Sleep pad advice, is there any that are comfortable?


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Brewguy

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I need some help. I'm camping with my son and I just can't get comfortable over night. This weekend I used a ridgerest and self inflating pad, it sucks.. If I lay flat my hips get numb, if I lay on my side my shoulders get numb, before long both shoulders and my hips hurt, I'm exhuasted the next morning. He is 3 and I think he could sleep on concrete..

I'm working toward hammock camping but there will still be times I sleep in the tent.

Are any of the sleep pads comfortable? I know big agnes has the 2.5" and there are the Neo air models and exped.

Have any of you had a similar problem and found a solution?
 
The only solution I've found is a hammock.

I have to sleep in a tent when I camp with my wife and dogs and I always wake up with sore hips and shoulders. I use self inflating mat on top of a closed cell foam mat and it's still awful. I haven't tried any of the super thick pads and maybe they would help. Hopefully someone with one of the super thick pads will enlighten us.
 
I'm a hammock camper but when I do have to go to ground I use an REI 3.5 inch self inflating pad ($99). I weigh 217 and can sleep on my side and not bottom out (without over inflating). It also has an R value of 7. The Exped is the only one I've found with a higher R value at 8 but costs twice as much. The REI pad is a little bulky at almost 7 inches by 24 when rolled but for me it's a no brainer.

http://www.rei.com/product/778152/rei-camp-bed-35-self-inflating-pad

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There are plenty of pads out there... it all boils down to weight. Do you car camp or hike? I have a 2" Thermarest and find it to be just fine for me. I decided on this one because it was thick enough/light enough/tough enough for hiking or whatever I might do.

Just in the Thermarest brand you can go from 1/2lb to 8lb's...

Ski
 
The Big Agnes Air Core is the best pad I have ever used.
 
Don't know your price range or requirements (car camping? Backpacking?) but if size and weight are a factor, an inflatable pad is worth investigating. Check out the Clearview Air Pad or the Thermarest NeoAir line for example. The Clearview in particular is a really affordably priced air mattress that packs down small and is pretty light. The downside is that it's not good for freezing temps.

Good luck in your search!
 
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Thanks for the input so far. I need it for backpacking. I do have a thin inflatable now, maybe an inch or inch and half thick and I use it with the foam pad under it. I know there are folks who sleep on just the foam pads, I don't know how you do it. My arms fall asleep quickly at the pressure points.

Price is always a concern, but I need to be able to sleep better. If that means saving up for a while to get something more expensive I will. The big agnes is something I've had my eye on. At 2.5" thick it seems I should be able to slightly under inflate it so it feels more like a bed and still be off the ground.
 
Pads

All I can do is echo what others have advised. Ive got an Big Agnes insul air core and Thermarest Neo Air that get used with an closed cell pad and it works good enough.

As far hurting, I know how it feels having broke neck, back, and hip replacement. It's sucks for sure, and the pain never completely goes away but an good inflatalbe pad helps out a lot.

Another tactic that will work depending on your location is building an deep bed of fir or spruce boughs and putting an pad on top. This works pretty darn good in my Ti Goat and Kifaru shelters as they are floorless.
 
We use Exped air core 2.5" pads and inflate them with the pump pillow. Wife and I love them. Daughter doesn't like it because it's narrow and she rolls off hers at night.

This one isn't the insulated model. It rolls up smaller than a 32oz Nalgene bottle. We add a cheap foam pad underneath when the weather is cold.

The only issue I have is that I do get hip pain on occasion. I'm not bottoming out on the ground so I'm not sure what causes it.
 
Brewguy said:
Price is always a concern, but I need to be able to sleep better. If that means saving up for a while to get something more expensive I will. The big agnes is something I've had my eye on. At 2.5" thick it seems I should be able to slightly under inflate it so it feels more like a bed and still be off the ground.
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What kind of temps are you looking at using it in? The Big Agnes Clearview pad is only around $50... weighs less than a pound and packs up smaller than a Nalgene too. If you do use it for temps below freezing, if you're willing to carry an extra foam pad like the Ridgerest you're using now and combine them then it'd probably be fine.

The only reason I didn't already buy a Clearview myself is I was waiting for the Thermarest NeoAir XLite to be released this year. Packs small, weighs a little less, but with a higher R-value so I can use it year round. If price were a major concern though I'd buy the Clearview in a heartbeat.
 
Downmat 9DLX. I also hate to sleep on the ground but this thing is so warm and comfortable.

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Malcolm C. said:
You may find some useful information in this thread http://bushcraftusa.com/forum/showthread.php?t=52743&highlight=Warmest+Sleeping+Pad
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Hey WW.....any extra info on that?


Read through the posts at this link as Malcolm suggested. I have gone there and found out about the REI downmat. It looks expensive but a member here has scoliosis and says he uses it. I sleep on my side and have the same problems you do. I might have to look into one myself. Has an integrated pump so you don't have to blow it up. The larger 9 comes in at 2.75 lbs but is 3.5 inches thick and has an R value of 8!
 
ohski said:
There are plenty of pads out there... it all boils down to weight. Do you car camp or hike? I have a 2" Thermarest and find it to be just fine for me. I decided on this one because it was thick enough/light enough/tough enough for hiking or whatever I might do.

Just in the Thermarest brand you can go from 1/2lb to 8lb's...

Ski
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I also have the 2" thermarest. I was suffering the same as you, and this suits me.As you've only got a little one with you,you are'nt getting tired enough, he is you are'nt, this will change over the years, then he'll be the one who's not tired & you'll be the knackerd one !.

Rob
 
I have a problem sleeping do to a messed up back. What helps me most of the time (there are some nights that no matter what I do I just can't get comfortable) is to contour the ground to my body, place a tarp down, then my Large BaseCamp air mattress then my Ridge Rest on top of that. Even then sometimes my hips, legs or arms will go numb. But at least that setup gives me the best chances of a descent nights sleep.

