Insulated sleeping pad in summer??

For an entire summer I once used a 2 1/4 pound Thermarest Trail Comfort. 2 Inches thick, rated R5. I sleep warm and only once in awhile did I feel it was too warm, usually on hot muggy nights back home in New England.

However, I always sleep in a long sleeved shirt, lightweight Duo Fold bottoms and thicker wool socks. When I did get a little warm, I just tossed my quilt back a little leaving my feet covered. Was never uncomfortable.

Since everybody sleeps differently, I think estimating the accuracy of your comfort range is moot. I now use an IAC all the time myself and summers aren't an issue for me either so I highly doubt you would have issue with the Kookabay. And if you did, I am betting it would easily disappear here if posted on the Gear Swap ;)

Thanks Joe. Just the kind of info I was looking for.

And yes, you make a good point that if it were an issue, the pad would "easily disappear" on Gear Swap! ;)

Not a problem at all. I've used a DownMat 9 (R-8) in summer. Comfy! Before that I used an old Thermarest 2" pad that I think has an R-5 or so, and I never noticed that my backside was too warm with either pad.

good to hear, Brad. This is solidifying my decision to get a down pad from Bender (BPL member) with an R-value of 5 instead of a Neoair.

I would think you could use a much lighter sleeping bag or quilt with an insulated pad as well!

Thats what I'm hoping!

At one time Bender had 30D nylon that he made into a 60x20x2.5 mummy pad that weighed 6.7 ounces. He figures 3.5 ounces of down to make it R-5, for a total of 10.2 ounces! Problem is, he ran out of the 30D.

But, I just saw some 30D heat sealable nylon at Seattle Fabrics. I wonder if this is the same stuff? I gave him a link to it, so we'll see what comes of that.

10.2 ounces for a 4 season, full size pad (almost full size)….keeping my fingers crossed.

I have slept on a warm pad in the summer and it was certainly more manageable than sleeping under a too warm sleeping bag. That said, there have been some really hot nights >=70F when I was really glad I had an uninsulated pad below me.

–Mark

Seattle Fabrics has 30d still listed after I bought all they had several months ago. I talked with the manager who purchased the material and they have no record of where they got it :( After talking with many suppliers it seems as if they have little control over what materials they stock. It makes me wonder how many middle men there are before textiles hit the retail shops.

Yes it's true, using the 30d I made a 6.7oz 60" mummy and a 7.9oz lightly insulated 48" rectangular pad. I slept on my 8.2oz 72" mummy pad last night :)

Not that I don't trust your word, but I put in an order for 2 yards of it, just to see what happens. If for some fluke they actually have it, can I send it to you?

At the very least, maybe they'll update their inventory.

>slept on my 8.2oz 72" mummy pad last night :)

Now you're just rubbing it in! : )