Which sleeping pad is cheap and effective?

38oz is way too much for a pad. I would look at the Thermarest Ridgerest (R-2.6 $25 14oz).

Insulate at what type of temperature? Are you set on an inflatable, or is CCF OK? If you're talking about over freezing or so you could go with a gossamer gear nightlite for around $40, or wait for a sale on an Big Agnes Insulated Air Core, which weighs about twice as much and lists for around $80. Or, you could pick up a ridgerest for around $35. Of course, the budget choice is one of the ubiquitous blue pads that you can pick up cheap from wal-mart or target.

It does seem like the prices on pads has gone up quite a bit over the past few years.

My experience with sleeping pads led me on a trajectory that ended in a hammock.

Foam pads will be warm, and you can add one or two to the pile in colder temps, and they are cheap, but they don't provide a lot of padding. The Thermarest self inflatables weren't real comfy for me either but it was a slight improvement over the foam. The inflatable mattresses come in a wide range of pricing and insulation.

My current stable of pads includes a couple of different widths and thicknesses of foam pad which I combine with a NeoAir – this works in the hammock or on the ground and keeps me from feeling the ground. (Nearly any pad seems to be automatically more comfortable in a hammock.)

But the Neo has mixed reviews, and the price will give you sticker shock. So far I have had no issues and it performed better than expected during a sudden snowstorm when temps dropped significantly. Still, I wouldn't push it much beyond the low 30s intentionally.

Well I was planning on taking it to Henry Coe.

So i'm guessing temperatures at night will be a little bit above 30 degrees in April.

Get a basic Ridgerest and call it good.

Michael

Are you going with us in March? There is a group of us going to Henry Coe. I have a GG nitelight I could bring, also I have an extra BPL Torolite's that I can bring,it's my wifes, but she is not going so you could try it out.

Thermarest now makes the RidgeRest Deluxe (which is a thicker and softer CCF pad than the regular RidgeRest) that they say is "good" for winter camping.

There's nothing cheaper (or fabulously more effective) than the thin foamy pads sold at WalMart or your run of the mill sporting goods store. These suck for packed down or rock-top camp sites; the trick is to find a campsite that's in the forest litter, and not littered with rocks and roots. If you can do that, you can save your self a lot of weight and money.

I agree with the suggestions for a Ridgerest, or similar closed cell foam pad. For the price, they are tough to beat. I have found them to be quite versatile, as well as durable – My oldest one is approaching 15 years and is quite usable.

SO this ridgerest will give me noticeable insulation from the cold ground?

Is the thickness thick enough so that I wont feel pebbles on my back?

>SO this ridgerest will give me noticeable insulation from the cold ground?

Yes, especially compared to the cold ground. R-2.6 to be precise, which is an adequate thermal break and conductive heat-loss barrier.

>Is the thickness thick enough so that I wont feel pebbles on my back?

Well, that depends on your definition of, "pebble," but it is probably adequate for a fair nights sleep for most younger people without back problems. It is not an air-filled pad, so it won't be anywhere near as comfortable as your bed, but it will help train you to look for good camp-sites! I have found it to be especially comfortable on snow and sand.

The wise thing to do is to get a Ridgerest or comparable closed cell foam pad, and sleep on it for a few nights prior to your first trip. Sleep on the floor with it, or on your porch or balcony or backyard if you have one.
–B.G.–

The last time I was there I slept in my sleeping bag on the ground by frog lake. It wasn't bad at all. Although I did feel a tiny bit cold.(30 degree bag during summer)

So I guess getting this pad will only make things better.

1) I think i might want the small size. It's 4 feet long which is enough to cover my upper body to my thighs. Should I get the medium size or small size? I'm considering it because it is smaller and lighter.

2) What does the R-2.6 mean?

My advice is to buy a full length (72") Ridegerest and cut it in half. Then you get two torso pads that can be put together for really cold nights when you need full length insulation. Plus individually they are smaller and lighter than the "Small" at 36" long and 6.2 oz each.

Adam

R 2.6 is a term used in denoting the insulative value or Resistance (to heat transfer) of a material. For example, homes in the northeastern U.S. should have an R-25 to 30 value for attic insulation and at least R-15 in the walls.

Thermarest and other reputable mattress makers accurately rate the R value of their products so we have a good idea of their suitability for summer, fall or winter use.

The new RidgeRest Deluxe thicker closed cell foam (CCF) mattress has an R value of 3.6, which is good for most winter camping down to maybe 10 F. Don't forget, snow also has an R value and it's a lot warmer sleeping on a foot of compacted snow than sleeping on cold bare ground.