Sometimes when I car camp I sleep on a Cabela's Heavy Duty Army Cot Five Piece Combo (mostly with out the combo) and a thick foam pad on top. Other times my BaseCamp Air mattress and a thick foam pad. Even at home on my Queen sized bed with a foam pad on top I sometimes have a bad night. Stretching out my back and taking Anti-Inflamatories before I sleep do help.
 
Woods Walker said:
Downmat 9DLX. I also hate to sleep on the ground but this thing is so warm and comfortable.

IMG_0712.jpg
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WORD!! LOVE my Exped Downmat9. best thing ever! have slept on a sheet of ice and still been warm. trick is to not inflate it all the way...give it a little cushion and you should sleep like a baby! only problem is it is a bit too narrow, but that is a very minor thing if you are not a really active sleeper...
 
sleep pad advice

have you tried digging a hip and shoulder hole under the pad you have? I am a side sleeper and struggle with the sore hips and shoulders when I camp. Digging a hole about 6 inches deep where my hip rests takes the pressure off of the bone trying to dig through my skin and I enjoy a better nights sleep.
 
Presently I've been using the Thermorest NeoAir. Love the size it rolls up to. Have been impressed with it's performance. I know others that have ExPEd and Big Agnes pads and they swear by them.
 
I just got a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core Mattress for Christmas. It is very comfortable although I haven't slept on it all night yet. They also make a Memory Foam Mattress to put on top of that. The reviews I read on the Internet stated that, that combo was as comfortable as sleeping in a regular bed.

I also have a Hennessey Deep Jungle XK hammock - slept in it in the Amazon jungle this past summer. Great nights sleep. Love my Hennessey.
 
abandon all hope, ye who sleep in the dirt... true comfort lieth only in the airy hammock...

seriously, if you aren't comfortable on a foam pad, then likely you won't be comfortable on a slightly thicker one, or even a big fat 2" one... at that point, it weighs enough to where you ought to just quit messing around and get a hammock setup... sleeping on the ground is a young man's game.
 
Seeker said:
abandon all hope, ye who sleep in the dirt... true comfort lieth only in the airy hammock...

seriously, if you aren't comfortable on a foam pad, then likely you won't be comfortable on a slightly thicker one, or even a big fat 2" one... at that point, it weighs enough to where you ought to just quit messing around and get a hammock setup... sleeping on the ground is a young man's game.
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Man I'm only 34, can't think of myself as old yet.. I think one of the thick air ones will do what I need. I have a hammock, I'm building a tarp and I'll be good to go. However kiddo (3) will still be in the tent for now and I'll need to be with him. Also when the family goes I'll be on the ground, although a big air matress might be better for that.

I have one more question for everyone. The big agnes and exped mats look the same to me, they are basically the same size. Why would one be more comfortable than the other? The down can't provide any cushion, just warmth, I don't think I'll be camping below the 20's, upper teens at the lowest.

Thanks for all the replies, this forum has great members!
 
I'm having the same problem, I have the same problem with a hammock, now I've decided to change to a tarp. I'm trying to find a mat that is light weight but comfy, so far I haven't found anything. I have a self inflating mat but there heavy. I have slept on my floor with 2 stacked of the wide blue mats from Walmart. There OK so I think I'm going to glue them together and then duct tap the edges so they stay together. Not the best but I think it will be better than anything else I have. I have been using a hammock for about a year and I can't sleep in it all night I'm always getting up hurting, I get out and streach to work out the kinks. Getting old sucks. One thing I'm going to try with the hammock instead of leaving a lot of sag in the thing I'm going to to set it up as tight as I can get it and see what happens. I have read to leave leave a lot of sag in it, but that's not working for me.
 
IMHO, the exped downmat 9 would be the best choice, followed by the BA insulated air core. I use a hammock as much as possible, and a BA with a ridgerest for those other times.
 
muddog15 said:
I'm having the same problem, I have the same problem with a hammock, now I've decided to change to a tarp. I'm trying to find a mat that is light weight but comfy, so far I haven't found anything. I have a self inflating mat but there heavy. I have slept on my floor with 2 stacked of the wide blue mats from Walmart. There OK so I think I'm going to glue them together and then duct tap the edges so they stay together. Not the best but I think it will be better than anything else I have. I have been using a hammock for about a year and I can't sleep in it all night I'm always getting up hurting, I get out and streach to work out the kinks. Getting old sucks. One thing I'm going to try with the hammock instead of leaving a lot of sag in the thing I'm going to to set it up as tight as I can get it and see what happens. I have read to leave leave a lot of sag in it, but that's not working for me.
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Muddog, i am a long time hammock user and use mine in the field about 250 nights a year. Not sure exactly how much sag your using, but the ideal angle of your straps to the tree is 30 degrees. A very good resource for hammocking info is www.hammockforums.net if you havn't ever checked them out i recommend it.
 
Seeker said:
abandon all hope, ye who sleep in the dirt... true comfort lieth only in the airy hammock...

seriously, if you aren't comfortable on a foam pad, then likely you won't be comfortable on a slightly thicker one, or even a big fat 2" one... at that point, it weighs enough to where you ought to just quit messing around and get a hammock setup... sleeping on the ground is a young man's game.
Click to expand...

you're not from South Dakota are you :p
 
Yes, good ole Shug Emergy. He is a regular over at hammock forums. His videos are great, he has like a 12 part series for newcomers to hamocks and goes over everthing in detail. He is enteraining too, think he is a circus clown... literally.
 
Man...look at all the stuff he's wearing.... I have issues sleeping with long johns on, he's basically all dressed and in his bag.
 
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