Best UL Pad for a COLD Sleeper?

I have found the z-rest to be very warm. Maybe not as cushy as you are used to, however.

I use a 3/4 ridgerest that is 8 oz. A full length version is about 13 oz. They have a high R value and are pretty cheap.

The therma-rest R values are listed on their website. You should be able to compare the R-values and weights of their pads pretty easily.
If you compare different suppliers you may not get super accurate R-value numbers, I don't believe the R-values are very consistent from one company to the next, but the numbers may be of some use for comparison.
Tim

I suggest you borrow one of the foam pads before spending the money on one. To me they are a whole different type of pad compared to the prolite. I can not get any sleep on one, it is just to hard. I am sure someone on here lives near you that would let you try it out. I feel your pain, I have a prolite 3 short, it is alright, but after sleeping on my neoair, I doubt I will be using it anymore. The Neoair is as warm as the prolite. Good Luck.

If you have a ProLite 4 and sleep cold, then I wouldn't get a closed-cell foam pad. The PL 4 has an R-value of 3.2; the Z-rest is 2.2, ridge-rest is 2.6. Going with a colder pad than you're using wouldn't make sense. I'd check out a Big Agnes Insulated Air Core, R-value of 4.1, 24 oz for a 20 x 72 (20 x 60 mummy is 18 oz). If you want to keep your same mondo 25 x 78 size, though, you'll be hard-pressed to find a warm pad any lighter. BA's is 36 oz, ie 2# 4 oz.

Would be an Exped downmat 7, R value 5.9, and weight 32oz. But, as mentioned you may want to try the Big Agnes Insulated Air Core or the POC Ether Thermo 6 first as they are probably the warmest pads for reasonable weight and cost. The Downmat 7 is warmer, but not significantly lighter for you.

I have a Downmat 9 and although very warm and comfortable it is a beast at about 2.5 pounds. I'm thinking of buying a Stephenson's Warmlite Down Air Matress. A full size pad that would fit me (the 60" size, which is 70×24 in a tapered mummy shape) is 19oz according to Stephenson, althought most reports I have seen put it at the 23-24oz range. I have also read that it is as warm as the downmat 9 (R value 8), and I have seen reports that published R value is 9, though I did not see this on their website. Even if it were R 8, the Stephenson DAM would be about the warmest pad available for the weight. At $145 it is not cheap but it no longer appears to be ridiculously priced compared to the Thermarest Neo.

Brian, if you haven't already found this out Stephenson's will custom-cut a DAM. I have a short version (bought through BPL Gear Swap) and have talked to Stephenson's about various tent and DAM options over the past couple of years. Won't cost much more as most of its production is to order anyway.

My wife has a womens trail pro with a rating of 5.1, which I think is really good at 1 lb 15oz. Might not be the best choice since it does not save much weight, but they are darn warm. I often borrow it for winter camping.

Richard, thanks for the information. How do you like you DAM? Worth the investment? How much does it weigh?
Thanks.

Hi Mark,

I share your pain- I've tried a womens Prolite 3, and then a Ridge Rest and never been warm down to 0ºC- warm enough up top, but all the heat went from below.

I have a Stephenson's Warmlite 60" in transit- supposed to weigh 19 ounces, so we'll see. I chose this over the Exped for the warmth to weight ratio, and the cost, for me, didn't factor- they were about the same.

I'll let you know how it fares when it arrives.

cheers,
fred

Mark,

If you go with a shorter pad consider bringing a small CCF pad to put inside your sleeping bag. Cut a 12" section off an old pad. Put it in the bag, under your feet.

David

for standard 3 season use I like a 3/4 ridgerest. It is light, cheap and has great coverage. If temps are very low or there is a possibility of sleeping on snow I throw in a Goss Gear Torso Nightlight which always does the trick for me. Together they are light, simple, cheap and no fear of them deflating!

John,
Let me know your findings with your Stephenson's Warmlite 60".

Thanks everyone for your suggestions.

Mark-
The Thermarest Prolite 4 "Womens" pad actually has a higher R-value than the standard one and they weigh pretty much the same. It's just a few inches shorter. Otherwise, you might look into buying a thin closed-cell-foam pad to stack on your Prolite 4. Gossamer Gear sells some very light ccf's. I never go winter camping with just a single pad. I'm always stacking them.

Dave – you said the Neoair is NOT as warm as the Prolite? If so, that immediately kills any interest I have in it. I've been waiting for all the dust to settle and some user reports to come in before springing for it. I increased the perceived warmth of my prolite 3 remarkably just by putting my 1/8" gg pad on top of it, rather than under it. Maybe I'll be staying with that.