Thermarest's new Neo-Air tubular mattress has a higher R value than other tubular, non insulated mattresses because Thermarest cleverly used reflective material to reduce radiation heat loss and also V channels which tend to cut down on convective heat loss between the ground and your body.

You lose body heat through:

1. convection (air current cooling such as wind)
2. conduction (direct transfer of heat to a solid object like the ground)
3. radiation (infra red radiation of your body heat to the air)
4. respiration (a combined form of conduction and convection due to breathing out heated air AND heated moisture.)

Micheal,

I use a 48" regular ridgerest year round. In the winter, I add either a full length thinlight foam mat or if it's really cold (single digits or below) I add a full length Thermarest.

Move the pebbles before you lay down.

The R of 2.6 is a figure representative of the insulating value, same as with the insulation in your walls at home. A Google search will set you up.

Remind me: Based on the below (and Tak in advance!)

You lose body heat through:

1. convection (air current cooling such as wind)
2. conduction (direct transfer of heat to a solid object like the ground)

Was it ever established in previous threads on the subject that a foam pad such as a ridgerest should be applied above or below a neoair in a "dual" pad system.

Seems like you'd put the closed cell below to limit conductive heat loss.

And why couldn't other material like maybe clothing etc or natural material at hand like forest duff or even dirt/sand etc be employed around the edges to limit convective heat loss on a neoair? ( or a bivy )

Apologies from getting off the subject line in general and the inexpensive line in particular but using what you have is a cost savings as well.

I'm a huge fan of the montbell sleep system. YOu can eventually find the UL90(torso size-if you are ok with that) at 20 percent off for like $40-what you stated on your high end. Good for 3 season well into shoulder and probably decent combined with a foam pad in winter too.

I dont know the r value but I used it in low 20's in December in the northeast and was fine-completely. So its an aswesome lightweight (9.6 ozs) pad that also gives more comfort from rocks and roots than a ridecrest or other foam pads. Use backpack under legs is fine.

Add the extension pad~2.5oz if wanted (whcch makes it 3/4 system)when you get some more bucks-like $15US and less at 20 off not bad-and it serves dually as your seat pad (which I fully come to appreciate)on cold rocks or logs etc.
Not to mention the pillow is nice for its weight-not to $$ down the road.

It rolls up small -real small- or use it in backpack folded for frame etc and support as I do. Thats a well spent 40 bucks to start.
If you want something lighter and foam pad the GG pads look good to me. I don't think they are as bulky as ridgecrest.

Don't forget about the 2010 upgrade to the Ridgerest Deluxe which will have an aluminized surface added at no weight penalty which will increase the r-value by 13% from 3.1 to 3.5. Coming in July 2010. Assuming the Ridgerest is also going to get fitted with it, that would take it from 2.6 to 2.9+.

http://www.trailspace.com/blog/2010/01/24/outdoor-retailer-therm-a-rest.html

"Cola",

A closed cell foam like the RidgeRest should be placed beneath a tubular air mattress to, as you correctly surmised, stop conductive heat loss.

Regarding other "found" insulation:
I once camped out with a bunch of Explorer Scouts (as they were then called) in Pennsylvania on a cold October night. Try as I might to get the little dummies to make a thick bed of dry leaves to sleep on only two Scouts did. So that night they and I were the only ones who slept through the night. The rest were huddled around the fire all night. In the morning the "fire sitters" were a sorry sight.

It's good to hear the RidgeRest Deluxe will get a reflective layer to increase its R value. As mentioned by the poster, the regular RR could use that too.

I once met a thru hiker on the AT who felt a good night's sleep was so important that he used a Z-Rest AND a Thermarest – in the SUMMER! Everything else he had was UL.

Eric

I tend to agree with the thru-hiker. Skimp on everything but a good nights sleep!

It's the key to my youthful beauty!

There's nothing really wrong with pebbles, or even watermelon sized rocks, especially if you're a side sleeper. I did this on my last outing. I almost had a comfortable night of sleep, except that the slope I was on had me sliding onto my shoulder. If you're under 200 lbs, even that probably wouldn't hurt you.

I understand you want advice and everyone will give you different opinions. What works for some may not work for you.

You NEED to go to REI and buy all the sleeping pads you can till you find the right one that works for you.

REI HAS A 100% RETURN POLICY!!!!!

I agree with getting the Thermarest Ridgerest it insulates from the ground very well and you probably won't be able to feel any pebbles, but I do find the pad pretty uncomfortable and find it less comfortable than sleeping on the carpet in my house. But for the weight you cant get much better.

–Pez–