the world turns, I am wanting to get into hammock sleeping. I told my wife that as soon as it gets warmer, I am going to be sleeping in a hammock outside. It is getting to 31 tonight so I think I will wait till tomorrow. I have a 4-6 in memory pad that she tried out that didn't work so that will be my bottom layer!
Click to expand...
Get a good under quilt and a good over quilt and you’d be surprised how low of a temperature you can be comfortable in a hammock. I find that I’m warmer in my hammock set up than when I used to sleep in a tent. I’ve passed plenty of nights in the low thirties no problem
 
LRS121 said:
I’m getting to the point that even sleeping on an air mattress is hurting my back and I’m almost afraid to try a hammock again. This weekend I stayed in a lean to shelter with plywood bunk beds and stacked 2 of the mattresses on top of each other and by night 2 my hips and back wouldn’t let me sleep. I would love to find something that would make my back better while at camp.
Click to expand...
I hear you. For me, a cot is to stiff. As far as at home, doctor told me I needed a stiffer mattress. So I bought a stiffer mattress, and I wake up feeling much better in the mornings. Before the new mattress, I would walk clear across the house before I could stand up straight. That doesn’t happen anymore. So I guess I need something firm, but not to firm, but not to soft. It’s really irritating.
 
*ZAP* said:
Using just a closed cell foam pad may be asking for trouble. Personally, I would never sleep on just that. They make a good sit pad though.
Thermarest trail scout plus a Thermarest closed cell is as thin as I go for sleeping on the ground in warmer weather. I have slept just on a trail scout plenty on a wood frame plywood bed.
I think the methods we regularly use may make issues with the things we 'sometimes' use.
Jmo.
Click to expand...
That makes sense. The other thing I find weird is when I sleep at other people’s houses, or a hunting camp. What ever sleeping set up they have never seems to bother me. Yet I can find a camping solution that works besides a hammock.
 
Pitre said:
Get a good under quilt and a good over quilt and you’d be surprised how low of a temperature you can be comfortable in a hammock. I find that I’m warmer in my hammock set up than when I used to sleep in a tent. I’ve passed plenty of nights in the low thirties no problem
Click to expand...
great info, thank you!
 
I switched from the Klymit to a Sea to Summit 4" pad, and it has helped quite a bit. I don't really have the same back problems you do, but with the Klymit I'd wake up stiff and hips were sore. With the Sea To Summit it's like sleeping at home.

If you can put it on top of a cot or jungle bed, it's heavenly.
 
Pitre said:
I hear you. For me, a cot is to stiff. As far as at home, doctor told me I needed a stiffer mattress. So I bought a stiffer mattress, and I wake up feeling much better in the mornings. Before the new mattress, I would walk clear across the house before I could stand up straight. That doesn’t happen anymore. So I guess I need something firm, but not to firm, but not to soft. It’s really irritating.
Click to expand...
A couple of years ago we got a memory foam mattress and was one of the worst things I could have done, I’ve thrown my back out several times and I wake up with back pain.
We’re still paying on the mattress but as soon as we pay it off we are gona get a mattress that’s a lot more firm.
 
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