Kathleen,
Sorry for the confusion. I reread my post and I meant to say it is as warm as the prolite. I actualy think I will be warmer because I got a regular, therefore my legs will not be on the ground anymore when my pack moves around. It is about a 3 oz penalty to go with the regular, but I feel that it will be well worth it.

Thanks, Dave. Since it's about the same as a prolite or maybe warmer, I may go with a medium, which is only 2" shorter than I am, and still carry the same 13 oz that the prolite 3 short is. I am toying with the short.

Given the warmth of the neoair, I'm surprised it hasn't been suggested as a good choice for the OP's question about a warm sleeping pad. The neoair plus a 1/8" or 1/4" closed cell on top of it will be warm and still much lighter than the insulated pad suggestions above.

"Given the warmth of the neoair, I'm surprised it hasn't been suggested as a good choice for the OP's question about a warm sleeping pad."

Manufacturer stats notwithstanding, some feel that the Neoair does not feel as warm as the Prolite 3. Warmth is subjective, of course, but if you are absolutely counting on the Neoair feeling as warm as the Prolite 3 — you should wait for the BPL (and other) reviews before spending your money.

Since I, too, am a cold sleeper, I will definitely wait for the reviews. I can make it work with the prolite 3 and a top pad down to the low 20's, so if the neoair isn't a lot warmer, I'll pass.

If I get the NeoAir, I plan to use a torso-length piece of 1/8" Gossamer Gear Thinlight on top of it. Adds only about 1 oz., a surprising amount of extra warmth and a sit pad for the trail.

Another option is the 48" POE Ether Thermo insulated air mattress at 17 oz. (I know it's advertised at 16 oz. but mine weighs 16.9 oz.). While theoretically it goes down to 15*F, I take the 1/8" Thinlight piece for below freezing weather. This is my current setup at 17.9 oz. I am a side sleeper and need lots of cushioning for these old bones! The 72" long version of this pad is 5 oz. more, still lighter than your Prolite.

Mary- I was recently in contact with GG concerning the NeoAir and use of the ThinLight for additional insulation. Grant recommended the 1/4" over the 1/8". He said GG would be selling the 1/4" and NeoAir as a combo package. He said the ThinLight should be placed on top of the NeoAir. Last I checked the 1/4" ThinLight was out of stock, but you can add you name to the list for email alert when it arrives.

The 1/4" will be multi use for me, extra insulation during sleep, back pad inside my pack and sit pad in camp.

Kathleen, I use the same set up as you an find it works pretty well for the moderate (20s) winters we get around here. The R value of the NeoAir is about the same as the Prolite 3, so I figgure the end result will be what I'm accustomed to. However, I didn't spend a lot of money to end up with the same ol' same ol'. I was hoping that with more than twice the thickness I'd get a really good night's sleep. Or as Mary said, "more cushioning for these old bones."

Mark,

The Warmlite DAM arrived a week ago, and I've been testing it around the house. I haven't been in the field yet, as I'm still recovering from pneumonia.
Initial impressions are very good. I have had it inflated for a week now, hopping on and off to test if it stayed inflated, and it hasn't lost any air in that time, and remains very comfortable. I've had many a siesta on it, in great comfort.
It is a size 60", which gives me 24" shoulder width, plenty for me to lie with my arms by my side in a half quilt/ insulated jacket combination or in my Rab Top Bag. Rolling over and side sleeping gives me plenty of support and I don't touch the ground, even when its not fully inflated (recommended).
It took 18 bags of air from the supplied stuff sack to fill it initially, but after I seam sealed the stuff sack, it is down to about 5, and takes about two minutes. I also put some stripes of sealant on the top to prevent slipping around- I might have to do this on the bottom too.
It weighs 700g, or 25 oz including a Thermarest Prolite 3 Womens stuff sack that fits perfectly. The Exped equivalent weighs much more. It packs down small, about 10"x 5", but keeps getting smaller every time I roll it up.

Overall, I'm very happy, and the weight penalty is no penalty if you value your sleep and hike high. YMMV, of course.
I usually carry an extra overquilt with the Top Bag, but I don't think this will be necessary for most trips I do as the pad is so warm, so I can save weight here.
I've slept on the Prolite Women's 3 and a RidgeRest (not at the same time), and was always cold underneath, so I have high hopes for this Warmlite Pad.
Stephensons were really helpfull and efficient too.

I hope this helps.

cheers,
fred

Hi Fred
How thick is the mat when fully inflated ?
Is the thickness even ?
(Looks to me that the sides become a bit higher than the middle when you lay on it)
I'd love to see some pics of that…
Franco